Red and Her Wolf

Chapter 5: Meeting Under Moonlight

"The Wolves wish to meet you, Theophania," Silva said to her partner as they picked apples. Silva knew which apples were dangerous even to Wolves and these they would give to her Grandmother. It didn't seem to matter how new, old, dangerous or safe the apples were, her Grandmother's treatment made the apples safe for humans to eat.

"They do? Why?" Theophania said with a touch of concern, taking the offered apple, making sure to avoid the creeping white worm-like roots that threatened to grab her feet.

Silva laughed. "Is it so strange that my pack would be interested in my mate? Would your own mother and father not want to meet your lover? More than that, though, we have a surprise for you. I think you will very much enjoy this surprise, but it can only happen on one night of the year. So it must be then or wait another year."

Theophania growled at the inching root, wanting to squash it under her heel, but she knew Silva would be upset. Oddly enough, the root shrank back from her growl.

Looking around, she somehow became aware that all the roots were inching towards her.

"So will you join?" Silva asked, handing Theophania another apple. The purple pungent smell made Theophania automatically pull away, but focusing further, there was another smell under the toxic smell. It smelled... sweetly familiar.

"Do you know why the apples are safe for Wolves but not Humans?" Theophania asked Silva, not intentionally ignoring the question, yet her mind was on a track. A vision of her mother's hair being white, not strawberry blonde.

I don't remember there being White Wolves in the Red Forest either, but we lived really close to the Apple orchid in the Red Forest. Mum taught me how to collect the apples...but she said she didn't know how to treat them so they were safe for humans, so why did we collect the apples?

"Wolves are protected by the Forest? I'm not sure. I don't know the difference between human and Wolf bodies, only that Human Servants are also safe." Silva said with a shrug. "You can ask all your questions at this special event." She grinned at Theophania.

Theophania dropped the apple into the basket. "You mean I can ask any question? They'll tell me why my Grandmother is the Betrayer? But why she's also somehow a servant of the Forest? The exact stuff you haven't been telling me for months? They'll know?"

Silva grinned wider and nodded. "Exactly. So will you come?"

"Can we go now? I don't want to wait. Let's go!" Theophania jumped on the spot in her enthusiasm.

Silva gave her quicksilver laugh, the sound flushing through Theophania and igniting lust within her.

"Not now, but tomorrow night. Meet me at the edge of the cameras and I'll take you to my pack and our most sacred place," Silva replied, her smile changing when she caught the look in Theophania's eyes.

Suddenly, Theophania pushed Silva against the white wood of the Apple tree, catching her mouth in a forceful kiss. Silva gave no resistance, moaning in joy at the aggressive act. It was only recently that Theophania had allowed some of her aggression to come out while playing with Silva. Silva said it was a sign her heart was healing and would be able to open more to the Forest.

Hands pressed on either side of Silva's face, they kissed, tongues running against each other until they were panting.

Without thinking, Theophania imagined the flower within her open and bloom.

The white wood of the Apple tree flushed with a dazzling glow Theophania could sense even through closed eyes. From far away, she heard a voice in distress

Help! Help! Hear us! We yearn! We cry! We are dying. We are broken and suffering. You, you are the lost! Return to us the lost!

Theophania threw herself off the tree, knowing without being told that it was the Apple Trees who had talked to her.