Wolfsbane's Howling Pain

Ruby and the Reads

As the group boarded the boat, Harry noticed Uma was more tense than usual. "Cap'n?"

Uma turned to Harry, noticing his concern. "I feel off... especially with the circumstances. I mean, if Mal and Ben hadn't made a comment on the freedom, would those in the Backwaters ever be free?"

Harry was silent. Uma had a point. Where would they be??

As the anchor was drawn and the group looked out to the sea, there was a tension yet a hope. Maybe they weren't too late.

"So who is this Ruby you mentioned earlier?" Gil's question caught everyone's attention as they all turned to Belle. Belle, however, was sorrowful in face.

"If you don't want to—"

"No. They should know. I can do this. Come."

Belle lead the group below deck. They entered the room with a long table and chairs sat around it. They all sat. Adam giving the head of the table to Belle, as to make the telling easier, in some way.

"Ruby was a dear friend of mine. She is better known as Red Riding Hood. Unlike most of the 'heroes' of the stories, Ruby fell in love with the so-called villain of her tale."

"Wait," Harry spoke up, "she fell in love wit' a wolf?"

"Not quite... The 'Big Bad Wolf' was really a werewolf and not an awful one. Ruby loved him. However, when the Isle and Auradon were established, Ruby was pregnant and refused to be parted from her love. We sent her to a separate, still isolated, island, where we later also sent all the animal related antagonists... Yet, later, Scar tried some...dangerous attempts, and we were forced to cut ties with the island. Just before Ben made his first decision on you four, I was informed by one of the supply ship goblins, that Ruby, " Belle chocked and couldn't bring herself  to continue, bowing her head and crying.

Adam put his hand on his wife shoulders, and continued for her. "Ruby had died. The goblin wouldn't clarify anymore, other than that she had died shortly after we cut ties to the island. No contact or ties have occurred since."

The VKs were horrified. No ties. No contact. That is worse than the Isle...

Ben spoke up, being the only one able to find words, "how would, why would, how could--" maybe even Ben couldn't speak or find words.

Adam spoke again, "we aren't proud of it, especially in light of the last eighteen months, but we can't change it now. We might as well just try to mend what we can and pave a better way forward."

Solemn nods occurred through the room. The only sound being Belle's occasional sniffling. The core four headed to their rooms while the sea three went above deck. Ben sat in the room, quietly with his parents. Tensions were high now, despite everyone trying to breathe.

Uma spoke up, "they are likely more hostile and in worse shape than anyone on the Isle... we best be ready and cautious of any suddenness."

Mal continued, with the core four, "we don't even know what goblins are like, except you E, but these are likely very different. Let alone any other creatures that could be there."

Adam handed a book to Ben, without uttering a word. The title said "Creatures of the Isle Beyond the Isle."

That night, as everyone went to their beds, a common and unified thought rung loud:

How was Tomorrow Gonna Go?

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