Red & the 'Big Bad' Wolf

Chapter 3: Introductions and Recollections

          Vallen looked out at the village and watched as a nurse walked over to Jackson, most likely telling him that she had awoken. Jackson thanked her then turned to his friends. Together they walked over to the infirmary, soon they disappeared under the porch and the sound of the door opened and closed. Vallen heard murmurs then shouts from below. Quickly she got up and slinked down the stairs stopping just before the last step.

          "That doesn't give you an excuse to bring an outsider to the Pack!" yelled Michel.

          "Would you have rather me just to have left her and let the Rouges get her?! Who knows what they would do with her!!" Jackson yelled in response.

         "Well...er...ugh!!" Michel lost his argument.

          "Just like I thought..." Jackson almost spit out. Vallen peaked round the corner. Jackson was eye to eye with Michel, who although had more muscle and years than Jackson was looking down in submission. Jackson huffed. He turned to Roslen. "How is our guest?"

          "Ask her yourself. She's right there." Roslen said pointing over to where Vallen was half hidden. Vallen jumped startled, but slowly crept out to greet the crowd. Roslen, Ethan, and the dark haired girl were smiling suportively while Jackson looked at her with care and Michel scowled. Vallen looked past them to find poor forgotten Woosly waking up and rubbing his head, most likely from the loud noise. He grunted causing everyone to momentarily forget her

             "Oh! Woosly! Glad your feelin better!" Roslen said chipper. He grunted his response. "What happen to you?" Asked Ethan.

           "Rouges happened that's what. Didn't Michel tell you?" Woosly grumbled glaring at Michel. Before Michel could explain Woosly cut him off. "It was William... he and his damn minions. We were patrolling when they up and jumped us!" Jackson let out a low threatening growl.

            Vallen flinched. It sounded like him.

             Ethan took note of Vallen's reaction. "Jackson why don't we show Vallen around. I get the feeling she'll be staying here for awhile." Jackson turned toward Vallen, her large doe eyes shone with mixed emotions. He offered his arm and she gingerly took it. Together they lead the way out the door followed by Ethan and the dark haired girl.

             "My name is Grace by the way." The dark haired girl walked next to Vallen. "You can stay at my place while your here." Grace looked unfocusedly at Vallen. She stared at Grace's eyes, hazel yet clouded over fog. "Your looking at my eyes." Vallen's eyes bulged. Grace giggled, "Its okay, I'm blind. But I do see things, visions. Your quite popular with them right now." Vallen stopped walking, causing Jackson's arm to jerk. Grace kept walking. "I don't mean to scare you with this information, I just thought you would like to know." Grace called back.

              Jackson looked at Grace, wondering why she would share this. He turned back to Vallen who was gripping his arm, fear leaking into her eyes. Whatever happened to Vallen must have been big, thought Jackson. He slowly tugged her along breaking her trance.

             "You okay?"

             "Yeah, I was just a little....I wasn't sure how take that." Vallen said as the fear began to clear. They walked along quietly and Jackson pointed out places and people. Most greeted her with smiles laced with suspicion. Not that she didn't expect that, she was invading their home. Jackson stopped her in front of a big building with wood carvings and banners depicting different events from history, of wolves and humans fighting side by side and of beautiful ceremonies. Vallen walked up to one of the carvings depicting a fierce battle. She lightly traced her fingers over the battle, landing on two large wolves.