Red Riding Hood Loves the Wolf

I'm a Wolf. But I'm Different.

As soon as I stepped out of the shadow, the girl took off running. Her hood fell off her head, releasing the rest of her wavy, golden hair. She never looked back. I should've figured she'd run. She dropped an apple.

I decided to go back home. One the way Daniel runs up to me.

"Aiden! You'll never guess what I happened to stumble across today!" Daniel is my older brother. His blond hair is not unlike mine. His fur is more brown than mine. He tells me how he found a human's camp stashed with raw fish. He punches me in the arm hard and restates how one day I'll grow and be strong like him.

I start unconsciously humming part of a familiar tune. At least tomorrow is a new day.

*********

I tell Grandmother about my encounter with the wolf. She says to keep an open mind about others. Father used to tell me the same thing, to always keep an open mind because you never know what their story is.

It is now dark so I stay at the cabin. The white blanket is heavy and warm over me. I stare at the white ceiling of the extra room. I can't stop thinking about my meeting with the wolf. What if he attacked Grandmother? What is his story? Should I stay away or open myself up? I shall wait and see what tomorrow will bring.

In the morning, Grandmother tells me not to delay going home and provides me a pocket knife to protect myself from any bad things.

I set out and come to the twisted tree. I stop and look at it, knowing the wolf is behind it. Eventually her steps out holding a red apple. He walks towards me slowly and I grab the knife. On guard, I watch him but don't flee

"Is this yours?" he holds the apple out to me, his claw-like nails are instantly noticeable. When I don't respond he includes, "I believe it fell from your basket as you ran yesterday... I mean you no harm." I thank him and put it in my basket. I wait for him to leave, but instead he looks down at his worn, leather boots.

He looks up at me with caramel colored eyes, "Can I show you something?"