The Wolf's Den

Path 2: Ryland, Chapter 4: Part 2

       It was Red who spoke first. And when she did, her voice was more monotone than Ryland expected. "You shouldn't be in this hallway, bad things happen in this hallway. Mr. Wolfe might find you, that or tell me to talk to you about what you might be doing wrong. Do you want some food? I have some left from my picnic that never go teaten earlier."

        "I... Suppose? I haven't eaten since I got here, and it's been God knows how long since I've had food or water."

        "Then follow me, it's in the next hallway and I have the key to my door. I've been given a doorknob on the outside, just like those goat brothers, the seven shaking, dumb creatures in the room next to me. They make so much n oise at night, and it's so annoying."

        Following Red, Ryland glanced behind her nervously before looking ahead, biting back a yawn and realizing how tired she was. "Do you... Have a bed I could use, too? I haven't slept well since I got here, and I'm getting too tired to do more than sleep once I eat and have had something to drink again."

         "I do, my grandmother used to use it but she got free and hasn't come back for me. I'm hoping that she does, but it's doubtful." Opening her door with a key on her wrist, she stepped in, allowing Ryland access. "Thank you... Red, right? Briar Rose said that was your name and that you might not be nice to me."

         "She must have just woken up again. Sit down, make yourself at home."

         "Er... Thanks, and what do you mean by 'again'? I thought she just woke up?"

         "She does this every 100 years, and her prince hasn't come to get her yet because he's been wandering these halls for a long time. The Wolfe always gets him confused by changing the hallways, so she's always happy and sees no reason to leave her room. When she's too happy, he makes her sleep and the thorns and vines go right back up."

         "I see. Why does he do that?"

         "Isn't it obvious? He's not willing to make anyone happy. I'm neutral to it, like you are, so it's not like it matters to me. Have some of the sandwiches I made, I was granted a kitchen through the archway to your right. It's small, but I'm old enough to cook, even if I am still a child." Shrugging, Red munched on a ham sandwich.

         "But he leaves you alone, and, apparently, me, as well."

          "That's because you do nothing to harm the story nor hinder it, so he sees you as no threat. Otherwise, he'd send me or those shaking children after you. The brothers are ineffective, though, so he usually sends me after neutral characters like yourself."

          "I'm not neutral, I just don't want to ruin what they already have, for good or ill."

           "Which makes you neutral in his book. It's like... Okay, it's like an anti-hero, they do what they want when they want to, and that's what matters to them. You're that same way, all you want is to save your sisters."

            "How did you---"

            "I just know, I've been informed by the Wolfe. He's been watching you, you know, to make sure you follow the 'don't break the neutrality of good and bad' rule. I could tell you the other two, and I probably should, but I'll wait to do that. Can't expose too much too soon, you know?" Now finishing her sandwich, she watched Ryland eat her second ham sandwich. "Wine?"

             "Oh, uh... Sure, thank you."

              "Yeah, sure." Pouring it into a large mug, she poured a smaller portion for herself, corking the bottle and taking a second sandwich herself. "Now, how do we get your sisters back?"

               "I do have a plan, but we might want to finish lunch before we start into that."

               "Deal. Have some of the cookies, I made those just 10 minutes ago."

              Nodding slightly, Ryland enjoyed the silence of lunch.