Red Ridding Hood

Chapter 4

Soft humming was herd through the forest as an old woman humbled along a path. She would often bend down to pick up herbs along her walk and put them in her basket. "Ah! Such a shame I had to move my cottage out for far into the forest, but it's safer here. I need to see the rest of the tale unfold." The witch continued walking deeper into the forest, her long black dress still though the wind blew.

Rose's eyelids fluttered open. She was lying on her back on a pile of dried leaves, her red cloak covering her. Sitting up, she rubbed away the blurriness of her eyes, brushed off the orange and red leaves that stuck to her and folded her red cloak, leaving it by her pillow of leaves. Looking around she saw that she was in a small cave, other than her bed, opposite of her there was a small fire pit that was out, and another bed of leaves towards the back of the cave in the darkness. The cave was dim but light enough to see the jagged stone walls, it was about the same size as Rose's small bedroom back at home; the mouth of the cave was covered in loose vines. A grumble echoed in the cave as her belly rumbled. Slowly getting up from the bed, she tries to stand but her legs were weak and she falls to the floor. Trying again, she just about manages to stay up, leaning on the wall for support. Rose cautiously walked towards the cave entrance, careful not to make too much sound. Once at the lotions green vine curtain, she parted them with her hands and stepped out. Her eyes snapped shut at the sudden bright light, slowly blinking them open when they finally got used to the rays of sun light. Rose gasped at the sight.

Trees surrounded the whole place, their leaves different shades of green, some had fruits others beaded flowered. Rays of lights shone through their branches and leaves, crating halos on the ground. Birds sang in the trees, some hidden from sights, whilst some graces the air; flowing and dancing in the wind. Beside her there was a rose bush, its roses royal red. Rose bent down to pick one of them, but flinched when she pricked her finger on the thorns. She brought her finger to her face to see the small cut, a glistening red drop blood tickled down her hand and splashed onto one of the smooth roses, staining it with a darker colour of red. Licking the wound, the blood oozing out slowed, Rose winced at the little cut. A crackled of leaves to her left startled her, she whipped her around, to see a doe. Its brown eyes wide staring at her, ears perked up, its body still. Its brown fur reflected some light giving it an angelic glow, its elegant body still like a statue. This was the first time Rose had ever seen a doe. The two stared at each other, a peaceful silence between them. Rose stepped out further from the cave, towards the dear. A growl behind Rose shattered the moment, the doe stumbling back and prance back. Rose gasped and held her breath; the memories of what had happened to her rushed back to her mind, making her whimper. The birds stopped singing and flew to hide in their nests, leaving the forest silent.

After a pain aching moment of silence, Rose cautiously tried to take another step forward, the growl echoed through the air once again. She heard soft footsteps come towards her from behind, stopping a couple inches from her. A rough wet thing licked her palms, Rose flinched, and a small scream escaped her mouth. She felt its nose push at her hand, opening her hand wider so that her fingers were uncurled and showing, its tongue licked her small cut on her finger; the blood now stopping completely. The wolf stepped closer to Rose, who shut her eyes tight. It sniffed her, moving around Rose so that it was now in front her. After staring at her for a short while it lay on the grass in front of her, waiting. It whined to get Rose's attention. Slowly Rose opened her eyes, the adrenaline of fear still there but calmer sensing there was no immediate danger. In front of her was the wolf kneeling on the ground; it had a shiny black nose, its brown fur looked soft in the light, its eyes hazel like the tree barks, its tongue hanging out of its mouth, teeth white and sharp. It tilts its head, looking half cute in Rose's confused state of mind. It yips, startling Rose, causing her to flinch, the wolf chuckled but its eyes showed hurt. Rolling over onto its back, it yipped once more, before rolling back onto its front. Still confused, Rose quietly sat down on the grass and watched the wolf play. It jumped, ran, rolled, and barked at the birds, whilst Rose started to smile at its light-hearted games. It seemed so different.

Swaggering back, the wolf lay a flower it had picked in front of rose, who laughed. Picking up the flower, she placed it in her hair, turning her head so he could see it; the wolf barked in approval. Giggling again, she posed for him, laughing even more when he licked her hand and bowed down. The birds chirped in the now noon sky. Rose's belly rumbled, as she stared wide eyed at it. She hadn't eaten since last night's dinner! Rising up, the wolf tugged at her sleeve and got her to get up, then guided her back into the cave.

An afternoon later, fully fed and small games played, the sun started to set. Not much time had passed since they had first met, yet the Rose felt as though the wolf was now her close pet dog! "Fluffy?" No answer. "Marshmallow?" Again, no answer. "Cloudy?" Silence. "Puff ball?" A snort. Rose huffed at her futile antics. It had been a while now that Rose had been trying to name the wolf, having yet not succeeded. "Kitty!" It rolled over from its position onto Rose and scrunched its face at the name before licking her face. "Get off, Nymeria!" Pushing it off, Rose laughed, the wolf jumped up and down, yipping in reply. Rose raised an eyebrow, "You like that name, Nymeria?" Another lick to the face was given.

The sky was turning orange to black as the sun sunk down, the evening autumn frost inch its way out. Rose shivered, and the wolf curled around her in response, shielding her from the wind. They sat together as the moon rose, and the stars peeked out of the darkness and became to shine once more. Rose cuddled into the wolf's fur and wrapped her cloak tighter around herself. She wondered what the others were thinking, she was missing and they must be worried. She had attempted numerous times to try leave and find her way back home but had failed; the wolf would stop her every time she tried. Rose sighed as the feeling of homesickness came and she worried for her friends.

A lone tear slip down her face as she thought for James.