Little Red [ON HOLD]

Aurelia

Chapter 1:

I woke up with a start. My alarm clock was ringing wildly as I got out of my bed and lethargically walked over to the other side of my room to turn it off. I tapped the off button. It still rang with a blaring annoyance. I hit it again, harder, but with no prevail.

It started to beep with a new urgency. I became infuriated with the machine. I slammed my closed fist down on the electronic. The silence that followed almost seemed dangerous, like someone was watching me, as if I was being stalked by a deadly predator.

Change.

I shook my head as if the word would fall out of my ears and on to the floor so I could smash it into millions of pieces. After I realized that there was no success in shaking my head, I decided to go downstairs for breakfast. As I passed my parent’s room, I ran into my father, who looked as happy as I did. Even though it was dark upstairs, I could see that he had bags under his eyes, just as I did.

We both nodded to each other drowsily, and continued down the stairs, where the smell of breakfast hit my nose powerfully. I sniffed around the kitchen animalisticly before I greeted my mother, who rolled her eyes at my morning inspection of the kitchen.

“Mother, the black beans and the leftovers are going bad, it’s time to throw them away.” I grumbled sleepily.

“Well good morning to you too, sunshine,” My mother being her usual sarcastic self. “Now eat something that won’t make your nose wrinkle.”

I quickly sat down and started to eat cold pizza. My mother shook her head at me and tried to go into her “You should eat healthy” speech, but before she could talk, I dashed past her, not bothering to grab my shoes or a coat, despite the fact that it was late fall. My mother screeched at me like a banshee to put something on so I don’t catch cold, and I smirked.

People like us don’t catch colds, especially me. So I grabbed my favorite red cloak and hurried out of the house and stepping into the forest that surrounds our house, with trees so tall that direct sunlight is a myth. I covered my face with the red hood, making sure I didn’t get caught in any sun rays streaming down through the nature-made canopy, and I saw my father leave a few moments later, putting on a leather jacket. He smiled at me and warned me:

Be safe. Do not let anyone see you.

I nodded at him and turned.

Don’t worry, Father, I can protect myself.

He dashed off at an inhuman speed, and I grinned. I had just gotten permission from the “alpha” to change. I dropped to the ground on all fours, and quickly changed from a short young adult into a large and powerful brown and black wolf.

I sprinted off, my cloak becoming an auburn pattern on my back and the rest of my clothes fading away. I knew I had to be careful. If I was spotted by anyone, there would be reports of overgrown wolves and it would mean danger for the county pack.

I ran to a clearing filled with wildflowers, the skies covered by the changing leaves. I changed back, my fur receding and my clothes returning. I adjusted my cloak and sat down in the grass, not long before I spotted a screech owl with chocolate brown eyes. I watched it for a moment and it stared back at me, seeming mesmerized by the girl in the red hood. I looked away and closed my eyes, pulling the hood over my face and laying myself down on the bed of flowers. I dozed off for a while, only to wake up to a brown-eyed boy watching me.

I jumped up immediately, crouching into an almost feline-like position. He held up his hands silently, motioning that he meant no harm. I just stayed in my crouch, my bright green-gold eyes on him. I had one hand behind my hood, grasping a knife concealed by my cloak, the other one the ground, holding myself steady. He tried to stand up, but too quickly for me to react well.

Within a matter of seconds, I pounced, landing on top of him, the knife drawn at his throat. His eyes widened in surprise, and before I could think, he had pinned me and morphed into a large wolf. Without hesitation, I smiled mischievously and changed as well, obviously shocking the boy.

I pushed him off of me and we started circling, growling and snapping at each other. I made the first move, snarling and swiping at him with a large paw full of sharp claws. He barked at me angrily, not wanting to fight.

I got ready to pounce, as did he. We both attacked in midair, clawing and snapping at each other. One of my claws dug into his chest, ripping flesh and letting blood flow. He winced, landing on top of me and stopping the fight. He held me down as well, forcing me to look him in the eyes, my own filled with hatred. He backed off, confusing me.

He changed back, and sat down slowly in the grass. He watched me, and I hesitantly turned human again, staying where I was, my eyes filled with caution. He spoke first.

“That was burning witches, Little Red,” He paused. “Completely unnecessary.” His voice was deep and had a calming tone to it, his eyes still on me. The way that he spoke made me think of the Elder Weres, one of the oldest werewolf packs around. I spoke to him in the same dialect.

“How are we not to fight if you shock me into battle?” Compared to him, my voice seemed high and feminine. I had a slight Irish accent while he had an accent I could not identify. He smiled a bit, realizing I could understand him, and tried to continue the conversation.

“I did not mean to frighten you, dear lady, but mere curiosity forced me into the sin of greed.”

I tilted my head in confusion. “Greed? To what way have you been found guilty?”

He smiled slightly, not missing a beat. “I have seen you here often, Little Red, and I have never revealed my memories to a single other, for worry that I would have to share.”

My eyes widen a bit, and I look away bashfully, not used to attention from males, especially a speaker of the Elder Weres. Elder Weres were famous for selecting only the finest purebred lycans, definitely not a half-blood like me.  His eyes held its gaze on me, smiling slightly, almost mischievously. I slowly looked up under my eyelashes, his eyes still on me, showing confusion and a bit of sadness.

“Little Red, don’t you remember me?” He tilted his head as he asked; making eye contact and making sure it wasn’t broken.

I looked at him, almost squinting, and my mind trying to go back to the past. I slowly moved closer and put my hand on his cheek, my mind piecing together my past’s puzzle. He leaned his head against my hand, and my eyes widened. He looked at me again, and he nodded. I spoke only one word, and it came out barely a whisper.

“Puck”

He smiled and we hugged, his arms around my waist and mine around his neck. I laid my head on his shoulder, my nose touching his neck.

For the first time in years, I felt complete.