Wolf In Women's Clothing

Two

Alvina woke up with a startle as her father was yelling about something. Rubbing her face, she sighed and sat up. It was not unusual to hear her father in the early hours but yelling was new. She slowly got out of bed and changed into her dress from the previous day. But as she was putting it on, she noticed green stains on the hem of the fabric. She quickly brushed it off as she that got on her clothes before changing and heading into the kitchen.
"What is all the commotion about father?" she asked, hurrying to her mother's side to help her with breakfast.
"Those damn wolves were howling all last night. Could barely get a wink of sleep." He complained, tapping his finger tips on the handmade table. Alvina served a meal of meat and biscuit to her father before she and her mother sat with him.
"Did you hear those wolves, Alvina?" her father asked, speaking with his mouth full.
"No, I did not, Father." The father huffed. Alvina was trying to piece together what had happened the night before.
'Maybe, it was a odd dream.' She smiled to herself as she ate. 'Wolves can't talk.'
"Alvina, what are you smiling about?" her mother said.
"Oh, nothing Mother. I was just lost in thought."
"Well don't get too lost because we have jobs to do." The mother teased. Alvina smiled at her mother's response.
"I won't Mother." The father got up and grabbed his bag.
"I'm going to work." He said as he headed out the door.
"Goodbye Honey." Said the mother. She got up and grabbed his plate.
"Mother, let me help you." Alvina got up and grabbed her plate and mother's.
"Oh thank you, Alvina. Also, Jakob will be helping us to prepare for the winter. Isn't that lovely?" Alvina nodded automatically.
"The more hands, the better!" Her mother smiled.
"Now go wash the clothes. And your dress. Dear, how did that stain get on your dress?"
"Oh, I assume it must be the she I was using yesterday for that woman's dress." Her mother nodded.
"Well clean it up. You want to look nice when Jakob gets here." Alvina nodded again before gathering the dirty clothes and heading to the wash board. She carried the washboard and basin to the nearby river. There, she scrubbed the clothes and occasionally hit her knuckle on the metal.
"Hello there, Alvina. Do you need help?" Jakob appeared almost right next to her. Startled, she gasped and pressed her hand to her chest.
"Did I startle you, my lady?"
"Yes, Jakob. You did but it is alright." Jakob smiled and sat down next to Alvina.
"What happened to your dress?" He asked, lifting the hem up to inspect the stain further.
"It's green dye." She gently took the fabric back and continued her work.
"A lovely lady like yourself shouldn't be out here alone. There's wolves out in these woods and I heard they love to eat the beautiful women." He said, grabbing a piece of her stray locks and letting it fall.
"Well I guess I'm not that beautiful if they haven't tried to come for me yet." He chuckled.
"They're just waiting for the right moment to get you!" He grabbed her shoulders and shook her. She yelped in response.
"That is not okay!" he continued to laugh while she finished her last shirt.
"Well, sir, could you help bring the washboard and basin back?" he nodded and grabbed the items before following her.
She placed the clothes on the clothes line to let them dry in the wind.
"Alvina, how about you join me to grab some groceries? Your mother told me that she needed more food soon." Jakob held out his hand and graciously, she took it.
"Alright Jakob. Let us go. But did she tell you what we needed?" he nodded.
"I'll tell you when we see it."
As they wandered around the market, Alvina noticed something in the corner of her eye. It was a woman with chestnut hair, long and flowing down her back. Her skin was an olive tone, a contrast to the other people there. Her clothes were quite odd from the rest. Thick cloths and ragged clothes. She was the odd one out in the crowd and she looked confused.
"Jakob, we should help her. She looks lost." She gestured to the woman wandering about. Jakob glanced at the woman and turned her gaze back to her.
"Hm. I don't know. She doesn't seem like she should be here." He whispered back to her. Alvina bit her lip and shook her head in disagreement.
"Nonetheless, it is kind to help her. You continue to get the food and I'll help her." Before he could respond, she was already on her way to the mysterious woman.
"Hello, ma'am. You look lost. Do you need help?" The woman seemed somewhat startled.
"Oh... Yes. I am." Her forest green eyes looked around, unsure.
"Um, alright. What is your name miss?"
"Uh... Maaike." 'What a strange name' she thought.
"Well, come with me. I'm sure I could help you." Alvina smiled gently at the woman and she smiled back. Jakob approached the two with fruits in hand.
"Come on, let us return back before your mother comes searching for us." Alvina nodded.
"Jakob, can she come with us? Maaike needs help and maybe find work somewhere?" she hinted to Jakob.
"Oh, alright. She can come with us. We'll see if we can find you somewhere to stay." Maaike smiled a little before they began their small trek back to Alvina's house.