Short Stories

Heartless [Turned Tables]

^ please excuse the really badly made cover, it was in a rush so i could submit this story

competition entry <3

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I have a child.

Every day, I would go out and hunt. Hunt for food for my son, and myself. For us to stay alive, for us to have a life, even a terrible one. Wolfie would stay hidden in the den, buried under piles of leaves in a hole I dug years ago. While he naps or sleeps, I would go find food, but it was never enough.

I would come back, after each night with barely anything. Sometimes, if I was lucky, I would've caught a beaver, and some other nights we live on squirrels and birds. There was this phase when we ate roots and berries.

It started with Wolffia left. We were in the Lokus Forest back then, when we actually had animals to kill. Wolffia was the daughter of the chief, also my lover. After Wolfie was born, her dad kicked me out of the group because I broke a rule while dating Wolffia. I wasn't allowed to hunt with her, which we did a few times. I was told to take Wolfie with me, and I had to leave the forest forever.

So the next available forest was the Heartless Forest, and it sounds exactly like it's name. It has no animals whatsoever, it's nights are cold and frosty. It's heartless. And pretty soon, I grew to the name. I my heart was cold, but no one can blame me. I was left by myself, only having my son as company.

So when I saw her, I was thrilled.

An old lady that lives in a cottage in the middle of the house calls her 'Red'. I guess that would make sense, as she wears a red hood and her dress is red and white. She also holds a basket.

I'll start from the top.

That very day, I was roaming around the forest, desperate to find something to feed on. Once again, I left Wolfie in our little den. When suddenly, a strange scent flowed by. I sniffed the air, trying to detect the smell. It was unfamiliar, rarely around here. I followed the whiff and finally arrived on a dirt path. It was the Red, wearing her cape. She hopped and skipped on the path, whistling a happy tune as she went along the trail.

I trotted up to her, circling her. She didn't seem scared that a wolf was tracing her. Instead, she smiled happily and stroked my fur.

"Hey child." I mumbled. "What's your name?"

"Red. Little Red Riding Hood," she replied.

We had a long conversation about where she was going. She was naive, and I could easily get her back for my son. We were starving; We didn't eat for three days already. I was weak and I really could use some food. Apparently, she was going to her sick grandmother's house, cottage in the middle of the forest.

That was even better. I could have two people for Wolfie and I. It would be plenty and we could even save some for the following weeks. It was a clever and foolproof plan, hiding these two- one old and fragile, and the other, stupid and dumb, as long as no one else got into our plan.

I didn't realize we were walking as we were talking, and soon, we were in flatground with lots of colourful flowers around it. To distract her, I came up with a plan.

"Oh, what lovely flowers!" I spoke, pointing at the rainbow mess beside us. "I bet your granny would love some of them. Say is your granny's cottage just along this path?" I added, hoping it won't be too obvious.

"Yes! And what a great idea you had. I'll go pick some right now! Thank you, Mr. Wolf Man." She hopped off the path and started to pick the stems. I smirked, knowing that her picking flowers would take some time. Quietly, I slipped away and made my way to the lone cottage.

The cottage was small, made of bricks. I wouldn't be able to destroy it, I remember that one time my cousin tried to blow down a house made of bricks. Long story short, he ended up in the hospital with a sore, burnt bottom. And was sent to jail for a few years for destroying some pig's property.

I knocked on the door, and heard a weak reply. "Who is it?" A shaky female voice spoke.

"Um," I paused and fit myself with a girly voice. "It's Red Riding Hood!"

"Oh, Red, come on in," She returned. Glad that worked, I opened the unlocked door and strode in like it was my house. The woman stared at me with horrified eyes, which soon turned to confused ones.

"Oh, my, Red, you look different!" She exclaimed. She was in bed, covers over her.

"Oh, I know," I said in my normal voice, as I reached the bed. I clamped one hand over her mouth as the other took her hat off. As I widen my mouth. I swallowed her as a whole, but it didn't arrive at my stomach yet. I stored her in my throat, as I know if she was in my stomach, I won't be able to spit her out later.

Red would be coming, so I needed to dress quickly if I wanted to swallow her too. To kill time, I put on the granny hat and went under the warm covers to hide my led grey fur.

The door knocked. It was Red, right on time. I allowed her in, as she sat next to me, unpacking the basket. It was filled with foods, like bread and butter, fruits and some cakes. Delicious. I could bring them for dessert.

"My, granny, what big ears you have!" She says with awareness. Wow, Red, great observation.

I decided to play it cool. "Yes, better to hear with you, dear,"

"My, granny, what big eyes you have!" Are you serious? Thanks for the observation, I didn't know that.

"Oh, yes, dear, better to see with you, dear," I replied. She smiles as she places the cakes out in a neat order.

"My, granny, what big teeth you have!"

This was it. This was the time.

"Yes, dear, better to eat you with!" I sprung out of bed and leaped towards her. Unfortunately for me, she moved quickly and swiftly, dodging me. I landed on the floor instead, and she ran out of the house, screaming for help. I chased after her. She must not attract anyone.

"Yes, dear, what's going on?" A man walked by us, seeing me running after Red. Oh, no. No, no, no! He's going to ruin everything! I need to escape. I turned the other way and started to leave, but the Huntsman caught me. I was held onto tightly as Red explained everything.

"Spit her out! Spit her out or I'll shoot," He pointed the rifle to my head. I was drowned in sorrow, with nothing to do.

Maybe I could run. I was faster than any human, but with his pistol, I don't know if I can make it. 

No, Wolfie won't be able to survive without me.

I gave in, and finally, spit the old nanny out. She was frazzled of fright, but still together and well alive. I wonder how the hunter knew I didn't swallow her completely.

The Hunter, Red and the granny left, leaving me alone. Before so, he threatened to kill me if I ever tried to eat another human being. I was extremely saddened by this.

What about us, the animals? I need to survive too. Wolfie does, all life needs a life. It's okay for humans to kill animals, but if an animal killed a human, they are considered dangerous? No one knows how it feels like. I don't want to hurt anyone, but I have no choice. I wanted my son to survive, maybe has a slightly better life than me. 

Because I wanted the best for Wolfie. Is that bad? I'm his parent and I want to protect him and watch him grow. I'm his parent and it's my responsibility to take care of him. 

To love him.

But how is that possible with everyone getting in my way? Yes, I can bear it, I can stay hungry and still live.

But what about my children? I'm sure, many out there, they have the proper resources, have food have everything they need. I'm sure they have love from their parents. I'm sure they can live a happy life. 

The world is cruel. Not only to me, but I bet many others too. All I wanted was to save myself and my son from hunger. I just wanted to protect him from suffering. Humans don't like it when we do it to them, so why is it okay for them to do it to us?

I didn't want to cause trouble at all. I only wanted to help.

But I guess no one will know that.