Scarlet Snow

Chapter 3

She didn't understand the danger that the wolf was.

Elsa's POV

The next morning I woke up to an empty house.  Grandma was out in town, leaving me to myself for the day.  Without any hesitation I ate a quick breakfast, grabbed my velvet blue cloak, and dashed into the forest beyond my home. I wouldn't bring Olaf with me this time. I didn't want to risk him running off.

The sky was overcast, layered with thick rolling clouds. It would rain today for sure. I just hoped it wouldn't interfere with my meeting with Jack.

I came to a stop beside the bubbling stream. It was pretty fast moving, running over rocks and trickling out of sight.

I tossed a few pieces of moss into the stream, watching the current carry them away.

"Isn't there anything better to do with your time?" Jack asked from behind me. I spun around. The last bits of moss fell from my hands and were swept away by the stream in one clump.

"You were taking a while, and I got bored," I replied defensively.

"You never specified a time for us to meet," he pointed out.

"A smart guy like you would figure it out eventually."

He glanced around, hands deep in his pockets. His eyes kept flickering as they danced around.

"You should get home," he told me. "It could rain any second."

"Are you scared of a little rain?" I teased.

"It's not the rain I'm scared of."

His eyes held mine, captivating me. Thunder rumbled overhead. For a second his eyes looked slanted. Almost like a wolf's. Then they were back to normal, and I was left wondering if I had imagined it.

"This meeting was the only thing I was looking forward to today," I told him. He broke eye contact.

"Don't. Stay away from the north part of the woods. Go home and don't open the door for anybody."

"Jack?"

"Just don't."

He turned and disappeared between the trees. I watched him go. Then my eyes narrowed. I wasn't going to just let that go. I chased after him.

"Jack! Get back here! I'm not done with you!"

He stepped out of the trees in front of me, watching me warily. I paused. I hadn't expected him to actually stop.

"What?" he asked. I stumbled over my words.

"You can't just come to meet me, then tell me to go away," I told him. "What was all that back there? What are you scared of?"

He glanced over his shoulder, then up at the sky.

"How much do you know about your grandma?" he finally asked. I blinked.

"My grandma? You're scared of my grandma?"

His expression became pained.

"What do you know about her?" he pressed.

"She's my grandma. She's the one who took care of me after my parents died."

"But before that. Did you know her before that?"

"Well, no, I . . . she sent for me. That's what the lawyers told me. She's my last family."

Jack turned and started walking away again. My confusion turned into frustration.

"Jack, get back here!"

"Go home, Elsa."

I followed after him.

"Jack!"

There was no response.  I looked at the ground.  I could clearly see his footprints in the dirt.  I followed them for a short distance before stopping and frowning.  I doubled back.  Jack's footprints vanished, their place taken by wolf prints.  Farther on the wolf tracks became too difficult to follow.  Thunder rumbled overhead and I headed home.

I began running as the first drops of rain splattered the ground.