Red ridding and the wolf

Scarlet tears

Red ran home bumping and pushing into people on the way. When she got to her home she slammed the door shut and leaned against it breathing heavily. The stories couldn't be true. And I have nothing to do with it. Red closed her eyes tightly. She only opened them when she heard her mother.
Reds mother was a plump woman with thick black hair dark as night with brown almost black eyes and dark skin the complete opposite of her thick curly red haired pale hazel eyed father. Red favored her fathers looks all except for her mothers hips. Those she got stuck with. Reds mom smiled at her before she spoke"red your home Just in time for dinner your father is out in the woods again." "WHAT." Red panicked thinking off the strange note and the engagement offering of animals. "What's wrong dear?"
"Oh um nothing mother I was just worried about the animals."
Reds mom laughed."don't worry dear your father can take care of himself he's been hunting since before you were born."
"Still he should be careful." Insisted red.
"Quit worrying dear he's fine for now."

"That's what I'm afraid of." Red muttered lowly.

"Come." Her mother hurried her."dinners done."
They had a small kitchen with a table in the corner a stove a small fire inside it and a small basin to clean up with. Their kitchen was small but it was theirs. Just like the rest of their home. Red didn't care that her home wasn't as extravagant and spacious as some of the richer villagers homes,it was hers. Filled with light,love, and laughter red absolutely loved her home. Hers was unique with it being warm and welcoming not at all like the dark,cold,and solemn houses of most of the village. And for that she was thankful. It was one of the reasons why she'd do anything to protect her family,and no wolf would ever change that. "Well well well look who's home Elizabeth." Red whipped her head around and spied her father at the door. She rushed to him and hugged him."oomph what are you feeding her Liz she's almost as strong as me."
"Nonsense." Reds mom laughed."if anything its because of you."
Her father glared playfully at her mother."what are you saying woman. Are you suggesting I'm a bad influence on little red here."
"I'm not little I'm 18." Red interjected.
"Of course sweetheart."
Red only rolled her eyes,but a small smile remained on her face. She admired her parents love for one another. She may not actively seek out love but, she wouldn't mind one like her parents. Not that she'd ever admit it. Maybe the wolf in the villagers and her grandmothers stories was only such a mean,cruel,wicked thing because he never had a love like that. Of course she'd never know considering no ones seen or heard from the wolf in a while. And those who remember it won't talk about what really happened. Of course she didn't even believe the stories so it didn't matter to her. But,she still wondered if that could perhaps be one of the reasons why the big bad wolf was so feared and hated.

Red and her parents were at their small table eating the stew her mom prepared for dinner. Red decided to ask her father about the wolf.
"Father is there any wolves in the woods or around the village?" Both of her parents froze and whipped their startled gazes to her."why would you ask that red?" Her fathers voice had a tone to it she'd never heard before. It was hard,cruel,and scared all at once.
Red swallowed before she spoke." I saw one today." Her statement was met with silence. Finally it wasn't her father who spoke but her mother." We aren't aloud to talk about the wolves red.  What you saw today must not be repeated to anyone,especially if it was with a engagement offering . I fear for you. Please for the sake of us all do not ask again." Red didn't question how her mother knew about the engagement offering. She'd never hinted at it,never mind told about it. And she knew better than to ask about it. The rest of dinner was ate in silence. As was the rest of the night. She was not the only one unaware of the glowing eyes who watched her in the distance. That was when her mothers fears were justified. They just never knew it.