The Girl in Red

I know everyone thinks Little Red Riding Hood is some kind of saint. But the've got it all wrong. She is a little pain in the rear end. I would know. I've had personal experience with her horrors. She almost caught me once, when I was just a little pup. She is an insult to the very world.

One day my family and I were out hunting when suddenly all of the deer stampeded! We hadn't even started stalking them yet! There was a flash of Red. Now WE were the ones running! I didn't know what was happening! I had gotten so absorbed in in my thoughts that i didn't realize I had tripped until I was face down on the ground. I thought it was the end of me. Just when I had lost all hope, my sisters swooped in and snatched me up by the scruff. We ran like all hell was coming down on us. Once we had escaped we looked for our parents. We never saw them again. So, we started to look for a new home. After several days we finally found a secluded clearing in which we hid. For many years we lived there in peace and contentment. We had plenty of food, water, shelter. It was all a wolf could ever want.

One day I was eating a hunk of meat when I said, "Hey Sis, what's that noise? ( With food spilling out of my mouth ) Before she could answer, the ground began to rumble. I looked up in fear and surprise. I knew this fear. This, this, instinct. Before I knew it, I was sprinting. My sisters beside me. I started to panic. Where would we go? We couldn't outrun her. That malicious red cloaked figure had a wolf of her own, but this wolf wasn't an ordinary wolf. It could run forever. It was more Robot than wolf. So, I made a decision that would change our lives.

I slowed my pace. My sister, Flower, started to slow down too. When I realized this I yelled, "Go! Run as fast as you can! Don't wait for me!"

She protested, "Fang! What are you doing! You must keep running!"

"No!" I said. I'll be okay! Just promise me you won't follow!

"But-"

"Promise!", I howled. She hesitated. There was no time left. So, I did the only thing left to do. I turned on her, baring my teeth and snarling. She got the message. She passed on the orders and they all sped up. My breath was tearing at my lungs as they screamed for me to stop, so I gave in and slowed. When I could see my family no more, I slowed completely. The blood was hammering in my ears as She strode towards me. When she got within six feet of me, I started to snarl. "So," she rattled, "I guess we're going to do this the hard way."Huh?"

My only reply was, "Maybe. Maybe not. It all depends on you." She seemed stunned that I actually answered.

"You, you -"

"Talked?" I finished mischievously.

"Yes!"

"Well, get over it already!" I teased.

"You little steaming pile of -

"Innocence, charm, and handsomeness?"

"That's it! You're dead!" she howled. And she lunged at me with a chain in hand. I sprang for her leg in a false - aim maneuver. Then I jumped for her throat. At the last minute she dodged, but I still sank my teeth into her shoulder on the way down. She shrieked in agony as I tore my teeth from her shoulder and jumped on her chest driving her to the ground. She landed full - force on her back, driving all of the air from her lungs. Right before her head hit the ground I jumped on it. When it did hit the ground I heard a smashing sound. I stepped off of her. The only words that came out of her mouth were: "Star Gentian and Storm Caller...... "

"What?" I gasped. But she had already gone unconscious. She Remembered my Parents? It couldn't be. Was it even possible? If she did remember them it's not like she could bring them back. With that, I tied my prisoner to a tree and settled down for the night.

While I was dozing, I was aware of the night sounds around me. The lonely barn owl looking for it's mate. The dainty does tucking their fawns in inside their cozy thickets. The stealthy weasel searching for fallen bird's eggs. With the thought of my sisters in mind, I fell into a deep slumber.

I was awoken by the sounds of a chain being dragged across stone. I opened my eyes to see Red scraping her chain across a sharp boulder. I sprang up and bowled her over and said, "I think someone is trying to escape."

"Who?" she cooed innocently. She was trying to beat me at my own game! How foolish was she? I shook with laughter. At first she thought I was crying and smiled. Then I opened my mouth and let my laughter out. She looked at me like I had grown another head. This made me laugh even more. By this time I was rolling on the ground and beating it with my tail. When my laughing spasms had subsided, I asked, "So, do you think you can escape me?"

"What! Escape you? Never. Her voice oozed with sarcasm.

"You really want to go there?"

"Of course!"

" Then let's get down to business."

"Ready when you are!" I grabbed her chains and unlocked them. As soon as she was free she charged. And I was ready for her. She tried to get a hand around my neck, but I was too fast for her. I bit down on her hand and spun around. Causing her to lose her balance and fall. Suddenly realization came across her face and she reached into her boot and pulled out a knife. I was at her in an instant I grabbed her wrist in my teeth and bit down as hard as I could. Her grip loosened on the knife enough for it fall to the ground. I kicked it as hard as I could. I looked into her eyes. What I saw there will haunt me forever. I saw an evil so cruel and nasty that it stopped me in my tracks. Giving her the advantage. And she used it. She swung her arm at my jaw. The blow knocked out one of my canines. I couldn't help whimpering. But the pain just fed my fury even more. I lunged for her throat. And this time my teeth met their mark. She gasped in fear and horror. I dragged her to the ground. She tried repeatedly to get free, but her efforts got weaker and weaker. Until she gave up. I let go and allowed nature to take its course. Blood poured from the wound. She tried to say something but all that came out was a spert of blood. Within minutes her breath came in fast, ragged gasps. She was choking on her own blood. With one final gurgle her wretched eyes closed forever.

Suddenly an emense joy filled me from the bottom to the top. I, Fang, had rid all of the wolves in this world from:

THE GIRL IN RED.

With that wonderful thought in my head, I started out towards home, and paused, I had just realized. We never really had a home. Home is where you're safe. Home is where you can raise pups. And home, above all, is where you can: LIVE, LAUGH, and above all, LOVE.

And now, every wolf could have a home, and every wolf could be..........

FREE.