Violet Riding Hood

Chapter 2

Swordhorn was a small but quite beautiful village, featuring the same peaceful style that was a classic in every alpine town of the Northern Mountains.

There was a time when travelers from the coastal cities would visit Swordhorn every Winter to enjoy the snow and skate on the frozen lakes hidden in the forest, but just like it had happened with most of the other positive features of the village, the Wolf had ruined that too.

The houses were wooden and cute even in the case of the poorest families, the snowy streets were made of gray and black rock that they extracted from the mountains and there was a great square in the very center of the village, which was the favorite place of the villagers to gather and share interesting conversations every morning...

"Vallery, be strong" Catherine said, hugging her friend as they walked into the square- "Lucy would have wanted you to be strong, don't you think so?"

The Gothic-style Church looked solemn and sad thanks to the light coming from inside, and the bells up in the towers were ringing in the slow, respectful pattern that was used for all the funerals. Vallery looked around to discover that at least two hundred people had shown up to attend her sister's funeral, and she was thankful that her family was getting all that support from the Swordhorn community.

"Thank you, Catherine" Vallery said- "I am so cold..."

It was night already and the wind was very cold, so Catherine took off her heavy Woodcutter coat and she placed it on the shivering Vallery. Many people looked at them as they drew closer to the Church, and then they realized that there was a tall and handsome young man waiting for them at the entrance.

"Hello, Vallery" the man said, hugging Vallery a few seconds later- "I am very sorry..."

Harry Goldenlock was indeed one of the most attractive young men in the village, with shoulder-long brown hair, a slender but strong body and intensely brown eyes that caused all the teenage girls to daydream about him.

The expensive brown cloak and elegant leather boots marked him as the son of the wealthiest family of Swordhorn, and he worked with his father learning the fine arts of swordcrafting every day.

In contrast to the dirty, rugged and worn-out Catherine the presence of Harry was simply spectacular, but still, Vallery felt no desire to marry the wealthy heir despite all the good looks and money...

"Thank you, Harry." Vallery replied, her voice barely more than a sad whisper.

"We have already paid for everything, it shall be a memorable funeral in every way" Harry continued- "I wanted nothing but the best for little Lucy... just like I shall give the best to you as well."

Catherine and Harry looked at Vallery waiting for her to enter the Church first, but the seconds were passing and Vallery would not advance. She looked emotionless and cold like a statue of ice, and then, Vallery finally reacted and did something that nobody expected her to do that night:

"Give me that!" she cried, taking Catherine's Woodcutter axe before she could react.

"Vallery!" Catherine called for her, but Vallery was already marching out of the square on her way to the forest and nobody in the world would convince her to return...

"I am killing that Wolf!" she screamed, holding the axe with both hands- "I am so killing that Wolf!"

Harry and Catherine watched in shock as Vallery disappeared far into the snowy streets of Swordhorn, a huge and purple Full Moon gleaming in the sky...

"What are you waiting for?!" Catherine said, turning to look at Harry- "You are her future husband, go and bring her back!"

"You do it, Hawthorn" Harry replied- "Seven silver coins if you go right now!"