Violet Riding Hood

Chapter 9

The Wolf Attacks

The party was starting to calm down when Vallery returned to the Square, since many people were already too drunk to keep dancing, the campfires were losing strength and even the musicians were very tired already.

Vallery was trying to act like nothing special had happened, adjusting her violet cloak and putting her Wolf tail back in its place as best as she could. She hoped that her mother would not ask anything particularly awkward about her activities that night, and she was relieved to see that Harry was busy paying silver coins to the musicians at those moments.

"Where did you disappear to?"

Vallery turned around with surprise, relieved to discover one of her best friends standing behind her. She was a rather tall girl with long, messy brown hair and green eyes who always looked like she was sick or something, wearing a bright yellow cloak and a gray coat as protection against the terrible cold.

"Jane!" Vallery replied, evading the question- "I was wondering when you would show up for the celebrations..."

"I have been around" Jane continued- "Come on, tell me! I saw you and Hawthorn sneaking away, you pair of mischievous criminals- What have you done this time?"

Vallery looked towards the beer and bread stalls, realizing that her mother was throwing an alarming, suspicious stare at her. She was sure that Susan knew perfectly well what had just happened, and perhaps she had even lied to Harry to protect her and Catherine that night...

"Do you know all that soft hay, in the barn?" Vallery asked Jane, and they both released a mischievous laughter.

At that moment, a blood chilling scream came from somewhere in the village and it echoed everywhere like a ghost in the night. It seemed to Vallery that it had been a woman who screamed, and everyone at the party, already frozen by the terrible cry, became terrified when a powerful growl came and the very ground began to shake...

The soldiers were scrambled all around the square, coming out of their concealed positions everywhere... even Harry drew out a sword ready to fight, but it was already too late.

"What the hell...?!" Vallery asked herself, paralyzed by angst and fear.

Something large as a horse and black as the night charged into the party with dramatic agility and speed, its violet eyes gleaming as it chased and killed people like they were squirrels. A fully armed and armored soldier was sent flying very far by a casual swath of a paw, and the deafening growls could be heard all over the village.

"Vallery!" Susan cried out, running for her life.

Harry was already in full retreat, the soldiers were preparing ropes and hooks to catch the beast, the screams of terror were coming from everywhere at once and Vallery witnessed as one of the soldiers got sliced in half by the terrible claws.

The red blood was visible in the snow everywhere, arms and heads falling as the monster continued the attack...

The Wolf charged straight towards Vallery as it chased the retreating Harry, but then Harry dived for his life as the black monster jumped very high above him... Susan looked back for a moment knowing her fate, Vallery screamed and a split second later the creature had landed and Susan was dead.

"No!"

Vallery cried as the Wolf let Susan's head fall to the snow, Jane was screaming beyond control of herself and then it advanced slowly towards them...

26-

Sage Sallyahel

The Wolf stared straight at Vallery like there was nobody else all around it, decidedly ignoring the screaming Jane and the soldiers that were drawing closer with hooks and ropes ready in their hands...