Lineage: The Legend of The Red Riding Hood

Chapter 02: A Mother's Love

Only a few hours away, the Harvest Moon Festival draws near. Strolling near the woods picking berries, Coraline hums a merry tune as she puts them inside her basket. Although the berries are more abundant in some areas, her mother forbids her from going anywhere near the deeper parts of the woods. "Well, that should be enough." She said, looking at her basket half-full with berries. Maybe just a few more? She starts contemplating about taking a quick stroll farther into the woods. No, the sun is already setting.

Coraline hummed, joyfully skipping all the way home while gently swayingthe picnic basket with her arms. She passes a field of meadows that were taller than her by five inches, she used to get lost around here often when she was still a child. She remembers the time when she would cry and just sat there in the grass, waiting for her mother to find her, soothing her until she stops crying.

"Mom I'm home." Coraline said, opening the front door of their house.

"Welcome home sweetie," Minerva greeted her daughter with a kiss on the forehead. "So did you gather enough berries?" She asked.

"Yes mom, I think this should be enough for the Harvest Moon Gathering." Coraline said, placing the basket on the table.

Minerva transferred all the berries in a bowl, washing them in the sink. Coraline helped too, putting the washed berries in a larger bowl. It didn't took them long to finish, after preparing the berries Minerva told her daughter to get ready because they'll be leaving in an hour.

She puts on her best white dress that only goes all the way down to her upper knees, designed with floral arts near the trim line and accompanying it with her tight fitted black leather boots that covers most of her ankles. Coraline is now ready for the Harvest Moon Gathering. But before they left, Coraline took another look at the mirror, admiring her beautiful dress that perfectly complements the shape of her body. Damn I look good, Coraline thought.

"You look perfect sweetheart I promise." Minerva smiles at her beautiful daughter who has finally reached that phase all women go through.

They arrived at the chief's house, which commoners like them would consider calling a mansion because of its size alone, not even including their yard. Surrounded with outbuildings for chickens, pigs, cows and other livestock. There's even a storage room for wine and other alcohols just at the back of their house. At the left side of the front yard is an orange orchard, once blushing with sweet oranges and covered in thick healthy leaves, now withering away. Coraline had often visited the chief since she'd become the apprentice of Linda, the chief's wife who also happens to be the best cook in the village.

She had always dreamed to have even just a fraction of Linda's skills, cooking exquisite dishes worthy to be served in a king's plate. Coraline's a fast learner, she's an expert in handling knives and other sharp objects, slicing and cutting through flesh with exact precision. Which got Linda curious, since Coraline barely spends anytime in the kitchen and spends most of her days in the woods. So when Linda asked her how she learned this, Coraline simply shrugged her shoulders, saying she doesn't know either.

At the center of the room all the foods for the gathering were placed on a large rectangular dining table. Most of the villagers had already settled in on their seats, chatting, talking about how many crops they yield this year, and the somewhat alarming number of rumors they've heard about neighboring villages getting attacked.

Every Harvest Moon Festival they held a ceremony in which a young girl will light everyone's candle in the room in thanks for the bountiful harvest they all yield this year, and the girl that will do that this year is Lyra, the chief's daughter. A beautiful girl with gorgeous golden hair and fair skin almost so perfect that you might actually think she's some kind of fairy if it's your first time meeting her. But despite all that beauty on the outside, it's completely the opposite on the inside. Because people always tell her how beautiful she is, complementing on her looks, and praising even the smallest of accomplishments, she became very conceited and full herself. But even with her nasty personality she easily gets out of trouble because of her charms.