The Dark Fur Of The Forest: The True Story of Little Red Riding Hood.

Chapter 11: Goodbye

" Do you really have to go?" Asked Irvin as he saw me pack up things I needed to get to back home.

" Yeah, I can't leave my family, thinking I got killed or something," I replied as I picked up a bedroll. It has been a few days since the incident. We made a funeral for Colis, but it was dark and full of anger and sorrow. Then we tried to rebuild the house. It was too damaged to repair. Grandma decided with Irvin that she would take his treehouse as her home until they can get enough supplies to build a new house. I was in the treehouse packing up all the things that I needed and could find. However, it wouldn't matter. I was to ride Irvin which would reduce my time to a day and a half out of the woods.

" What if it won't let you leave?" Asked Irvin. I sigh and turn to him. We had discussed this already. IT was the forest.

" Irvin. The forest can't let me stay, it knows that. I may be part of it now, but I'll always come back. I can never leave it and my grandma behind. Especially you too!" I grabbed his hand and smiled, " I think, no I know that it knows that I will always come back, that is why it lets me go." He looked away from my face and I felt his hand trembled.

" I don't want you to go," he said quietly. I can tell he was trying not to cry.

" Hey," I took his face into my hands, " We still have the journey to the edge of the woods, it's not goodbye yet." I kissed him then turn back to packing. He helps me in silence until I was done.

" Oh, you re done." stated grandma who walked into the living room.

" Yeah, I guess we better go," I said. I didn't want to go, at the same time that I felt like I needed too. I hold in my tears as I hugged Grandma. I tell her that I will come back in about a week or so. She nods with tears in her eyes. I look away not wanting to see her tears or mine.

" Goodbye," I said to her as we walked out the door. I climbed down the latter with Irvin behind me. I reach the ground and look up at the treehouse. Grandma had come out onto the porch to watch me leave. I faked a smile and walked to the clearing. Irvin came over and transform. I climbed up to him and looked over at grandma. I wave my hand as we rushed into the dark forest. I quickly turn back to the front and feel the tears flow down my face. I make no sound but cried quietly. I knew that Irvin knows what happening so the ride was quiet.

I didn't want to think about how harder it would be to let Irvin go. No, lets not think about that! I told myself as we rushed away. It was hours before Irvin started to talk. I want to know....what are you going to tell your parents about your wolf side? He asked. I thought about it before answering.

" I am going to just hide it. I will pull my hood to hid my ears and my clock is long enough to hide my tail. Well until I can break it to them." Okay, so what are you going to do when you get back?

" Well, see I have no friends, so I will just spend family time and miss you a lot," I said, I started to feel sad about it. Hmmm ...okay. After that, we were silent for a time. We made it to the small stream when it was night time. I slid off his back and set up camp. He turned back human and helped. It didn't take long before we had a fire and some meat cooking that Irvin had caught. We ate and then watch the fire burn. I didn't want to sleep, for knowing tomorrow will be heartbreak.

" I wish this can last forever." I finally broke the silence. I was poking a stick into the fire and watching it burn. I was scared at what I might find of Irvin's expression.

" Me too." He said. I nod and all was quiet. I was starting to drift off to sleep, but I didn't want to sleep. Not yet anyway.

" You should get some rest. I will take watch." He broke the silence. I wanted to argue with him, but I wasn't in the mood.

" Okay," I replied and went over to my sleeping bag. I crawled into it and stared into the fire. I started to see images in the flames and as suddenly as I watched them I awoke to birds singing. I must have fallen asleep when I was watching the fire. The fire was gone, only ashes in its place. Which started to make me cry for no reason. I was only crying for a few minutes but it felt like hours.

I didn't realize that Irvin was holding me until I stopped crying. I wiped my face with my hands and stood up.

" Let's go." my voice sounded rough to my ears. We both packed up our things. Finally, when that was done, I went over to the stream and drank from it. Then splash some water on Irvin, I was in a better mood when we were on the way.

We talked about life and funny things that happened to us. We were trying to keep the mood cheerful, only as we came closer, we started talking less.

Finally, we came to view the border and my house. I slid off Irvin, trembling, not wanting to say goodbye. He turned back to his human form and was frowning.

" Well, I guess this is goodbye," I said quietly.

" Yeah, I guess so." He replied in a whisper. I take a step towards my house, but my stupid emotion got in the way. I rushed back to him and hugged him. He held me for a few minutes. I kissed him and finally stepped back.

" No, you are coming with me," I said, determined.

" Red, please don't, you already know that it won't work." He said sadly not wanting to look at me. I grab his arm and tugged him to the edge where the town meets the woods. I was suddenly stopped. I turned and saw that Irvin was pushed flat against something invisible.

"As I said, it won't work." He said. I grabbed both of his hands and tugged as much as I can. I was losing strength and Knew it wasn't going to work. But at the last second was a loud popping sound and Irvin flew on top of me.

I was breathing hard and Irvin's face was smashed into mine. He got rolled off of me. We laid side by side, breathing hard as if we were running a marathon. After a while, I realize what happened.

" Irvin!" I said, sitting up with renewed energy. "You're free."

" I'm free," he whispered. " I'm Free! I'm Free!!" He yelled out in happiness. He had jumped up to his feet and was running around with a huge smile. I stood up too in happiness.

" Let's go meet my parents," I said. He took my hand and pulled up my hood over my ears. I grinned and we walk up to the house. I look at him, and he looks at me. I open the door and thought, This is going to be fun.

The End