Wolf
K. Swartz
Red walked down the dirt path with her head held down low. She wanted to slip under the radar for the most part. The Queen’s guard did wander this far in, but they would get in her way more than anything. She had someone in mind.
A hand stopped her. She jumped as if she did not expect it. She saw him coming for about ten minutes. It was only a matter of time before he stopped her, especially when he saw that she was a girl in a red cloak.
Biting her lip, she looked up between her lashes as if she was scared. “Little girl,” the man said, “what are you doing out here all alone? Don’t you know how dangerous these woods are?” Of course, she knew but that was the point.
She forced a quiver in her voice. “Sir, I am on my way to my sick grandmother.” She held out her basket full of apples. “I am to bring these to her and care for her.”
He looked around before sighing. “Is it far?” She shook her head.
“Just over that hill and down the path lined with flowers.”
He paused and looked in the direction. “I just came from there. I’ll walk you.” She smiled, showing off her teeth.
“Thank you, kind sir.” Holding out her other hand, he took it and off they went.
Over the hill and down the path of flowers was not far, and she was safe as can be. Her grandmother’s cottage came into sight. She dropped her basket with a gasp. “Sir, will you please help me pick these up?”
He bent down to grab the apples as her grandmother came to the door. She was dressed in a simple dress and her bonnet.
“Is that Red?” she called out in her sickeningly sweet voice.
The man looked up as he finished picking up the last apple. The basket was full once again. They made their way over. It was sad that he didn’t see the bat leaning against the house. As he opened to explain his presence, Red swung the bat and caught him in the back of the head.
After all, she was the danger in the woods, and he really shouldn't have talked to a stranger.
A hand stopped her. She jumped as if she did not expect it. She saw him coming for about ten minutes. It was only a matter of time before he stopped her, especially when he saw that she was a girl in a red cloak.
Biting her lip, she looked up between her lashes as if she was scared. “Little girl,” the man said, “what are you doing out here all alone? Don’t you know how dangerous these woods are?” Of course, she knew but that was the point.
She forced a quiver in her voice. “Sir, I am on my way to my sick grandmother.” She held out her basket full of apples. “I am to bring these to her and care for her.”
He looked around before sighing. “Is it far?” She shook her head.
“Just over that hill and down the path lined with flowers.”
He paused and looked in the direction. “I just came from there. I’ll walk you.” She smiled, showing off her teeth.
“Thank you, kind sir.” Holding out her other hand, he took it and off they went.
Over the hill and down the path of flowers was not far, and she was safe as can be. Her grandmother’s cottage came into sight. She dropped her basket with a gasp. “Sir, will you please help me pick these up?”
He bent down to grab the apples as her grandmother came to the door. She was dressed in a simple dress and her bonnet.
“Is that Red?” she called out in her sickeningly sweet voice.
The man looked up as he finished picking up the last apple. The basket was full once again. They made their way over. It was sad that he didn’t see the bat leaning against the house. As he opened to explain his presence, Red swung the bat and caught him in the back of the head.
After all, she was the danger in the woods, and he really shouldn't have talked to a stranger.