As the carriage drove up the driveway, I was practically bouncing in excitement and almost in time with the horses' "clip clop clip clop" When the carriage stopped in front of the house I bounded to the door and enveloped my favorite cousin into a hug right as she stepped out. "Ack! Scarlet, your gonna hug all the air out of me!" Rouge cried. I laugh and let her go, but not before one final squeeze. "Was the ride here alright?" I asked, slipping my arm into hers. "It was quite nice actually. My back and legs thank that new carriage!" We walked into the house, arm in arm as the staff stood in greeting of Rouge. It was formal for only a second though before everyone rushed about, receiving hugs from her, and asking her what happened on her journey. 

When everyone was finally sat at the dinner table later in the evening, Rouge was bombarded with questions. My uncle Cole asks Rouge if she has been eating well and drinking plenty of water, and my aunt Edna wants to know if anyone gave her trouble during her travels. The twins are trying to get in a word over all the questions coming from their parents. I stay quiet and enjoy the chaos, since I know I will be able to talk Rouge later. Even though they are not my parents, or my sisters, they feel like it. I've lived with them for most of my life and I wouldn't have it any other way, It's just that, I wish I could've grown up with my parents too. I don't want to be sad though, because Rouge is home and everyone is back together again. 

Later after everyone had eaten, we all headed to the sitting room. The fire glows and crackles, shining warm light on all of us. Dune and Edith play quietly on the ground together, while Cole and Edna engage in a game of chess. My uncle grumbles about the unfairness of having to play against a master, cause he always loses. Rouge and I are curled up on the comfiest sofa, a big red one with fluffy cushions and carved wooden legs. She leans her head on my shoulder as she catches me up on her journey. Since she is now an official family member, she has to complete her duties as a Hood. She dawns her red hooded cloak and goes about meeting with other important people, and making business deals. She won't tell me the exact specifics of what she does though, since we are not allowed to know much till we come of age.  I'm just so excited to turn 15 and begin doing my part as a Hood. 

"Scarlet, do you ever wonder what life would be like if we weren't Hoods, just regular people?" I furrow my brows. "Sometimes" I answer. That's a lie, because I think about it often. I think about if maybe my parents wouldn't have died if they hadn't had to travel to Grandmothers, because they were just normal people. I know that fate works the way it does for a reason, but that doesn't mean it is fair. Rouge doesn't respond, but I hear her breathing settle. I snuggle into the corner of the couch and drift of to the sounds of the fire. I dream of my mom and dad, and of snuggling by the fire with them. Of eating dinner with them, and of watching them play chess. 

When I wake up, tears have dried on my cheeks and my back is sore from sleeping on the couch. I'm shocked at the fact I cried. I don't ever cry for my parents. Rouge must have gotten up in the middle of the night to go to bed, because the couch is empty beside me. I quietly creep upstairs as no one is awake yet. I wash the salt off of my face in a basin of cold water and even though I was tired before, I'm certainly not anymore. I go about changing my clothes and brushing my hair. I keep my hair up in a ponytail all the time so it's out of my face. I got my hair from my mom, it's dark and has a slight wave to it. She always took immense care of hers, and it stood out against her pale skin. She was very beautiful and having her hair makes me feel pretty. I look over to the window, out at the forest view. I see a movement coming from the trees, as a big black bear comes ambling out of the forest. It's not uncommon to see wildlife snacking on the edible red berries around the property, but it's still surprising to see the bear. It is only then that I see the other, small shape moving across the lawn, straight towards the dangerous beast.