Morning came too early for Red Vitale,

Mother woke her from her restless slumber and told her to prepare. Once she left the room, Red left the warmth of her bed and stepped into the washroom across the hall. The girl made quick work of changing her bandages covering her hands and the rest of her body; luckily, the wounds on her hands were healing quicker than the rest and she assumed they would no longer be necessary after a few days. She shed her nightgown, tossing it into the wash bin and dressed in a cream colored sweater and matching pants. After getting dressed, Red made her way to the kitchen. Mother was by the oven preparing a small breakfast and lunch for Red to take with her on her journey. She grabbed Red’s basket and filled it with her lunch, clothes, pastries, and a bottle of red wine.

Red watched silently, sitting at the table waiting for her breakfast to be served. She would be lying, however, if she said that she wasn’t disappointed at its reduced size. Nonetheless, food is food, Red quickly tore into the meal before her but said a prayer to the animal that was sacrificed. After eating, Red followed her mother out into the field. The sun began to show its head, painting the sky in pinks, purples, and bright oranges. They stood by the river with Red facing her mother, the woman handed Red her basket; Red didn’t know what else she was expecting but waited patiently for Mother to say something. Mother simply stared at her daughter before reaching into the pocket of her skirt and pulling out a small book.

Romeo and Juliet was the title, it looked brand new and worn at the same time.

“John came last night to give this to you. He bought it for you, and wishes you safe travels.” She explained. Red nods, and takes the book also putting it in her large basket. She was about to turn around until her mother brought her close by the shoulders and into a hug.

“You must never stray from the path, Red.” Mother moved slightly, and tilted Red’s head up to look her in the eyes. If there was any emotion hidden behind them, Red would never know.

“Ne deviens pas un fardeau pour ta grand-mère. Me comprenez-vous?” (Do not become a burden for your grandmother. Do you understand me?)

Mother instructed coldly, while tucking a hair behind the girl’s ear. The tone held a threat behind it that sent a shiver down Red’s spine, she could only nod again with her eyes downcasted to the flowers.

However, she heard her mother sigh and looked up once more. Mother didn’t look at Red but to the horizon instead, with a hand over her mouth muffling her words, “S'il vous plaît soyez prudent, Rouge.” (Please be careful, Red.)

Red flushed, and nodded with more vigor. “Oui Mère!” (Yes, Mother!)

After bidding Mother farewell, Red crossed the stone path in the water and entered the black woods. In the morning sun, the surrounding element looked so surreal and mystical that Red felt as if she could get lost in its marvelous splendor. However, the girl in red shook her head and focused on her task.

“Be sure to follow the path, Red, and do not get lead astray!” Came Mother’s final instructions as she disappeared into the dense forestry, and Red was determined to listen to them.

No matter what would happen to distract her, she would not get lead astray. Is what she thought.

After walking through the forest alone, many forest creatures looked at with earnest confusion as to why a human has entered their domain. Some wanted to get closer, while others didn’t trust Red or the flowing red cape she wore. Hearing this above her head, Red looked up into the trees.

“I can understand what you’re saying y’know.” She said blatantly before walking ahead.

The squirrels, birds, and chipmunks were all taken aback at the girl’s words, but more so intrigued and followed her.

How are you able to understand us?

Are you a sorceress? An enchantress?

Impossible! You’re just a human

They questioned her while flying or scattering throughout the canopy, each trying to get a good look at the mysterious newcomer. Red only smiled as she walked on, listening to each other their overlapping questions.

“If you come down and join me, I’ll happily answer all your questions.” She answered.

At first, they were hesitant but one brave swallow ventured forth; flapping its wings once perched on Red’s shoulder. After that, and seeing the girl meant no harm, one by one they came down from the trees and enjoyed the stroll to Grandmother’s house together.

Red was delighted to have made friends with most of the forest creatures in no time at all, and answered their questions honestly and wholeheartedly. However, when one asked about the injuries on her hands she went quiet. The squirrel, the one to ask, dropped the subject, but not without getting reprimanded by the birds that occupied her opposite shoulder. At this, she composed herself enough to manage a giggle and telling the birds that she’s fine.

They didn’t believe her, of course, but went on to a new topic mainly about the forest and the lives they lived together in harmony.

The sun rose directly overhead marking that the time was early to late afternoon. The critters kept Red company even though there was no more conversation to be had at the moment. They relished in the sounds that could only be described as nature. The autumn colored trees and fields sang with life as the cool breeze brushed past their leaves. Animals- who heard of the girl in red- began to spread news about the magical girl who understood their tongue. Soon, another dweller ventured to meet the girl.

Red was more than surprised to see a fox appear before her. At first, she feared for the smaller creatures around her, but the fox merely eyed her with suspicion.

What brings you here? It inquired.

The harsh edge that gripped on to its words startled the girl, but she worked her mouth dumbly trying to hastily form a reply.

“My mother sent me to live with my grandmother who lives on the edge of these woods.” She manage to say without sputtering like a fool.

The fox swished its sunset tail back and forth in speculation before raising its muzzle in the air.

Very well, but I warn you now human: This place has no need for your kind!

Red swallowed harshly and nodded at the words that pierced right through her chest. Little by little, the acceptance she felt thus far started to fade. Of course she wasn’t wanted here; in her mind she could barely register as human or animal. She understood animals better than humans, but she looked more human than animal. She thought she could make a home away from the village but here she is, rejected, just like before. Unwanted.

Hearing the this, the smaller mammals wanted to argue but were politely silenced by Red.

“I understand.” She answered before moving on, as if what the fox had said unfazed her. Although, deep down, she knew it did.

The fox followed the girl, “an escort” as he put it, and gave Red no reason to back talk. Red felt the cool air whist past and make her red cape flutter in the breeze.

She looked up to the sky, “It’s going to snow.” She murmured.

The animals, more importantly the fox, turned to the girl in awe at her premiditon but said nothing. It was then Red’s stomach howled greedily and the companions with her stifled their laughter. The fox only shook his head, and motioned to the side byond the bushes.

There is a clear pasture beyond those shrubs. You may rest there and eat. The canine vocalized as he led the way through the vegetation. Red’s stomach happily agreed, but she clearly heard the words of her mother clouding her mind and judgement. She hesitated.

All the animals saw this and asked her what was the matter.

“My mother told me not to stray from the path.” She simply stated, giving voice to the hesitance she felt.

The birds, squirrels, and even a rabbit or two tried persuading the girl that it was not at all far from the main path and that it would only be for a few minutes to give the girl a break to eat. The only one who didn’t seem to care either way was, of course, the fox, who went on without them.

After a few convincing words and an unladylike growl of starvation later, Red complied and went in the direction the fox had set off in.

It really wasn’t that far as they had said it was, and a few yards away the fox sat under a large apple tree that had not yet bloom. Red took a seat beside the fox who glanced her way before laying his head down and curling up at the base of the large tree beside the girl. Red laid out the hem of her cloak to sit on without taking the apparel off her body and opened her basket. She pulled out the bread and cheese to make a sandwich, giving most of the slices of meat to the fox which became deeply appreciated. 

The peace and tranquility of the forest put Red at ease, almost forgetting the reason she came but subsided her thoughts by saying she needed the rest if she wanted to continue. So Red ate, her belly grateful for the meal; after finishing the bread and cheese, Red drifted into a dreamless sleep once promised by the woodland creatures that they would wake her before the sun is to set.

However that promise was unintentionally broken, Red awoke with a start to the frantic tweets and squeaks and chitter and chatter from her animal companions. Each one were comforted by the girl’s calming presence and fell asleep themselves, unaware of the oncoming nightfall.

Red looked up to the skies and saw that they were a dark grey hue. Her earlier prediction seemed to be coming true, like usual, and she knew if she stayed she would freeze to death.

A blizzard. She thought, wishing this one time she could be wrong. Red sat up and collected her things, trying to move as quickly as she could before the snow had a chance to fall. As Red stood making her way back to the bushes she came from, a blood curdling howl bellowed from the distance; the beastly noise made Red's hairs stand at attention and ran chills down her spine but not in curiosity or remorse. This time it is fear that strikes her. A feeling she hated with her entire being. Her mind is racing from her thoughts that seemed to have paralyzed her to the spot.

“That howl. That is no ordinary beast.” She muttered under her breath that now became visible to her with the rapidly dropping temperature.

You must hurry. The Guardian Of The Forest has caught on to your scent. If he finds you, you will surely die!

The fox swished its bushy red tail back and forth in a way that practically screamed how the danger of the journey rapidly escalated and continued to rise. Despite the voices shouting at her in her head, the girl stayed rooted to the spot where she heard branches snapping and twigs cracking and the disturbed rustle of leaves. The ground started to move from the weight of the beast that ran towards her.

Come, now! Before it is too late!

The only reason Red began moving is because of the fox’s teeth pulling her away from the open by her hood. However, after being told for the second time she didn't need to be told again. The fox ran with her in the beginning, ensuring that she was on the right path that she started on before ducking into the dark frosty woods. The snow started to fall, and it began falling hard, yet Red kept running. She barely paid attention to the stray branches that nicked at her face her caught on her long riding coat, tripping her in the process. Ungracefully she fell, plummeting to the white cloud-like snow beneath breaking her fall.

She was about to move again to carry on but winced at the pain in her left ankle as well at her wounds reopening no doubt. She ignored the burning sensation of her scars and made it on one knee. Before Red could even stand a low growl made its way to her keen ears. She suppresses a whimper refusing to look weak even if this might be her final moments. Truly, she was as stubborn as they come.

Red turned around slightly only to come face to face with a figure shrouded in shadows. The beast outlined as a wolf but just as she thought earlier, this was no ordinary beast. The enchanted animal had to be at least twice her size in height and just as massive as the trees that encircled the two. Red din't know what to expect but held her ground, however that began increasingly hard to do as she felt the anxiety and unadulterated fear build inside her. Red wanted to kick, scream, anything that might help her situation, but she found herself paralyzed once again. She caught herself transfixed with the wolf's eyes. They burned through her like a fire of a thousand suns with their color matching the intensity as piercing liquid gold. She couldn't force herself to look away. And neither did the Guardian.

It stalked closer, eyeing her with the same suspicion as the fox did not long ago. If the darkness hadn't masked the wolf entirely she would have said it looked more intrigued with the creature before it just as she aroused her own curiosity.

Red could not tell how long this went on but she noticed the blood soaking her clothes and that the world began to spin. 

Ah, the sweet-sweet darkness had come to visit her again, and this time she could not resist its even sweeter temptations.

A fire was roaring when Red fought her way out of the sinful hold the darkness had on her. She sat up fluidly, minding the newly treated wounds that went from head to toe. The girl couldn't help but wonder what mess she had gotten herself into now, and what had happened to the mysterious shadow that she last saw in the Black Forest. She searched her throbbing mind for the answers she had questions to, not seeing the other cloaked figure in the small space behind her. She finally noticed the person in the chair once it began to slowly rock back and forth, creaking quietly in the same fashion that reminded Red of the white picket fence back at home.

"Are you awake now, my dearest Red?"

Red raised her crystal blue eyes from the wooden furniture to the person occupying it. A woman with observant dark eyes and a cogitative smile addressed her, and Red would deem it impolite to remain silent rather than to answer her elder.

"Yes, Grandmother."