Little RED, The Real Story by Desiree Sparks

Our village is hidden within the remote mountains of a land I am not allowed to say. Although peaceful people live here, it is hardly the place to call safe and peaceful. Villages such as ours are often plagued by packs of wolves that attack and kill us off one by one, waiting for the day that they can call our precious village theirs.

However, my village is different amongst these targeted villages. Instead of allowing ourselves to be hunted down, we hunt the wolves.

My father is second in command of this small group of homes. Even as a child, I grew learning to fight off the furry beasts at our door and to be weary of the fangs and claws that would love nothing more than to tear me to pieces.

As a killing machine at 19, I take after my father’s fiery red hair, mossy green eyes, and my mother’s physique. Her height and slender waists were what made me so lethal today. My name is Ruby Elizabeth Danvers. And because of the cape I often wear while hunting, my hair, and my name, I am called Little Red the Huntress.

My grandmother had made the red cape I now wear after my mother’s death a few years back, every stitch a painful memory of the woman who birthed and raised me. Although close to my grandmother, she lives away from the village to be away from the crowds that seem to find their way here.

Swarms of people flock to our little home to meet and hire the hunters and huntresses of the village known for killing wolves. As it brings in more money, it takes more lives of those who are likely to never return from a mission to a village plagued like ours.

“Red, come here,” a rough male voice called. Just finishing up dressing to get to work around the village (code for my hunting attire), I opened the door of my room and entered the living quarters of the rest of the house. My father stood near the front door, the sunlight shining through a window onto his head, making him look more frightening that he usually is.

“What do you need me for father? I was just heading out for patrol.” I secured a silver dagger into my boot and tied my hair back with a leather strap.

“Would you please check on your grandmother as you do? I haven’t gone to see her in the past few days and I believe she may be running low on supplies.” He went from the door to the table in the kitchen where a basket was sitting. He picked it up and extended it to me.

Without another word, I took it.

“It doesn’t have much in it yet so go to the market on your way through the village and pick out some things that will last.” He handed me a few copper coins and walked out the front door without so much as a be safe or a farewell. Not that I expected one but it would be nice once in awhile to at least give me words of encouragement against our furry foes.

I strapped a crossbow onto my back and the quiver at my waist and made sure that all of the rest of my weapons were secure before leaving the house, basket in hand.

As I walked by the people of the village, many bowed with smiles on their faces, children or animals by their sides. The others who did not bow looked at me with weary glances and would quickly look away.

When I came upon my usual produce stand, I picked up and tested some of the fruits and vegetables.

“Going to your grandmother’s again Red?” the elderly woman behind the stand asked. I nodded and set the ripe feeling produce into the basket. She didn’t say how much it was worth or pester me with other informalities. Instead, she just watched me with calculating eyes.

Once I was sure that I had gotten the produce that would be sufficient for a few days, I set all of the copper coins into her hand.

“Keep the change,” I said and went to turn away but her old, wrinkled fingers wrapped around my arm before I could get even a step. That is the village’s first woman warrior for you.

“Be careful dearie. I have heard howls today that do not sound friendly. Take another, will you? Perhaps that boy you fancy.” She released my arm and turned back to her stand as another customer came to buy her wares. I huffed at her for a moment and turned back to the street where I walked to the edge of town.

The gates of the town towered above me with an almost eerie height as I looked to the gate keeper. He nodded and shouted down to me “General’s orders, pairs leave only. No one by themselves.” I set the basket on the ground and crossed my arms.

“This day just keeps getting better doesn’t it?” I put my hands on my hips and shouted back,

“Harry, you know me and how strong I am, just let me through.” He shook his head and folded his arms across his chest.

“Your father’s orders, not mine. If you find another to go with you, then I will open the gate.” I clenched a fist and was about to climb up the tower to beat the boy until he was a breath away from death when a velvet voice sounded from behind me.

“You heading out Red? I will go.” I turned back and sure enough, the old crone had been right. The only male that I hold in a higher respect than my father, the village’s leader’s son Blake stood, his black uniform blending with his cape and hood making him look like death itself. But this version of death is much more of a heart throb. Blue eyes peaked out from beneath the dark hood and his short spiky black hair peaked out just a bit from the darkness within.

“A-are you sure Blake? I can handle going out by myself.” His posture shifted to his one leg as he looked my outfit over. I knew what he was looking at.

Just how many weapons I had on me.

Oh and there are many on my bodice, trust me on that. Some even poked me with how they are positioned.

“I am sure you can but as you heard the newbie up there, no one can exit unless in pairs or groups.” I picked up the basket for my grandmother and almost felt the urge to smile but held back as I just shrugged and looked towards the gate, away from him.

“Fine. But you better keep up,” I said and glanced back up to the gatekeeper once more.

“Happy now? Open the gate!” With there being the two strongest fighters of the village side by side, the boy hurried to open the doors. That and our fathers are the leaders of the village and the best of friends. One wrong move on that child’s part and he will be shoveling horse dug for a year.

As the gate opened, Blake came to my side and pulled out a sword of his own, keeping it low to the ground so that it didn’t get near me. Wanting to keep calm and collected about him being so close, I drew my sword, once my mother’s, and kept it close as we crossed through the mighty doors and out into the dangerous world. The doors slammed behind us with a loud BOOM that would scare children and small animals but for two trained warriors, it was a sound that said that you were on your own to defend yourself.

“I don’t know the way to your grandmother’s house so I will follow you,” Blake said and positioned himself a bit in front of me, as if waiting for danger to ensue. I nodded and being sure that the contents of the basket would not come loose, I began jogging in the direction of my father’s mother’s house.

My eyes darted from the path before me to the forest that seemed to close in on us. The only noise that could be heard was the light breathing of the male next to me and my own breath. It seemed as if the forest was quiet just for us.

Too quiet for my liking.

Blake must have picked up on the silence too because he sped up with his sword raised higher.

“Hurry to your grandmother’s. I will be right behind you,” He said right before a large grey and brown wolf jumped from the foliage right for him. I wanted to stop with all that I had but while you are out in the field, there is one rule that reigns supreme. Listen to the higher ranks. Since he is the leader’s son and I am the second in command’s daughter, Blake outranks me. So I listen and run as fast as my poor legs will carry me.

Once I reach my grandmother’s house, I quickly knock on the door and turn, waiting for a wolf to appear. When none did, I internally thanked Blake and turned back to my grandmother’s house. When nothing happened, I tried the door knob. It opened freely and I hurried inside, worried about my grandmother.
I saw nothing as I looked around. I went to her bedroom where I knew that she usually is asleep at all hours of the day and night, but when I saw it slightly ajar, I put my hand to it and slowly pushed it open.

“Grandmother?” A snarl met me. I threw the door open and dropped the basket in my hand, already swinging the blade in my other with all of my might at the black snarling beast. It was what was in its mouth that had me frozen in fear and dread.

My grandmother’s nightgown that she always wore to bed, covered in blood was still in its teeth.

As my name precedes me, all I saw was red as I brought my sword down upon the beast’s neck, severing its head. Another snarl echoed from behind and I brought my sword across its face as it tried to leap at me.

“You killed her you monsters! Die!” As more and more appeared, I no longer cared for my own well being and felt my strength and determination fade away as I began to weaken.

I had lost my mother and now my grandmother too. I only had my father left now. I stumbled on a fruit that had been in the basket and fell to the ground in pain, surrounded by the wolves whom had killed my family.

“I think I will be with you soon mother and grandmother,” I whispered as I watched a large brown wolf launch itself at me. I closed my eyes, waiting for death.

But it never came.

Blake kicked it away just in time to miss my spine and now wielded two identical swords that he used to slash and hack away at the remaining wolves. When they were all lifeless and still on the floor, he rushed over to me and kneeled down to examine me.

“Are you okay Red?” My eyes didn’t move from my grandmother’s bedroom door.

“She… she is…” The male sat me upright and pulled me into an embrace. I let the tears loose then, allowing all of my emotions of loss escape onto his shoulder as I cried out. I missed my mother. I missed my grandmother.

All I have left is my father.

“I’m here,” Blake whispered. “I’m here.”