Red Rose, Blood Moon
Greets to Chapter 4! This is an original story inspired by the tale of Red Riding Hood. I would like to say a special thank you to my best friend and co-author Olivia ( @asunshinepuff )for joining me in writing this world onto paper.
CW: This chapter contains mentions of weapons and violence and loss of limb.
The story contains only original characters created by Olivia and myself. For those of you who want to be tagged, feel free to ask me or Olivia on her blog. If you have any questions, theories about any of our characters or how the story will progress, send them to the ask box!
I hope you enjoy, now without further adieu!
Chapter 4: To Kill A Werewolf
The creature was relentless, sneaking into the village, killing the livestock left and right for years , ran towards a house, arrows flying past it as it jumped to the rooftops, snarling as blood dripped from it’s snarling jaws. Hunters shouted as they ran after the creature that had tormented their village for years. Royce aimed his arrow at the vile beast. Warm red blood trickled from the side of his head, his clothes stuck to his skin from the sweat, his body had tremors from over exertion. He refused to yield, dawn was only moments away. He shot his arrow, the creature leaped off the roof and ran off into the forest.
Royce’s chest rose and fell as he tried to catch his breath. The hunters behind all slumped to their knees, exhaustion aching in their tired bones. Royce under his breath, there were so few of them left. Royce wiped his brow from sweat, he turned at the sound of footsteps approaching.
“Andres… ” The hunter stood straight. The village chief merely looked at the hunters.
“Where are the others?” Andres snapped.
“They are dead, we are all that’s left.” Royce responded tiredly. There were only eight hunters left.
The village chief frowns. “I’m sending word for the guild.”
“Andres please…”
“No. This has gone on long enough. People have died, and you don’t even know how to kill that thing.” Without another word, the chief marches away, the old hunter sighed.
Dawn had just arrived.
The chief sent a letter to the city, offering a bounty on the creature’s head. The guild responded with a letter, stating a group of hunters was nearby and were on their way to assist them with their problem. They should arrive within days. The village let out a sigh of relief when the letter arrived. The threat of the monster would surely kill off the remaining villagers during the winter.
It began to snow on the third day since they received the letter. The woman kept themselves busy with making quilts for the upcoming winter, the farmer collected the last of the harvest, and the butchers salted their meat and put them into storage.
Gregory had grown into a young robust man, he was leaning against a wall with his arm as he smirked down at a young lady who was blushing profusely. “Come on, why don’t we spend more time together,” He leans closer. “and get to know each other better. “
Blushing like mad, the young lady looks down bashfully. “Please Gregory, I have to go get water from the well, my brother is ill. His fever has not broken, please excuse me.”
Gregory grabbed a hold of her arm. His smirk only widened. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“Please let me go…” She pleads, pulling her wrist free when Gregory stops at the sound of hoofbeats. He had forgotten all about her to look at the dirt path and three horses approaching. He frowned in puzzlement.
“What the devil?”
The villagers all turn towards the sound, breathless gasps filled the quiet winter day. Some cheered in greeting as the horses drew nearer. Gregory pulled the young lady along with him to the front of the gathering crowd, he scowled at the arrivals. Their faces hidden by the hoods of their cloaks. There was a dark green cloak, dark purple, they rode on each side of the leader, who wore a cloak of bright red. There were only three. If the hunters of the village couldn’t kill the monster, how could these three do the impossible when all of the others failed? Gregory wondered.
It was silent, the villagers held their breath, and the cloaked figures were as still as statues. Finally, the one in red dismounted off their horse, which was a large black and white gypsy vanner. The ones in green and purple followed. Gregory was about to step forward before his father, the village chief, stepped through the crowd. A large smile on his face as he greeted the three figures.
“You must be from the guild, I am Andres, the chief of this village.” He stops when he is only a few steps apart from the one in red.
The villagers began to whisper amongst themselves, curious about the covered faces of the apparent saviors. When the ones in colored cloaks remained silent, the crow began to shift uncomfortably. Andres grew tense at the murmurs of the crowd.
“Ah, perhaps you would lower your hoods, we are a very small village and don’t receive visitors often.” He prompted.
The leader in red gave a slight tilt of their head as they looked to the chief, then to the rest of the crowd. A tense moment passes when the leader raises a gloved hand to their hood. Their hands were covered in black gloves, their wrists were shielded in red braces with a black leather wolf on the top. Their sleeve of their shirt was white and clung to their arms.They lift the hood back.
Andres let out an audible gasp, as did the rest of the crowd, his eyes widening in shock. It was a woman. With the same sapphire blue eyes that haunted Andres every time he closed his eyes.
The woman simply looked to the rest of the village, who were taking in the sight of her. She moved her cloak over her shoulders, the cloak was a vibrant red that had detailed engravings that swirled all around it. She wore a bright red corset that flowed down to her hips, it too had detailed markings with silk ribbon at its seams. She wore a white button shirt with a high frilled collar underneath it, black leather pants and black boots that reached her ankles. A rapier strapped to her waist.
She was tall, nearly matching Andres in height, her skin soft, unblemished, as pale as milk, rosy cheeks, her lips were soft pink, and her hair was black, with bright red streaks that was tied into a loose braid. Andres felt blood rush to his ears, he stepped back in fear. No, it couldn’t be.
Silently he looked down to the familiar pendant that hung from her neck, a ruby set in gold antlers. The same that she had been found with all those years ago on that winter night in the forest. No!
“Rosabella?!” Andres spoke in a soft voice.
“Hello Andres.” Rosabella smiled, her eyes gazed at the old man. Gregory looked as if he had seen a ghost. “Louve?”
Frozen, Andres looked towards the other two behind her.
The figure in the dark green cloak then lifted a gloved hand to remove the hood. Their hands were covered in black fingerless gloves, with a solid bright green gemstone in the middle of both hands, and their wrists were shielded in dark green leather braces with gold engravings of the kraken. He wore a black leather jacket, paired with black leather pants and boots. Two swords were sheathed on his sides, one paired with a dagger and the other paired with a pistol. Once the hood was pulled away, it revealed a tall and rather handsome young man, who towered over Andres by a few heads, his skin was smooth and tanned, his hair was a short strawberry blonde, and he had fetching bright sea green eyes. A gold chain rested on the outside of his left pocket.
He merely looked at the figure in dark purple, giving a small nod of reassurance.
The figure in dark purple froze momentarily, as they looked over the chief and the rest of the crowd, then they looked to the man in green who just revealed himself. With a deep breath, they raised a gloved hand to remove the hood of their cloak. Their hands were covered in silk black gloves, their wrists were shielded in dark purple braces with lavender engravings of flames. They lifted the hood back.
The woman looked over the villagers once again, giving a worrying glance to her two companions. She tugged at her cloak absentmindedly, which was a soft velvet with a simple silver clasp. She wore a black and lavender ornate laced corset with simple straps, with a flowy black off the shoulder long sleeved shirt underneath, dark brown leather pants and black heeled boots. A simple wide silver sword was attached to her waist, in addition to a dagger with a black hilt. The sheath of the dagger had an ornate amethyst embedded within.
She was tall, though the shortest of the three. Her skin soft and fair, faint blush cheeks, and her lips were a very pale red. Her hair was a light golden blonde, flowing in soft waves and framing her face perfectly. Around her neck, was a silver necklace with a crystal pendant, the same sky blue of her striking eyes.
“Cassandra?!” Andres gasps out.
“Good to see you, Andres.” Cassandra said with a pleasant smile.
“But- You were thought to be dead!”
She gives the man a pointed look in return, “Well, obviously I’m not.”
“No… we are doomed!” A woman exclaims. A boy pulls the skirt of his mother. Tears forming in his eyes. “Does that mean the wolf will come to eat me mother?”
“No wonder we are still cursed! She’s still alive!” Word spread like wildfire. And panic ensued. Rosabella schooled her expression into one of indifference. Unlike her friend, Cassandra’s gaze hardened as she watched the panic begin to grow. The fact that she wasn’t surprised is what irked her the most at the moment. Gregory scowled, he pulled the young lady who he was speaking to earlier with him as he turned to leave the crowd.
“Gregory please let me go!” Gregory planned to ignore her when he felt himself nearly choke, someone grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. He staggered back, turning his head he glared at the man who stopped him. It was the one who wore the dark green cloak, but Gregory did not recognize him.
“Who the bloody hell are you?!” Gregory shouted.
“Oh Gregory, is your manhood sensitive because there is another good looking gent such as myself in the village?” The man smirked.
Gregory fumed in furry. “How do you know my name?! I don’t know you!”
Rather than dignifying the boy with an answer, he simply rolled his eyes before he looked to the young girl. “Let her go, she clearly has better things to do than let you lift her skirts when you plan to shag her in the dirt, mate.”
“WE ARE NOT MATES!”
“Try not to kill him Felis, as irksome as he is, he’s still the chief's son.” Cassandra spoke as she crossed her arms.
“Why do I care? I have trinkets that are worth more than him.” He looks to Cassandra.
“Felis.” Rosabella spoke.
“Alright, but only because you asked so nicely.” Felis looked to Gregory. “Manners, is what they call it, didn’t your mother teach you any? I’ve been sailing on the sea for years, and even I have standards.”
Cassandra rolls her eyes, “All of his standards must’ve gotten knocked out of his mind when Rose whipped him when we were children.”
“Shut it Azure! That is not what happened and you know it!” Gregory retaliates.
“How about no.” She tsks with a tilt of her head, then her lips turn upwards to a smirk, “We must have two different memories of that day.”
Without thinking, Gregory attempted to grab Cassandra by her arm, only for Felis to grab him by the collar once again and yank him back. “Don’t even think about it,” He says firmly with a glare.
Gregory began to thrash to break free of his grip. Felis rolled his eyes as he let go, Greogry fell to the ground. Quickly getting to his feet, Gregory threw a fist to the pirate, who caught it with his hand. Gregory retaliated by throwing his other fist. The pirate quickly pushed Gregory down with the hand that he caught. The indignant man fell to the side, mud clung to his clothes.
“You’ve never fought a pirate have you? We don’t fight fair.” Felis smirks as Gregory is lifted up by his father, spitting out the mud that made its way into his mouth.
“I believe you have made your point…” Andres spoke, Gregory pushed his father away and stomped away.
Cassandra chuckled, quickly walking to Felis’ side. Grabbing his arm as she pulls him back, the pirate being pulled away easily. She whispers to his ear. “That’s enough Felis, calm down.”
“That’s saying a lot if it’s coming from you love.” Felis grinned down at her.
Cassandra smiled in agreement, looking up to Felis. She then looks back out to the crowd, eyes widening slightly as she locks eyes with familiar brown.
Rosabella's gaze shifted to a frown, when Royce marched through the crowd, Cassandra following silently. Royce pushed past others who watched the reunion of father and daughter. When the villagers lost sight of the pair, they turned back to look at the pirate and the girl who they had once thought dead.
“Rose…” Felis spoke, his shoulders tensed, his eyes searching for the blonde as she walked further away from him.
Rosabella closed her eyes slowly, taking a breath. Her eyes opened, she walked forward, the crowd parted like the red sea. Andres protested but his words fell on deaf ears.
The house had not changed much in the last few years, Rosabella noted. The door was left agape, she could hear the loud voices inside. Felis steps into the house after Rosabella, glaring at the villagers who followed behind them. He slammed the door shut.
“SIX YEARS! YOU WERE GONE FOR SIX YEARS!” Royce’s chest heaved up and down, his face red from anger.
“I’M AWARE OF HOW LONG I’VE BEEN GONE!” Cassandra scoffed with a roll of her eyes.
“DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH PAIN YOU CAUSED YOUR US?! DID YOU EVEN THINK OF YOUR MOTHER?!”
“OF COURSE I DID! I THOUGHT ABOUT YOU BOTH EVERY SINGLE DAY!”
“THEN WHY DIDN’T YOU COME HOME?!”
“WHY? BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING FOR ME HERE! I WANTED TO LIVE A DIFFERENT LIFE THAN WHAT WAS EXPECTED OF ME! GRANDMÈRE GAVE ME THE FREEDOM TO BE WHO I WANTED TO BE, NOT SOME MARIONETTE WHO WOULD BE MISERABLE FOR THE REST OF HER DAYS!”
Royce’s jaw was agape, wounded. Before a fiery rage seized him. “Don’t. Speak of the woman ever again!”
“Why?! Just because she gave me something you couldn’t?!”
“You watch your tongue!”
“Never again. I won’t be made silent simply because I was born female.” She stood firmly with her feet planted on the ground, her arms resting against her sides, hands clenched into tight fists. “I didn’t know any better, and it was like Grandmère said. ‘Best not to dwell on the opinions of the dim witted or you’ll lose what you believe.’”
Royce shook his head, stepping back. He did not recognize this woman. Where was his sweet child who spoke of her books all day? Where was her smile? This woman was nothing like his child.
“Who are you? My daughter would never speak to me this way?”
“I am your daughter, I just grew up differently than you wanted.” Her gaze never faltered.
Erinna sat on a stool, her blue eyes glistened with tears, as some fell upon her face. Rosabella kneeled next to the sobbing woman, offering a handkerchief, Erinna accepted it graciously. Rosabella took in the sight of Erinna. Her face had aged but she looked the same, if only a little thin and a few wrinkles around her eyes. Her hair had begun to grey, streaks of silver running through her hair. Time had been kind. Erinna looked to Rosabella, cupping a cheek.
“Oh Rose, look at you. You’ve grown so beautifully. You and Cassandra both have.” She says with a pained smile. Rosabella’s heart lurched. How much had Erinna suffered? The nightmares and sleepless nights of just wondering where her child had gone. Why she had gone. “I can’t believe you both are nineteen now. I feel so old.”
Felis coughed all of a sudden, his gaze shifted to the window, clearing his throat. Rosabella only shook her head at him before she looked back to Erinna. A small smile on her lips.
Royce turned to his attention to the pirate in his home. “You, who gave you permission to enter my home?! This is a private matter! This doesn’t concern you, leave!” He glared at Rosabella. “Both of you, I won’t you gone this instant!”
“Now Royce really I let him in, there’s no harm in-” Erinna tried to appease him.
“Mr. Azure, I assure you that anything pertaining to your daughter is my concern.” Felis spoke firmly.
“What are you going on about?!” Royce looked between them. Cassandra stepped forward, taking her place beside Felis.
“Papá, this is Felis.” Her eyes met his. “And he is my Fiancé”
There was a starkling silence for a long moment. Erinna gasped, her hand rested on her chest, eyes wide.
“WHAT?!”
Rosabella winced at sheer volume of the man’s booming voice. Felis only rolled his eyes as he sighed.
“You’re too young to have a fiancé!” He panicked.
Erinna frowns. “I married you at sixteen.”
Cassandra silently raises an eyebrow at that, knowing it was true.
“He’s a pirate!”
“I think he’s a charming young man,” Felis seemed to choke once again, Erinna glared at her husband, “and a gentleman. He hasn’t raised his voice once.” She huffed before turning her gaze to Felis, taking his hand into hers. “Take good care of my baby Felis. And I insist you call me Mamá.”
“No, do not call her Mamá.” Royce says offended.
“Oh hush Royce, our daughter has returned to us, you’d best get over yourself and accept it. I have spent the last six years praying for this day. I don’t know about you, but I am proud of the woman she has become, and Rosabella. And I wish to be in the rest of her life.” She poked her husband in the chest. “Do not ruin this for me. I have a wedding to plan.” She looked to Felis with a smile.
“Were you thinking of a summer wedding or winter?”
“Summer, but that’s just me. I spent most of my days in the sun.” Felis replied easily, looking to Cassandra. “How come you don’t show this level of enthusiasm whenever I bring up our wedding?” He pouts.
Royce’s brow twitched. “Why are you here?” He snapped.
Rosabella quickly spoke before Cassandra would force them to listen to another bout of screaming. “We received the letter from the guild. We are here to kill the monster that has plagued this village for years.”
“But your-”
The door burst open, Andres walked into the house. Everyone in the room glared at him.
“Uh Pardon me, but it’s nearly wolf’s time.” He spoke nervously.
Rosabella nodded her head. “We’ll be out in a moment.”
“Tell the other hunters to mount their horse.”
Rosabella looked to Royce. “Mr. Azure, I must insist that you and your men stay within the village walls. We are very much capable of dealing with the creature ourselves.”
“And I insist that my men join you, if you’re as good as the guild claims you to be, we ought to learn how to kill it ourselves. Just in case you all decide to leave without a word again.” Royce says nothing more, storming out of the house.
The hunters were all mounted on their horses, Royce at the front of his men, Rosabella was also leading Felis and Cassandra. Rose tried to reason with Royce to reconsider, but he simply rode off ahead of them. Rosabella sighed before she clicked her tongue. Her horse, Gypsy, galloped after them.
They didn’t have to search the forest long. The creature was running full speed towards the village. Dark chestnut hair, beady red eyes and a large toothy snarl. It leaped into the air, clearing a large boulder that was nearly the size of a chicken roost. Rosabella’s eyes widen.
It was the biggest werewolf she has ever seen. It was more than likely the same size as she was in her wolf form. Rosabella looked to Cassandra who also looked in shock at the sheer mass of it. Rosabella reached into her quiver, pulling out silver arrows. Cassandra removed her right glove, flicking her wrist, a small purple flame emanated from the palm of her hands. Behind them, a wall of purple flames sprouted from the ground to protect the village.
“Draw your weapons lads!” Royce called out, dismounting his horse, pulling his axe from the strap on his back. The hunters all dismounted, the wolf stopped in its tracks, snarling at the men.
The hunters quickly make a kill circle around it, Rosabella aimed her crossbow, Felis had a silver dagger and pistol loaded with silver bullets at the ready, and Cassandra gripped her silver sword tightly. Rosabella called out to the men, waving them back.
“Stand back, silver is the only thing that can kill them!”
The wolf snarled in anger, turning to Felis who stood in front of the most men. It charged.
Felis turned when it’s jaws nearly bit his head off, taking his chance, he stabs the dagger to its side. The smell of burning fur and flesh filled the air. The wolf howled. The hunters began firing their arrows at the wolf, which only seemed to agitate it more than wound it.
The wolf shook its head. Rosabella pressed the lever of the crossbow, her arrow landing on its back. Cassandra’s purple flames pushing it back from the hunters. Rosabella knew it was her chance, she grabbed another arrow, her eyes never looking away from the creature as it continued to growl at the hunters. With the snap of her crossbow set, the wolf’s head snapped towards her.
Rosabella’s breath caught in her throat. It’s red eyes locked in her sapphire ones, it sniffed the air. It bared its teeth. It knew.
Rosabella aimed her arrow but stopped when a young hunter ran towards the massive beast.
“No wait!” But it was too late.
The hunter was too close to its head. The wolf’s jaws snapped the hunter’s arm clean off, and swallowed it whole. His sword falling to the ground. The hunter fell to the ground, in an outcry, Royce and other hunters rushed forward to rescue him. The wolf turned it’s backside to the hunters, its large tail sweeping them away.
The wolf turned back to Rosabella. Snarling, it ran towards her. Rosabella fired her arrow, but the wolf dodged it by ducking to the ground. Cassandra called out for Rosabella to run. So she did.
She ran as fast she could, her red cloak billowing behind her. The wolf was gaining on her. Rose pushed herself faster, but it was futile. She felt it’s jaws clamp around her leg, she fell to the ground, the wolf dragged her with it as it ran from the hunters that pursued them. Rosabella tried to pull herself up, but a large rock hit her head, the last thing she heard was Cassandra’ calling her name.
When Rosabella woke, she was still being dragged, the wolf never ceased to stop running. It was nearly dawn. It ran, and ran, and ran, Rosabella couldn’t tell how far they were traveling with how fast the wolf was running. Panting for breath, Rosabella reached for her sword, pulling it out. With a loud cry, she plunges the sword to its neck. The wolf instantly lets her go, she tumbles to the ground, the wolf whimpering as it pauses, blood falling to the fresh snow.
Rosabella staggered to her knees, she searches with her hands for her sword, or any of her fallen arrows. Looking back when the wolf growled, she continued to search. She sees her sword rest against the root of a tree, she scrambles to it. The wolf runs after her, Rosabella turns her back to the tree, holding her sword to the wolf when it suddenly stops.
Its ears fall back, head turning to the trees. Rosabella watched in confusion, her chest rising and falling. The wolf’s tail tucks between it’s legs, letting out a soft whimper before it runs off. Rosabella completely forgotten.
She sat there frozen, her eyes darting around for the wolf. Slowly, wincing from pain, she clutched her side. She limps away from the tree. Her eyes catch the glint of a silver arrow. She swallows. She walks to retrieve it. She winces further when she bends to pick it up. She looked around the white forest for anymore of her arrows when she came to a startling revelation. She didn’t recognize this forest. The air smelled different, and trees were different. She had no idea which direction led where.
She was lost.
She exhaled an exhausted sigh. She starts walking.
She walks for hours, in no particular direction. She pauses when something moves at the corner of her eyes. She sniffs the air. She didn’t smell anything, She continued on, her ears straining to listen for the wolf. If it had decided to come back and finish her off.
There! She sees a shadow move quickly through the trees. The scent of a wolf reaching her. She pulls her crossbow, setting her arrow. Her eyes darting around, trying to keep it within her line of sight. Once her bow is drawn back, she raises it to her eyes.
A shadow moves, she fires her arrow. A loud thud falls to the ground. Eyes widening, she forgets about her injuries and runs towards the sound. Turning around a tree, she gasps inaudibly.
A tall young man sat on the ground, clutching his arm that fresh red blood dribbled down to the snow. The wounds began to heal immediately. Rosabella stared in shock and bewilderment. The man was shirtless, but he wore black pants and boots. His skin was lightly sun kissed, his dirty blonde hair was messy and fell to his shoulder.
Rosabella ought to look away, but on his naked chest, was a large black cursed looking wolf on the left side of his chest. The black wolf’s head near his heart, its jaws full of sharp pangs. Rosabella finally looked up to his eyes. His eyes were an ice blue, and he was glaring at her.
“Do you make a habit of shooting people when you’re lost in the woods, or am I the exception?”
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