Page 36 of Little Red Riding Hood
Without another glance at them, Red slipped straight back into his bedroll, burying himself in it to hide his face. Red’s throatconstricted as he lay rigid, paralysed with pure humiliation. The conversation replayed in his mind, each word a fresh wound.
Stupid nonsense.
Of course Wim hadn’t believed him—who would? He was just some pathetic nobody on a ridiculous quest, prancing about the forest with delusions of importance.
His fingers curled into the fabric of his red cloak. The familiar texture brought no comfort tonight. Instead, it felt like another lie wrapped around his shoulders. A gift from a mother who’d abandoned him.
Stupid, stupid,stupid. He should have known better than to trust a wolf. To think Wim actually cared about his mission, abouthim. The warmth they’d shared, the playful banter, the way Wim’s eyes crinkled when he smiled—was it all an act?
Through the thin material, he heard Astrid and Wim return to their bedrolls. Red tensed as he waited to see if Wim would move close, put his arm over Red again.
He didn’t.
A hot tear slid down Red’s cheek. He brushed it away furiously, but another followed. The thought of Wim laughing at him behind his back was simply unbearable.
So was the thought of facing him tomorrow. He’d have to announce that they’d go their separate ways. Insist that he was only slowing Wim down—the truth, after all.
And face this place all alone? Would you even make it to the Dark Forest?
And say hedidmake it to the Dark Forest. What then? Everyone knew the tales—massive spiders that drained men dry, horrors that slithered in the darkness, waiting to feast on lost souls. Auntie Anne had terrified him with bedtime stories of the Dark Forest’s hungry shadows, of men who entered and were never seen again—at least not with their minds intact.
Red sighed. No, his very real and important quest to stop the Great Famine was too critical not to utilise this wolf’s help, despitehis betrayal. A wolf—especially one like Wim—might be the only thing standing between him and the Dark Forest’s countless terrors.
Red would have to keep travelling with him. He’d use him for his cooking, his navigation, and possibly his warmth, in emergencies. Use his keen senses and predator’s instincts to navigate the forest’s deadly paths.
But he wouldn’t trust him.
Red was excellent at divining people’s intentions—never fell for a feint during training, could often read the tiniest flicker of emotion in someone’s eyes.
He ran over every interaction he’d had with Wim since they met, scrutinising each moment. It had always bothered him why Wim had agreed to help him. The wolf’s vague answers had niggled at him. Usually, Red could tell someone’s true motivation within moments of meeting them, but with Wim… there was something different. Something hidden.
His resolve galvanised. He had a choice here—attempt to run away from this wolf, or stay and uncover whatever it was that Wim was keeping from him.
Life is full of choices, Red.
Red knew his present one.
No matter what games Wim was playing, Red would discover the truth.
Tomorrow, he’d watch more carefully. Listen more intently. The wolf might think him a naïve child who’d swallow any tale, but Red had survived the Queen’s court. He knew how to play people’s games.
Nine
True to their word, their guests left at daybreak. Red awoke to Astrid shushing Tobias as they gathered their belongings. Red sat up to wave goodbye to the little wolf, and his heart squeezed a little when Toby said, “See you soon, Red!” with such conviction Red almost believed that they’d meet again.
Astrid gave Wim a long, meaningful look as she said her goodbyes, before the pair of them disappeared into the forest.
Then, it was just the two of them again.
They went about their usual business, falling into the easy rhythm they’d developed. Wim rolled up both their blankets to stuff them into packs. Red gathered the cooking pot, wiping it clean with wet leaves, the morning air nipping at his fingers as he did so.
Wim made no sign of being suspicious that Red had overheard him last night, and so Red made a performance of humming a merry tune, pretending everything was fine.
Everythingwasfine. He wasfine.
He just needed to get to the Dark Forest and say goodbye to this pesky wolf who was causing him grief.
“Here.” Wim tossed him a carrot from their stolen stash. Red caught it with one hand, his other busy coiling rope.
