Red

[WP] There was once a warrior, clad in a red hood. Her mystical sword at her hip, her faithful beast at her side, and they searched for adventure.

Everybody knew the tale of how little red riding hood saved ger grandmother from the big bad wolf but nobody knew exactly what came after and why such a scene ever happened to begin with. For you to know, I should take you back to when I was still a free wolf. Yes, I was the big bad wolf and I even have stitches on my abdomen to prove it but enough of that. This is a story of a valiant hero's and my master's humble beginnings.

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The woodchuck had arrived and the moment he saw me, a wolf attempting to eat a helpless child, I knew I was in for something terrible. I had never wanted to eat the old lady, she was far too old to be eaten. All chewy and tough, bah it's like chewing rubber but youngins, now that's something I'll never get tired of. I had wanted to make a run for it and abandon the idea of eating this lass but the moment I opened the door, the blade of his axe greeted me with a blow to my abdomen. I fell over and as expected, flesh and blood oozed from the large wound. Blood was dripping, I was getting dizzy. It wasn't long til I fell in the pool of my own blood and it also didn't take long til everything went black.

The moment I came to... well... I never expected to anymore. I had hoped I would be in hell by now with all the kids I've ever eaten but no, here I was, settled in a bed that looked oddly familiar. I tried to sit up but to no avail, i could only yelp in pain. Each movement hurt like hell. And as I was about to force myself up, a pair of hands had gestured me to stay still. It was the girl. The one I had planned to eat. This wasn't right... I was supposed to be dead for attempting to eat this girl.

"Why is a kid like you telling a wolf like me to stay still. I could try to eat you up, you know" i muttered weakly, sleep still heavy in my tone

"I know you won't" she said a matter of factly. She was right, I can barely stand up without whimpering. "So I would appreciate if you would let me continue healing you"

"Why do you want to heal me?"

"Because I need a familiar. Soon my grandmother will put me to training but before that, a familiar is needed. I don't think I would enjoy the ones she chose but you. You're different" she was really something was what I thought. To have wanted the enemy as an ally. I was sure at that time that she hit her head or something but to be called different... did she know? That I was not a wolf?

A soft hum was the only response I could give her at that time but now that I think about it, it might as well have been the first time I was ever chosen and not shunned. I let her heal me and care for me. I was mostly only allowed soft human food that was coated with some animal blood so as to make it bearable for me. Weeks passed until I was able to at least sit up and walk around and it took months before I was able to run again. In all that time I would continue to run away from them the moment I could but each time. There she would be, hunting me down as if I were a prey for the hunt.

It was probably the 100th time that this game of hunt commenced and once again, I was caught. She had gotten faster and better at finding my tracks no matter how well I try to hide my trail and presence

"Be my familiar" was all she would tell me as she had once again put that harness around my frame. I remained silent seeing as I couldn't shift yet because the injury would not allow it but I was certain it will soon.

I was dragged back to the room we had now come to share. She would always keep her eyes on me, even when she slept she stayed alert. She was acquiring the skills of a fine warrior indeed but to have a lone wolf such as myself as her familiar seemed so shameful. I was a convict. I almost ate her. Guilt had weighed on me since I woke up in her care and I had wanted nothing more than to escape from this child.

The moon was at its fullest that night and I was sure that my body could bear with the shifting now. She was sleeping but I know she would jostle awake the moment she senses something off. I couldn't go out, I couldn't escape. It wasn't long til a howl escaped me and my bones and joints had started realigning themselves. I was shifting, I could have my human form again-

She woke. And was rushing to my side with a blanket. She was in awe. It didn't seem like she had anticipated that the wolf that had originally tried to devour her was a male no older than she apparently was.

"I knew you were different" she had whispered in my ear softly as she had come to wrap the blanket around my exposed figure. I nodded. I was tired, close to dozing off but I still had the last bit of energy to at least do something in return for her.

"I accept being your familiar" and so with the last ounce of my energy, I leaned close and sealed the contract with a kiss as it has been done since ancient times. Her soft lips were the last thing I could remember before sleep had taken over me. When I woke, my head was settled on her lap and she was caressing my hair whilst smiling warmly at me, as if I were the most precious thing to her.

That morning, we went to meet the old hag that had to train the both of us. And for the proceeding years, we were sent from master to master so as to fulfill whatever warrior oath she had taken. And each passing master, she would assure me my worth. That I was no less a familiar than any of those so called noble beasts despite the kind of creature I was. And each year I had found myself adoring her more and more.

She had grown more radiant and beautiful as the age passed by. And 10 years after that faithful day, neither of us expected that she would be the image of a true warrior. One ever beautiful even when clad in armor. One who always had that blade by her hip and one whom I had always accompanied on whatever quest she chose to seek. There was still, of course, one more quest that we both had yet to try. And that was a life of peace and love.

So as we stood over the edge of the valley, doing our usual rounds of patrolling over the village we had temporarily decided to settle in, I had asked her a question that had been on my mind since the day I had shared all my burdens with her.

"Will you form a contract with me, red?"

"What would that be this time?"

"Will you stay with me forever?"

When I saw that same smile I had seen the day she saw me shifting, I already knew the answer and just simply mirrored her smile as we both leaned in to seal our newly formed contract with a kiss that would mark the start of many more wonderful adventures.

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I haven't been writing in a while because I hate work now and also... I've been building a gundam with my bf on my day offs so yeah, that is much needed these days

Look at my progress though OwO