From outside the window, I could see the pale white snow falling down, piling onto the ground. I sighed, happy that it was finally Winter. I glanced at my mother, who sat beside the fireplace, knitting clothes for my little sister.

"Are you going hunting, Kira?" She asked, looking up at me. My mother is beautiful. Her blue eyes were filled with kindness and her blonde, golden hair was up like usual since she never liked it down.

"Yeah, we're running low on meat so I was thinking of bagging a couple of rabbits. I might go see Grandma after I'm done," I told her as I grabbed my red cloak, tying the strings in a knot so it wouldn't fall off my shoulders.

"Oh here, take this with you!" Mother said handing me a basket.

"What is it?" I asked grabbing it. I immediately knew what it was once I sniffed the basket.

"I bake some muffins for your grandmother. Make sure she gets it," my mother ordered. I quickly nodded before pulling the hood over my head.

"I'll be back by midnight!" I said as I closed the door.

I headed to the weapon shop to grab my bow and arrow, which I never brought home because I didn't want Sissy to hurt herself.

"Going hunting?" Bill, the owner of the shop, inquired with a friendly grin. I nodded as he handed me my stuff.

"Yup, hopefully I can get a small deer!" I said with a smile, although I knew I was pushing my luck. Deer are rarely found in this part of the area.

"Mmm, are those your mother's muffins I smell?" Bill questioned, sniffing the air.

"Yeah, I'm taking it to Grandma," I explained, holding up the basket.

"Tell her I said hi. I still don't know why she moved to the middle of the forest!" he said. I nodded my head and waved at him, then setted out to the forest.

I always did wonder why she moved to the forest. Our village wasn't as big as the other villages, but at least everyone supported each other.

"Kira! Kira!" I heard someone call my name. I looked back to see one of my friends, Shelby. She ran towards me, breathless.

"Hey Shelby, what's wrong?" I asked, curiously. I took a few steps back as she abruptly stopped.

"There's a new family that just moved in," she said with a wide grin.

"What kind of people would move here and-" I was cut off when she grabbed my head.

She turned my head to the right. I blinked when I saw nothing but a couple loading things off their car.

"And?" I asked, stretching the word in a questioning manner.

She looked to where I was looking, "Oops, too far right."

She moved my head a little to the left. I stared at the man in view.

"Him!" she hissed. I looked at the guy who was chopping wood for fire. His jet black hair was hanging down his forehead and his muscles were shown through his shirt.

"Okaaaay, and?" I asked again, starting to get annoyed. She let go of my head and hit me on the arm.

"And nothing! Look at him! He's really cute!" she squealed. I rolled my eyes at her high school behavior.

"If you don't mind, I have to go hunting," I said walking towards the forest.

"Aw, you're no fun," Shelby whined from behind me. I shook my head at her. As I was about to enter the forest, I felt a pair of eyes on me. I turned around to see the new guy staring at me. I rolled my eyes when I heard Shelby's infamous squeal.

"Bye, Shelby" I muttered, taking one last glance at the mysterious man before entering the forest.

*~*

I quickly hid behind a tree after I spotted a sizable rabbit. He would make a fantastic dinner. Sissy loved rabbits. I moved out a little so I could shoot it. I closed my eyes and took a big breath. Relaxation helped immensely when trying to concentrate.

I faced the bow to the ground with the arrow notched, and then I drew my bow up to bring it to my face. I closed one eye to make sure I got it on target. I released the bow, but it was too late. The rabbit saw me and ran away leaving my arrow to land on the ground. I gave a small sigh. Maybe wearing my red cloak was a bad idea as it does not serve well to camouflage.

I grabbed the end of my cloak, which was a family heirloom. My grandmother made it herself. She wore it as a young girl, then passed it on to my mom. And now it is mine. I let go of my cloak and dropped it to the ground. I heard a branch crack to my right. I quickly grabbed my bow and arrow again, pointing it to the direction. I looked around, not seeing anything. Finally something caught my eyes. It was a huge wolf. I dropped my bow and arrow in fright.

It looked like a male. His gray hair looked silky and long. His purple eyes were looking right at me. My head was telling me to shoot it and run but my body had other plans. I grabbed my cloak, bow, and arrow before taking a step forward, the snow crushing under my feet. The wolf didn't look scared, almost like he was used to humans. I was going to take another step but then stopped when I heard my name being called; I turn around to see my grandmother walking to me.

"Red, is that you?" she ask, squinting her eyes.

I smiled at her. She called me red because of my red cloak. I quickly turned around remembering the wolf, but I was left dumbstruck when nothing came to view. Had I just imagined everything?

"What's wrong honey?" my grandmother asked, examining me with. Her eyebrows knitted in confusion.

I put my hand on my head. "Nothing, I just thought I saw something," I disclosed. I glanced again to where the wolf was but quickly turned around to look at her. I gave her a bright smile. "Well, Mother made you muffins!" I pronounced, excitedly, handing her the basket.

"Oh! She didn't burn these, did she?" she asked grabbing it and looking inside. I let out a small laugh. Cooking wasn't my mother's specialty, but when it comes to muffins, she's a pro at it.

"Well come on, it's freezing out here! Come on inside," she fussed, grabbing my arm. I nodded my head but I couldn't leave without looking back one last time.

"What are you doing with that thing?" she asked, pointing to my bow and arrow.

I held it up and gave a shy smile. "I was out hunting, but it didn't go exactly to plan," I let out a small, frustrated sign. She gave me a knowledgeable smile.

"I wonder if it has anything to do with this red cloak standing out," she said with a smile, "Honey, you don't have to wear that everywhere you go."

I shook my head. "I want to, it keeps me calm," I insisted as she open the door to her wooden house.

"Go sit by the fire while I get you something to eat," she commanded as she went into the kitchen. I nodded my head and sat down in a wooden chair beside the fireplace. I removed my hood from my head before placing my hands near the fire, enjoying the warmth.

I looked around the house, I haven't been here in a while and every time I come here it seems like I'm here for the first time.

"Hey Grandma, can I ask you something?" I asked, putting my hands a little closer to the fire

"Of course, Red, anything," she said as she poured tea into a cup.

"Why did you moved out to the middle of the forest?" I asked. I heard glass crack and looked back to see a broken cup on the floor. "Grandma, what's wrong?" I questioned, worry filled my voice as I saw her pale face.

"S-sorry, I just need some sleep, leave whenever you want," she said, heading to her room. Did I say something wrong?

I sighed and left the house. "What did I say" I wondered as I close the door. I saw a rabbit running through the front of the house then stopped.

I took a deep breath and pointed my arrow at it. I quickly released the arrow, and it landed through the rabbit's throat. I pumped my fist up in the air. "Got one!" I exclaimed as I walked towards the dead animal. As I grabbed my arrow, I felt someone watching me. I looked around but saw nothing. I still felt a weird presence.

I heard a scream coming from the house. "Grandma!" I said as I ran inside the house. "Grandma, where are you?!" I cried into the silent house. I fled up the stairs towards her room.

I quickly entered her room to see her lying on her bed. "Oh, Grandma! I thought something happen to you, are you okay? I heard a scream," I questioned, getting closer to her bed.

She didn't reply. "Grandma?" I quietly asked, scared. Now that I was closer, I could see her sheet slowly getting covered with blood. Her blood.

I heard the floor creek. I turned to my left to see the same purple eyes staring at me. I felt anger and resentment going through my body as I realized what had happen. It killed her. That wolf killed my grandmother. All I wanted to do was shoot an arrow through the wolf.

___________________________________________________________________________

Hope you enjoy the chapter make sure to

VOTE

COMMENT

AND

FAN

EDITED BY: @Onlyreadingg