Red Riding Hood - Chapter 23
Cinq donned her coat and red hood before grabbing a fishing net from the storage shed. In the corner, she found the cane Vinya used whenever her arthritis flared up. The Wolf leaned on the short cane as he followed her outside.
“Gybi!”
He often called the horse’s name in his booming voice.
The man who acted like a tame, affectionate beast indoors seemed to reclaim his wildness as soon as he stepped outside.
The man’s gaze, as he surveyed the snow-covered forest, grew cold and metallic. His breathing became rough, and between his parted lips, sharp white fangs glinted.
Watching him, Cinq thought,
‘What will happen when the horse returns?’
She imagined the horse wandering nearby, returning at the sound of the Wolf’s call, and even pictured him mounting it effortlessly.
Then…
What would happen next?
Her thoughts stopped there. She couldn’t picture what came after.
Would he try to return to his place, to where he belonged? Where did he come from?
Cinq knew nothing of the world beyond the village.
She herself had come from outside, but that had been so long ago. Moreover, Vinya’s tea had blurred her memories, leaving her with no recollection of her childhood.
Even after the horse returned, could she stay with Ylfus?
Just as they were now?
As she stared at him, Cinq couldn’t hold back any longer and spoke.
“Lord Wolf, when the horse returns… will you leave me?”
At that, the Wolf’s eyes widened, and he looked at her.
“Cinq, little one. What did you just say?”
But their conversation was cut short.
With a loud whinny, a massive black horse broke through the snowy underbrush, its hooves pounding the ground.
The horse, its hooves clattering, returned to its master. The Wolf strode toward it, shouting,
“Gybi, you mischievous colt! Where have you been hiding since throwing me off? Still, I suppose I owe you my life. Thank you!”
While the Wolf inspected the harness draped over Gybi’s back, Cinq cautiously approached the enormous beast.
The village had horses for pulling carts, but she’d never seen one this large. Its towering frame exuded power, its body rippling with rock-like muscles. But it wasn’t purely intimidating.
Its large, black eyes seemed innocent, and its long mane and tail were stunningly beautiful—just like its master.
And, oddly enough, it limped, just as its master did.
Noticing that Gybi couldn’t properly support one of its hind legs, Cinq said,
“Lord Wolf, I think Gybi’s hurt his leg too.”
The Wolf’s face immediately darkened.
He gently stroked Gybi’s face with his large hand, his voice soothing.
“I see. My useless comrade, things would’ve been easier if you hadn’t gotten hurt. But still, Gybi, you survived. Well done!”
At that, Gybi nudged the Wolf’s hand with his nose, as if to say, “I don’t need your pity.”
The Wolf grumbled,
“You scoundrel!”
Cinq approached Gybi and gently stroked his injured leg.
Gybi, who had been watching her sidelong, suddenly ignored the Wolf entirely and pressed his large head affectionately against Cinq, nuzzling her playfully.
The Wolf barked,
“Gybi, stop that nonsense!”
Gybi acted as though he hadn’t heard, pressing his round cheek against Cinq’s face and making soft, playful snorting sounds. Cinq giggled at Gybi’s antics.
“What a shameless rascal. Who does he take after? His sire, Morgan, was such a dignified steed!”
The Wolf muttered as he smacked Gybi’s flank.
“Still, it’s a relief. With Gybi’s leg injured, it’ll be hard to ride him out of here, but at least I can use him to contact my knights.”
Pointing to bird droppings on Gybi’s saddle, the Wolf continued,
“My messenger hawk, Sird, left those. That bird likes Gybi more than me and uses him as a waypoint to the main camp. It should return soon. When it does, I’ll contact the main camp and summon my knights.”
Cinq gazed at him silently.
What would happen when the hawk returned and the knights arrived?
The more he spoke of things she didn’t understand, the farther away he felt.
But it was inevitable.
…He had a place to return to.
