Red Riding Hood - Chapter 6
Cinq, having examined his wounds thoroughly, stood and said,
“I’ll bring what you need, Lord Wolf.”
Cinq returned to the kitchen, lit the hearth, and boiled water. She fetched the wine given by the White Goat from the pantry and headed to the storage room where Vinya prepared her medicines.
The brothel keeper, Vinya, would occasionally make and sell simple remedies. Eventually, she even entrusted the task to Cinq, who learned how to use the medicine.
Cinq gathered the necessary remedies, hot water, and wine, and returned to the wolf.
“Lord Wolf, I’ll treat your wounds.”
The wolf looked startled.
His already large eyes widened further, and his tightly shut mouth pulled back deeply. After a low growl, the wolf spoke.
“Little one, thank you. I tried to harm you, and yet… How will I ever repay this kindness?”
Cinq shrugged.
“Then pay me for the medicine later.”
“Will that be enough?”
“Yes.”
She soaked a towel in the hot water and carefully wiped the wolf’s wounds.
After soaking away the clotted blood, pus, and dust, fresh blood and clear discharge flowed from the red wounds.
Seeing this, Cinq felt dizzy.
“Lord Wolf, please wait here for a moment.”
She returned to the kitchen and drank another cup of the tea Vinya had brewed earlier.
Vinya had warned her to drink only one cup a day, worrying it might affect her like it did Six, but what did it matter? Vinya could no longer dictate Cinq’s choices.
Now Cinq felt genuinely calm. The small, frightened version of herself seemed to have fallen into a deep slumber and disappeared somewhere deep within her chest. It was as if cold water had cleared her mind, sharpening her focus and brightening her surroundings.
Following this clarity, Cinq returned to the wolf. She thoroughly cleaned the wounds with the wine’s antiseptic properties before applying the medicine.
As the salve seeped into the deep cuts, the wolf groaned, a low, guttural sound.
“Lord Wolf, bear with it a little longer.”
The wolf breathed sharply through clenched teeth and said,
“Little one, just a moment ago, you were trembling in fear, but now you’re as calm as a bee gathering pollen. What changed?”
“I had another cup of Vinya’s tea.”
It was now time to inspect the wound on his thigh.
The cut on his thigh was long and deep, likely requiring a considerable amount of time to heal.
Cinq carefully cleaned the wound and applied the salve there as well.
The wolf let out a pained sigh. His thick, stone-like muscles twitched involuntarily, and his tough hide quivered as if from convulsions.
“Lord Wolf, it’s all right now.”
Cinq gently caressed the area around the wound, soothing him until the pain subsided.
Soon, the wolf quieted down, and Cinq raised her head.
“You did well, Lord Wolf.”
But then, in her line of sight, the wolf’s ragged underpants protruded awkwardly, forming a massive ridge.
The wolf spoke apologetically.
“Little one, I’m truly sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you, but I couldn’t help it.”
It was fortunate she’d had another cup of Vinya’s tea. Otherwise, she would’ve been genuinely shocked.
With wide eyes, Cinq picked up the soiled towel and water and left the room. She washed the towel thoroughly and brought back fresh water in a basin.
“I’ll clean your body.”
“Little one, I’ll repay this kindness, I swear.”
“If you’re grateful, wash your feet yourself later. I don’t want to do that.”
“Ah, understood.”
Cinq wiped the wolf’s body with a towel soaked in warm water.
She was accustomed to nursing, as it was her responsibility to care for ailing Six. But cleaning Six’s body and cleaning the wolf’s were entirely different tasks.
It was like polishing a teacup versus scrubbing a giant iron cauldron.
Cinq sweated profusely as she moved back and forth across the length of the bed, changing the water multiple times.
After cleaning the wolf’s body and wrapping his wounds with bandages, his condition had significantly improved, but Cinq was utterly exhausted. It seemed the effect of Vinya’s tea had worn off. Her entire body trembled, and she felt unbearably cold.
The wolf asked, concern evident in his voice,
“Little one, are you all right?”
“Yes. Lord Wolf, it’s time for you to repay the favor.”
Summoning her last bit of strength, Cinq fetched a basin of warm water. She watched as the wolf curled up on the edge of the bed and dipped his massive feet into the water.
She climbed onto the bed to close the window at the head of the bed. As she pulled the window shut, she fell backward.
After that, she remembered nothing.
