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Leonie couldn’t help but look over the edge of the pot she was stirring to watch the wolffish creature in front of her. As she continued to study her, the wolf unwaveringly watched the bubbling contents of the pot with brown eyes that almost seemed to glow in the dim light. Sensing that she was safe for now, Leonie gulped and went to slide the chunks of meat into the stew before hesitating again. “…is…do you prefer cooked meat?” She asked after a moment.
Those sharp eyes darted up to her and for just a moment, Leonie could swear she saw a flash of hurt. “Yes, um, I do.” The wolf replied quietly.
“I’m sorry,” Leonie amended, letting the chunks drop into the pot. “I wasn’t sure. I didn’t want to assume.” She didn’t mean any offense, she just…wanted to keep her head.
When she left the village in the morning, the woods seemed quieter than they usually did and all her usual hunting trails held an unnatural chill that seeped through her red cape. She should have read the signs that there was a wolf among the trees but by the time Leonie noticed, the creature was practically on top of her.
Leonie dared another look at the wolf, studying her features. A pair of pointed ears poked out from her sky blue hair, her hands (paws?) were long and clawed and had thick palms. And her eyes…Leonie couldn’t stop looking at those eyes. They were mesmerizing. Hypnotizing.
At least the wolf hadn’t eaten her, though truthfully she wasn’t sure that she won’t eat her eventually. Wolves ate people, right? People like her - lost and alone in the woods? So why hadn’t she?
“I…I really like your cape.” The wolf spoke suddenly.
Leonie jumped at the sudden interruption, hand darting to the bright red hood on her head. “My cape?” She echoed, confused. “Uh - thanks. My grandmother made it for me.”
“It’s a pretty color. Your hair looks nice with it:”
Goddess, she really was going to eat her. What - was she waiting until Leonie’s guard was down? Waiting for her to turn her back? Well, Leonie wouldn’t go down without a fight. Her now was no good against a wolf like this, but the dagger she had hidden around her waist could put some distance between the two. She just needed to wait for the wolf to reveal her intentions…
Soon enough the aroma of herbs and heart meat filled the air. It was enough to make Leonie’s mouth water, even under these circumstances. Though she didn’t have any bowls to hand the wolf, the red hooded woman handed the wolf a spoon, wincing as her nails brushed against her skin. The two are from the pot in silence for a while before Leonie finally lost her nerve.
“Why did you ask if I knew how to cook? Why didn’t you just eat me?” She asked.
Surprisingly, the wolf flinched back at her words, like she had used her dagger against her. “I - I don’t eat people.” She explained, hurt evident in her voice as her ears dropped. “I just haven’t eaten in a long time. I was hungry.”
She was quiet for a moment, studying the wolf. Nothing about her told Leonie she was lying. The waver in her voice was genuine enough. Guilt ebbed away at her anxiety. “I’m sorry - I didn’t mean to - well, I didn’t know. My village has….a lot of stories about wolves eating people that wander in the woods.” She apologized.
The wolf shook her head. “I’m the only wolf in these woods. The stories exist because the villagers are terrified of me. Because I’m a monster.”
“Well,” Leonie began carefully. “Why do the villagers think your a monster?”
“Look at me; I look like a monster.”
“That doesn’t make you one though.”
“I feel like one.” The wolf mumbled.
Leonie messed up. She messed up really bad. The village told all sorts of stories about what lurked in the woods. Her grandmother always told her to stay on the path and never stray unless she wanted to be eaten. But that’s just what they were - stories. There was nothing to prove that the woods were dangerous, just rumors and tall tales. She shouldn’t have fallen for the gossip.
“Do…you have a name?” Leonie asked.
Slowly, the wolf looked up, blinking the bright brown eyes of hers. “…Marianne.”
“That’s a pretty name.” Leonie said with a small grin. “I’ve never heard of a monster having a pretty name.”
Marianne looked away, flustered. “O-Oh. What’s your name?”
“Leonie. A lot of folks in town call me Red Riding Hood, too.”
“I like that name. And your hood.”
“Thanks. I like your ears. It’s cool that you can move them like that.”
Almost in response, Marianne’s ears pinned to her head in embarrassment. Leonie’s grin grew wider. This wolf was sweet, she couldn’t believe she saw it sooner. “How do you like the stew, Marianne? Was it enough? I can make some more with some meat from the village.”
“It was delicious! You’re a wonderful cook, I forgot how much I like the village food.”
“I’m really glad you liked it. Hey, I can come back tomorrow and make something else for you if you want.” Leonie offered.
Marianne’s eyes widened. “You don’t have to! Really, I can find my own food just fine. You don’t need to waste your time on someone like me:”
“But I want to! Come on, you like my food and I like cooking, it’s a win win.” She pressed. She wanted to get to know Marianne more. She wanted to understand this fabled wolf more and she wanted her to see she wasn’t just a monster. Even in their brief conversation Leonie could see that.
“Oh…” Marianne hesitated before giving into Leonie’s pleading expression. “Oh…alright. You, um, do make good company.”
“Thank you, Marianne! Trust me, you’ll love what I cook next. I’m thinking roasted turkey or - maybe some sort of game - whatever it is, I promise you’ll like it.”
Marianne smiled at her in a way that sent her heart soaring.