*Chapter 12: Peace At Last...*

In Wills, the people came out of their homes to see the Woodsman, Red, and the men return with their horses and hound dogs. But dragging behind the Woodsman and Red is the Wolf. They hear the townsfolk murmur in surprise. The mother came over to Red and embrace her, relieved that her daughter is back alive.

"The Wolf..."

"They killed it?"

"No one has ever try to kill the Wolf since the Huntman."

"Woodsman, how did you do it?" A priest asked by coming through the crowd. The Woodsman shows the priest the body of the Wolf. The priest stares at it. "By the Gods, you've really done it."

"No. I didn't." The Woodsman said by shaking his head. "Red did." The priest looked at the girl in a ripped cloak, and have scratch marks on her arm, and have bite marks on her leg.

"The child killed the creature?!" A woman from the crowd asked.

"How did she do it?" The priest asked the Woodsman. Red came up and show the priest the gun with silver bullets with her hands. "Silver bullets? The Wolf's weakness. They really work..."

"Yes. They do. And everyone, please listen to me." Red says by looking at the townsfolk. "This Wolf is not like the others out there. The wolves are hiding from him. And now, since I pulled the trigger, all of the forest animals are safe, and the wolves are free from hiding. They will never harm us. Because...the witch told me before she decided to save me..."

"The witch?" The priest asked.

"Yes. Her name was Selena. She transformed into a wolf to save me. And the Wolf here, he...took her life." Red said sadly. The priest and the people didn't say anything. Red looks down at the Wolf's body. "I've been out there for hours today, and he wants to eat me. But now, he is gone forever. All of you in this town, and the animals from the woods are free now. Even the farm out there is free. No more Big Bad Wolf." She felt a hand on her shoulder, she looked up and Woodsman smiled at her.

"I knew you could do it, Red. I'm so proud of you." He said. "Wish your father was here." Red frowned a little. The Woodsman faces the townsfolk. "We will dump this body in the river where it can never be seen again." He picked up the Wolf's body and place it on the horse. He took the horse out the gates, and Red followed him. Before they leave the town, they saw wolves coming out. Red approached a little and saw a certain wolf coming in with wounds.

"...Selena?" She asked. The she-wolf smiled at her. Red ran over to her and hug her. Feeling her soft coat. "I thought you were dead."

"I'm a witch, Red. Nothing could ever kill me." Selena spoke. "And, there is someone who wants to meet you in person." Selena steps aside and there is a dark gray wolf with brown eyes. He stood in front of her as she sat on her knees.

"So, it was you who defeated the Wolf with silver bullets. I want to thank you for freeing all of us. Now, the forest is free from the Big Bad Wolf. And I can lead the pack I did once before." He spoke in a gentle voice. "Little Red Riding Hood, you are our savior. You are a young warrior to us."

"Warrior?" Red asked. "But, there's nothing out there in control of the woods now."

"Only one who could defeat the Wolf is our warrior we've been praying for. And you, Red, are the one we are praying for." The leader said. "Please visit us anytime, young cub. The woods is also your home. I, Black Wind, shall have you as my friend." The wolf turned away and took the pack back to the woods to get to their home. Selena gave Red one more smile and followed the pack. Black Wind's howl is heard, and the other wolves howled along with him. Red smiled as she listened to the beautiful sounds. She heard clapping from behind. The townsfolk applaud to her. Red blushed a little. She is now a heroine of Wills and the woods.

The next day, everything was so peaceful. The sky was bright, and the sun is shining above warming the town from last night's rain. The farm animals were out in the fields freely. The children are playing around the grass with laughter.
Red came out of her house in a white dress, and wore bandages. She's supposed to be resting after yesterday, but she felt so wide awake of this new day. Her Grandmother came out with a basket. The carriage appeared and stop by the gate. Red turned to her Grandmother with a frown.

"Do you have to go back, Grandmother? After what happened yesterday-"

"Oh dearie, I'll be alright. Thanks to you, I'm all better." Grandmother said. "I'm worried about you most of all. You almost got killed, but you didn't. You saved everyone in this town and the woods. You're such a brave, strong girl." Red smiled a little. She hugged her.

"I'm glad the Wolf didn't eat you before I arrived to your house, Grandma." She said.

"Me too." Grandmother whispered. "Visit me anytime you like, Red." She pulled away from the embrace and got in the carriage. Red waved goodbye at her. The carriage took off down the road. Red hears faint howling from the woods ahead. Someone's calling her. She looks around, making sure no one is around, not even her mother who is resting in the house.
Red started to run down the road in a fast pace. She slowly started to change. The dress is gone as Red got on fours as she ran and gray/brown fur appearing on her body. It shines in the sunlight. She continues to run down the path, and howled at the sky. More howls responded to Red.

A wolf is born...

*The End*

*Author's Note: In loving memory of my great-grandmother who told me the Little Red Riding Hood story many times to me when I was a little kid. Also in loving memory of my basset hound named Max (put to sleep in Oct. 8th, 2013) who I put as a cameo in this story.
Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf never leave our hearts. They will always be my favorite main characters of the story in any kind I've seen and written. Thank you for reading!*