Pidge-

     Katie loved being on the outter side of the woods. Often times she'd see a few humans. It was interesting to her, their behaviors. They would sometimes even enter the woods. When they did, usually, she'd leave them on their way, knowing that hey were either hunters(which she was careful to avoid) and/ or in a party to just enjoy the scenery and didn't walk far into the woods.

But today, today was odd. She saw a young man enter alone. She was going to let him be on his way, but quickly realized that he was going through the forest. He didn't look like a hunter, instead of a heavy rifle attached to his back he wore a red riding hood, a small pocket knife in hand in case of danger, but still sheathed, not wanting to accidentally hurt something that wasn't a threat.

Katie began to follow him. She didn't want him to get hurt out here, knowing he was headed straight to the siren's part of the forest towards the small lake of mother Theresa. She was one of few sirens who owned her own mermaids. It was slavery at its finest, and those mermaids were beat almost to death. Their tails were always bruised and scabbed. Their once pink, purple or blue tails now black and beaten. Though she never beat them above the hip, to keep their appeal towards any passing hunters or pass throughs.

Though on the way to beat him there, she fell into a bush. He looked in her direction quickly, his ocean blue eyes filled with fear. She stopped to admire them for a moment before emerging from the bush. She put on her meanest growl in case she had somehow misread this man. He lowered his blade that he had unsheathed to defend himself

"Who are you?" She said, still looking as stern as possible, putting on her meanest voice. He looked at her, confused. "Uh... my name's Lance" he spoke. She then jumped back into the bush she came out of. He looked at the place where Katie had been, then continued towards the other end of the forest. Unfortunately for Katie, due to her lack of height, it took her longer than expected to get to a particular branch that was just out of her reach.

When she finally caught up to Lance, he was being lured to mother Theresa. Katie jumped down from the trees that she just got back to the top of, and yelled at the siren. "Stop!" She said, walking over to Theresa. "How Dare you!! That was my food, you know good and well I haven't eaten in days!" She said. Katie found lance on the floor behind her, incredibly scared. "He doesn't look like food to me." She said as she helped him up. She smiled lightly before turning back to the hungry siren. "Everyone knows you have plenty of your own rations in there. You don't need him anyways." She said.

"No wonder why you displease your family. Go back to you're little den, cub." Said the siren as she sunk back to the bottom of the pond. Then Katie looked at lance again. "I'm sorry. It's just been a while since everyone has had a filling meal. We split up what we have and that's it." She said. "You- you never told me your name." Lance said. He was visibly still a bit bewildered.

Katie looked at him, deciding to use her real name or not. "Pidge. Pidge Gunderson." Lance looked down at the small girl. "Aw, that's cute." Lance said with a smirk. Pidge felt her cheeks heat from embarrassment. "Shut up." She said, her face bitter.

"We should get you going. You're only passing through, correct?" Pidge asked. "Yeah. I'm going to see my grandmother." Lance explained. Pidge grimaced "Oh god this this is like little red riding hood huh?" Pidge asked. "Well you saved me and I don't see you trying to eat me, but yeah maybe with a twist of our own to it." Lance said. Pidge walked in front of Lance. She felt his eyes watching her, but she didn't want to acknowledge it.

Katie walked with purpose. Her green riding cape was swaying behind her as she walked.

Pidge stopped suddenly. "Grandmother Willow right?"  She asked. "Uh yeah how did you-" Lance started. "I talk with her sometimes. She's very kind, and accepting. My family doesn't accept me, so it's nice to be able to talk with her sometimes." Pidge confessed. "But I swear if you pass through the enchanted forest again and you tell anyone, and I mean ANYONE her life may be in danger." Pidge said. Lance nodded, putting his hands up in defeat.

"Thank you for helping me. I wish I could repay you." Lance said. "Oh. Well, just walk through again. I like talking to you, you remind me a lot of Willow. You seem to understand me." She said. Lance smiled. "Ok I'll walk back." He said. "Bye pidge. I'll see you in a couple of hours." Lance said, he was holding the door handle. "Bye lance. See ya later." She said as she disappeared back into the wilderness.

Once lance walked inside Pidge walked back to her cot, where her and her family live. She was just stopping by, for some water, she wasn't going to stay very long, after all she knew once it was dark Lance would be on his way back, and would defiantly need protection on his way back. Then her brother, Matt walked in, tapping Pidge on the shoulder. "Katie, dad knows." He said, "knows what?" She asked. "That you helped him. Mother Theresa spread it about the forest." Matt warned. "So what do I do?" She asked, fear rising into every inch of her body. She was trembling. "I don't know. You'd have better luck trying to fit in with the humans than here. Everyone will know your whereabouts. And word will spread fast." Matt said. "Well, could you walk me to grandmother Willow's?" She asked. Matt nodded. "I'll send you a bird when you'll be safe"  Matt said. Okay. Well I'll pack my things quickly." She said.

She packed all her belongings, and was off. At the edge of the forest, she flipped her hood on, and and knocked on grandmother Willows door. Lance opened up. "Pidge?" He asked. "I need to speak with grandmother Willow." She said to him, he nodded.

"And don't tell anyone about what I am. I'm going to have to live here for a while." She admitted. Lance looked at her bewildered. "Ok. I'll show you to where she is." Lance said. He took lead Pidge, his hand resting at her waist as he gently pushed her into the kitchen where all of his family was playing on the floor, and setting the table.

"Grandmother Willow, you have a guest." Lance spoke. "Can't it wait until after dinner? We can set her a Place, is that ok..." Veronica started. "Katie, But all my friends call me Pidge." She said. Lance smiled at that, knowing he was a friend of hers now, "and he's, that'd be nice as long as it's okay with all of you. She said. "Oh of course, please, you can sit next to Lance, he won't bother you too much, she said giving Lance a warning glare. "Better watch the way you shoot that glare, little sis." He joked. She scoffed. "Anyways, Diego, please set another place for ms Katie." The 12 year old nodded, and set her a place very nicely.

After eating dinner, with a few knowing glances from Lance, Katie pulled grandmother Willow aside. "Grandmother Willow, I know this may be a lot to ask, but I need somewhere to stay, I'll help with chores and everything, but I can't go back home, my father will beat me to death." Katie said, fear evident in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Dearie, I'm afraid I don't have enough room! My granddaughter will be staying with me to help me get around from now on. I'm sorry." She said. "But I'm sure if you ask Lance he could help you out." She added. Pidge nodded. "Okay."

Pidge grabbed Lance by the hand suddenly, her hood fell off her head, exposing her ears. They were down, fear controlling them. "Lance I need a place to stay. Do you think you can help me out? If I go back home my father might just beat me to death." She admitted. "Why?" He asked. "Because word spread that I helped you pass through the forest, and now my father has to punish me. But I'm walking on thin ice as it is, so please?" She pleaded. "Veronica's room will be open. I can ask her if it's okay with her." Lance said. He walked over, having a conversation with the tall brunette. Pidge had put her good back over her head.

"Oh yeah! She can! None of my things will be there, I'm moving back in with gran, remember?" She laughed. I smiled. She smiled at me, nodding. "Thank you both so much, I'll help out around with the chores and I'll help you if you need anything." Pidge assured. "That should be fine. Don't tire yourself out though, you don't have to be a personal maid to earn your keep, just saying." Veronica laughed. Pidge smiled so wide. "Thanks again." She said. Her smile faded. "Before you let me in I guess you should know that..." pidge started, lifting the hood from her head. "I'm a werewolf. I won't do any harm, and I won't cause any trouble, and don't worry, if you're worried I'll get caught I know how to hide my ears and a tail is generally easy to hide especially with the upcoming weather." Pidge rambled. Veronica looked at Lance. "She won't hurt us. She protected me from predators in the Enchanted forest. That's why she's here asking to live with us in the first place." Lance confessed. Veronica looked at her feet. "As our guest you are given your necessities, as long as you do your chores. I'm sure we'll get along just fine. I also have to appologize for my older brother, he can be an idiot sometimes, but he is usually means well, it's the least we could do for you after saving my brother. We'll save you this time." Veronica smiled. Pidge pretty much tackled her in a hug "thank you so much!" She exclaimed. Veronica stumbles backwards a bit.

"No problem." She giggled.

I made this extra long cus I was gonna end it about 300 words ago but was like ya know what? I know how I could make this better, and longer so here we are lol sorry for taking so long to get back online I've been updating a bunch of stories, and wasn't completely focused on just one book so I've been hoeing when it comes to updating. Thanks for all your supportive comments and all it really means a lot, you have no idea. Thanks for reading all this mess, love you guys❤️😚