Red Ridinghood found herself standing in the middle of her bedroom, taking in her surroundings as if this might be the last time she'll set foot on its marble floor.

Noong mga sandaling ‘yon, kamuntikan na niyang nakalimutan ang rason kung bakit siya nagpunta rito. Matapos ng kanilang pag-uusap ng kanyang ama, namalayan na lang niyang dinadala na pala siya ng kanyang mga paa sa silid na ito. With that, she made an excuse. She told the werewolves that she needed to pack something first. Pero kani-kanina lang niya napagtantong wala nga pala siyang kailangang dalhin.

In her room back at the Big Bad Werewolves’ castle, she already has an enchanted wardrobe that supplies her with the finest dresses and undergarments.

‘As ridiculously convenient as that sounds,’ she thought in amusement.

Right now, Red has nothing valuable to take with her, except for the red fabric she was holding between her fingers.

Doon niya naramdaman ang presensiya ng binatang nakatayo sa may pintuan. Napangiti na lang si Red nang mapansing nagpalit na ito ng damit. Nakatakip na ulit ng hood ang kalahati ng kanyang mukha. Under that, she can still imagine his brilliant blue eyes.

Nang mapansin niyang nakatuon ang mga mata ng werewolf sa hawak niya, mahina siyang nagpaliwanag. “When I was a kid, General Simon gave me this cloak. Palagi kasi akong napapagalitan noon ni Elpidio tuwing pumupuslit ako sa dating silid ng reyna. The general took this from my mother’s dresser and told me to take good care of it. It’s been my favorite cloak ever since.”

Pero sa dami na ng mga butas at punit sa tela nito, mukhang tuluyan na ring magreretiro ang kaisa-isang damit na namana niya sa kanyang ina. As precious as this is to her, a fancy red cloak isn’t too practical when fighting against undead werewolves.

Sayang.

Akmang ilalapag na niya sana ito nang maramdaman ang mahika. Nyctimus was muttering an incantation. The air around the her vibrated and the atmosphere suddenly felt lighter. Nang muling tingnan ni Red ang hawak niyang cloak, nanlaki na ang kanyang mga mata nang makitang wala na itong sira. Its gold embroideries shone in the afternoon sun, a gorgeous contrast against the crimson satin.

It was as good as new.

When she turned to thank him, Nyctimus was already walking away.

Indeed, it was time to go.

*

“Red hair suits you, Miss Red.”

Helisson complimented as they walked through the village. Napangiti na lang si Red kahit pa naiilang pa rin siya sa mga tingin ng nadaraanan nila. She pulled her hood over her head, trying to conceal her face. ‘Hindi ko rin naman sila masisisi. I just ruined their festivity,’ she reminded herself, feeling even more guilty.

Nabulabog ang lahat kanina nang nanggulo sa seremoniya sina Helisson, Carteron, at Linus. Sa kasamaang-palad, may nasira pa silang mga paninda sa marketplace. Red made a mental note to repay them as soon as possible. Kaya nga nang nagtangka na naman silang mag-transform, she quickly stopped them and suggested they walk out of the village instead.

These boys already caused enough trouble for one day.

“Is this even permanent? Because I don’t think I fancy the idea of having red hair while my nickname is also Red,” the princess replied, just so she can avert her attention on something else.

Malakas namang natawa si Carteron bago ngumisi sa kanya. He grinned like a Chesire cat, flashing his sharp canines. “Psh. You look like you took a blood bath and forgot to rinse your hair, Your Highness! Ayos na ‘yan para madaling matandaan ng mga tao ang pangalan mo. Kung hindi pa nila mahulaan, ewan ko na lang. HAHAHA!”

“Fool! Don’t you insult my prose and poetry,
have you no shame on yourself?
Let me remind you, brother:
she’s the maiden who will set us free!"

“Yeah. Pero sana kapag napalaya na tayo sa sumpa, palayain mo na rin kami sa mga tula mo. Tsk!”

Linus glared. A low growl escaped the poet’s lips. Bago pa man niya napigilan ang mga ito, nawindang na lang ang kaharian ng Eastwood nang nag-transform ang dalawa at sinimulan na ang “werewolf wresting”. The two wolves even wrecked a nearby store, making the villagers panic.

Nabuntong-hininga na lang si Red. ‘I guess they will never change.’

*

The trip back to the castle was surprisingly better than the last time---well, a lot better since she’s not being kidnapped anymore.

Dahil hindi pa lumulubog ang araw, nabigyan siya ng pagkakataong titigang maigi ang kanilang kapaligiran. Sa mga sandaling ito, mas mapayapang tingnan ang kagubatan ng Eastwood. Pinalibutan sila ng luntian.

It’s amazing how this forest looks less terrifying without a blanket of shadows.

Red hung onto the gray werewolf as she rode on its back. Pilit tinatangay ng hangin ang cloak niya. Noon lang din niya napansing suot niya pa rin ang kanyang gown sa coronation ceremony. ‘Who needs carriages when you have werewolves?’ Red thought in amusement before the werewolf growled at her. Her high heels accidentally poked his sides.

“Oops. Sorry, Carteron!”

Sinamaan pa siya nito ng tingin bago ibinalik ang atensyon sa daan. Napangiti na lang si Red at tiningnan ang kulay puting balahibo sa leeg nito, parang isang lubid na nakatali roon.

Beside her, Nyctimus rode on the Helisson’s white wolf while Linus was leading the group. Paminsan-minsan pa itong umaalulong na para bang tumutula pa rin siya. It was a long walk, so the brothers decided to transform the moment they stepped out of the kingdom’s territory.

“Malapit na ba tayo?”

Nyctimus nodded.

It looks like he plans to keep his "no talking" reputation, after all.

Maya-maya pa, nang matanaw na ni Red ang pamilyar na arko kung saan siya dinala ni Lycros noon, hindi niya napigilang ngumiti. She instantly felt an invisible force tugging at her heartstrings, pulling her towards the castle. Why does this feel like going home? Siguro masyado lang malakas ang mahika ng Eteilla.

Pero agad ring naglaho ang ngiti niya nang mapansing nagtinginan na ang tatlong werewolves. They even grinned at each other!

Oh, shit.

Red didn’t need telepathy to figure out what they were planning to do.

“D-Don’t you da---AAAAAAAAH!”

Of course, wolves with always be wolves.

Namalayan na lang ni Red na nakikipagkarera na pala ang mga lobo. At mukhang walang may balak magpatalo sa kanila. Mahigpit siyang kumapit kay Carteron nang nilundagan pa nito ang isang natumbang troso. ‘These sadistic bastards!’ The princess cursed them again and again while trying not to fall off. She helplessly reached her hearing aids and took them off. Delikado na at baka mawala pa ang mga ito!

Sa gilid ng kanyang mga mata, napanganga na lang ang dalaga nang makitang kalmado lang sa kanyang kinauupuan si Nyctimus. He didn’t even seem like he cared if his brothers were racing like wild animals!

Ni hindi na pinansin ni Red ang mahikang naramdaman niya nang dumaan sila sa portal. She was too damn dizzy to care. Nang tuluyan ang huminto ang werewolves, ibinalik ng prinsesa ang kanyang hearing aids, bumaba sa likod ng lobo, tinanggal ang kanyang sapatos, at---

WHACK!

“OUCH! What the hell?!"

Carteron immediately transformed back into his human form, clutching his head. Yup, she just hit a werewolf with her killer high heels.

“The next time you run like that, at least warn me!”

Nang makita niyang nagpipigil ng tawa ang mga kapatid nito, she glared at them and raised her heels in a threatening manner. Agad na tumahimik ang mga lobo at pasimpleng nag-iwas ng tingin. Good. Napabuntong-hininga na lang si Red at inayos ang kanyang sarili bago bumaling sa kastilyo.

In that moment, her frustration suddenly vanished.

The castle looked just like how she remembered it two weeks ago. A gothic-themed castle with towers and arching stone windows. From here, she can see the spikes hailing from the turrets. Sa hindi niya malamang dahilan, gumaan ang kanyang pakiramdam. Doon niya lang napansin ang lobong tumatakbo papalapit sa kanya mula sa courtyard.

In a blur of reddish-brown fur, Red was tackled to the ground.

“It’s nice to see you, too, Macednus…” Red greeted the wolf, her back against the soft grass. Napailing na lang siya nang mapansing may rosas pala ito sa kanyang bibig. Red laughed at the sight and took it from him. “Hindi ka talaga nauubusan ng rosas, ‘no?”

“Woof!”

Sa isang iglap, bumalik ito sa kanyang anyong tao at inilahad ang kanyang kamay. Wala na naman itong suot na pang-itaas. He flashed her a charming smile. “Just making sure you don’t have an improvised straw flute, ma cherié. Hindi pa rin kita pinapatawad sa ginawa mo sa’kin,” he jokingly added.

Inabot ng prinsesa ang kanyang kamay at umayos nang tayo.

“I’m sorry about that.”

“Nah! It’s fine, ma cherié.” Sabay akbay nito sa kanya. “We’re just happy you came back to us… right, brothers?”

Sumang-ayon naman ang ibang mga werewolves na nakabalik na rin sa pagiging tao. Nyctimus magically conjured up several robes to cover their bodies (to her relief). Nang hinatid na siya ng mga ito sa loob, natigilan na lang si Red nang makasalubong nila si Lycros.

Forest green met amber once again.

Remembering the night of her escape made her feel even guiltier. Red wanted to apologize, pero magsasalita pa lang sana siya nang bigla na lang nag-iwas ng tingin si Lycros at nilagpasan sila. Tuloy-tuloy lang itong lumabas ng kanilang kastilyo nang hindi man lang siya kinakausap. Natuod sa kanyang kinatatayuan ang prinsesa. The other werewolves remained silent.

‘This is unlike him… But then again, maybe he’s still mad at me for what I did,’ Red thought, feeling even more uncomfortable.

Oo, siguro nga galit pa rin ito dahil sa rose quartz.

“I knew you’d come back, my empress.”

Umalingawngaw sa kastilyo ang boses na ‘yon.

Nang lingunin ni Red ang pinanggalingan nito, she saw him standing on top of the staircase. With the light coming from the window behind him, the alpha looked like a god that took the form of a fine man. Napapailing na lang si Red sa kanyang iniisip. Of course, he’s no god. But the irregularity of her heartbeat wanted to tell her otherwise.

“Acontes.”

Without taking his eyes off her, the alpha took a few steps forward before jumping down the stairs. Sa isang iglap, isang itim na lobo na ang nasa ere. He was in perfect control of his transformation. The black wolf gracefully ran descended the stairs and leapt towards her. Maya-maya pa, naramdaman na lang niya ang mahigpit nitong yakap.

One second a wolf, the next a man.

“I've missed you.” He mumbled huskily against her neck, causing her to cheeks to heat in response. Damn this. Ano bang nangyayari sa kanya?

Sa huli, hinayaan na lang niya ito.

Ang mahalaga ay nandito na siya para gampanan ang tungkuling ibinigay sa kanya ng Eteilla. The princess was finally back inside the castle of the Big Bad Werewolves.

 ---

You were like a dream,
I wish I hadn’t
slept through.
Within it I fell deeper,
than your heart would
care to let you.
I thought you were a keeper,
I wish I could
have kept you

---"The Keeper", Lang Leav