A Red cloak, brand new was laying on the floor next to me. I had given up on finding another one ages ago.

It was long, down to my knees, and thick enough to keep me warm, but not to thick and heavy. It was a deep, rich, scarlet colour.

I glanced around the cave. Robin was looking at me anxiously from across the cave. I knew then that he had given it to me, and I smiled gratefully. I hurled myself across to him and wrapped him a tight hug. My heart was racing as I rested my head on his shoulder, and my cheeks were slowly reddening.

He was stiff with surprise at first, but then slowly started to relax into the cwtch. He smelt nice, like crushed pine needles and berries. A strange thing to notice, I know. But still. I released him, staring at the floor.

'Thanks.' I mumbled, and went back to my mattress, leaving him standing there, shocked. I slipped the cloak on, and tied my hair in a tight bun. I sat on a log outside, sharpening my sword and knives. The others were starting to emerge, and I avoided Robins eyes. I was still embarrassed by my earlier show of affection.

'What we doing today?' I questioned no one in particular.

'There's a rumour of a carriage coming this way, a rich one. Belongs to some sort of Lord.' I hissed through my teeth. I hated Lords and Ladies, even if I was one. And engaged to one...

'What's the plan?' Jethro asked.

'Red, you distract them while we rob it. Apparently it's in some sort of disguise.' Rob said to me.

'Gottit.'

I waited in my tree, scanning the road ahead for any movement. I saw it after about two minutes, a carriage. It was black, and had coffins in the back. I smiled. The two in front clincked and clancked like guards, and were looking around suspiciously. There way no way they were ordinary citizens. I threw a knife into Robs tree, signalling that I saw it. A few moments before it was beneath us, I jumped out into the road, landing lightly and pushing myself up.

'Oi!'

'Whoah'

'Hello.' I greeted them

'Move.'

'Why?' I grinned widely.

'We need to get on our way, scum.'

'Why? What do you do?'

'Isn't it obvious?!?'

'Well, you aren't ordinary citizens, and those aren't ordinary coffins. Well, weren't.' I climbed up my tree again as they ran to their coffins that weren't there no more. They searched through the undergrowth for quite a long time, it must have been a important Lord.

We set the coffins in the floor of the cave and opened them. The first was full of coins and jewels, weapons and rich silks.

'Ohhh!' I had spotted a set of red knives and a double ended sword. Rob smiled and tossed them to me.

'Girls and pretty jewels.' John shook his head.

'Knives and swords don't really count as jewels, John.' I scowled. He grinned widely.

We sorted them into piles and moved onto the next. As it opened I gasped, and I grabbed the pouch from the top and hid it in my cloak. Robin had noticed, but didn't say anything, thank goodness.

Later that night, I lit a candle and opened the pouch with shaking hands. It had his crest on it. The gold dagger and two blood red roses. I reached in. The first thing I pulled out was the silver locket with a ring on it. It was silver and had the crest and a small diamond on it. I opened the locket and my breath stopped. It was a small painting of me and him. It looked perfect, but I had a knife pressed to my back. My jaw didn't have that scar then. I put it aside and drew out a single, long, blood red ribbon. It was from when I tied my long hair up with them for decoration. Then lastly, was a piece of parchment. I unfolded it and read the spiky writing.

Dear Red Riding,

I will track you down. I will punish you and your family. How dare you leave me. You are so selfish and cruel, how can you live with yourself? I know that you will never get this letter, but I don't care. But don't worry, I will not rest until you are in hell, until I have made you scream for mercy and are down on your knees with blood pouring down you. So farewell Mrs Riding, my fiancée, until I succeed in finding you. And trust me, I will.

Your fiancé.

I was shaking with fear, a ball of nerves in my stomach.

'Red?' Jethro asked. I stiffened. I thought everyone was fast asleep.

'You alright?'

'Fine.' It came out harder than I meant. I turned over, and blew out the candle. I placed the pouch under my cloak, which I used as a pillow.