A/N: I'm honestly too tired to be doing this. Studying, exams and lack of sleep mostly. Anyways, here's the very late chap. Lemme see if I can finish editing my other chaps for my other books.
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I had no idea where I was going. And that, in my humble opinion, was the best part.
Starlight trotted through the winding trails of the woods, his little hooves crunching against fallen leaves and twigs.
The crisp morning air filled my lungs, making me feel alive and free, like a true adventurer.
The birds chirped above, squirrels darted between the trees, and somewhere in the distance, I heard the faint trickling of a stream. I imagined myself as a wandering knight, traveling across mysterious lands in search of grand adventures.
Maybe I'd find a hidden treasure.
Up ahead, on a narrow dirt path that twisted through the trees, I spotted a girl in a bright red cloak walking along.
She couldn't have been much older than eleven, and she wore a blue dress underneath her cloak while carrying a woven basket in her hands. She had dark brown hair tied into braids and was humming a little tune as she skipped along the path.
That wasn't the strange part.
No, the strange part was the big talking wolf walking beside her.
I blinked.
Then blinked again.
Yep. Definitely a big talking wolf on two legs, like some kind of fancy gentleman—except way more suspicious and covered in fur. He was lean and shaggy, with piercing yellow eyes and a long snout that curled into a too-friendly smile.
His bushy tail swayed behind him, and his big clawed hands made grand, exaggerated gestures as he spoke.
"Ahh, my dear girl, the road ahead is so long and dangerous," the wolf was saying in a smooth voice. "But lucky for you, I know a shortcut to your dear, sweet grandmother's house. Much safer, much faster."
The girl, Ruby, scrunched her nose. "Hmm… I don't know. Mama told me to follow the road."
The wolf let out a dramatic sigh, pressing a paw to his forehead like some overworked actor.
"Ah, but my dear, what if something dangerous is lurking on this road?" he said, flashing a sharp-toothed grin. "Bandits? Thieves? Terrifying beasts?"
Ruby raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't those things also be in your shortcut?"
The wolf faltered for a moment before regaining his composure. "But of course not! I would never lead a sweet little thing like you into danger. Trust me, I am a gentleman of the forest!"
He even gave an exaggerated bow, sweeping his tail behind him like a cape.
I didn't trust him. Not one bit.
That wolf was way too charming in the kind of way that made you lose your wallet before realizing what happened.
And if there was one thing I knew about stories like this…This was bad news.
And so, being the brave (and possibly reckless) boy that I was, I did what any good hero would do. I charged in without a second thought.
"YAAAHHHH!"
With a fierce battle cry (or as fierce as a five-year-old could make), I spurred Starlight into a gallop, racing down the path towards the unsuspecting wolf.
The wolf turned just in time to see two tiny hooves flying straight for his face.
WHAM!
Starlight's kick sent him soaring through the air, tumbling into the bushes with a surprised yelp.
I barely managed to hold onto my saddle as Starlight reared up dramatically, neighing like the mighty warhorse he was born to be.
Ruby gasped.
The wolf groaned from inside the bushes.
I pumped my fist into the air, beaming with pride.
"Take that, you sneaky wolf!"
Ruby stared at me, wide-eyed. "Whoa."
The wolf groaned again. "What… in the… ever-lovin' forest was that?!"
I pointed an accusing finger at the wolf, my chest puffed out like a miniature knight.
"You were totally trying to trick her!" I said. "I've heard stories like this before! You were gonna do something bad, weren't you?"
The wolf scrambled to his feet, brushing twigs and leaves from his fur with a very offended expression.
"Well, I never!" he huffed, placing a paw over his chest. "I am a gentleman, young sir! I was merely offering my assistance to a lost traveler!"
Ruby squinted. "I'm not lost, though."
"…A tired traveler, then."
"I'm not tired."
The wolf's eye twitched. "A hungry traveler?"
"I just ate."
"…A traveler who wants a free tour of the woods?"
Ruby folded her arms. "Mama told me not to take shortcuts with strangers."
The wolf groaned, rubbing his face. "You children are way too well-raised these days."
I stuck out my tongue at him. "Go find some other kid to bother, fuzz-face!"
The wolf opened his mouth—then paused, narrowing his yellow eyes.
He looked at me then at Starlight then back at me.
"…Wait a minute," he muttered. "Aren't you a little young to be galloping through the woods by yourself?"
I smiled.
"Yep! But that's what makes it fun!"
The wolf stared at me like he was having a mild existential crisis.
Then he let out a deep sigh and turned away, grumbling under his breath. "This is why I stopped trying to eat kids—too much attitude."
With that, he disappeared into the trees, his bushy tail flicking in frustration. For a long moment, Ruby and I just stood there in silence.
Then Ruby turned to me, tilting her head. "Who are you?"
I grinned proudly and placed my hands on my hips.
"Camden!" I declared. "Explorer of the woods! Rider of the mighty steed, Starlight!"
Starlight snorted proudly.
Ruby raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "Huh. Well, you did just kick a talking wolf into the bushes."
I nodded very seriously. "I sure did."
She smiled. "Well, thanks! That was really cool of you. I'm Ruby!"
She held out her hand, and I eagerly shook it.
"So, where were you going?" I asked. She pointed down the road. "My grandma's house. She lives deep in the woods." I glanced towards the trees where the wolf had disappeared.
"…Mind if I tag along? Just in case?"
Ruby grinned. "Sure! But can your pony keep up?"
I gasped dramatically.
"How dare you doubt the speed of Starlight?!" I turned to my pony. "Starlight, show her what you've got!" Starlight, bless his heart, gave the most gentle and unimpressive trot I had ever seen.
Ruby giggled. "I like you guys."
And just like that, we continued down the road together—a five-year-old, an eleven-year-old, and a very determined pony—heading off to face whatever adventures lay ahead.
And if that wolf came back?
Well… he'd have to deal with Starlight's hooves again.
=.=.=
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Ruby and I walked side by side, or at least I did while perched comfortably on Starlight, feeling very much like a mighty adventurer. She walked beside us, swinging her basket lightly as she hummed a cheerful tune.
"So, Camden," Ruby said, glancing up at me. "What exactly were you doing out here all alone?"
I grinned. "Exploring!"
She raised an eyebrow. "Exploring what?"
I blinked. "Uh… the woods?"
Ruby gave me a look like I had just said something very obvious. "And did you find anything?"
I nodded proudly. "Yep! I found you!"
Ruby rolled her eyes but smiled. "Okay, fair point."
I stretched my arms out dramatically. "I just wanted to ride Starlight and see where the wind would take me! No rules, no boring grown-ups, just me, my mighty steed, and the call of adventure!"
Ruby snorted. "You sound like one of my grandma's stories."
I grinned. "Maybe I am a story! Maybe I'm actually a long-lost prince, raised in the wild, and one day I'll return to my kingdom to defeat the evil warlock who stole my throne!"
[A/N: Foreshadowinggg~]
Ruby gave a slow, exaggerated nod. "Mhm. And maybe I'm a warrior princess, traveling the land in disguise."
I gasped. "Wait, are you?"
She smirked. "Maybe."
I gasped again, clutching Starlight's mane. "That's so cool! Do you have a sword? A secret identity? A tragic backstory?"
Ruby burst out laughing. "No! I was joking!"
"Oh," I said, deflating slightly. Then I grinned again. "But you could be."
She tilted her head, considering it. "I could be…"
And just like that, we spent the next hour coming up with ridiculous backstories for ourselves.
Ruby decided she was actually a fearless knight-in-training, sent on a quest to deliver magical baked goods to a powerful wizard (who was actually her grandma).
I declared that I was a tiny but powerful warrior, known across the land for my undefeated battle record—except all my battles were against chickens and squirrels.
Somewhere in the middle of our ridiculous stories, I caught a whiff of something sweet and delicious. That's when I noticed the basket.
More importantly…
That's when I noticed what was inside the basket. Cookies. Tarts. Muffins. Little jam-filled pastries.
My stomach rumbled. Ruby caught me staring and hugged her basket protectively. "Don't even think about it."
I placed a hand over my heart. "Ruby. My dear, kind, generous friend. Would I—"
"Yes."
I gasped, deeply offended. "You wound me." She snorted. "These are for my grandma! You can have one."
I nodded very seriously. "Of course. Just one."
Five minutes later, I had somehow eaten nearly half the basket.
Ruby stared at me in pure horror. I blinked, mid-chew.
"…Oops?"
"Oops?!" Ruby gawked at the disaster in her basket. "You—how—why—you—how did you even do that?!"
I swallowed the last bite of a muffin and shrugged. "I got hungry?" Ruby groaned and dragged her hands down her face. "Camden. That was half of my grandma's gift."
I looked at the remains of the basket. "Well, to be fair… it was a very small half."
Ruby glared. Starlight flicked his tail like he wanted no part in this argument.
"Ugh," Ruby muttered, shaking her head. "I can't believe I just let a tiny horse boy rob me."
"Would it help if I said it was really good?"
"No."
"Not even a little?"
She shot me another glare but then sighed, shaking her head with a reluctant smile. "You're lucky you're cute, you little bandit."
I beamed. We continued our journey until we stumbled upon a wide, open field bursting with wildflowers.
It was beautiful. Flowers of every color stretched as far as the eye could see—bright yellows, deep purples, soft pinks, and dazzling blues. The grass was tall and swayed gently in the breeze, carrying the sweet scent of blossoms.
Ruby and I exchanged a look.
At the same time, we both shouted, "Break time!"
I leaped off Starlight and ran into the field, laughing as the flowers brushed against my legs. Ruby followed, twirling around before flopping onto the soft grass.
As I sat down, something black and feathery caught my eye. A crow was perched on a nearby branch, watching us with beady little eyes.
I grinned. "Hey, buddy."
The crow cawed. I plucked a small blue flower from the grass and held it out. "Can you do me a favor? Take this to my mom."
The crow tilted its head, then flapped down, plucking the flower from my hand with its beak.
"Thanks, pal!" I said cheerfully.
With a flap of its wings, the crow took off into the sky, disappearing into the distance.
Ruby stared. "Did… did you just send a crow to deliver a flower?"
I nodded. "Yep!" She stared a little longer before muttering, "This might be the weirdest day of my life."
Meanwhile, in the village…
Evelyne had just finished her morning tea when a black blur swooped down from the sky.
She let out a small yelp as a crow suddenly landed on her shoulder. She blinked. The crow stared.
Then it dropped a single blue flower into her lap and flew away. Evelyne narrowed her eyes as she picked up the flower, examining it carefully.
A moment of silence passed.
Then she let out a long sigh, rubbing her temples.
"…That boy."
Back in the field, Ruby was carefully weaving flowers together into a crown. Once she was done, she placed it on my head.
"There," she said, grinning. "Now you're a flower prince."
I gasped. "I knew I was royalty!"
Ruby laughed and moved to Starlight, braiding his mane with flowers. The little pony seemed to enjoy the attention, flicking his ears happily. Once we were done, we sat for a while, soaking in the warmth of the sun.
Eventually, Ruby stretched. "Alright, flower prince. We should keep moving before it gets too late."
I nodded and hopped onto Starlight. "Onward, noble steed!"
[A little later]
The River and the Big Bad Wolf
"How much longer to your grandma's house?" I asked, swinging my legs from where I sat atop Starlight.
"Not too far," Ruby replied, shifting her basket in her arms. "Just across the river, through the clearing, and down the little path leading up the hill."
I nodded. "Easy!"
Ruby gave me a skeptical look. "You say that, but we already got attacked by a talking wolf, twice."
"Pfft," I waved a hand. "It was more of a mild inconvenience than an attack."
Ruby scoffed. "He literally tried to trick me into following him so he could eat me!"
"Well, yeah," I shrugged. "But he didn't succeed!" Ruby sighed, muttering something about "five-year-olds and their lack of fear," but I chose to ignore that. Ahead, the trees thinned, revealing the gentle sound of running water.
It wasn't too wide, but it was fast-moving, the water rushing over rocks and fallen branches. There was a simple wooden bridge up ahead, stretching from one side to the other.
Everything looked perfectly normal. Too normal.
I squinted suspiciously.
"Alright," Ruby sighed, stepping toward the bridge. "Let's—"
"STOP!" I threw out my arm dramatically.
Ruby jumped. "What?! What is it?!" I narrowed my eyes. "Something's not right."
She frowned. "…It's a bridge, Camden."
"Exactly."
She stared at me. "I don't get it." Before I could explain, a very familiar, very unwelcome voice interrupted.
"Well, well, well. Look who's back."
Ruby and I both snapped our heads toward the trees. There, leaning against a fallen log, was the wolf.
He was grumbling to himself, his fur slightly ruffled, ears twitching in irritation.
"Three little pigs," he muttered under his breath. "Three little annoying pigs building their stupid little houses—ugh, why is everyone in this forest so difficult to eat?!"
Ruby and I exchanged glances. The wolf let out a heavy sigh, then spotted us. His ears perked up, and a sharp grin spread across his face.
"Ahh, my dear little friend!" he said, voice suddenly smooth and charming. "And her… tiny companion."
"Hey!" I frowned. "I'm not tiny!"
The wolf ignored me. "What luck, meeting you again! You know, that bridge looks awfully… unstable." Ruby crossed her arms. "It looks fine to me."
The wolf tilted his head. "Are you sure?"
As if on cue, a loud cracking sound came from the bridge. Ruby took a step back.
I squinted at the wolf. "You did something to it, didn't you?"
"Me?" The wolf placed a paw on his chest, looking deeply offended. "Why, I would never!"
Another snap. A piece of the bridge fell into the river. Ruby groaned. "Great. Now what?" The wolf grinned. "Ah, but do not worry, little girl! I happen to know of another way across the river."
Ruby and I stared at him.
The wolf gestured toward the trees. "A secret path, known only to the most clever of forest travelers. I could show you the way, if you'd like."
Ruby's eyes narrowed. "And let me guess. This secret path just happens to lead straight into your mouth?"
The wolf gasped dramatically. "Why, how could you suggest such a thing?! I am but a humble guide, eager to help two lost children find their way!"
I leaned over to Ruby. "Do people actually fall for this?"
Ruby sighed. "Apparently, yes." The wolf flashed his sharp teeth. "So? Do we have a deal?"
I gave him a flat look. "Mmm… no."
His eye twitched. "No?"
"Yeah, no." The wolf growled, his patience clearly wearing thin. "And how, exactly, do you plan to cross, hmm?"
I grinned. "Watch this."
Without another word, I grabbed a nearby dead log and gave a mighty shove. It rolled forward, landing with a loud splash into the water. For a second, the wolf, Ruby, and even Starlight watched in silence as the log floated in place.
Then, I hopped on.
"BOOM! Problem solved!" I threw my arms out dramatically.
Ruby shrugged. "Well… it's actually not a bad idea." She hopped on beside me, the log shifting only slightly beneath our weight.
The wolf's eye twitched violently.
"Y-you can't— That's not— It's not supposed to be that easy!!"
"Sorry, pal!" I grinned. "Guess we don't need your special path after all!" The wolf let out a furious howl as we floated across the river.
Ruby burst into laughter. "You should see his face right now!"
I turned around just in time to see the wolf glaring after us, his tail bristling with frustration. As we reached the other side, I hopped off onto solid ground.
Ruby followed, and Starlight trotted across after us.
The wolf gritted his teeth. "This isn't over, kids."
I grinned. "You know what they say, wolfy—third time's the charm!" With that, Ruby and I ran off into the woods, leaving the furious wolf behind.
After another thirty minutes of walking, we finally spotted a small house at the top of a little hill. Ruby grinned. "There it is! My grandma's house!"
I let out a deep breath. "Finally!"
As we reached the front door, Ruby lifted her hand to knock—
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