Riddle

The path is set for me as I travel to my destination, the summer breeze warm, ruffling the richly colored green leaves, shrouding the blue sky from my vision.

I tug my red hood more so over my head to keep my face hidden.

Our names our well known all throughout Rolaria, being them so well known that they wrote a story about us. Most of what they tell of us is very untrue.

A shadow dashes through the trees out of the corner of my eyes and I slip the revolver off my belt, however I keep it hidden in my red cloak.

I suppose you could call us a legend, a fairy tale, or maybe just a rumor.

The leaves of the trees rustle worriedly, the shadow appearing again and then disappearing. The slight breeze whistles a warning in my ear and I curl my lip in a snarl, bringing my walk to a halt.

There are many like me and my brother who think ourselves as a band of rogues, stealing from the rich to feed the poor, scaring little children at night with chilling howls, breaking in your home to steal your possessions.

I hear a growl within the shelter of the trees, several feet from the path where I stand. I glare at where I had heard the haunting sound, I slowly turn around to look and my eyes widen when the shadow I had seen stands before me. Out of instinct I pull out the revolver and point it at the figure.

It's a boy with shaggy blonde hair, the same color as my own. His hollow eyes look down at me, however do not look directly at me. What is most noticeable about the boy is the pointed golden ears on his head, as well as the fluffy tail swaying behind him. He stands at least a few inches taller than myself, but I've always been short.

"Put that away why don't you?" The blind boy says a little irritable that I would pull it on him.

"It's not my fault you were trying to scare me!" I say, equally aggravated as I put the gun back on my belt, now concealed within my cloak.

He chuckles, his tail twitching. "I was aiming to get a shout out of you, but I suppose an aggressive reaction is good enough." He says crossing his arms over his chest.

I shake my head, a grin crossing my lips.

That's Maggie, my brother. He's half wolf. Now, I'm sure you're wondering if I am the same way. Actually no, Maggie has a rare disease that removes an important quality of humans and replaces it with something different, usually being an animal quality. As you can see, my brother is blind which is the side effect of this incurable disease. I suppose you could say this disease has something to do with magic, maybe it's some kind of morph magic. No one has ever discovered the answer to this disease which is why it is labeled incurable.

He steps past me, golden ears twitching as he listens to every little sound created within a ten mile radius. I walk beside him, our destination currently being the remote town of Glox. We can rest there for awhile and see what kind of work we run into there.

You see, as a rogue, we are neither recognized as a hero or villain, for we are like both. We take any job we can find. Now some, like Robin Hood are more for doing heroic deeds. I could quite honestly care less, since I get paid either way. It gives us something to do.

Maggie spins around, his ears swiveling around as he catches something interesting and I turn my attention to him quickly, listening as well, but I do not have hearing as he does and for all I know, what he's hearing could be miles away.

"Soldiers?" I ask him and he shakes his head, focusing all of his senses but one which is rendered useless, on the matter at hand. He sniffs the air, and sighs.

"False alarm, just a traveler a few miles up." He explains and I let out a huff of relief.

Robin Hood isn't the only one with a price on her head. We're wanted as well, but we don't tease the authorities like she does. We stay clear of them as much as we can. You may think we aren't proper foes or allies, but we're the most feared of all rogues with a gruesome reputation. The stories they write about us? Let's just say they are a little accurate.

Made of blood and steel they storm the castles,

raid the towns.

With tooth and claw they rip apart their enemies without hesitation,

they feast upon flesh and gnaw upon bone,

like wild dogs they show no mercy,

for in the dead of night they attack,

the full moon bringing howls from their throats.

They are Death,

they are Shadow,

they are Red Riding Tail.

~

Chapter Two of Red Riding Tail

Maggie gets picked on while Riddle loses her patience with a client.

2: Red's Anger

Maggie

We have made it to Glox and Riddle is talking business with a client, so I've decided to walk around a bit. My hands are shoved in the pockets of my trousers as I walk around the small town lazily.

I really hope my sister doesn't lose her temper. You see, people call us Red Riding Tail for a reason. Really the truth of it is that my sister Riddle does most of the dirty work when it comes to messy jobs. Our reputation exists because of her, I merely present the frightening image I suppose.

I sigh, kicking a stone in my path as my hollow gaze remains fixed on the ground and I hear it roll through the soft dirt, until stopping when met with an obstacle. I bump into someone, which causes my ears to perk up but I keep my head down.

I hadn't even heard him!

From what I can tell he's tall, but his body isn't large, me being able to tell by how his heart beats and how much air he takes in, as well as the fact that he must be no older than myself.

"Watch where you're going!" The boy snarls, and his hand presses hard on my chest, causing me to stumble back.

I come into a defensive position, clenching my fists however my hollow gaze remains fixed on the ground. I feel my ears flatten, my tail lashing.

"Tough guy huh?" The boy says and I hear him step foreword, waves of heat rolling off him and I can feel my adrenaline pulsing through me.

"Not really..." I answer. "I'm just smarter than you."

This infuriates him and a growl rises in his throat. "You little-" His fist attempts to meet with my gut but I step aside, hooking his ankle with my foot which causes him to fall face first in the dirt. He spits out a mouthful of soil before scrambling to his feet. "Get him!" He shouts and I can hear several others leap at me.

I weave out of their way with ease, their footsteps so very obvious seeing as they're very clumsy. "Is that truly the best you can do?" I ask which makes them even angrier.

"Alright you freak!" I can hear the gun but I have little time to react, the bullet going right through my left shoulder.

I stumble before falling on my back with a thud. I try to get my feet under me but a kick in the side keeps that from happening.

"Not so bold now, huh freak?" The boy snarls, his boot meeting with my gut and I cough and splutter.

"You'll regret that..." I say, still coughing and yet a grin curves my lips.

Riddle

"Are you serious! That isn't nearly enough payment for the job you're asking!" I say to the man, trying to talk some sense into him.

"Sorry kid, but that's all I'm willing to give." He says stubbornly, crossing his arms and I slam my fists on the table leaning over to get right in his face.

He's a rather short fat looking man with a bald head and grey beard, face wrinkled with age.

"Listen, it doesn't look like you know who I am so I'll let you off easy. You pay the amount I ask and I'll get the job done, no questions asked. Alright?" I say with a malicious tone in my voice.

"I'm sorry, but I could care less who you are, I will only pay what I've just offered." He tells me as straight as possible, still being difficult.

I curl my lip in a snarl, blue eyes blazing with fury.

I need this job! It's the closest one around without going to the big cities, which we can't risk right now!

I snatch him by the tight collar of his shirt, pulling his fat little body onto the table. I slam his head down. I have my revolver pressed against the the side of his head and he gulps.

"Alright chubby! You want to be stubborn, be my guest but I'll be the one walking away with a dinner for my brother." I lean down my menacing stare causing sweat to form on his brow. "You'll be a juicy meal for the wolf." I growl which breaks him instantly.

"Name your price lady! I'll do anything, just please don't eat me!" He cries and I let him up crossing my arms as he tries to straighten himself in his chair.

"A thousand gold pieces!" I demand and without a second thought he tosses the bag of coins onto the table.

"Just take them!" He says, quite frightened now.

I grin, taking the bag of coins, checking first to make sure there's enough before making my way to the exit.

"The job will be finished by the end of the moon!" I call over my shoulder before slamming the door shut.

When I come out into the street I find Maggie has wondered off as usual and I sigh, putting the bag of coins away, hidden in my red cloak.

"Maggie?" I call for him and in response I get a scream.

I race to where I heard the cry and come onto the road leading out of town. At least five boys are working on beating my brother to a pulp.

One of them is pulling on his fuzzy pointed ears and I snarl angrily. "Hey!"

They turn to me and a grin curves their lips. One of them, who had been pulling on Maggie's tail begins to approach me, but I ignore his sneer.

Once I near him I slip out one of my knives pressing the blade through his throat. The unpredicted force slices the boys head clean off, and his head rolls across the ground, blood now pooling and soaking the dirt around me. The boys headless body falls with a loud thud.

I simply continue walking foreword towards the remaining four who stare at their dead friend with wide eyes.

I stop, only a foot from where they stand, frozen.

"Who's next?"

Chapter Three of Red Riding Tail

Riddle fights the crew of boys who are bent on avenging the death of their companion.

3: Son of the King?

Riddle

One of the boys is scared out of his wits and without a second thought he races away, however he doesn't make it far.

I pull out my gun and shoot him in the back easily. He drops, lifeless with a loud thud. I walk around the remaining eight them now huddled in a circle, some looking afraid while others are just angry.

"Do you know who we are?" I ask, my face completely hidden under the red hood of my cloak. "Do you know who I am?"

One of the boys clenches his fists, standing in a defensive position. "You look like some psychopath chick to me." He answers with a dirty look.

I chuckle, gesturing for Maggie to come to my side and he does, rubbing his head.

"You just try me!" I grin and the boy lunges at me, aiming his fist for my gut. I duck, sweeping his feet out from under him. Another boy attempts to grab me but I pull out my knife, swinging my arm around. The point meets his chest and I quickly slip it out, putting it in the boy I had tripped. They're both still alive, but barely.

The others hardly give me enough time to stand before two come upon me and I weave to the side of one, grabbing his outstretched arm, cutting it off with my blade then shoot the next with ease who was about to stab me. He accomplished this, but that didn't even make me flinch. I pull out the knife and drop it, blood beginning to soak my clothes, but my red cloak conceals that from them.

The four who are still standing look afraid of me now and my blue eyes glow menacingly under my hood.

"Who are you?" One asks, fear filling his voice, while one other is shaking and I narrow my gaze finding him very familiar.

I shake off the feeling, turning my attention back to the one who spoke. I chuckle, circling the boys, who have been rounded up like lost sheep. I somewhat pity the one that's shaking, but that's his problem, not mine.

"Are you sure you don't know who we are? I've made a grand performance already?" I sneer and he snarls.

I step forward, getting right in his face, being somewhat shorter. "We're Red Riding Tail..."

At that I pull my gun on him, shooting him right in the side of the head. He drops with a thud and I look to the last three.

"Now scram!" I yell and two of them make a run for it.

The one that's shaking seems to be too scared to move, and I smirk at him, however that fades as I look him up and down.

He's quite a bit younger than those others, what's he doing out by himself like this?

I think to myself as I notice his pale blue eyes to be oddly beautiful. His dust brown hair sticks up in all the wrong places, two curled locks having shaped around his cheeks, while long bangs hang down over his eyes. Along with his dollish face, his unnaturally thin figure and pale skin I find are disturbingly attractive.

"Who are you?" I ask, judgmental thoughts playing through my head.

This kid is in serious need of a haircut.

At that first thought I think to Maggie, knowing that he needs one as well then sigh at his malnourished state.

He doesn't look like he's slept in weeks, let alone eat. Who is this kid?

"I-I...Tr-ent..." He answers with a horrible stutter and I cringe as the fact makes his rather surprisingly deep voice seem lighter and higher key.

He the spitting image of King Arther's youngest son, however he's been dead for what...seven years now?

I think further.

His name is also similar, however not exactly. William Trenton Pendragon was the name of the youngest Prince.

"Stop shaking kid, I'm not gonna hurt you." I say, but he still doesn't stop and I start to wonder if its a nervous disorder.

I sigh. "Come on...I have some questions for you."

The boy slowly follows Maggie and I back on the road path, too afraid of me to object and when night falls we decide make camp. I decide then, that I should ask my questions since the boy looks to have calmed down a bit.

He's still shaking which only confirms my assumptions.

The Prince died eight years ago, but they never found the body, and they never had a funeral.

Chapter Four of Red Riding Tail

Riddle questions Trent about his past and present, while Maggie gets himself into even more trouble for the sake of a job.