Locating the Big Bad Wolf was child's play for Tom. After departing from Mr. Little Red Riding Hood's cabin, the group ventured deeper into the forest. According to the "uncle," the cunning wolf usually haunted the northern reaches, a mere stone's throw from his dwelling—one of the reasons he'd chosen to settle there.
The Big Bad Wolf was an elusive creature: it masked its tracks, hunted irregularly, and never lingered in one spot. Since his grandmother's unfortunate demise, Mr. Little Red Riding Hood had only managed to corner the beast thrice. The first time had been a lesson in underestimation—the wolf's emaciated frame belied its incredible speed.
But what truly traumatized Little Red Riding Hood? It wasn't merely the wolf's speed, but something far more sinister: the wolf set traps.
Little Red Riding Hood had nearly met his end at the paws of this cunning creature, losing his prized hunting rifle in the process. Were it not for his towering, nearly three-meter-tall stature, he doubted he'd have lived to avenge his grandmother.
...
An unsettling presence lingered in the shadows, defying even the cool forest breeze. In the past, anyone who dared venture here was consumed by dread, paralyzed by the unknown.
But this time, things were different. The intruders weren't exhibiting the expected panic. They seemed…almost cheerful, as if on a leisurely picnic.
This greatly displeased the Big Bad Wolf. It relished the hunt, reveling in the fear of its prey. Yet, these outsiders piqued its curiosity. Instilling terror was, after all, its specialty.
So, it stalked them, unaware that it was already the one being watched.
This confrontation was far from accidental. Tom and his companions feigned aimless wandering, but their path led them in calculated loops, drawing ever closer.
Tom's desire to torment the old wolf was a factor, yes, but the unfamiliar surroundings also held an irresistible allure. Anything that caught their eye became an object of intense investigation, resulting in their meandering route.
Harry and Malfoy, for instance, were currently fixated on a peculiar plant, their debate having evolved from "what if we ate it?" to the more pressing "to eat it, or not to eat it?"
Nearby, Cassandra and Hermione were engrossed in the study of an amphibian never before seen in textbooks. Hermione dreamt of dissection, while Cassandra pondered its potential in potions.
"..."
What strange children.
The big, gray wolf, lurking in the distance, wore a distinctly human expression of bewilderment and annoyance.
This charade must end.
With a peculiar twitch of its lips, the wolf casually emerged from behind the towering tree. It deliberately stepped on dry branches and fallen leaves, creating as much noise as possible, ensuring its quarry noticed its presence.
Tom, who had been observing its every move, subtly pursed his lips, fighting back a smile.
Patience. Such an intelligent wolf is a rare find. Let us savor the hunt.
Just as the Big Bad Wolf had anticipated, the group's attention was immediately drawn to the massive predator.
The wolf was truly enormous, easily 2.2 or 2.3 meters in length. It resembled a North American gray wolf, but far larger than any recorded specimen.
A faint, eerie howl echoed through the still forest: the Big Bad Wolf was laughing.
It had their attention. Now, it could proceed with its plan. Usually, they would be frightened, which would make things much easier. But if they weren't frightened, it didn't matter; it still had…
"Thunderclap Explosion!"
What in the nine circles of Hell???
A primal surge of danger made the Big Bad Wolf's fur stand on end. Its eerie, glowing eyes widened, fixated on the yellowish-white light hurtling towards it.
Before its brain could grasp the situation, instinct took over, and the wolf leaped aside.
BOOM!
The yellowish-white light struck the massive tree behind it, detonating the trunk in a shower of splinters. The upper half crashed to the ground with a deafening roar.
"..."
The wolf, having narrowly escaped, sat upright in a bizarre pose, staring in stunned disbelief at the shattered tree. The thick trunk, too wide for an adult to encircle, had been cleanly snapped in two.
What if that had landed on me...?
Looking back, it saw the girl holding the smoking "stick," her eyes burning with a cold, murderous intent. She had genuinely intended to kill it!
Fear! Raw, agonizing fear, long forgotten!
Something is terribly wrong. These creatures are not human!
It had never encountered anything like this before.
Its body reacted faster than its mind, turning tail and fleeing back into the forest.
"Harry!"
"Yes! That's it!"
The fleeing wolf was startled—they were pursuing it!
It ran with every ounce of its strength, oblivious to the two lights flashing behind it, one blue and one pink, bearing down with terrifying speed.
The growing sense of dread fueled its desperate flight. Luckily, it was nearing a trap it had recently set.
It ran…and ran… finally crossing its cleverly concealed pitfall, every nerve on high alert until it heard a muffled thud behind it.
Phew!
Just as relief washed over it, two figures, one pink and one blue, exploded from the depths of the trap!
This has to be a joke!
That pit was at least five meters deep! Even the towering Mr. Little Red Riding Hood wouldn't have escaped so quickly!
Much to the wolf's disbelief, a massive pink hammer materialized in front of it.
THUMP!
The ground shook as a deep crater formed where the hammer had struck!
"Die!!"
"Die!!"
"Die!!"
"Die!!"
The Big Bad Wolf could only turn and flee once more.
But Harry and Malfoy weren't its only pursuers. Hermione and Cassandra were closing in as well.
Tom, meanwhile, kept Harry and the others informed of the Big Bad Wolf's location, while also reminding them not to kill it too quickly.
Without Tom's subtle interventions, the Big Bad Wolf would have been reduced to pelt long ago.
But the wolf knew nothing of this. All it knew was that it had to constantly dodge the sledgehammer capable of pulping it into a wolf-pancake, and the various eerie, deadly beams of light.
This deranged cat-and-mouse game was driving the Big Gray Wolf to the brink of insanity. It couldn't hide; no matter where it sought refuge, it was immediately discovered. It couldn't escape; no matter how far it ran, it was inevitably cornered.
It remained blissfully ignorant that the moment it paused, someone would mysteriously appear nearby, their presence masked by some undetectable form of concealment.
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