It ran...
Running endlessly, tirelessly...
It ran for an unknown amount of time... and for an unknown distance...
Until it collapsed, utterly exhausted.
The setting sun cast its golden rays upon its long, menacing face. Even though the wounds had healed, the gruesome scars could never be covered by new fur.
This was the only thing that proved how long it had lived.
...Fighting...betrayal...escape...and more betrayal...
How long had it actually lived?
For some reason, this inappropriate thought abruptly appeared in its mind.
Death was approaching. It should not be thinking about these things now... but this strange thought still surfaced in its head.
The orange-yellow setting sun shone through the gaps in the branches, illuminating half of its wolf face.
"..."
The grey wolf felt uneasy.
But instead of dragging its weary body away from the uncomfortable sunlight, it strained to turn its head towards the orange-yellow sunset.
The sunset... it had seen it countless times.
In this forest, the sunset was a constant sight. When the warm, orange sun shone upon it, its shadow might point out of the forest, or it might fall into a dark cave.
"..."
But this was the last time it would see the sunset.
Strangely enough, despite the fear it had felt before the impending death, this cunning and cruel creature was now strangely calm in the face of its inevitable demise.
Perhaps it had come to terms with it, or perhaps... it had saved its madness for last.
Rustling...
Footsteps...
They're here.
The big grey wolf dragged its weary body to its feet again.
To its surprise, it was not those strange children who arrived, but a handsome young man.
The big grey wolf recognized him. The children who had nearly killed it were brought by him.
But now I am about to die anyway; it is only a matter of time before those children find their way here.
Thinking this, the big grey wolf gritted its teeth, its eyes gradually hardening.
Aside from the children, the two adults among the newcomers didn't display any strange abilities.
But did not displaying them mean they didn't possess them?
It knew, of course, how ridiculous that thought was.
But it had no other choice... it would take this young man with it!
A glint of malice flashed in its murky eyes. The big grey wolf slowly raised its head to look at the approaching young man. The cunning and anger in its eyes... vanished completely, leaving only ferocity, just like during its first hunt.
I cannot escape, and neither can you... !
Awooo...
A sharp wolf howl awakened the wolf's heart, dormant for who knows how long. It stirred...
"Avada Kedavra."
It fell.
This cunning creature, capable of silencing children in countless stories, died just like that, so hastily.
...
As the sun was about to set, Little Red Riding Hood, somewhat worried, picked up his hunting rifle and stepped out of the wooden door.
Although he had initially decided to let these guys do whatever they wanted—after all, he had already warned them—if they would not listen, he would have to "respect their fate and set aside his helpful nature"...
But after Tom and the others left, Little Red Riding Hood sat in the house all day, seemingly resting, but actually waiting for someone.
All afternoon, every time he closed his eyes, he saw his grandmother, devoured by wolves...
In the end, his heart softened. He thought that if Tom and the others hadn't returned before going down the mountain, he would go into the forest to look for them.
And so... Little Red Riding Hood went out before the sun had even set.
He took a deep breath, picked up his hunting rifle, and was about to step into the depths of the forest...
"Uncle!"
"Uncle Little Red Riding Hood!!"
Hearing the voice, Little Red Riding Hood looked up sharply and saw a group of people returning in the afterglow of the setting sun.
Not only that, he also saw Harry and Malfoy dragging a huge grey wolf carcass, their faces full of excitement.
He wouldn't mistake the owner of that carcass—it was that cunning monster!
What surprised Little Red Riding Hood even more was how those two could drag it?!
He couldn't understand it; he couldn't understand it at all, so many things he couldn't understand... so he stopped thinking about it!
Seeing the constantly shifting expressions on Little Red Riding Hood's face, Tom's lips curled into a slight smile.
When he killed the Big Bad Wolf, he had held back. Otherwise, with his magic, the Avada Kedavra spell would not have left the wolf's corpse intact.
Leaving the wolf's carcass, besides using it to exchange for Little Red Riding Hood, he also wanted to see Little Red Riding Hood's reaction to the wolf's body.
"..."
Looking at the wolf's corpse, Little Red Riding Hood fell silent. What he, a hunter, had never accomplished, a group of tourists had done...
"Uncle?"
Looking down, Harry's smiling, winking expression immediately made him realize.
"Hey! Here you go!"
He pulled off his red hooded cloak and casually tossed it to Harry.
The moment the red cloak fell, the System's voice rang in Tom's mind.
[Ding, quest progress updated, current quest completion: 1/5]
This "Little Red Riding Hood" cloak was sewn to Little Red Riding Hood's size, and for Harry, it was as big as a bed sheet, almost completely covering him.
Luckily, Malfoy came over carrying Tom's suitcase, and the two of them "worked together to stuff the cloak into the suitcase."
At least from Little Red Riding Hood's perspective, since Harry and Malfoy had controlled the angle so he wouldn't notice the suitcase's unusual appearance.
The sun had completely set by now, and worried about the group's safety walking through the forest at night, Little Red Riding Hood invited them to stay in his cabin for the night.
Although there weren't enough beds, they could use some bear and deer hides as bedding.
...
The forest night was always so peaceful.
Candlelight streamed through the windows of Little Red Riding Hood's cabin, casting shadows on the surrounding bushes.
The group inside were learning some basic information about the country from Little Red Riding Hood.
According to Little Red Riding Hood, this country is called... the Snow White Kingdom.
"The Snow White Kingdom? Is the current queen the king's first or second wife?"
Hermione pondered for a moment before asking Little Red Riding Hood.
However, Little Red Riding Hood looked genuinely puzzled. "What queen? The current ruler of the country is Snow White... perhaps she should be called the Snow White Queen."
"..."
What's going on? Snow White successfully turned the tables on her stepmother and took the throne?
"I've heard of Snow White, the beautiful princess who was said to have been born with skin as white as snow, right?"
Cassandra's eyes flashed with interest.
"No, that's not it."
Little Red Riding Hood shook his head, a hint of helplessness in his eyes. Didn't these guys do any research before coming on vacation? They didn't even know this most basic information.
"Because the country's name is Snow White Kingdom, the princess was named Snow White."
"..."
So hastily?
---