Red riding HOOD: beast hunter

By Chris Ashline

Jilleen made her way along the road. She wasn’t familiar with this region. She had been a traveler most of her life, going from town to town, taking what jobs came upon her. Primarily she was a hunter, a bounty hunter. Going after whatever creatures were preying upon the locals. The rain started to come down hard. She pulled her cloak closer around her. She had worn that cloak most of her life. Over the years, it had become worn and as she had grown, the garment didn’t fit as it once had, but it had too much sentimental value to her. It had been given to her by her grandmother. At one time it was a bright red color and people would instantly recognize her by it and even gave her the name of red riding hood. That had all changed one day when on a visit to her grandmother, she had found that a wolf had killed her grandmother. When seeing what had happened, a great rage had been let loose and using whatever object was around her, Jilleen lashed out and killed the wolf. This started her on a quest to rid the area of any beast that could cause others harm.Over the years she had become a skilled sword fighter. She carried a rapier sword on her belt, a broadsword strapped to her back and a number of knives and stilettos tucked into various places among her cloak, pack and boots. As the rain started to come down harder, she saw that she was approaching a town.Jilleen decided to stop in at the local tavern to dry off and see if there was anything in the area needing her skills.

As she sat in the corner, she listened to the stories that the townspeople said. Nothing too exciting, but at least it was a chance to dry off. As she studied the faces of the people, she had determined that the people here were happy and that not much excitement here, by her definition. As the night drew on, more people began coming in, some looking for enjoyment, some just to get out of the rain.

After some time, an old man came running into the tavern. “Please, I need some help! My daughter has been taken by a monster and is holding her captive! I need help in order to rescue her!” As the townspeople looked at him and listened more to his story about what had happened, some started to laugh at him saying that it was a crazy story and wouldn’t take him seriously. But he kept on begging and pleading for any kind of help, but the more he pleaded, the more they ignored him. Jilleen overheard some of the people talking about how he was just a crazy old man and had a habit of telling all kinds of tall tales to get some attention. The more she listened to the people and the more she watched the old man, she came to the conclusion that what he was saying was more than just a tale. Realizing that he wasn’t going to get any help for the tavern, the old man quickly turned and left to seek help somewhere else. Jilleen gathered her belongings and followed after him.

Once outside, Jilleen approached him. “Tell me more about this creature.” she asked him. The man seemed surprised that she was willing to help him, but he was desperate and began to talk with her. “The creature is a monstrous beast, stands 7 feet tall, these huge hands with long claws, tusks coming out of its jaws and covered in thick fur. My daughter and I were traveling through the forest and got lost.We came across this old castle and that’s when it attacked us. It said we were trespassing and was going to keep her prisoner for the rest of her life and would kill her if I returned.”

Jilleen was a bit shocked by the story. “The creature actually spoke to you!” In all the years that Jilleen had been hunting, she had never come across anything that had some intelligence to speak. The closest she had come was to a troll that was lurking around a bridge demanding payment to all that crossed. It only spoke a few basic words and Jilleen had scored a quick victory over it.But to hear about a beast with what sounded like some degree of knowledge made her want to reassess her tactics.

The old man said he would try to lead her back. Night was approaching and the rain continued to pour down. It had taken him a few days to get to the village in the first place.Jilleen decided it would be best to start out first thing in the morning. At dawn, Jilleen and the man, Pierre, set out to find this castle of the beast and to rescue his daughter, Michelle. It took a few days journey. Pierre had lost his sense of direction a few times, but the closer they got, the more familiar the surroundings looked. On their second day, they arrived and Jilleen looked upon a great castle. It was something that just appeared out of place.The walls were covered in moss and vines. It was as if the forest had enveloped the castle. It was difficult to see where the trees ended and the stone walls began.They continued to walk closer to it.As they approached, they came upon a great door. Jilleen went to push the door open. Pierre took a few steps back. He was trembling in fear. “Come along Pierre, we need to go in and save Michelle.” Pierre stood there, looking around, expecting something to jump out at him.“If you want to wait here, fine I’ll go in alone.” Jilleen went forward and pushed the great door open. It made a loud creaking noise. The sound caused Pierre to shudder more and retreat away some more.Once the door was open enough for Jilleen, she made her way into the castle.

She made her way into a great hall. It amazed her that a castle of this size would be just abandoned and forgotten in the forest. She had taken a few more steps when all of a sudden, a great roar echoed through the castle.Jilleen drew heard broadsword and advanced more. Due to the size of the hall, she wasn’t able to determine where the source of the echo was.The only light that was available was from the sunlight that was creeping in through few cracks in the walls.She heard a noise from the side of the room and saw some thing no more than a shadow move quickly about.

Jilleen heard some footsteps coming from the upper level. Jilleen looked up the stone staircase and saw a young girl standing there.“Are you Michelle? I’ve come with your father to rescue you and take you home.”

“Please leave. You don’t understand” replied Michelle.

“What’s there to understand?You’ve been kidnapped and I’m here to rescue you.”

Then all of a sudden, the beast came out of the shadows and lunged at Jilleen. “She said for you to leave! Now, leave or else I keep you as well”

Jilleen regained her stance and looked the beast over. It was larger and more menacing from what Pierre had described.

Again, Michelle shouted from above. “Please just leave me here, I will be alright.”

“This beast must be stopped and I’m the one to do it.” Replied Jilleen.

Jilleen went toward the beast, and made contact with her broadsword to the beast’s shoulder. The beast let out a howl, but came back swiping it’s claws at her, catching her cloak and tearing it off her. Jilleen then reached into her boot and pulled out a stiletto blade, throwing it at the beast and striking it in its leg. The beast winced in pain and reached to pull it out. Due to its small size, the beast had trouble removing it with its large paw hands. As it was bent over, Jilleen took the opportunity to make a major advance. She climbed up a few stairs and then made a leap with her sword raised and came down plunging the blade deep into the beast’s back. The beast let out a great roar in pain. Jilleen then withdrew her sword from the creature’s back and thrust it into the back of the beast’s neck, delivering a final fatal blow.

Michelle cried out from her place and ran to the body of the beast laying lifeless on the floor.Pierre had made his way inside and saw his daughter crying. Her tears were running down her face and onto the body of the beast. “He was really gentle and was going to take good care of me.Why did you have to kill him?”

“Because that’s what I do.I’m Red Riding Hood, the Beast Hunter.”