Scarlet Moon (Once Upon a Time)

“Help Wolf!” he continued to shout.

From the nearest hut their father came running, fear straining his features, “Children!” he shouted, the panic in his voice clear to Ruth even through the roaring in her ears. She felt his arms reaching out for her.

“My legs are on fire, Father,” she whimpered, her throat raw from crying. “Put it out.”

“You’re not on fire, child.”

“But I can feel it. It’s burning me,” she sobbed. Slowly her vision faded, but she could still hear him calling her name. She tried to answer but couldn’t. In the distance she could hear the howl of a wolf, and it filled her with a fear she had never known before. In her mind she pictured once again the wolf that had attacked her, from the silken gray of his fur to the piercing green of his eyes.

I never knew wolves had green eyes,
she thought before darkness claimed her.

The wolf staggered away from the children, hurt and confused. It could barely breathe, and the wound felt as though it were on fire. It knew a place where it would be safe, though, a place where it could lick its wounds and wait for the dawn. Somehow it knew that things would be better with the dawn, but it didn’t know why….

Be whisked away to another world with these intriguing fairy tales!

THE
S
TORYTELLER’S DAUGHTER

by Cameron Dokey

B
EAUTY SLEEP

by Cameron Dokey

S
NOW

by Tracy Lynn

M
IDNIGHT PEARLS

by Debbie Viguié

S
CARLET MOON

by Debbie Viguié

Published by Simon & Schuster

If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

First Simon Pulse edition April 2004

Copyright © 2004 by Debbie Viguié

SIMON PULSE
An imprint of Simon & Schuster
Children’s Publishing Division
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

Designed by Debra Sfetsios

The text of this book was set in Adobe Jenson.

Printed in the United States of America

4 6 8 10 9 7 5

Library of Congress Control Number 2003108403

ISBN 0-689-86716-6

eISBN-13: 978-1-439-10769-0

To Feu Feu and Wolfie, my big, bad “wolves.”

I would like to thank Lindsay Washburn for her research help.

I would also like to thank my ever-supportive husband, Scott, and my parents, Rick and Barbara Reynolds.

Lisa Clancy, you’re an editor in a million, and I couldn’t do it without you.

T
he woods were changing. The cycle of death had begun yet again. What were once proud, green trees now stood half naked and clothed only in hues of fire and gold. Their gnarled branches stretched down ward toward the faint path that wound below. Upon it a young girl with pale skin and black hair walked hand in hand with her older brother, unaware of the wolf that was stalking them. The trees saw, though, and whispered a warning as the wind rattled their remaining leaves.

The little girl was skipping along, her bright red cloak fluttering in the chill air. It was the color of blood and it drew the wolf in closer. Flitting like a gray ghost, it slunk along behind the trees, just steps from them, and watched. The children were close to the village; a few minutes more and they would be out of the forest. The girl turned as though she heard what the trees were whispering and shivered a little. Feeling her movement, the boy glanced back as well. The wolf circled around warily until he stood on the path before them.

When the children turned back, the wolf was
there. He lunged forward, fangs and claws sinking into the girl’s legs. She screamed as it knocked her down and her own blood sprayed up into her face. She struggled to sit and came face to face with the monster.

Beside her the boy raised his dagger in the air before plunging it into the wolf’s chest. The creature cried out in pain and let go of her. It jumped back, blood gushing from the wound, and stared at them for a moment before turning and staggering off into the trees.

The trees shook sympathetically, showering down leaves upon the children, covering both them and the trail left by the injured wolf. As night drew near, the trees continued to shiver, urging the children to run home, and whispering another warning.

It wasn’t safe in the woods after dark.

Ruth clung to Stephen as he staggered out of the forest carrying her. With every step he took, she screamed as a fresh wave of pain washed over her. He stumbled toward the village, shouting. From their tiny homes the villagers spilled forth, drawn by his cries.

“Help! Wolf!” he continued to shout.

From the nearest hut their father, Jacob, came running, fear straining his features. “Children!” he shouted, the panic in his voice clear to Ruth even through the roaring in her ears. She felt his arms reaching out for her.

“My legs are on fire, Father,” she whimpered, her throat raw from crying. “Put it out.”

“You’re not on fire, child.”

“But I can feel it. It’s burning me,” she sobbed. Slowly her vision faded, but she could still hear him calling her name. She tried to answer but couldn’t. In the distance she could hear the howl of a wolf, and it filled her with a fear she had never known before. In her mind she pictured once again the wolf that had attacked her, from the silken gray of his fur to the piercing green of his eyes.

I never knew wolves had green eyes
, she thought before darkness claimed her.

The wolf staggered away from the children, hurt and confused. It could barely breathe, and the wound felt as though it were on fire. It knew a place where it would be safe, a place where it could lick its wounds and wait for the dawn. Somehow it knew that things would be better with the dawn, but it didn’t know why.