I got ready for my run and made sure my hair was up in a tight ponytail, then I heard mom’s voice “Ruby”.

“Yes, mom?” I walked into the kitchen to see what mom wanted.

“Ruby, can you do an errand for me?” I thought about it and then nodded.

“Well I was going out for a run, but I don’t mind it at all” I bowed for dramatic effect.

“Okay young lady, well here is your mission I need you to visit your grandma and check on her”.

I suppose it has been a while since we heard from her, so I said: “Sure it’s no problem, and is there anything else?”.

“Yeah, be careful out there and remember what I told you about wolves”.

“don’t let my guard down or I'll be killed”.

Mom gave me a nod “ok now get going, so you can get back before dinner”.

I kissed her on the cheek and went out the front door, so I could start my run. The light country road was mostly empty, being out in the middle of nowhere has its benefits and its problems.

I ran into a sprint and kind of wish grandma wasn’t two miles away, but I guess it gives me my exercise. When I took my gaze over to the fenced-in area and saw some livestock, but they weren’t alone. My legs stopped and I looked to see what was there, the color drained from my face at the recognition of a wolf. It was prowling around in the grass and I felt frozen like a statue. My black sweatpants and the red cropped hoodie weren’t exactly blending in, I was like a beacon on the roadside.

The wolf lunged onto the unsuspecting lamb, it let out a scream and it struggled against the wolf’s teeth. I then saw more of them help the first and it shoots off me like a bullet when I ran, feeling my heart pounding. My feet pounding along the dirt road, there was a prickling heat and I could tell I was going to cry. I couldn’t give myself a chance to be weak, so I kept my legs running, and by the time I arrived at grandma’s front door. My lungs were burning and I opened the door to the house, collapsed sliding down the door.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Holy shit, why were there so many wolves? The pack usually doesn’t let that many out at once”.

“Ruby deary is that you?” I took in a deep breath “yes grandma, mom told me to check on you”.

I got up to my feet again and walk into the living room, but it wasn’t just granny. “Sit down little red” I gave him a little scowl, but he wasn’t the least bit discouraged.

When I saw that it would probably cause trouble I decided to comply and sat next to my grandma.

She held my hand and patted it as if that would relax me, but not even that will calm me. “Now I hear you aren’t going to be fighting in the battle”.

I kept a stoic expression and looked at him “so? Women are only to be part of the medical team, so I don’t need to fight”.

“Don’t speak like that to me, you should just follow orders and maybe I wouldn’t need to come here”.

That reminds me, this man usually goes by the code name "The big bad wolf". It seems we aren’t dealing with the three little pigs wolf, but a big asshole of a man and I can’t do anything.

“Ruby, please don’t disobey and make this worse for us”. I looked at grandma and just felt like I have to protect her somehow, but her brown eyes show something. Something I can’t identify, so I look back at the man.

“I’ll think about it, but I’m not sure if I want to be a soldier”.

I look back at the man’s black as pitch-black ink eyes“ I’m sure your people will come and ask me my decision in a few days”.

He gave me a smile like a wolf baring his teeth “ I’m sure you will make the right decision and wouldn’t do anything to make us break you”.

Break me? I’m hoping it isn’t how I think he means it. I didn’t let him see my fear, so my heartfelt relief when the man stood up. “well I’ll take my leave and wait for your reply”.

He exited the room and I didn’t move until the door opened, then slammed shut. I let out a relieved sigh and felt my heart subsiding “thank god he left”.

“Are you going to take his offer?” grandma said shakily like a leaf.

“You can’t be serious? Grandma, I don’t want to go to the front lines” I say strongly.

I saw as my grandma’s face fell and I could tell she didn’t want me to go. She also has to force me to go, so the wolves wouldn’t have to pull apart my only family members. It would be just like my father before I was born, he stood against the big bad wolf. We see where that led us, so I should go along with this for now.