《Huntsman: He Who Kills Monsters》


 Little Red

    I can see why grandmother doesn''t want to move out of the woods, the woman thought as she basked in the tranquil atmosphere of the forest.


    I wonder if he built a house for his family, just like grandfather?


    I usually never meet anyone on the way to grandmother''s house, so I guess I''m just not used to it.


    Am I imagining a tinge of red on his cheeks?


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel."Safe travels," the woodcutter said with a smile as he walked past Little Red.


    "Oh, and make sure you get back home before dark, there are beasts prowling around here lately, but you should be fine if you make it out of the woods while the sun''s up."


    Is she outside? Little Red wondered.

 What Big Teeth You Have

    No. No no no no no no no no no. This can''t be real. This can''t be happening!


    I- I have to get out of here! It''s going to kill me! She managed to collect her thoughts enough to scream this in her mind.


    I need to move!


    Stay back! Stay back! She wanted to scream, but the words got stuck in her throat.


    No! I need to get out of here. I don''t want to die I don''t want to die!


    I''m not going to let it eat me!


    After putting some distance between them, the young woman turned her back on the monster and broke out into a run, willing her legs to carry her faster than the wind and farther away than the captial from the creature behind her.


    If I can get home I''ll be safe. If I can get home I''ll be safe. If I can get home- the young woman repeated the assertion in her mind like a holy mantra as the woods grew darker, and the sun''s light became tinged with crimson. A crow''s cackling could be heard in the treetops above.


    If I can get home I''ll be safe. If-


    It''s over... I''m going to die. This monster is going to eat me. The resignation was almost a twisted sense of relief. The creature''s next words washed away this ghost of relief.


    What big teeth you have.

 Whos Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

    It took hold of the shaft of the bolt and yanked it out with a savage tug, and a fountain of blood spurted out from the creature''s chest as the barbed broadhead mutilated the monster''s insides as it was extracted. Bright blood bubbled up and splattered the leaf-speckled dirt path as it coughed violently.


    I hate smart ones, the monster thought. Unless they''re missing their limbs: then they''re pretty entertaining.


    Help... me.


    Oho, so that''s your plan, the monster thought as it dropped the woman without hesistation.


    You were smart to ignore the woman and attempt a second sneak attack from the rear; unfortunately for you, you made the foolish decision of trying to kill me, the monster thought with a sneer.


    I''ll tear through him as he draws his weapon. If he survives, I can play with him for a while, the abomination thought gleefully.


    Huh?

 A Torn Cloak and a Severed Head

Maybe its that ugly riding cloak; the universe decided to give you a bit of good luck to make up for having the bad luck of owning something like that.