Jack huffed slightly as he made his way down the tree. Going up hadn't been a real problem but descending the tree without falling down proved to be more complicating. That and he had been watched at night. He could still remember the fear coating his tongue in a metallic taste when he had woken up in the middle of the night.

Nothing had seemed out of the ordinary but when Jack blinked sleepily and looked down, he had squeaked as a pair of golden eyes were fixed on his trembling form. The wolf hadn't moved until a few hours before sunset and even after it had left, Jack had been wary to get out of the tree.

He wasn't about to jump in the monster's mouth simply by being so stupid to think it wasn't around anymore. The forest was quiet, save for the twittering of the birds and a few squirrels rushing over the floor. It was enough of a hint for Jack to realize the wolf wasn't around.

The woods wouldn't be so calm with a predator lurking in the shadows.

As soon as his feet touched the ground, Jack instantly crouched, frozen to the floor as he held his breath. He could barely hear any sounds above the rapid thumps of his heart but when nothing happened, he let out a sigh of relief and quickly scrambled away.

The moss was cool and damp underneath his shoes; partially soaking the fabric while Jack tried to look for the quietest route possible. Even if the wolf wasn't around at this moment, he had the knowledge of moving silently through the woods. Who knows what's out there.

He jumped when a bush rustled sharply and groaned when a few robins fluttered out, twittering at each other as they flew away. As his pale fingers patted over his thumping heart, he quickly made his way through the forest, pushing his nerves away and suppressing his skittish behavior.

No doubt any predator passing by could scent the reek of fear pouring off of me anyways.

Jack huffed as he quietly jumped over a fallen log, trying to find a spot where he could see the sun. How was he going to orientate himself on the sun's position if he couldn't even see where she was?

As he passed by a tree, he stopped and slowly turned. He could vaguely remember something his father had once said to him. He died early in Jack's life, due to a human error combined with a beaver's unseen markings on a tree.

His father, Edmund, had been a lumberjack and knew his way around the forest. He had always made sure to pour all his knowledge into his son, probably hoping that the boy would one day help him out a bit. But that was before the tree fell the wrong way and crushed his old man instantly.

Shaking his head slightly, Jack reached out for the tree and slowly circled it, all the while brushing the tender skin of his fingers over the rough bark. When the roughness faded away for moss, Jack stopped and smiled, glancing over his shoulder. "So, that's North." He said before looking past the tree, "South, West and East." He flung his pale white hairs out of his face, looking through the trees with a thoughtful frown.

"The village is in the South, so no point going there. And I know there's a bigger town towards the East...so..." He murmured to himself, deciding that he should go North-West. Even if he didn't know where the Witch was, surely she could find him as well? And if not, Jack was certain he could stop by a village and subtly inform for her whereabouts.

It was a few hours after the sun reached its highest point that the silence in the woods was interrupted by a low growl. Jack stumbled on his feet and spun around, trying to look for the source of the sound. He squeaked and jumped on the spot when the grumble resounded again, harder this time before he blushed.

With an embarrassed flush warming his cheeks, he quickly searched in his bags and came up with several strips of dried meat. Shrugging his slender shoulders, he quickly started munching on one as he continued on his way.

"Its better to eat the smelly things now anyways." He reasoned with himself, knowing that any predator could smell food miles away. Maybe that's why the wolf had followed him, looking for an easy meal?

Maybe...hopefully. Jack didn't like the thought that the same wolf that attacked him and his mother, might've been following him just so it could finish the job. He shivered and quickened his pace, letting his cloak flutter behind him.

The three strips weren't enough to still his hunger but Jack wasn't going to gorge himself on the small amount of food he had. Surely the woods could help him a bit? He kept his eyes open for any edible plants and fruits while keeping his ears tuned on the sounds of the forest.

He was prepared to run up a tree as soon as the woods grew quiet again. With the task ahead in his mind, Jack scoped the forest out before he found the tracks of a rabbit all the way till its den and decided to place a snare.

If the critter went out in the next couple of hours, Jack could fix himself a nice and warm meal. Maybe he could even take the time and build a fire for the night. He wasn't confident enough to sleep on the forest floor but it would be pleasant to at least have some warmth and light in the night.

----

A high-pitched cry echoed through the woods, causing a smile to bloom on Jack's pale lips from where he sat on the rocks. Patting his pants clean, he quickly closed his water bag, glad that he had stumbled onto the small creak to refill it and headed back towards his trap.

Halfway through, he paused slightly to listen to the sound, hesitating with each step he took forwards.

That...doesn't sound...like a rabbit.

Still, his feet slowly carried him back to the snare before he stopped, holding his breath. His eyes were fixed on the squirming lump of fur that was trying its best to get free from the snare. It pawed at the iron some more, chewing, snarling. When the wolf pup looked up, Jack flinched slightly and took a step back.

It was irrational, the fear that rushed through his senses but he managed to calm down again and sighed, shaking his head. What a hunter he was, he couldn't catch something that was edible and even now, when he had a creature in his trap that caused him so much pain and sorrow, he didn't have the heart to kill it.

"Stay still." Jack grunted, nearly growling back at the pup as it nipped at his fingers and tried to run away. He pulled it back and held it by the scruff, firmly yet gentle. All the while he kept in mind that this little thing never harmed him or his mother. It was an innocent babe.

The pup whimpered as he reached for the wounded leg and licked at Jack's fingers, silently conveying his hesitant trust. It brought an unconscious smile on the boy's lips as he slowly freed the pup and settled it down on the floor.

When it took a limping step forwards, Jack threw his head up with a sigh and groaned slightly. "Great, now I'm feeling guilty for catching the little guy." He grumbled and stood up, catching up with the frightful pup in two big steps.

He took the animal with him, cooing to it in an attempt to stop its high-pitched yelps and attempts at leaping out of his arms. Eventually he got back at his shoulder bag and settled the pup down, keeping a firm hold on its scruff.

Eventually he found what he was looking for and sat down, pulling the pup in his lap. Luckily the metal loop hadn't had the time to do too much damage but Jack could imagine the leg would feel sore for a couple of days.

He chewed on the small amount of comfrey, knowing that the medicinal plant would gear up the pup's healing process and stop inflammation of the wound. Spitting out the chewed up mess, he rubbed it over the wounded paw and fixed the pup between his knees before grabbing his cloak.

It already showed of several rips from coming down the trees but at least he didn't feel guilty when he ripped a decent strip of the edge. In fact, Jack could almost say he enjoyed ripping at the hated cloth. He used the red cloth to bind the pup's leg and then slowly released it.

As soon as the pup sensed its freedom, it dashed away, albeit a bit wobbly but soon enough it disappeared in the covers of the bushes. It kept on running, ignoring the pain in its hind leg though it was a bit numbed by the plant the boy had rubbed in his wound.

The pup only stopped when it bumped into its uncle, where he whimpered and nuzzled against the golden brown fur. The bigger wolf sniffed at the pup before sniffing again. The boy's scent was all over the youngster, which confused him slightly.

As the pup bumped its nose against the bigger wolf's muzzle, it realized he was hungry. With a short snort, it lifted its head out of reach and want of in the forest. The wolf knew there were some deer around these parts and he would hunt them to feed the pup and the rest of the pack.

After that, the wolf was going to hunt something for himself. Something that was pure and young.

Something a little Red, perhaps?