Jess POV

I was awoken quite suddenly by a weight on my chest. Opening my eyes, I was greeted by bright violet ones, and a really furry face. 

I leapt up, and the weight rolled off of me and landed onto the floor with a thud. I looked down from my hammock and saw a gorgeous black canine, who's large unique eyes immediately took me by surprise.

"Oh my god. I'm so sorry, little guy, I didn't mean to startle you. Were you...sleeping on me"?

The dog licked its lips, and sat up, wagging its bushy tale. I climbed out of the hammock, and gently stroked its head. "You're beautiful. I've never seen a dog like you before".

The little creature stretched, and began to walk towards a pile of clothing near the hammock. I picked them up, and saw a pair of long, brown wide legged trousers. With that was a cream coloured cossack-like shirt with a leather belt and a matching pair of black ankle laced boots.

"Wow, are these for me"? I looked at the dog, who wagged its tail furiously. "Did...Robin bring these"?

After getting dressed, I tied my hair up in a ponytail, and turned to the dog. "Could you take me to Robin"? 

I followed the little thing outside the entrance, and up some ladders, until we reached the very top of the tree.

Robin had his back turned from my direction, and was looking out at the view of the forest.

"Good morning". I greeted, cheerily. The dog ran up to him, and slid its head under his arm.

"I see you got the clothes". He replied without looking at me.

"Yeah. Thanks a lot, they fit perfectly". I said.

"They're some of my childhood clothes, so that's why they're small like that. Besides, if I'm gonna be walking around with you for awhile, I don't want to look like I'm in partnership with a clown. Those clothes you wore yesterday attract too much attention".

"A clown, huh"? I said, annoyance rising inside of me. Then I realised something. "Wait, you wore these clothes? Wow...".

He finally turned to me. "Look, sorry if I don't exactly have the latest feminine fashion, or whatever, but I'm a guy, and guys wear guy clothes. So don't complain, don't be picky about it, and keep your mouth shut".

I blinked. "You know...I never said anything negative. I just said they fit really well, and its true. I said wow because I can't believe I'm actually wearing the clothes that belonged to Robin Hood-The Robin Hood. Besides, I'm grateful I can blend in a little now".

He was silent for a few moments. I was beginning to wonder if this was a different Robin from the emotional one last night, or if all that hugging under the stars was just a dream.

"Shut up, and just get down. You've disturbed my peace, so let's get going to the inn". He said.

It was probably a dream.

"Your dog is gorgeous. I've never seen one like him, before". I said to Robin, as we climbed down the last ladder, followed by the little dog, which I had simply fallen in love with in the past few minutes that I had known him. "He's so adorable. What species is he? What's his name"? I picked him up, and he licked my hands.

We began walking along the path which led back into town. "His name's Stormy. He's a werewolf". Robin replied , bluntly, and I stopped walking. "A what"?

"Do you have hearing problems"? Robin said in an annoyed tone.

I rolled my eyes. I looked down at the little black bundle, who looked back at me, his eyes twinkling. "A werewolf, huh? Well...when we hear about werewolves in my world, they're definetly not described anything like this". 

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Phoebe greeted us with a smile, when we arrived at the inn. "Can I get you guys anything before you go and see the old man"? 

"That sounds great"! I said. "What do you say, Robin"?

"I say no. Stilts wanted us to be here first thing. We have more important things to do". Robin replied. I had a feeling he'd say that. 

Phoebe gave him her signature grin, and placed her hand on her hips. "Well, Mr. More Important Things To Do, turns out, Stilts hasn't even woken up, yet. Besides, you can't start a day without food. I highly doubt you made something to eat before you left home". 

"Why did he tell us to come here first thing if he knew he wouldn't wake up early"?! Robin yelled, angrily. I was a bit frightened by his sudden outburst, and he stormed out of the inn, through the back door, where we had met Stilts previously.

"Is he going to try and wake him up"? I asked Phoebe. She shook her head but said nothing. Instead, she rolled up her sleeves and went into the kitchen.

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After eating a satisfying dish of chocolate pancakes, I lifted Stormy onto my lap, and started petting him. It was still quite early in the morning, and so it was just me and Phoebe in the inn, sitting at one of the oak tables. Phoebe had a mug of coffee clasped in her hands. 

"I didn't know they had coffee here". I said, ruffling Stormy behind his ears. Phoebe nodded. "Stilts tells me your world is very different from ours, but we have some things in common".

"Stilts told you about me"? I asked.

"A few facts, here and there". She looked into her mug, a faraway look in her eye.

"Are you OK"? I asked her, noticing that she wasn't the same cheery pied piper I had chatted with the previous day. 

"You know...Stormy was her's once". Phoebe said to me, quietly. I looked at her.

"Red Rose"? She nodded.

"Those two were inseparable. That's probably why he's taken a liking to you so quickly". I looked back down at the wolf, who's eyes were now closed. "Oh". I said.

"I know Robin's being a bit of an idiot to you, Jess. I'm sorry you have to see him like this". Phoebe continued. "He's really a good guy; very caring and passionate, even if he doesn't show it". 

"I saw something like that in him last night". I said, remembering him hugging me for comfort. Phoebe smiled.

"The more you get to know him, the more of that you'll see. He's been through a lot...but the lad's one of the strongest people I know".

She looked out at the window, and I saw a deep look of sadness on her face, as the sun shone on her face, making her brown eyes glimmer, and blonde curls brighter.

"I lost my husband to the urchin disease, a few years back". Phoebe said.

"Oh god. I'm so sorry". I said, my heart sinking to my stomach. 

"Aye... but, Robin lost his entire family to it. After their parents and grandparents had died, everyone was convinced that he and his little sister would be safe from it, after the last war, where the last of the possessed elves were killed, and was sure that they would no longer return. But what they didn't know was that...Mrs. Hood, Robin's mother...had had the disease during her pregnancy. And only later did we discover that Red had been infected too".

I noticed Phoebe tightening her grip around the mug. "The twins were the only Hoods remaining, besides their cousin who had gone missing, but is reported to still be alive. They were young, both about eleven years old at the time, but due to their family magic history, they were among the most powerful fighters in this town. 

One day, Red had sat here, right here where you're sitting... with Stormy at her feet...

"You're a great cook, Phoebe". Red said, gobbling up the last of her potato tart. "There's no one in the world who can cook like you". 

Phoebe chuckled, watching in amusement, as the little red head drained her glass of hot milk and was left with a milky white moustache above her top lip. After her meal, she jumped off her chair, and sat on the ground next to Stormy. The little wolf immediately jumped onto her lap, and curled up in a ball.

"How's Robin, these days"? Phoebe asked her, "I don't see him  around town much". 

Red sighed, and stroked Stormy's head, gently. "He's been training with Al every day now. He always comes home a stronger person". She smiled, sadly. "I hardly ever see him now".

Phoebe sat on the floor, opposite the little girl, and placed her hand on Red's. "Your brother is training to be stronger for you and this town. Now that they're gone... he is the leading archer. I know it's hard not seeing him, Red, but trust me..."

"It's not that". Red looked at the floor, and Phoebe noticed her fists clench. 

"What is it, sweetheart"? She asked.

"I know...I know Robin's training to protect this town...I know all that". Her voice started shaking. "It's just..."

"You know you can tell me. I'm ready to listen to anything you have to say, Red". Phoebe encouraged her.

Red took a deep breath. "I have it, Phoebe. I'm going to die soon".

"I knew what she had meant immediately. I found it hard to take in, but I knew Red couldn't lie about something like that". Phoebe said, sipping her mug of coffee. "She then explained how she had gone out into the woods to train, and had been attacked by surprise by two urchin fairies. They stung her, but she didn't die. The fairy's poison can only effect the non infected. We figured out that the only way she could have gotten it was from her Mother as she had never come in contact with an urchin being. She was afraid to tell her brother, knowing how he had become so numb since their parent's death. She was afraid he'd lose the last ounce of emotion if she told him".

It was only then that I realised that tears were streaming down my face. I wiped them with the back of my sleeve. "So how did Robin ever find out"? I asked.

"We had to tell him. But he refused to believe Red's fate. He said not to worry about it because before her time was due, they would have defeated the fairies and found a cure".

"So her death was more unbearable for him". I said. phoebe reached across the table and put her hand on mind. "But you can make it a little bearable for him. You can change this god forsaken story, Jess. Whatever happens now in this fairy tale is up to you".

Wow now that was a seriously long chapter. I originally wanted to make it into two parts but I decided not to last minute. I'm not a pro with the Scottish way of speech, so pls forgive me if any mistakes-no intentional offence. 

Fairy Question: If you could have any fantasy animal as a pet what would it be?

For me, I'd love to see how it would be like to have a dragon like Toothless from "How To Train Your Dragon". Now that would be awesome!