Little Su watched as her parents walked away. They didn’t need their little star catching a cold. So little Su watched from the doorway, watched as the sun rose past the tippy top of the treetops, the dew disappearing from the grass. She watched as her parents shrank to the size of ants, before finally disappearing around Warrowblac hill. Tonight they would be back, and little Su couldn’t wait to go outside again.


    A screech woke Little Su around noon, seeming to shake the walls of her home. Blanket clutched in fear little Su looked out her window, the grasslands and woods empty as a cloudy night sky. It was as she turned a second screech began, causing her to whip around, and just for a moment, a fiery red tail was visible, disappearing like it was never there.


    Su ran, as fast as her little legs could carry, through the living room, through the kitchen, still warm from morning bread baking, all the way to her parent’s room. Huddling in the bed, Su shook in terror. She had heard stories of terribly big bad wolves coming to steal children in the night. Was one here for her? Would she disappear without a fight? Stomach growling, she breathed a sigh of relief. It was past midday and soon enough, she would be safe.


    In the kitchen, Su grabbed the freshest loaf of bread. Sighing in anticipation, she took it with some soup heated over the stove, and let it cool by the kitchen window. It was there the next fright of the day came, three sharp clacks, like nails against a school’s green chalkboard. Looking around she grabbed her bread, carrying it with her to the living room. Past her dad’s favorite spot on the large, brown couch, and her mother’s recliner, to the ornate black-painted oak wood door.


    Knock knock knock. Three more clacks. Su was sure of it now. Someone was at the front door. Glad to have locked it when she did, Su leaned against the door.


    “Hello?” yelling, she squinted, straining to hear anything of the person on the other side. Tilting her head, she stepped back, prepared to open the door and see what was outside. Then she froze. What was it the wolves always did? Wait for you to let them in. Hand on the brass knob little Su stopped, waiting, head tilted, for any response. Soon enough, one came.


    “Hello, is anyone home?” It sounded… off, like an animal’s imitation of a human voice, raspy and scratching and grating across little Su’s ears. She didn''t like it, not one bit.


    “Hello, who are you?” Her words were quieter than she expected and quivered in fear, yet little Su pushed through. Each second felt like an hour, and she waited, so long goosebumps appeared and disappeared before a response came.


    “Ah! Are your parents home young one? I’m a dog, and I’m lost, and I’m so cold and hungry. Do you think they could let me in?” Little Su perked up at the response, wondering why the person on the other side sounded so weird. Should she answer? She didn’t see why not.


    “My parents are in the village past Warrowblac Hill till evening, shopping, and I’m afraid I can’t open the door, for I do not know who you are, Mr. Dog. What if you are a big bad wolf?” There, now the wolf knew her parents would be back soon, and that he should leave before they saw.


    The laugh she got in response was not what she was expecting. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    “Oh, but I am not one of those pesky wolves! How could you believe so? Come, stand near the window, and you will see for yourself. I am a brilliant red dog like the fiery sun itself, I assure you.” Walking to the window, she peaked past brown cloth curtains and sure enough, as bright as the sun, and vibrant as lava, sat the most stunning dog she had ever laid eyes upon. Scurrying back from the window, little Su responded.


    “How will I know you aren’t in disguise? It wouldn’t be beside a wolf to dress so stunningly, luring in kids like me.” Running back to the window, little Su watched the maybe Wolf maybe dog pace, thinking. Then it turned back to the door and spoke once again.


    “Ah, but you are right, fair child, which is why I have a game! Would you like to play? You could see for yourself then, how I am innocent as can be.” Thinking, Su didn’t see the problem, so she agreed.


    “Wolves are wild and as feral as can be, correct?”


    “Yes, Mr dog, they are.” Su nodded as she spoke, though unable to shake her deep-rooted uneasiness.


    “Then they wouldn’t know the tricks taught to all dogs, now would they? So… I have a game, you tell me every dog trick you know, and when I do them, will you let me in where it’s safe and warm?” Watching the dog through the window, Su debated, but she could see no trick, it seemed an honest bet, unlike most wolf wagers.


    “That sounds reasonable, Mr. Dog. I agree!” so she went back to the window, and remembered the tricks she knew to ask a loyal dog.


    “Sit!” With black ears perked and head tilted, the dog, wolf, or whatever it was, sat.


    “Very good, now lay down!” The dog laid down, bushy tail curled under its tiny paws as if to keep them warm, head tilted innocently.


    “Okay, Mr. Dog, I have just one more trick for you!” Little Su paced, debating on which one she should use.


    “I’m waiting, little one!” Su paced, wondering, would she ask him to roll over? She wanted to let the dog in, by the God it''s fur looked so soft, yet the longer she thought, the more something still felt off. She could see the sun beginning to set. Her family would be home soon, and perhaps they would let the dog in for her.


    “Please, fair child, I will freeze if I don’t come inside soon! Ask me a final trick!” little Su froze, finally remembering the one thing all dogs had. Something no wolf, in any story, could do. For all dogs could bark, where wolves howled.


    “For my final question, my last trick, I want you to speak! All dogs can bark on command, surely you can too!” Watching through the window, little Su watched the dog, waiting. He tilted his head. Quickly hopping to avoid the cold ground, he paced. He even spun, giving her a good look finally at his angular snout and beady eyes. Still, he didn’t bark. Growing weary, little Su checked the road leading around Warrowblac Hill. In the distance, two small dots grew larger, and little Su knew her parents were almost home.


    It was then, hours later, the fox spoke.


    “Is there not another I can perform for you, little girl?” hopping too and fro. Little Su’s weariness turned to suspicion.


    “I''m afraid not. You must bark, or begone to the dark of night.”


    “I see, little girl. It seems you''ve forced my hand.” Foxes are sly creatures you see, and knew when they were beat. This one, this one had almost succeeded. The sharp screech of the foxes suddenly anger echoed through the night and little Su screamed in response, running for her parents’ room as the fox turned the door handle, teeth scraping across the metal.


    Running through the living room, Su ran into the warm kitchen. Stumbling, she heard the door crash open behind her, shaking her bones. She entered her parent’s room and slammed the door shut. The Fox howled and screamed, and then the shouts of her father broke into the home. And then as suddenly as it seems to have begun, the fox was gone.


    Escaping into the heart of night, people in the village past Warrowblac Hill say you can still hear the fiery demon tricking and manipulating kids into its waiting jaws. That’s how it got its name, playing a game, and winning its prize. The only thing you must remember to survive the fox, neither a cunning wolf nor a loyal dog, is one thing. Make them bark, for the scream that follows is sure to alert every hunter, and the fox will bother no one anymore.