The Hunt of the Heartless [Ruby]

Red had adjusted well, fitting easily back into their old kingdom. Snow and Charming reigned with a steady hand and the kingdom flourished. No enemies had yet made themselves known and peace had settled upon the lands. For once, she didn't need to abuse her senses for power or prowess, Snow no longer called upon her for some misbegotten task. Peace, she decided was a beautiful thing and she was enjoying it without question. She was no longer a peasant wench who tended bars and waited tables, her eyes drifted down to gaze at the engagement ring upon her finger, a smile drifting across her mouth. She was a duchess, a high standing citizen of society, betrothed to the only light in her life, Dorian Gray. He knew all of the darkness of her past, knew of the demon that shared her soul and still he had asked for her hand. They weren't societies definition of perfection. They were messy, they argued, they bickered, and he claimed her like a man scorned, but they worked. He had his demons and she had hers and she loved him unconditionally.

She had spent the afternoon riding with a few other nobles. As Dorian's betrothed it was essential that she made a good impression on the rest of the nobles, his reputation depended on her actions, luckily easy wit and charm came easily to her and after a rather long and boring ride, she was slowly returning to Aledon. Crescendo, her gorgeous black Andalusian paced at a fluid gait, careening across the grass with ease. When the stables entered her view she almost sighed her relief, it was not often she boarded Crescendo here, choosing Dorian's own stables instead, but she had not wished to ride with the nobles longer than she had too. She would fetch her beloved horse in the morning.

Crescendo pulled from a canter to a walk, to a halt as the stable boy approached her swiftly. Red was bathed in gorgeous riding attire, the color to match her name. The stable boy smiled widely as he raced towards her, recognizing Red from countless times before, as a bar tender, Red had become known quite well throughout the kingdom, by nobles and commoners alike. Her easy demeanor and quick charm saw to it.

'Red! How have you-" Realizing his error he righted himself, helping her off the glorious stallion with ease. "Er... I mean Duchess Gray, was your ride enjoyable?" Red laughed at his manner, a carefree, whimsical sound, shaking her head as she did so.

"Appearances must only be kept when other nobility is near, aside from that I am still Red, if you please." She chuckled lightly, the stable boys bright smile telling her she had spoken correctly. "Give him a bit of an extra treat and turn him out to pasture for the eve will you?" The stable boy nodded and led her stallion away. She sighed and headed into the barn to hang up her tack and to change into something a bit more presentable for the town.

A voice captured her attention, quite and timid and she turned. Emerald eyes seeking the body it belonged too. A small, malnourished child rushed to her, her scent... it was familiar but Red had never seen the child before. The wolf told her to be wary, but Red's heart was far too kind to deny the child. Red crouched down before her, so she would not be so frightened and offered her her hand. "Do not be afraid child, I will not hurt you. My name is Ruby Gray, what ails you?" Ruby had enough power to take on most anything that lingered in the woods. The deal she had made a scarce few months ago with Rumple confirmed that. The wolf was hers to control and command at will. The moon no longer held her sway, if there was some beast intent on harming the child, Red would see to its demise.

Red watched the small child carefully, it was clear she was frightened, scared, her body trembled, her eyes grew wide and frightened... and yet she did not cry, nor did she smell of fear. Both fear and desire were the most potent smells a body could produce, she could smell both from a mile away, but this small child's scent never changed. Something wasn't right, she just couldn't pinpoint what it was. Damn...this could turn ugly if she didn't play her own cards correctly. Gnawing her cheek hard enough for it to bleed, the tangy taste of copper gave her something to focus on, The emotions on her face were as smooth and expressionless as glass.

Concern glittered in the depths of green eyes as the child spoke once more. Her eyes widening only a fraction, heartbeat stuttering once, twice in her rib cage as the name of that cursed witch fell from her mouth. Red had never liked Regina, perhaps she had gained a bit of redemption back in Storybrooke, but where was she now? Now that they had been returned to their rightful home? Did she linger in the woods, hidden and out of sight? Was she plotting another scheme to kill Snow? Or was she here at all? According to the child before her, she was indeed here and not only that but she had kidnapped the child's parents... but why?

Red was far from stupid and Regina never did anything without meticulous planning. This girl was a commoner, and Regina never wasted time on those below what she believed was her station, not unless it furthered her own goals. Tentatively she sniffed the air. This child did not even have the barest hint of the witch, but then where had she heard the name? Her better instincts told her to flee, to return to her beloved, let him have his wicked way with her and spend the eve curled up at his side. But she couldn't do that, Snow and Charming had been absent as of late and if this child's words proved true, well she did not need to think how a battle between herself and Regina would go. Red was strong but she wasn't a match for raw magic, not alone anyway.

"Regina..." She murmured softly, her voice revealing neither her like or dislike of the name. She thought best on how to both calm the child and get away without revealing too much. "Did you see this happen? Can you show me where?" A nasty feeling settled in the pit of her gut, she hoped like hell that wherever Dorian was, he was safe and she hoped he could forgive her for whatever she was about to get into.

The wolf raged within her cranium, demanding answers, demanding blood. If Regina was back it meant problems for everyone. The woman was unable to release her hatred and the beast wasn't in the habit of forgiveness, if it ever got the chance it would tear Regina to pieces. Red was not so violent but the demon that lingered in her soul was another matter entirely. She prayed that this child was wrong. She chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully, debating on what she should do. Dorian was expecting her, she had promised she would be home at sundown and already she would be late. They didn't oft care when the other vanished, but tonight was supposed to be special. They were supposed to plan their wedding... but Red could not leave the girl to falter on her own. Even if she was lying, right now, Red would be the only one who stood a fighting chance of truly helping. With a soft sigh and a quick glance behind her she rose to her full height. Even with Red's tiny stature she towered over the fair maiden.

"The lake is quite far from here... I can make it there much faster than any horse if you can keep a secret." She did not trust this tiny girl. There was something off about her and Red was determined to figure out what, but first they needed to tend to the scene, if Regina truly was here, Red could track her. Without waiting for the child's response, she lifted her up off the ground, swinging her around to rest on her back. "I'm not one of her henchmen, you needn't worry." She would worry about the child after she checked the validity of her story. Sucking in a quick breath she took off. Her speed was something to be envious of, when Red wished to tap into the wolf's reserve of energy she could do so with devastating capabilities. Even in this weakened form she had strength enough to throw a fully grown man through a window.

A few short minutes ticked away and they had reached the lake and with gentle ease, Red set the child down. A scarce few houses littered the earth and she glanced at the girl, murmuring softly; "Which is yours?" Everything came down to what she would find in the house.

(((OOC: I know i powerplayed her a bit, if you would like me to change just let me know ^^)))

Ruby knew her flaws, knew them well enough to know they would never change. She was impulsive, irrational, emotional. She did things on an impulse, on a whim and it had gotten her into trouble time and time again... but such was her nature. From her ferocity in battle, to her passions when it came to her fiancé. She was a powerful woman with severe emotions. She did nothing halfway, never had, never would. She knew she should have taken the girl to the palace, handed her over to the guard to keep safe while she and an elite group of soldiers went to investigate. That would have been the smart thing to do, the intelligent way to go about things, but Ruby had foolishly thought she could handle such things, and now, she knew she was screwed. The child seemed disoriented for a moment, but Red knew it was a good time to panic when no fear entered her eyes. Red had been tricked.

Red attempted to bound away as laughter poured from the girls mouth, to no avail. She was several miles from the city of Aledon, no way to call for support, no way to call for aide. Her mind raced thinking of a thousand things at once. Snow and Charming, their families safety, the safety of the realm and of the crown, her granny, the woman, Leona she had taken into her care, the bar, the commoners whom she had come to love and adore and the nobles whom, for the most part, she hated with a fiery passion, and lastly her thoughts lingered on her beloved. Her Dori. Dorian Gray. He was the love of her life, the only man whom she would ever love, she cherished him, worshipped him. He was her sun, her moon, her stars, and as the woman vanished to be replaced by a figure Snow had told her of too many times to be misplaced, she knew it was unlikely she would ever see him again and that wounded her more than the thought of death. She sunk her teeth into her bottom lip hard enough to bleed, to keep tears from forming in her eyes. For all of her strength and power, it mattered little to one who wielded magic. "Cora." The name was spoken with absolutely no emotion, revealing nothing.

She realized then she would have given anything upon this earth to hear Dorian's voice one last name, his laughter, her name upon his lips in that soft breathy tone... but it could not be, she was nnow destined to be another nameless victim, dragged back to Aledon, if anything of her remained, once someone stumbled upon her body. Regina was ruthless, Cora was worse or so she had been told, she had no doubt in her mind that she would be leaving this place in pieces. Green orbs bled to gold, the strength of the wolf fighting the magic that held her down, struggling with all its might to free itself. "I am a Child of Luna. I made a deal with Rumple, a favor for control of the beast inside me. I change at will, command it whenever I desire." She saw no point in lying, magic could see right through it. She hoped, that maybe she could leave alive enough to make it back to her Dorian, to apologize for leaving him, to tell him that she would have been loyal until her last breath left her, to tell him she loved him one last time, but would she wish to return, after all that Cora was sure to do to her.