captjackcalicoGive something to someone -- it does not have to be material. Please note that 'giving away' does not equal 'free'. Everyone deserves to be compensated in some form or another.
----------------------------------------
The breeze was icy cold that night and it was starting to become a bother as it made her raven-colored bangs sway and brush her face, making it itchy at the contact.
She gazed back at the huge house that loomed over her like a giant monster, its lights on in almost all the rooms. Holding back a sigh, she wrapped her sky blue wool scarf tighter around her neck and trotted away deep into the nearby woods, shielded in the midnight darkness.
"There are werewolves out there," Marissa had warned. "You might not make it out alive if you decide to make a run for it. Anyhow, it´s your choice."
Claw-shaped branches welcomed her as they danced to the rhythm of a much colder wind. Fallen autumn leaves and dry branches cracked under her boots as she stepped on them, reminding her that she was indeed foreign to that world and wouldn´t cross the forest unnoticed.
Halfway across, she noticed a clearing illuminated by the full moon. The forest was so dark that it creeped her out so she made a run for it, desperately seeking a way out of such a nightmareish setting. It was just as her small feet reached the clearing and stood in the middle of a flower patch that she heard the howl.
It came from right in front of her, inside the darkness that had now become completely thick that not even squinting her eyes gave her a glimpse of anything. Hugging herself, she kneeled over the flowers, trying to conceal her petite form but to no avail, whatever was in the woods knew perfectly well that she was there.
A dark shadow emerged from the woods, making her scream in terror. It leaped and landed right in front of her, black spiky fur and sharp-edged claws that glinted in the moonlight.
"What do you seek?" it growled, it´s yellow shiny eyes locked directly on her cerulean orbs.
Her bottom lip quivering, the girl mustered all her courage to answer the beast´s question, "I-I just wanted to escape..."
He laughed loudly, making her scream and curl into a shivering ball with her arms protecting her head."Stupid human-girl, no wonder all the people from your race get ripped apart and eaten alive, you´re worthless."
Edging closer to her so that his snout was inches away from her tiny hands, he took in her smell. "Fear, you fear me and yet I can still smell a little hope in you. How the hell can there even be hope in a situation like this? Do you want so badly to be destroyed human?"
He started growling, position ready to leap as soon as she finished her answer. "Last words are your reply and make them worthy of your last seconds here," he demanded.
Suddenly she stood up, taking him aback. Her eyes were full of tears that continued to flow freely over her flushed cheeks, "You don´t really mean this, do you?" she answered, hope still lingering in her eyes.
"What?"
"You never wanted to kill me."
"Why would you..."
"I know this, because when Marissa told me not to leave, she also smiled at me. It was the warmest smile I´ve ever seen."
The werewolf staggered, and finally sat on its hind legs, all the fury and viciousness gone from his face.
"I guess you´re not as worthless as I thought you were," he said with a smile.
The girl shook her head, "It´s the second best smile I´ve seen tonight and now I guess it´s time for you to do what you have to do."
The beast nodded, sadness replacing his hatred-filled eyes. "May your spirit find the rest it seeks..." Then, reading himself, he lounged at the girl.
END
---
So that was my version, give and take. Hope you like it!
Tonight's prompt is about giving, because the season is upon us and we are nothing if not topical.