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Das Mädchen in Rot - Chpt 1 [English - US]

Das Mädchen in Rot [English - US]



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 Das Mädchen in Rot (German: The girl in red) is a dark version adaptation from the original story wrote by Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm. The adaptation tells the story of Nella - a young girl that lived with her family in a tribe and her father was killed by a black Wolf-Being (it's how the tribesman call the werewolves) as he and a friend of him saved the young Nella. After she reached her full age, Nella was summoned to be part of a cult where the grown up women wears a red mantle and depart from the tribe to the Grandmother's house for the Ancestors blessing to keep the Wolf-Beings away from the tribesmen. According to the Oracle, the Grandmother's house is deep inside of the forest - the same where the Wolf-Beings and other dreadful creatures lurk inside, preying upon the visitors that venture without a portion of cautiousness.

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Introduction:

About fifteen full moons ago, an ancient tribe lived in what would become a forest. This tribe was known for worshiping a mystical entity whose form resembled a wolf.

When the first Red Moon rose in the sky, the people of that tribe began to transform into the image of the entity. No one knew what happened to make them become the image of the entity, but it was said that the wind carried various howls throughout the world.

One night, a small group of hunters entered the forest in search of food. And when they spotted the first deer to take back to the tribe, a huge figure appeared and devoured three of the hunters who entered that place, leaving only one of them to tell what happened. He said the creature that killed the others who went with him had the shape of a man, but the head and fur of a wolf.

And it was on that day that the tribe began to fear the wolf creature that attacked our people in the forest.

Chapter 1

The history of these ancient people has long been forgotten. Only the elders of the tribe can remember it clearly, and only the bravest who reached the maturity to hunt are able to pass it on. And since I was born after the sixteenth Full Moon, I only learned this story from my mother. She said these Wolf-Beings were as ferocious as the original animals that inhabit the forests. More than half of our hunters gave up going into the forest because of the Wolf-Beings' recent attacks, and consequently, we had to adopt other ways to support our people.

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The story I am going to tell is about a girl born that night after the full moon. She was a girl with pale skin, blue eyes, and brown hair. The daughter of a hunter and a peasant woman, they lived a simple and humble life, despite the difficulties of hunting for food. To survive that winter, they raised goats and bucks to feed themselves and everyone in the tribe, with the girl's father extracting wood in the surrounding forest.

The next day, the girl was at home next to her mother who was taking care of the goats.

“Nella!” her father called her name.

Many call her Nella. They say it's a pretty name for a pale girl. Her father would return from work to stay with them. He'd often collect some wood from the other side of the forest. Life seemed simple when they were home. Nella ran to hug him as he placed the axe beside him.

“Daddy. I'm glad you're here. Mommy said your dinner is ready,” she said as the man carried her in his arms.

“Me too, my beautiful Nella. And how could I miss your mother's dinner,” he replied with a laugh. He's always smiling when he's with his family.

Nella's father had the same eye color, white skin with a hint of red, a slightly thick beard, and long black hair. He had the physique of an athletic, healthy man, capable of carrying logs that were heavy for a person of average weight. He wore sheepskin and yak fur coats to protect himself from his shoulders to his feet.

Then Nella's mother arrived to greet him. She was a youthful-looking woman with white skin, brown hair, and brown eyes. She carried a bucket full of milk she had squeezed from the goat and headed to the cauldron to heat it while the father and the girl entered next.

////

The dinner they managed to enjoy at the tribe was simply salad, accompanied by rabbit stew and bread. Since they couldn't find anything from hunting, this was their meal. Everything was going well in the house. Seeing her parents eating together was comforting for Nella. Until someone knocked on the door.

“Who could it be?” asked Nella's mother.

“It can only be someone from the tribe,” the father replied, rising from his chair. “I'll see who's here.”

Nella's father left the table to attend to the new arrival. The little girl was finishing two spoonfuls of rabbit stew. At the door stood an acquaintance of theirs who had come from the tribe's hinterland: Johann.

“Ah, Johann. Welcome,” the father greeted his acquaintance.

Johann was a stocky man of average height, almost a hunter's man. A mustache and a bald spot were his common features, as far as I remember. I remember he was married at the time, well before Nella's parents married and the girl was born.

“Hello, Stephen. Could I come in and talk to you?”

“Of course. Come in,” Nella's father cordially invited.

The two entered the house. Before they reached the table, Nella called her mother.

“Mommy, can I play outside?” the girl asked her mother.

“Yes, my daughter.”

Nella went outside to play while her mother collected the food bowls and took her to the water bowl. Then she joined Stephen and Johann. They settled into their seats to talk.

“Say, Johann. What brings you here?”

“My daughter, Juliet,” he said, slightly concerned. “She's just turned 23.”

Some people might say it's a great joy to turn 23. But for our people, this might be a little more than many are used to.

“But why do you look worried?” asked little Nella's mother.

“The tribal chief and the Elder will prepare you for the Great Journey. The journey to the Great Mother's house.”

I had no idea what this Great Journey was. But I remember from my mother a few occasions where some girls in the tribe who reached this age were prepared for something that Nella would know when she got older. And the Great Mother he mentioned was a person. An elderly woman who lived in a house far from our tribe, nestled deep in the forest. A place no one could enter anymore. It might be worrying for those who care too much for their daughters, but it was a sacred ceremony according to the needs of the Elder and the tribal chief. According to some elders, it is said that the young women prepared for the Great Journey have the task of calming the Spirits of the forest to keep the Wolf-Beings away from our tribe.

“Well, I… I don't know what to say,” said the little girl's mother, so surprised was she to learn of Juliet's preparation for the Great Journey. They say that those who travel the Great Journey never return.

“It's something I feared would happen to my daughter. She's unique to me, and I wouldn't want to lose her on the Great Journey. I can't accept that.”

“Johann, I understand what you're going through. I know you wouldn't want your daughter led down a path of no return. Even if you wanted to defy the Elder and the chief, it could result in your expulsion from the tribe. Taken to the forest, fed to the Wolf-Beings.”

“I know the consequences. I talked to some people in the tribe and they said the same thing. I can't risk my daughter's life for a tradition without consensus.”

“It's very dangerous and you know it. Don't risk your life for it.”

The parents' conversation with Johann seemed endless. While they tried to convince their guest to change his mind, Nella played in the pasture with the baby goats. They jumped from one corner to the other as she followed them. It was one of her favorite pastimes in the tribe. As she chased them, one of the goats ended up leaping out of the enclosure, far from home. Since her family makes a living raising goats, if one of them disappeared or escaped from the pen, they wouldn't have enough to sell to those in need. That's when the little girl went after the runaway goat.

At home, her parents managed to resolve Johann and Juliet's situation. The way for them to leave the tribe was to put him on the next caravan of food and goods from the other tribes that arrived that afternoon.

“That's it, Johann. When the caravan arrives, you can put yourself and your daughter in it so you can leave. But be careful. I don't know how the others will react to this,” Nella's father concluded.

“Thank you so much, Stephen. Thank you so much. I knew you wouldn't let me down,” the relieved guest said.

“Good. Now that we're settled, I'm going to go check on my little Nella,” said the mother as she got up from her chair.

“You're right. Speaking of Nella, I hope she becomes as good as her mother one day.”

The little girl's parents laughed at that comment in a friendly way. “Maybe someday.”

“Well, I think I can go home and get things ready before the caravan arrives.”

Johann says goodbye to them and continues to his house. When her mother goes to the corral, she is shocked by her daughter's disappearance. She tries to call her name.

“Nella. Nella!” she called. But to no avail. “Nella, where are you?”

Afraid that the child had gone into the forest, she ran to call her father.

“Stephen!”

He and Johann were chatting briefly before their guest left. And when they saw her arriving, frightened, Nella's father went to greet her. "Honey, what's wrong?"

“It's Nella. She went to play in the barnyard, but then she disappeared. I'm afraid she might have gone into the woods.”

“Oh no,” said Johann, startled.

“Sweetheart, stay here while I go look for you. If necessary, let the others in the tribe know to help with the search.”

“I'll go with you.”

“But what about your escape?” asked the missing girl's father.

“It's more important that we find your daughter. By the time the caravan arrives, we should have found her as soon as possible.”

“That's right, Johann.”

The two villagers went ahead to look for her in the forest, with her mother waiting for them at home, hoping for their safe return.

////

The baby goat bounded farther from home. And since most goatlings are agile at this age, it was difficult for Nella to keep up. Chasing the baby would sometimes cause her to fall on rough terrain, like rocks, mud, small ravines, and more. And just as she fell, Nella saw the baby goat bounding toward the forest. The same forest the chief warned us long ago to stay away from because of the Wolf-Beings still living there.

“Oh, no. Mommy will be mad if she finds out he's gone to the forest,” said the girl, worried for the little goat. After all, her parents are very poor goat herders from the tribe who depend heavily on their counted herd.

That's when she had an idea, but she would have to disregard the warnings of her tribe and her parents. Nella went after the goat into the forest. Alone.

////

Johann and Stephen led the way with axes and hunting bows. When they hunted in the days when raids were rare, they had keen wits and a good knowledge of the terrain and the tracks of any animals they hunted in the area.

“You know. This reminds me of the time we went hunting that boar on the fourteenth full moon. The whole tribe was looking forward to the great feast we would have,” the father told his old companion about the highlights of their time as hunters.

“True, Stephen. And you didn't waste a moment in going after that boar back then,” Johann added.

“You being the most calculated of the group and me the most skilled with the bow. I never missed a shot.”

“And how could you not miss a shot, huh Stephen?”

They laughed at the other's comment. For them, those times would never be forgotten so easily. They resumed their search for Nella. The footprints they found were shaped like a leather shoe and the hooves of a baby goat.

“These footprints are recent. Judging by their shape, they must be the size of a human child and an eight-month-old baby goat. It must be your daughter chasing a baby goat.”

“These goatlings will always find a way to escape the pen. I hope Nella is alright.”

The two continued onward, following the footprints on the ground. The father hoped she would be safe if she went too deep into the forest. While the other was worried about his daughter, wanting to get her out of the village via the caravan, Johann focused his attention on helping his friend.

They approached the edge of the forest as they ran with all their strength that they had at their current age.

////

Inside, the trees were so terrifyingly tall they dwarfed anyone. The air cooled as it descended, and the sun sometimes couldn't shine through the trees and mountains. The creatures there were unlike any we'd seen before, including birds, elk, lizards, and even wolves. The vegetation was also different from what I'd seen in the tribe and in the regions below. It was as if the land there were mystical.

Nella stared at the trees as she searched for the cub in every corner. In one of them, he stared at her as she spotted him. Then, leaping aside, he ran to catch him.

“Hey! Wait for me!” he called, trying to reach the goatling.

They ran deeper into the forest. The trees became more frightening as he reached the most remote, dimly lit corners. And the search became increasingly difficult as he traversed the bushes and thorny vines.

Coming out the other side of the vines, Nella turned around and noticed the baby goat was gone.

“Where did he go?” she thought as she walked further into the place.

She wandered onward to find him. Again, no sign of him. It was as if he had vanished altogether, gone into a corner where she couldn't follow him. And Nella lost him forever, just as she lost her way home.

“I'm scared,” she said, frightened. She really was lost. She shouldn't have followed that little goat away from home and into the forest. Nella sat down near a tree and began to cry. With no one to comfort her or guide her out of that place, she surrendered to the cold, dark solitude.

It was at this moment that something changed. She felt something touch her face with a cool edge and warm breaths. The girl hid her face from between their arms and, upon seeing what it was, she was startled.

A female wolf, like in the tribe's engravings and wooden figures. However, this wolf had no intention of harming her.

“Who are you?” she asked the creature in surprise as tears streamed down her face.

She looked at the girl with those golden eyes and nuzzled her face. Her touch gave her a sense of comfort and security. Many in the tribe say that when a wolf acts this way, it's to communicate with others of the same species or not. It's very unusual for a wolf to interact with a human this way. And when she stopped, they looked into her eyes again.

“Have you seen a baby goat around here? Do you know where I can find it?” she asked the baby goat to the wolf.

She didn't respond in any way she could. Although wolves communicate with howls, this one could communicate with any understandable gesture. And since she didn't answer if she had seen the pup she was looking for, the girl decided to try something else.

“Do you know where I can find my way home?”

This time, a different response was expressed. She turned her face away and walked away. Nella looked at her, surprised to learn she was showing her the way back. She decided to follow her to see her parents' faces.

////

Time passed after Nella followed the wolf to the forest's exit. Halfway back, she stopped. She sensed something among the vegetation and trees watching us. The little girl found her sudden behavior strange.

“What happened? Why did you stop?” she asked with a startled expression.

The wolf didn't make a sound in response to the question. But she kept her gaze fixed on whoever was watching them. And at that very moment, they heard someone emerging from the bushes. It was the baby goat that Nella was racing to catch and take back home.

“It's the goatling!” the child exclaimed excitedly. She needed to bring him back with them. And just as Nella was about to grab him, a huge figure emerged from the bush and grabbed the young creature with its sharp claws and fangs. It was terrifying to see all this in one afternoon. The creature that had swallowed the baby goat was a Wolf-Being, just like in the stories my mother and the others in the tribe had told. It had the body of a man, the head of a wolf, dark fur, sharp fangs and claws, and dark eyes. Both the wolf and Nella were frightened. They tried to back away slowly. But the monster approached them with those sharp, blood-stained teeth, preparing to attack.

Just as he was about to attack, they heard the sound of footsteps and human voices approaching. It was Nella's father and Johann.

“Nella!” called the missing girl's father.

“Daddy!”

The Wolf-Being stared at the two hunters. They fired their arrows into the creature's furry body and prepared for the next shots. The monster roared as it received two more arrows. The wolf fled when Johann reached the little girl and grabbed her.

“I got your daughter, Stephen!”

“Great! Now go back to the village and bring help!”

“But what about you?!”

“I'll hold it as long as I can.”

“I won't leave you here with the Wolf-Being!” exclaimed the hunter's friend.

“Do as I say! If I go with you, that monster will catch up to us and then attack the village!”

Nella didn't understand all of this. Johann agreed to his plan and prepared to run. She tried to call her father before they left.

“Daddy!”

“My daughter, whatever happens, I love you more than anything in this world,” he replied with a smile. Then Johann ran with her in his arms. Nella didn't want to leave her father there with the Wolf-Being. Her eyes filled with tears as she watched him face the terrifying creature. After that day, she never saw him again.

////

Later, Johann returned to that spot, along with other hunters from the tribe. All were armed with bows, arrows, torches, and axes to face the creature that ambushed us. The sun was on the horizon, about to set and the moon to rise. And when they finally arrived, all they could see was a man lying on the ground with an expressionless look, his throat pierced, with only blood draining from the bite. Stephen, Nella's father, was killed while defending her life and Johann's if he had stayed to help his friend.

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