Das Mädchen in Rot - Chpt 6 [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 Great Mother's house for the Ancestors blessing to keep the Wolf-Beings away from the tribesmen. According to the Oracle, the Great Mother'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 6
The next day, the ground was covered in snow. The leaves on the pine trees and bushes were white, not green. The sky was still gray from winter. The sun barely illuminated the forest, and some animals didn't want to leave their nests and burrows. A few birds sang in the branches, eating what they could.
In a distant region, far from the reach of the forest, a group of several men traversed a thick layer of snow. All wore fur coats, most of them wolf fur, with some bear, caribou, and others. Some had long beards, some adorned with bones, some braided, and some short. And all carried spears as hunting weapons, with some carrying shields and axes.
A group of hunters from a tribe far from Nella's had traveled to the place where she grew up. The leader of the group, a blond man with several scars on his arms and face, wearing a white coat and gray pants, leather boots, and a kind of helmet with a metal projection on top, stopped the others, beckoning one of them to come closer. In response, only one spoke: a man wearing a long fur coat and a hood covering his eyes and nose.
“Please. Tell us where is the village that lives cursed by the Wolf-Beings.” said the leader of the hunters, extending his left hand to the hooded man.
The man, standing a little close to the leader, raised his right hand, pointing forward with his index finger.
“It is there, my lord,” replied the human figure with the hood over his face, pointing his index finger at where Nella’s tribe would be.
“See, my friends? We're almost to that village.”
The other men kept their gazes fixed on their leader. Some seemed a little nervous, others a little withdrawn. But they were eager for a challenge beyond any they had faced in the past.
“We will free it from this nightmare that has plagued it for many years, as our friend who came from far away said. And as a toast of our success, we will take some of those Wolf-Beings' hides as trophies and carpets for our halls!”
The other hunters raised their weapons, letting out roars. Bolstered, the group set off toward Nella's tribe. The hooded man remained in place while the others marched on.
“Nella, if you're there, know that your father will be avenged. We will put an end to this barbarity and end that plague of Wolf-Beings!” said the hooded man, knowing the name of the girl who was chosen to be the Girl in Red on the Great Journey into the forest.
Everyone headed toward the tribe. It seemed they were aware of the Wolf-Things' attacks that were ravaging them all, and of the Great Journey organized by the Elder and the Chief. And that figure addressed the others.
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Meanwhile, where the group of travelers were, the campfire was out. The pile of twigs and wood gave off a thin, gray smoke. William approached a bush near a tree. The top of the pile was covered in snow and ice. With the small log he'd used to make Nella's tea, she scooped up some of that icy white surface. And with more twigs and wood, she lit another fire. This time, she was supposed to melt the snow for water.
He watched the snow and ice slowly melt on the object. Suddenly, he saw young Nella coughing slightly. William approached her to check on her. Hvit stood to make room for him to treat the traveler.
William placed his hand on her forehead, feeling that it was slightly warm. She was breathing through her mouth as she lay on the caribou's hide.
“You're still a little warm. But not much as it was yesterday,” William said, taking Nella's temperature. “The tea I made helped alleviate the most severe symptoms.”
Scooping some water from the wooden cup, he lifted her into the proper drinking position. He watched her throat move as she slowly swallowed. Then she opened her eyes.
“Good morning, William.”
“Good morning, Nella. How are you?”
“I'm fine. I'm not coughing as much as before. The tea you made yesterday helped a lot.”
“I'm glad to hear it. The recovery is progressing well.”
Nella smiled. “You know, you look like my mother when I…” the girl said, coughing as she was about to complete her speech.
“…get sick?” he finished.
“Yes. And sometimes I feel silly when someone is taking care of me, even though I'm already grown up.”
“But don't worry, Nella. You know the cold is temporary. In a moment you'll be cured and can continue on the Great Journey.”
Nella nodded, smiling at her guardian. Then Hvit approached, sniffing the girl's face and nuzzling her head and nose. Nella, in turn, hugged the wolf.
“Hvit spent a lot of time by your side, just like I did.”
Nella glanced at the fire for a moment. She looked worried, though she felt safe with them. “I… I can't thank you enough for… everything you've done for me,” she said, coughing.
“No need to thank us. You know we're here to help you finish this Great Journey and come home.”
Nella smiled at the boy. Hvit smiled too, breathing quickly as he watched his companion stand up.
“Well, I'm going to get more ingredients to make more tea. After that, we'll continue our journey to the sword,” William said, standing. “Get some rest, Nella. You'll need your strength renewed. Hvit will be nearby if you need anything.”
“Okay, William,” Nella concluded, lying down on the caribou's hide and the wolf settling down beside her.
William went out to gather more herbs and roots to make more medicinal tea to treat Nella's cold. The fire was still burning, making the surroundings feel cozy and safe. Everything seemed peaceful for them, even though she felt that evil still lurked in the shadows, hoping to harm her.
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Fifteen minutes had passed since William's departure for more natural ingredients in the forest. He searched the surrounding trees for more herbs and roots. Even though the snow made it difficult to locate them, William's senses and photographic memory were keen, allowing him to easily find them.
Arriving near a large tree, he crouched nearby, digging into the dirt and snow with his fingers and pointed nails. To his surprise, he found one of the necessary ingredients: Iron Earth roots.
“Perfect. That's exactly the ingredient I need for the tea.” William said in his thoughts.
William grabbed the roots and pulled hard, ripping them out one after the other and carrying them to where they were resting. He placed them near his right knee.
However, his hearing picked up something moving among the bushes and pine branches. Birds even flapped their wings, flying over the tree where he was collecting Iron Earth roots. This caught William's attention, and he stopped collecting more roots. He looked around, a look of concern emanating from him. But his nose picked up a recognizable scent coming from behind him.
William stood up, leaving the collected items on the floor. “I know you're here. Show yourself!” he called, knowing who the possible attacker was.
Behind the pine tree, a huge, black-furred human hand emerged, gripping the bark so hard it left marks. It then advanced forward, revealing the remains of the black-furred werewolf. The same one that attacked Nella as a child and killed her father and the baby goat. Its presence frightened William, for he knew who that werewolf was.
“Y-you!” William said, swallowing hard as his eyes remained fixed on him.
“Finally we meet again, Brown.” Said that being with the wolf-like head and black fur.
The black-furred Werewolf walked around the boy, keeping his eyes on him. “Looks like you've grown, Brown. When you left the pack, you were just a pup.”
“If you came here to call me back to the pack, forget it. I'm not coming back,” the boy replied with a serious demeanor.
“No. That's not why I came, Brown.” said the black-furred Wolf-being. “On the contrary. You take someone with you. A human girl into the forest. And you're on your way to the Wolfslayer.”
The monstrous, black-furred figure stopped walking. Its golden eyes remained fixed on the young man searching for roots and medicinal herbs. William's heart beat rapidly when the topic of Nella was discussed.
“I didn't want her to embark on this dangerous journey. I wanted to take her back to her tribe, but she's stubborn and it almost cost her life.”
“That is why I advise you not to continue with this journey.”
William saw the creature approaching him. Claws were visible on its monstrous hands, and sharp teeth emerged from its open mouth. The two were face to face, ten palms' length apart.
“Give me the girl and our hostilities will cease!”
William's eyes widened as he kept them fixed on that wolfish head, full of black fur, golden eyes, and sharp teeth capable of cutting through flesh with little effort.
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Minutes before William's encounter with the black-furred werewolf, Nella rested on the caribou's hide. Her chest heaved with her breathing. Everything around her remained still and peaceful. Even more so with Hvit resting beside her.
The Girl in Red's closed eyes slowly opened, blinking slowly as she awoke from her slumber. Nella lay awake, taking in the scenery around her. All she had left was Hvit, sleeping next to her, the still-burning fire, trees, and snow. But no William.
“William?” She asked worriedly.
Nella knew he would return. But she sensed something had happened to her traveling companion. Something serious.
Nella got up from her makeshift bed and started putting on her boots and red cape. In the process, she called the wolf.
“Hvit. Hvit, get up.” The girl in the red cape called.
Hearing that, the wolf's head rose, looking at the one who called her.
“William hasn't returned. I don't know if something happened to him, but I'll look into it. Are you coming?”
Being a living being capable of making sounds only wolves and the boy could understand, Hvit barked. She rose to her feet, pawing the ground, and set off with Nella into the forest. They extinguished the fire, and what remained of the caribou was left behind.
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The air remained silent and icy. Nella and Hvit walked through the trees and snow, searching for William. They looked around for any sign of danger, but all they found were a few squirrels scurrying toward their burrow in one of the trees. They were storing food to get them through the winter.
Otherwise, there were no signs of wild predators or werewolves, specifically those with gray, dark brown, and black fur. This might ease Nella's worry.
Hvit followed William's trail by scent. Wolves have a keen sense of smell, allowing them to locate objects or people by residual scent, unless other scents hinder their search. Because Hvit has lived with William for many years, she is familiar with his scent.
Nella followed the wolf to a clearing. There, Hvit stopped walking. She smelled another wolf in the same spot. The girl saw her become a little skittish. Her hackles rose, and a growl sounded from her mouth.
“Hvit?” she asked, looking at the wolf. She knelt down to pet her. “Hvit, what's wrong?”
Hvit remained in place, sensing something dangerous might be nearby. Nella stood and moved forward, walking toward the clearing. The wolf was afraid to continue, but she followed her human companion, so as not to leave her alone, lest it be a trap.
The clearing was surrounded by a few trees. They weren't tall enough to block the light. And in the middle of the clearing stood a man about the same height as the traveler who had been with them on the Great Journey. It was William.
“William,” Nella said, smiling at the sight of him. She approached the spot to call out to him. However, something made her stop. She heard something coming from that spot.
“I didn't want her to embark on this dangerous journey. I wanted to take her back to her tribe, but she's stubborn, and it almost cost her her life.” Said the boy in that clearing.
Nella was confused. His voice was serious and cold. But she didn't know that at that moment, William was talking to someone. And that someone was approaching the boy.
“That is why I advise you not to continue with this journey.”
To Nella's horror, it was the black-furred werewolf talking to William. Her eyes widened. She covered her mouth, preventing a noise from escaping to attract his attention. Hvit's hackles rose, putting the wolf on edge in a defensive posture.
“Give me the girl and our hostilities will cease!”
“No!” That echoed deeply in the wolf-headed creature's hearing. Nella was even surprised by how William wanted to protect her from harm. William had displayed a rigid stance in the face of the Wolf-Being.
“No! I won't do that! I'd rather take her to her tribe. She'll be safe there.”
“Brown, if you knew the place she came from would be safe to protect her, you're mistaken. No matter what you do, the attacks won't stop. The Alpha is aware of you two after you entered the forest and the death of the one in the Great Mother's house.”
The girl remained quiet and frightened. She watched the scene of the two of them talking, about the werewolf who killed Great Mother in cold blood and being killed by another.
During their conversation, the black werewolf's claws were visible in William's eyes. He remained silent, facing the situation calmly and coolly.
“He longs to see you again and welcome you back with open arms.”
“Say what you want, but I don't intend to see him again, even by force if you have to!”
“There's no point in resisting us or denying your origins, Brown.”
The boy remained silent as the creature spoke. As the werewolf spoke, sharp teeth became visible in that large mouth. The black eyes, the same color as the fur, reflected no light. All he could see was a deep, lifeless void.
“Does the girl traveling with you know your true origins? Your true identity?”
“No! She must not know about this!” William replied seriously.
“You are the Alpha's son. We all are! His blood runs through your veins, as do your powers!” replied the black-furred werewolf, extending his right hand towards William's chest to grab him and pull him hard to tear off a piece of flesh, but was repelled by the boy's left hand in a repulsive and defensive gesture.
Nella stepped back briefly, watching as her heart raced. Hvit remained still, arching his body down in a defensive posture, but tension was building around the clearing.
And it was at that moment that they saw the boy writhe. But it wasn't from pain. His arms grew, along with his legs, body, head, and neck. His mouth protruded forward, taking on a canine shape. His teeth and ears also took on a wolf-like appearance. His fur grew brown, and his jacket and boots were shredded during the transformation. His pants also began to sag, their edges tearing.
Nella was horrified to learn that the boy who accompanied her on the Great Journey was a werewolf. The same one who appeared in Great Mother's house, but not as a monster to destroy her, but as a kind of rebellious wolf who saved her from the other monster.
“Yes, William. That's right. Show me your true IDENTITY!” said the black-furred werewolf, watching William’s transformation.
The boy pressed his left hand hard against the ground, regaining his composure after his human body had transformed into a werewolf. He opened his eyes again, revealing his light blue irises. In an instant, he let out a loud roar, startling Nella into falling flat on her buttocks. As a result, William and the black werewolf heard the sound.
“It's her!” said the Wolf-Being with a sinister expression. William expressed concern when he saw her near the tree. Then she and Hvit ran away.
With her running for her life, the black-furred monster prepared to go after Nella and Hvit. “Let's go after her, William!” However, something made his expression change. The boy who had left the pack intervened, placing me in front of the other.
“No! Let her go in peace!” said William, placing himself in front of the black werewolf.
“Get out of my way, William!” ordered the black-furred werewolf, his patience already at its limit.
“No! Let me go after her! I'll take her to the Alpha myself!”
“I won't give you the luxury of doing this!”
“Wait! If I'm going to take the girl to the Alpha, I can do it myself! It doesn't matter if I return to the pack or not, as long as he keeps his word that the attacks on her tribe will stop.”
The two werewolves remained at an impasse regarding Nella, with one wanting to go after her and take her to the pack, while the other intervened, stepping in to take the other's place. Briefly, the black-haired one closed his eyes, sighing at the alternative idea. He gave the younger one a slight smile.
“Very well, Brown. I'll let you go after the girl and take her to the Alpha.”
William closed his eyes, shaking his head, then opening them again. However, something caught his attention in the face of the black werewolf.
“Any slip-up on your part or failure to bring the girl to the pack, I will not hesitate to kill you and dump your remains in the forest.”
“I understand.”
“Very well. You can go after the girl, brother.” ended the conversation between the black-furred werewolf and William.
The two said goodbye, with the brown-furred werewolf chasing after Nella. As he retreated into the distance, disappearing into the trees, the other two, the gray and the dark brown, appeared behind the black-furred monster.
“Now what?” asked the gray werewolf to the leader of the group.
“What will we do?” asked the dark brown-haired one.
“Stick with the original plan. Keep following the girl wherever she goes. But keep your distance from William. We want to see if he can keep his word and take her to the Alpha. If he fails, kill him!”
The two werewolves agreed with their leader's last words. They followed orders to keep their distance from William while accompanying him and Nella. And with them taking an alternate route, the black-furred werewolf continued on to another location.
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Meanwhile, Nella ran with Hvit away from the clearing. She was distressed and confused by what she had witnessed, by the true identity and nature of William and the werewolf who had killed her father so many years ago. Running away, she bumped into a few tree branches, some of which had sharp points that scratched her face and hands. And as she fled, she heard a voice calling her name.
“Nella!” It was William. Not in werewolf form, but in human form. “Nella, wait!”
“Leave me alone!” Shouted the girl in the red cape in distress, running without looking carefully where she was running.
Nella ran away from him. When the voice stopped for a moment, William appeared in front of her, knocking her to the ground. Hvit growled as he stepped between them.
“Stay out of this, Hvit! This doesn't suit you!” William exclaimed, sternly addressing the wolf. Having said that, Hvit stopped, standing still, a little embarrassed by William's words.
Then Nella tried to crawl back, keeping her eyes on the boy and extending her left hand forward.
“What do you want from me?!” she asked scared, keeping her hand in front of her as a way to try to protect herself.
“Nella, you have to get out of here! It's not safe to stay here in the forest anymore,” William said, trying to change her mind.
“No!” she said, scared, tears welling up in her eyes. “I… I can't go back.”
“The others will come after you and I can't protect you! Not even Hvit can do that!”
William moved a little closer to her. In response, Nella backed away.
“Stay away from me!” she exclaimed in fright.
The boy remained silent, staring at the young woman still lying on the ground. He could see the tears streaming from her eyes.
“William, you… you're one of them. Aren't you?”
The brown-haired boy sighed, not wanting to talk about it. However, he relented, nodding in response. “Yes, Nella. I'm a werewolf too. But I don't want to hurt you, like the others.”
“That black-furred werewolf who talked to you. He… he killed my father,” the girl in the red cape wept. “I was a child, but I… I remember clearly the day he was killed by that monster. And it would have killed me if I hadn't been rescued that day!”
Hearing that, William felt sorry for her. He knew the black werewolf had committed atrocities against her tribe, especially against Nella's family.
“I… I'm sorry about your father, Nella. I'm truly sorry.”
“Then you know how we have suffered at their hands! Days and nights we spent trapped in the tribe, we suffered when one of my acquaintances and neighbors disappeared without leaving anything but dead bodies, and now, I am in a nightmare with the Great Mother dead and the Great Journey with no clear direction except the sword!”
“Nella, listen! I know we're almost ready to reach the sword and use it to put an end to this. But remember: revenge ultimately blossoms in our hearts when we desperately want to kill those who took our loved ones. If we let it speak louder for us, we'll be no better than the werewolves.”
William tried to take another step forward, reaching out to grab her wrist. To his astonishment, Nella slapped him away.
“Don't come near me!” she replied angrily. In her last act, she ran far away, crying.
William looked at the poor girl who had run away crying far away. He called out to her several times, but they proved futile. Instead of expressing a serious look or going after the red-cloaked traveler, his gaze expressed sadness that she had escaped his reach.
“I'm sorry, Nella.” he thought, seeing that person running away.
Hvit was looking in the same direction as his colleague. She was lying on the frozen, snow-covered ground, expressing concern for Nella's safety, even though she was a wolf, and could respond with barks, howls, and body language.
“Hvit,” he called. The wolf turned to answer the call.
“You can go. Nella needs you more than she needs me.”
Hvit barked, acknowledging the boy's request to go to the girl. Without another word, he rose from the ground and ran ahead. William saw his traveling companion sprinting along on her four still-strong legs. Her tail wagged in time with her steps.
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Meanwhile, Nella ran through an area filled with trees and bushes. They obscured the sky and surroundings, blocking out light. Snow covered some branches and leaves, turning the greenery white. And some rocks were covered in ice and snow, making it dangerous to cross.
When the girl turned to look back, hoping she hadn't been followed by her former classmate during her escape, there was nothing there. But unfortunately, a misstep caused her to slip from the top of a small hill, falling onto the partially damp, dirt-covered ground.
Nella was crying over the sudden event. She was still lying face down on the ground. Lifting her face slightly, her cheeks and forehead were partially covered in dirt and scratches. Ahead of her was a fallen tree trunk, large in size and with a large hole at the top, allowing someone her size to hide.
Even though she was in some pain, Nella dragged herself toward the object, using the strength of her hands to pull herself forward. She groaned as her legs felt a little numb and sore. The red cloak was slightly stained with dirt and snow, with some torn edges. But what prevailed was her crying. Nearing the entrance to the trunk, she saw there was enough space to fill it with herself.
Her hands gripped the ends, pulling the rest of her chest down to her legs to enter the trunk. Her partially dirt-stained face was streaming with tears, and her mouth hung open, her teeth clenching tightly. Then, Nella felt the trunk's walls tighten slightly, even though there was a little room as she entered.
“C'mon.” said the girl in her thoughts, dragging her body to the top of the trunk.
Nella climbed a little higher until her feet felt comfortable. Once she did, she made herself comfortable as best she could, despite the difficulties. Fortunately, there was a small hole, allowing air to pass through. And it was at that moment that she gave in to sadness. She brought her legs close to her belly, holding them like a frightened and saddened child. Nella cried as she couldn't stop thinking about the good times she'd spent with William, from the day he'd helped her venture into the forest toward the Great Mother's house, to the hunt for food, to helping her on the bridge, and to making her a tea made from medicinal herbs and roots.
But when the image of the black-furred werewolf and the truth about the boy's nature came to her, tears flowed freely. Then the image of her father came to mind.
“Nella!” called the girl's father in Nella’s memories.
“Daddy!”
“Daughter, whatever happens, I love you more than anything in this world.”
“Daddy! Don't leave me!”
Nella closed her eyes tightly, crying as she tried to call for help from her father, who was now no longer among the living.
“Father! Father, I… I don't want to be alone!” cried the girl in the red cloak, holding her thighs with her hands. “Please don't leave me!”
No answer. Nella was left alone in that cramped corner of a cold, sinister place. No father, no mother nearby, no tribe, no Hvit, no William. There was only her. Her courage was overcome by despair. The Great Journey had become a perilous journey, with no direction left to follow, and there was nothing she could do to change that.
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