Chereads / VILLAINOUS VOICES: CLASSIC TALES RETOLD / Chapter 2 - THE WOLF WITH A GRUDGE

Chapter 2 - THE WOLF WITH A GRUDGE

 The Little Red Riding Hood. Such a curious little morsel she was, skipping through the sun dappled woods with her basket and her naive trust. But let me paint you a different picture, a glimpse into the world not through those wide, innocent eyes, but through my own amber gaze. I am the Wolf, the creature of the forest, the one cast as villain in this age-old tale.

My world is one of primal instincts, of survival honed to a razor's edge. The scent of prey hangs heavy in the air, a constant symphony guiding my every step. And on that fateful day, a melody sweeter than berries and cream drifted on the breeze – the scent of Little Red.

She was a flash of scarlet against the emerald canvas, her laughter echoing through the silent trees. I watched, captivated, as she skipped along the dusty path, humming a merry tune. My hunger, a gnawing beast within, awakened, but something else stirred too – a curiosity, a fascination with this fragile creature who dared to venture into my domain.

The woods, you see, are not the idyllic playground fairy tales paint them to be. They are a crucible of life and death, where shadows lengthen and danger lurks behind every rustling leaf. I knew the path Little Red walked, knew the dangers that awaited – the sly fox, the watchful owl, the thorny brambles that could tear flesh as easily as teeth.

So, I followed, not as a predator, but as a guardian of sorts. From a distance, I watched her skip past the slumbering badger, navigate the treacherous ravine, her bright hood a beacon in the deepening gloom. When the old woodsman, gnarled as an ancient oak, offered her a ride, I growled a low warning, a tremor in the earth that sent shivers down his spine. He scurried away, leaving Little Red to continue on her way.

The grandmother's cottage, nestled amongst the twisted branches, seemed a haven of warmth and light. But I knew better. The air hung heavy with a different scent here, not the cloying sweetness of baking bread, but the metallic tang of blood. It was then I realized the true villain of this tale wasn't me, the creature of the forest, but the one who wore the guise of innocence, who lured unsuspecting travellers to their doom.

I burst into the cottage, not to devour, but to expose. The scene that greeted me was one of grotesque parody – the wolf in grandmother's nightgown, snoring in the rocking chair, Little Red wide-eyed with terror. With a snarl that split the air, I tore off the flimsy disguise, revealing the monstrous truth beneath.

And then, the woodsman. Bursting through the door, axe raised high, he saw not the saviour of Little Red, but the beast of legend. The fight was swift, brutal, a dance of fangs and steel bathed in the flickering firelight. I won, of course, the woodsman's lifeless form slumped against the wall. But victory tasted like ashes in my mouth.

Little Red, her scarlet cloak-stained crimson, huddled in the corner, her trust shattered. And in her eyes, I saw not gratitude, but fear, a stark reflection of the monster the world had painted me to be. I retreated into the shadows, the woods swallowing my shame. For you see, dear listener, the true villain of this tale is not the one with fangs and fur, but the one who wears the mask of kindness, the one who preys on innocence with honeyed words and a smile.

I am the Wolf, yes, but I am also the protector, the one who exposed the true darkness in the heart of the woods. And in the haunted silence of the forest, I howl my lament, a melody not of hunger, but of a world where even the monsters yearn for something more than fear and misunderstanding.

The forest floor, stained crimson beneath the dying embers of the cottage fire, stretched before me like a macabre carpet. Little Red, her red cloak now a shroud of sorrow, huddled in the corner, eyes wide with a primal fear that mirrored the gnawing guilt in my own gut. I had become the monster – the very thing the villagers whispered about in hushed tones around crackling fires.

But was I?

A low whine escaped my throat, a mournful echo through the silent trees. The woods, once my sanctuary, now felt like a cage, the rustling leaves like whispers of scorn. Had I truly saved Little Red, or merely traded one wolf for another? The scent of woodsmoke still hung heavy in the air, acrid and bitter, a constant reminder of the carnage I had wrought.

Days bled into nights, the silence broken only by the mournful cry of owls and the rustle of unseen creatures. Little Red, a ghost in her crimson cloak, haunted the ruins of the cottage, a constant reminder of my transgression. Hunger gnawed at my belly, a familiar ache, but a new pang, something akin to remorse, gnawed at my soul.

One moonlit night, driven by a primal need for understanding, I sought out the one who truly understood the ways of the forest – the ancient oak, its gnarled branches clawing at the star-dusted sky. Beneath its whispering leaves, I laid bare my burden, the weight of the world pressing down on my fur. The oak, wise as the mountains, listened with the patience of ages. Its voice, a rustling symphony of leaves, spoke of balance, of the predator and the prey, of the dance of life and death that played out under the watchful gaze of the moon.

It spoke of the darkness that lurks within all hearts, human and beast alike, and the thin line that separates the protector from the monster. Its words washed over me, a balm to my wounded soul. I was not merely a beast, driven by instinct. I was the guardian of the forest, the balance in the delicate dance of life. And even monsters, the oak whispered, could choose their path.

With newfound resolve, I left the oak, the weight of guilt lifting from my shoulders. Little Red was still there, a fragile ember in the ashes, but in her eyes, I saw a flicker of something else – not fear, but a glimmer of understanding. Perhaps, in the shadows of the tragedy, a bond had been forged, a shared understanding of the darkness that lurks within us all.

The forest, my domain, awaited. My path still stretched before me, shrouded in mist and moonlight. But I walked it no longer as a hunted beast, but as the guardian, the one who danced with the shadows, the Wolf who walked the line between predator and protector. And in the depths of my amber gaze, a spark of hope flickered, a promise that even in the darkest of woods, redemption could bloom.

The tale of the Wolf and Little Red may forever be etched in the memory of men, a cautionary rhyme sung around crackling fires. But beneath the surface of the story, in the rustling leaves and the howling wind, lies a deeper truth – a truth about the darkness that dwells within us all, and the choices we make in the face of it. For even in the heart of a monster, a flicker of light can shine, a testament to the resilience of the spirit, and the hope for redemption that whispers on the wind.