Once upon a time, there lived a little girl and her mother in a house by the woods. They were simple people with simple means, and for the most part, they were peaceful. The mother, gray-faced and sullen, was hardworking and practical. She gathered the firewood every chilly, foggy morning to warm the house—a job she had taken over from her late husband. She desired nothing more to live out the rest of her days with her only daughter.
Her daughter, however, dreamt of a world much bigger than their own; a world beyond their austere house and dark woods.
What might this girl's name be, reader?
[[What was her name again?|name]]"Okay," she sighed, and picked up a bundle of sticks.
But always in the back of her mind she wondered what kind of person her grandmother was. Who she might be, and if she could answer her questions.
She was certain she could.
Her grandmother, she imagined, was a wild-haired woman that explored the woods and beyond. She carried with her a machete to hack through the underbrush and had tamed a boar to ride on. She ate strange and exotic foods. She was mythical and great, and every day, the girl's desire to know about her grew.
"Was gramma a great explorer?"
"Was gramma ever married like you?"
"What kinds of food does gramma like?"
"Hush, child," her mother said, "Grandma (text-style: "blur")[Celia] is too dangerous for you to travel to."
//We'll see about that,// thought the girl.
So, in the morning she...
[[Stayed in bed and slept.|sleepIn]]
[[Got up before her mother to leave the house.|wakeUp]]The little girl stayed in bed and slept most of the morning. When she woke up, her mother was tending to the fire.
Another start of another boring day.
She just couldn't get her grandmother out of her head. She had to know what kind of person she was and her mother wouldn't answer her questions!
"Mom, does gramma eat bears?"
To that, her mother thinned her lips and muttered, "she likes wolves better."
"What?"
"Never mind, sweetheart. Come help me with this firewood."
[["Okay."|firewood]]The girl's eyes were open before the sun kissed the horizon. She looked around the room; her mother had already left to gather the firewood. The room was pitch dark save for the glowing embers in the fireplace.
From the wall, she grabbed her deerskin coat and red hood.
From the door, she grabbed a lantern.
And from the counter, she grabbed a basket of fresh-baked bread. Her grandmother might be hungry, she thought.
Bundling herself up tight, she pulled the red hood over her dark hair and stole into the dawn.
[[The morning wore on...|forestStart]]The sun rose from the ground and illuminated patches of light and shadow around her feet. The girl's red cape bobbed in and out of the trees as she trudged through the thick forest.
(live: 3s)[(t8n:"dissolve")[Silence hung heavy in the air.](stop:)]
(live: 4s)[(t8n:"dissolve")[Step.](stop:)]
(live: 5s)[(t8n:"dissolve")[Step.](stop:)]
(live: 6s)[(t8n:"dissolve")[Step.](stop:)]
(live: 7s)[(t8n:"shudder")[//CRACK.//](stop:)]
(live: 8s)[(t8n:"dissolve")[Stop.](stop:)]
(live: 11s)[(t8n:"dissolve")[[[What was that?|lookAround]]](stop:)]The little girl in the red cape spun around, clutching her basket to her chest. She hadn't made that noise.
Silence again.
She began to walk quicker.
(live: 3s)[(t8n:"dissolve")[Step.](stop:)]
(live: 3.5s)[(t8n:"dissolve")[Step.](stop:)]
(live: 4s)[(t8n:"dissolve")[Step.](stop:)]
(live: 4.5s)[(t8n:"dissolve")["Why, hello there, Little Red Riding Hood."](stop:)]
(live: 5.5s)[(t8n:"dissolve")[Stop.](stop:)]
(live: 7s)[(t8n:"dissolve")[[["Who's there?!"|wolf]]](stop:)]Emerging from the shadows was a mottled beast with dark matted fur and stormy amber eyes. When it approached her, it stood on its hind legs, its pink gums peeled in a saccharine smile.
The girl held her lantern out to see its face in the dawn and quickly recoiled.
"Oh, Little Red Riding Hood. Don't be afraid," it growled. "I am but a humble creature who lives in these woods. We don't get many visitors, so I was curious."
"I'm visiting my gramma on the other side of these woods, so please let me be," said the girl.
"Certainly, I wouldn't interfere," laughed Wolf. "I actually know this grandmother of yours."
The girl perked up. "You do?"
"Oh yes..." Wolf looked away, the smile darkening. "She is well-known in these woods."
"Can you tell me, Wolf..."
[["Was gramma a great explorer?"|greatExplorer]]
[["Was gramma ever married?"|married]]
[["What kinds of food does gramma like?"|kindsOfFoods]]"Was gramma a great explorer?"
"Ohh yes. She was," replied Wolf knowingly. "She traveled all over the world when she was young, like you."
The girl smiled, pleased.
"She collected things...(text-style: "blur")[names], mostly," Wolf continued. "She is a witch, you see."
"A wha?"
"A witch. She cast spells with her mighty staff. She traveled all over the world collecting recipes for her potions. But her most important ingredient...was a (text-style: "blur")[name]. For you see, if you know someone's (text-style: "blur")[name], you can cast a spell on them."
"Is that bad?"
Wolf smiled wider. "Depends on what the spell is."
"What about love spells?"
"Oh, definitely those."
The girl sighed, thinking about what it might be like to cast a love spell on someone. She thought about the young dairyman who brought them their milk every Sunday. He was strong and bronzed from carrying milk crates.
She would very much like to cast a spell on him.
"What more would you like to know?" Wolf asked.
[["Was gramma ever married?"|married]]
[["What kinds of food does gramma like?"|kindsOfFoods]]
[["Nothing else."|endConvo]]
"Was gramma ever married?"
Wolf paused, looking uneasy for a moment. "I have heard that she was married to a great hunter who roamed these woods."
"Who was he?" she asked.
Wolf put its paws behind its back in thought.
"I don't know that much about them. Though, rumor has it that they tried to hunt a foul beast in this wood that bit two fingers off. After that, they couldn't use their bow to hunt."
"Oh. That must have made gramma sad."
"So very sad."
[["Was gramma a great explorer?"|greatExplorer]]
[["What kinds of food does gramma like?"|kindsOfFoods]]
[["Nothing else."|endConvo]]"What kinds of food does gramma like?"
Wolf bared its teeth as it inhaled deeply. "I smell a tasty loaf in your basket there. She most certainly likes that."
The girl smiled, happy she made the right choice.
"She also loves all sorts of meats from the forest. Deer, rabbit, squirrel..." Wolf lowered its voice conspiriatorily.
(text-style: "subscript")["I have heard she also likes to eat wolves, too."]
The girl wrinkled her nose. "Ew!"
"I agree. We have very tough meat," said Wolf. "Not so great for eating. But I am certain she will love your bread."
A pause. "Any other questions?"
[["Was gramma a great explorer?"|greatExplorer]]
[["Was gramma ever married?"|married]]
[["Nothing else."|endConvo]]"Nothing else. Thank you for answering my questions!" The girl smiled at her new friend.
"Certainly. Do have fun at your grandmother's," Wolf said. "Except for one thing. Your grandmother loves these forest flowers. It would be a shame to visit her without a bunch, don't you think?"
The little girl looked around. She could see the hills of the forest dyed (colour: "#ff4400")[red] and (colour: "#f29513")[orange] like the sun above with beautiful flowers. Her eyes went wide. How appreciative her gramma would be for fresh baked bread and a gorgeous bouquet!
"I can go ahead to your grandmother's house and let her know that you'll be along..."
"That would be so kind of you!"
"Except...how would she ever believe me?" Wolf wondered. "If I only had something you could give me so she would know it's you..."
"Oh, my cape!" The girl took off her red cape hurriedly and draped it around Wolf's shoulders. "She'll know it's me if you bring her my cape! Let her know that I'll be there soon!"
The wolf smiled.
[["Certainly, Little Red Riding Hood."|pickingFlowers]]The girl stuffed flowers small and large into her pockets.
This one, a (colour: "#ff4400")[red azaelea.]
This one, an (colour: "#f29513")[orange wildflower.]
This one, a (colour: "#f2cd13")[yellow daffodil.]
Soon, her pockets were shining bright.
The bread was beginning to cool.
The sun was beginning to set.
"It's getting dark. I should hurry to gramma's," she whispered to herself as she used her hair ribbon to tie off the bouquet.
She followed the stream onwards, hoping it would lead her out of the darkening woods.
[[And the night wore on...|house]]She ran and ran and ran through the woods, as the sun in the west slipped underneath the horizon.
It wasn't long before she came to a house overcome with ivy.
The windows were shuttered, but there was a warm glow of fire within the house. The roof shingles were worn and peeling; some reflected the last rays of the sun as it completely disappeared.
Holding her bread basket and lamp in one hand and the flowers in the other, the girl approached the door and knocked softly.
(live: 5s)[(t8n:"dissolve")["Gramma?"](stop:)]
(live: 6s)[(t8n:"dissolve")[No response.](stop:)]
(live: 6.5s)[(t8n:"dissolve")["Gramma?"](stop:)]
(live: 7s)[(t8n:"shudder")[(text-rotate:15)[CRASH.]](stop:)]
(live: 8s)[(t8n:"dissolve")["Gramma!" she cried as she [[pushed the door open.|enterHouse]]](stop:)]Upon entering the house, she encountered a terrifying sight.
There was blood on the floor.
A woman with silver hair tied in a bun, apron stained with dirt and blood was locked in combat with Wolf. Wolf's eyes were glowing with ire and their lips were pulled back into a snarl as it was latched onto the woman's arm. She had a knife buried deep into Wolf's side and was pressing it deeper.
"Gramma!?" yelped the girl. "Wolf?!"
The bouquet and the bread dropped to the floor.
"Dear child!" the old woman gasped. She pulled away for a brief moment when she heard the child. "What are you doing here?"
"Little Red Riding Hood!" Wolf doubled over, holding a mangled paw to the knife wound. "Help me! She attacked me when she saw me in your red coat."
"Do not let this wolf trick you," said the old woman. "It planned on killing me first and then eating you. It is cunning. Please, hand me my staff on the wall and I will rid us of this menacing beast."
"No!" cried Wolf. "Please save me. Break the staff in half. That is the source of her power. She cannot hurt me if you break it."
The girl looked from her grandmother to the wolf, and to the wolf from her grandmother.
Taking a deep breath, she...
[[...handed her grandmother the staff.|grandmaWins]]
[[...took the staff and broke it in two.|grandmaLoses]]Taking a deep breath, she took the staff and broke it in two. Brilliant shards of blue scattered across the ground, incinerating the blossoms she worked so hard to pick.
"No!" cried her grandmother. "What have you done!?"
As the shards dissipated, Wolf's body began to glow.
Cracks began to appear in its pelt, shining with a bright light.
The shimmering layers peeled away slowly and revealed...
A human.
A human with two missing fingers.
She was tall and broad-shouldered and wore a wolfskin jacket. A long oaken staff was strapped to her back. Her hair was pulled back into a silvery braid, and her dark amber eyes watched the two of them intently.
[["W-wolf?" the girl gasped.|hunterEnding]]Taking a deep breath, she handed her grandmother the staff.
"Thank you, child," her grandmother smiled at her as she raised the staff at Wolf.
"No!!" Wolf shouted.
"Goodbye (text-style: "blur")[Sarah]," she said as a crackling orb of energy shot from the tip of the staff into Wolf.
The little girl shrieked as Wolf caught aflame. Wolf let out a long, sorrowful howl as its body was engulfed in flames. As the flickering body of Wolf fell to the ground and the flames extinguished themselves, her grandmother looked back to her and smiled mirthlessly.
[["Thank you, sweet child."|redEnding]]Wolf smiled at the little girl. "Thank you Little Red Riding Hood," she said. "For freeing me from your grandmother's spell."
"What...happened to you?" asked the girl.
Wolf gestured to her grandmother who was stepping backwards, glancing hurriedly from side-to-side.
"We met many years ago. She told me her name was (text-style: "outline")[Inés]. I believed her. I became fond of her; she became fond of my hunting. At the time, I mistook that for love."
Wolf curled her lip in a snarl.
"The day I lost my fingers was the worst. I was out in the woods hunting when it happened. I had shot a wolf and it turned on me. I tried to use my bow after that, but it was no use. I had lost the precision that I had, and so we went without meat for the longest time. Eventually, (text-style: "outline")[Inés] told me that she had no use for a useless hunter and told me to go back to the forest from which I came. I refused. That was how I became a wolf."
Wolf continued, eyes burning with anger.
"I began to practice witchcraft myself to reverse the spell. I never was as good as (text-style: "outline")[Inés]. But I did learn one spell that I tried to cast. That was when I found out that your grandmother was a liar."
"(text-style: "blur")[Sarah], I was only trying to protect myself—it was a mistake," the grandmother said. "Please forgive me—"
"Your real name!" (text-style: "blur")[Sarah] boomed. "Tell me what your real name is."
"Not when you're angry—"
"Then I shall ask your kin." (text-style: "blur")[Sarah] turned to the little girl, lacing her remaining fingers together. "Little Red Riding Hood—what is your grandmother's name?"
(text-rotate:-20)[[[What was her name again?|hunterEndingStay]]]The little girl's eyes filled with tears at the sight of her grandmother standing over the charred body of Wolf.
"Gramma...//why//?" she asked softly.
"She was trying to kill me," her grandmother said, wiping her hands of blood. "I defended myself."
//"She?"// the girl looked at her incredulously. "Gramma... what //are// you?"
"Best not let this good meat go to waste." She ignored her question and set to setting the table—china, crystal, silver. "She'll go well with the bread you brought, my dear."
"W..what?"
"But tell me, dear. In my old age, I seem to have forgotten my own granddaughter's name. Be a sweetheart and remind me..."
(text-rotate:20)[What was your name again?"]
(text-rotate:-20)[[[What was her name again?->redEndingStay]]](set: $toldName to (prompt: "What was her name again?"))
(if: $toldName is $name)["(text-style: "blur")[$toldName]," the little girl said softly. "I can't believe you didn't remem—"
She was interrupted by her grandmother's cold laughter. A shiver ran down her spine as her grandmother turned slowly around. Though her hands gripping her staff were wrinkled, the skin on her face was strangely smooth and youthful.
"Oh, (text-style: "blur")[$toldName]. I'm so glad. You're such a good, good child."
(text-rotate:20)[(text-style: "blur")[$name] stepped backwards towards the door,] (text-rotate:20)[but her grandmother raised her staff] (text-rotate:20)[before she could get to the door handle and aimed it at her.]
(live: 6s)[(t8n:"shudder")[Pain.](stop:)]
(live: 7s)[(t8n:"dissolve")[Burning.](stop:)]
(live: 8s)[(t8n:"shudder")[Pain.](stop:)]
(live: 9s)[(t8n:"dissolve")[The smell of fur.](stop:)]
(live: 10s)(text-rotate:180)[[[Pain.|redEndingStay2]](stop:)]]
(else:)["(text-style: "outline")[$toldName]," said the little girl in a soft voice.
The staff crackled and then fizzled out.
(live: 3s)[(t8n:"dissolve")[//What?//](stop:)]
(live: 5s)[(t8n:"dissolve")[Oh, //child.//](stop:)]
(live: 8s)[(t8n:"dissolve")[Don't lie to me.](stop:)]
(live: 10s)[(t8n:"dissolve")[That's not your (text-rotate:20)[real name.]](stop:)]
(live: 12s)[(t8n:"dissolve")[Though her hands gripping her staff were wrinkled, the skin on her grandmother's face was strangely smooth and youthful.
Her eyes widened as she remembered Wolf--
(text-rotate:10)[//"...I have heard she also likes to eat wolves, too..."//]
She backed away as she held her lantern out in front of her, shaking it menacingly.
"You were trying to turn me into a wolf and then eat me!" she cried, backing away. Her grandmother advanced on her, baring her sharp teeth. "Come here, little child. Just (text-rotate:-20)[one more] and I can return to..." she slid her fingers across her cheek, marveling at the smoothness. (text-rotate:-20)["Just one more..."]
"You're not my grandmother!"
The girl flew open the door and [[ran into the night.|redEndingLeave2]]]](stop:)](set: $toldName to (prompt: "What was her name again?"))
(if: $toldName is "Celia")["(text-style: "blur")[Celia]," the little girl said softly. "My mamma told me her name is (text-style: "blur")[Gramma Celia]."
"You stupid child!" Grandma (text-style: "blur")[Celia] cursed. "Why would you tell her—"
(text-style: "blur")[Sarah] smiled, sliding her staff out from behind her. Celia shrank even more against the wall, waiting for the spell.
But it didn't come.
"Let this be a warning to you, (text-style: "blur")[Celia]," (text-style: "blur")[Sarah] said dangerously, pointing her staff at her while walking towards the door. "I know your name now. I have everything I need."
Little Red Riding Hood picked up her basket, giving a sad look towards her grandmother. She had hoped she was better. More kind. More loving the way she imagined a grandmother ought to be.
She felt a warm hand on her shoulder and looked up to see (text-style: "blur")[Sarah] smiling at her.
"Come, Little Red Riding Hood," she said. "That delicious loaf of yours shouldn't go to waste."
She wrapped her fingers around (text-style: "blur")[Sarah's] and smiled right back. "I would like that, Gramma (text-style: "blur")[Sarah]."
END
[[**play again?**|intro]]]
(else:)["(text-style: "outline")[$toldName]," said the little girl softly. "It's fake anyway. I won't let you hurt her."
(text-style: "blur")[Sarah's] bright eyes darkened as she looked angrily at the girl. "Then leave. Your grandmother and I have some unfinished business we need to take care of."
"But (text-style: "outline")[Wolf]—"
"THAT IS NOT MY NAME! NEVER CALL ME BY THAT NAME AGAIN!" (text-style: "blur")[Sarah] shouted, pulling her staff out and swinging it at the girl. The little girl yelped and scurried towards the door.
Her grandmother, who was beside the door, grabbed the girl's lantern that she had been clutching to her chest and flung it at (text-style: "blur")[Sarah], showering her with curtains of flame.
(text-style: "blur")[Sarah] howled in pain as the room was caught ablaze.
Terrified, (text-style: "blur")[$name] ran out into the [[cold, dark night.|hunterEndingLeave2]]]She eventually found her way back to her mother's house. Her face was gaunt and her belly crying for food as she knocked on the house, her face mud and tear-stained.
Her mother began to cry when she saw her, wrapping her in a warm hug. She smelled like warm bread.
"Oh (text-style: "blur")[$name]," she sobbed, "I was so worried about you."
"I saw Gramma (text-style: "blur")[Celia]," (text-style: "blur")[$name] said dully. "She wasn't...what I expected her to be."
Her mother frowned as she wrapped her in a warm blanket and brought her some bread and soup. "Yes, I...knew. She and I never got along, but (text-style: "blur")[Ethan] loved spells like his mother."
(text-style: "blur")[$name] gnawed numbly on her bread. So her father was a witch, too.
"Is that how he—" she started.
Her mother nodded sadly. "Magic doesn't bring us any good, (text-style: "blur")[$name]. Remember that."
Every morning, she got up with her mother to collect firewood, and, sometimes, she would walk to the charred remains of her grandmother's house. She brought a loaf of bread to eat and pick through her grandmother's things—a hairbrush, a mirror, a figurine.
One day, she found the charred ends of the broken staff. It glowed faintly with remaining magic. Though it looked badly burned, (text-style:"smear")[it looked like it could still be repaired.]
Silently, she hid the remains of the staff into her coat.
(text-rotate:45)[END]
[[**play again?**|intro]]Her mother searched from dawn to dusk every day but was not able to find her daughter.
One day, while walking out in the woods, she found a skeleton of a wolf shrouded in a red cape and she knew. Eyes red and tired for crying, she fell down to her knees and wept once more, her body shaking with sobs.
She kneeled down and wrapped a bone of the wolf in the red cape, clutching it to her chest.
When she returned home, she buried the cape and bone in front of the house. The next day, when she woke up to gather firewood, she was surprised to find the hill where the house stood covered in (live: 6s)[(t8n:"dissolve")[(colour: "#c40d0d")[red azaeleas,] ](stop:)](live: 7s)[(t8n:"dissolve")[(colour: "#f29513")[orange wildflowers,] ](stop:)](live: 8s)[(t8n:"dissolve")[(colour: "#f2cd13")[and yellow daffodils.]](stop:)]
(live: 9s)[(t8n:"dissolve")[Her eyes filled with tears at the sight.
(text-rotate:180)[END]
[[**play again?**|intro]]](stop:)]She eventually found her way back to her mother's house. Her face was gaunt and her belly crying for food as she knocked on the house, her face mud and tear-stained.
Her mother began to cry when she saw her, wrapping her in a warm hug. She smelled like warm bread.
"Oh (text-style: "blur")[$name]," she sobbed, "I was so worried about you."
"I saw Gramma (text-style: "blur")[Celia]," (text-style: "blur")[$name] said dully. "I found out something terrible about her."
"That she eats wolves?"
"No, that the wolves were people."
The day after, her mother had packed up all of their meager belongings into three tattered suitcases. She said they were moving into town. That it would be more expensive, but she felt like the woods weren't healthy for her daughter. That maybe the woods weren't good for her daughter any more.
"Magic doesn't bring us any good, (text-style: "blur")[$name]. Remember that," her mother said while hoisting the suitcases above them.
(text-style: "blur")[$name] watched the forest recede from the frost-caked window. She vowed that never again would she deal with magic. That it could change a person into the unexpected and twisted.
She could see in the distance, a little house with puffs of smoke, lit aflame.
(text-rotate:45)[END]
[[**play again?**|intro]](set: $name to (prompt: "What was her name again?"))
Yes, that's right. Her name is (text-style: "blur")[$name].
While helping her mother mend the tattered curtains of the house, (text-style: "blur")[$name] would ask her mother,
"Mom, what makes the rivers run?"
"Mom, have you ever seen a talking animal?"
"Mom, is there something on the other side of these woods?"
To the last question, her mother would only reply, "Your grandmother lives on the other side."
When she asked her mother who her grandmother was and what kind of life she led, her mother would only shake her head.
"Come help me with this firewood," she said.
[["Okay."|firewood]]