Little Red Cap
(From the Point of View of the Wolf)
by Radha Class 7X
“Father, what has taken you so long?” I asked.
My little self was wagging my tail excited for my father’s arrival. He didn’t reply but something was in between his jaws, preventing him from speaking. He spat it out. Spat out something I’ve never seen before—a long, thick, meaty stick with five sausage-like shapes at the end.
“Try it son.”
I sniffed the peculiar meat before me. It had a delicious, yet strong odor that filled my nostrils like heatwaves.
“What is it?”
“Human flesh. The best flesh you can ever taste. Difficult to obtain too,” father said proudly.
I took a lick and then a bite. It was…sensational! Nothing like I had ever tasted before! It was so tender and full of layers. Since then my father would try to bring us human flesh once a month if he could. One day, however, on a hunt for our next special meal he never came back.
***
Those were the good old days. Once you’ve tried human flesh you could never go back. I went from a feeble little pup to one of the most powerful wolves to roam these woods. I went from a wolf loved by many to a nobody. Humans take away everything. I’ve come to find the hunter that slaughtered my father but I haven’t avenged him yet. I will soon though (watch me). Many of my relatives lost their lives due to those wretched humans except my brother whose unfortunate fate proceeded from three little pigs.
I prowled the woods with the craving for human flesh still lingering in my bones. Flowers and berries were no good in these empty green woods, neither does anything in my damp, dark cave can fill my satisfaction. I’ve been so alone.
While slowly losing hope (again) I heard the sound of twigs cracking. Footsteps. Human footsteps. My eyes scanned through the thorny bramble and spotted…a little girl! Her dress was the color of blood making my desire for human flesh unbearable. She looked so soft and tender and was carrying a basket of delicious cakes (what a bonus)!
I fought the primal instinct to just pounce and attack but instead decided to lure her in. I knew who this little girl was. Oh yes, I knew. With that face that I’ve seen way too many times in the village. That was the pup of that cruel human who shot and skinned my wife and children. Anger coursed through my body at the thought. This was a more than perfect opportunity to pay the price!
Carefully, I made my way toward her.
“Good morning child.”
“Why, hello there. I’m Little Red-Cap,” the girl responded timidly.
Ah…so that’s what they called her. How pathetic.
“Where might you be going, Little Red-Cap?” I asked politely.
“To my grandmother’s house! She’s been incredibly ill. I’m bringing her cakes and whine in hopes that these will strengthen her,” she replied enthusiastically.
“How sweet and thoughtful of you.”
Something flashed in my head like the speed of light. An idea popped into my head just like a soda can. If I knew where the poor old grandmother lived I could get my revenge and two meals in one day. I could avenge my wife and satisfy this burning hunger. What a win-win situation!
“Where does Grandmother live, Little Red-Cap?” I questioned.
“She lives a quarter-of-an-hour’s walk from here, under the three big oak trees. Her house has hazel edges near it. I’m sure you know it.”
This little girl was so gullible that all I could think of was her tragic fate. I accompanied Little Red-Cap and after talking for a while confirmed that she really was the daughter of that wicked hunter that took my life away from me.
“Look, Little Red-Cap. Open your eyes and see! There are beautiful flowers all around us of all kinds! Colorful roses, lilies, and daffodils galore! Run along and collect some and I’m sure Grandmother will be very pleased.” I suggested.
“Oh, you’re absolutely right! Thank you!”
My eyes watched Little Red-Cap run along to collect flowers. Each flower she plucked would be more beautiful than the previous one. However the more beautiful the flower…the deeper she went into the woods.
I spotted the house of Grandmother and a part of me pitied the foolish innocence of Little Red-Cap. However, a wolf’s got to do what a wolf’s got to do. I knocked on the door of the house with the hazel edges.
“Who’s there?” asked the weak voice of Grandmother.
“Little Red-Cap!” I replied while imitating a child’s voice.
Imitating voices was something I trained myself to do for a long time. It is one of the most useful skills for hunting.
“Lift the latch. I’m too feeble to get up,” croaked out, Grandmother.
So I did. Immediately, I punched and gobbled up poor old Grandmother. I put on her glasses and nightgown before crawling onto the bed waiting for Little Red-Cap.
A few minutes went by until Little Red-Cap finally arrived. Her face scrunched up into suspicion at the sight of me.
“Oh, grandmother, what big ears you have!”
“All the better to hear you with my dear.”
“Oh, Grandmother, what big eyes you have!”
“All the better to see you with my dear.”
“Oh, Grandmother, what big hands you have!”
“All the better to touch you with my dear.”
“Oh, Grandmother, what big teeth you have!”
“The better to EAT YOU!”
As soon as the words dripped from my lips I leaped towards Little Red-Cap. The last sound she made was terrible screams until I gobbled her up. After so many years I was finally satisfied. After so much waiting my stomach was full at last. My eyes drooped with tiredness and I quickly was whisked away into a dream.
“I’m going to go out with the pups. I’ll see you tonight,” my wife told me.
“I can’t wait to go out!” Whinney, our eldest pup exclaimed.
“Me too! Who knows we might find something. A dear perhaps!” Hanson, our second pup barked.
“We can see who’s the best hunter! But we all know it’s me!” Grey, our last pup said confidently.
“No! The best hunter is obviously me!” Whinney retorted.
“Nuh-uh. You both wish! I’m the best hunter here!” Hanson remarked.
“Settle now…you all are great hunters,” my wife said.
“You all are my pups, I have hopes you will do great,” I assured.
I looked up at my wife.
“Maze…be careful now. The woods are getting more and more dangerous. You are aware of those human hunters.”
“Don’t worry Wayne we’ll be alright. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
With that, she left. Left and didn’t come back for a long time. The sky was already dark and worry grew inside of me like weeds.
“Sir! Sir!” My fellow wolf screamed in panic.
His fur was disheveled, eyes dilated, with a panicked expression.
“There is something that you need to see!”
He lead me to an area of the woods where fire lit free. The laughter of men echoed through the woods while they drank in a manic frenzy.
“Congratulations to you!” one of the men sang.
All of the men’s attention seemed to circle around one proud-looking man in particular. That’s when I realized. No. It couldn’t be! My wife and pups were skinned and dead at the foot of a monstrous man with a sinister-like grin, holding a fiery weapon that killed any creature in just a second. I wanted to attack and rip his body to shreds but I couldn’t risk it. There were too many of them and all carried the same fiery weapon that defeated even the most powerful of animals.
That was the day that marked the end of all the love and happiness in my life. My pups that were so eager to become hunters became the hunted instead and way too soon too. My wife didn’t deserve the fate she received. Oh, why? Why did I let her go that day?
My eyes fluttered open and the moment I woke up an unbearable, heavy pain gnawed in my stomach. I felt like I couldn’t breathe and I felt like an elephant was stepping on my stomach repeatedly. It hurt so much I wanted to die. Howls of pain escaped my throat as I well onto the cold, hard floor. I saw a huge, grinning man and I recognized who it was. The man that killed my father. The first person I cared about was taken away from me by these monsters.
His grin widened at the sight of me in pain.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment,” that was all he said.
A heavy rock was resting in his hand and I knew that this was the end of me. Rocks in my stomach. That evil creature did this to me! I thought about many things at once. My wife, my pups, my father, hunters, and my life. All of this came crashing down on me just like the huge rock that crashed into my head; taking me away to sweet, sweet death. I would see everyone I loved again.
That is the story of how I lived and how I died. My life came to an end because of the real monsters. I would leave this earth with the same fate as so many wolves before me and it came to an end with a little girl called Little Red-Cap.
The End