[Red's POV]
First left, then right, then straight ahead, keep walking until you see the tree with the fallen branches, okay now make a turn here, take five more steps and then- the young girl in the red hooded cape stopped in her tracks. She could not recall the next of her mother's directions. She looked ahead, sideways, and then spun around to see if she'd made a wrong turn along the way, but as far as she could tell that was not the case.
Everything looks the same, she thought.
Red, as she was called, was a young girl of only fourteen. She lived in a small village with her mother where life was far from lively, but not necessarily dull. The villagers were nice enough and not many were starving, but it was a modest little place and certainly nothing to brag about.
Sometimes Red would go out into the woods alone when the sun had gone down and it was difficult to tell what anything was. She didn't know exactly what it was she was looking for, but there was always a sense of hope inside her that one day she'd find something exciting. Granny always shook her head in disapproval when Red's mother informed her of all the things Red would get herself into.
"Never go out looking for trouble," the old woman would say, "it will only ever find you once you stop searching for it."
A part of Red knew her grandmother was right, but she was too young and restless to heed her granny's advice. There'd be plenty of time for being cautious later when her skin began to sag and her bones weakened.
Thinking of Granny reminded Red of her current predicament. She'd been on her way to visit her grandmother, bringing a basket of freshly picked fruits and a note from her mother, until her memory had failed her.
It was the first time her mother had sent her off to Granny's by herself and Red did not want her mother to think she had made a mistake in letting her walk there on her own.
Well I can't just stand here forever, she though.
And so she kept walking, straight ahead, looking for any sign of familiarity she could find to assure her that she was on the right path.
It was a nice day, Red gathered. The sky was clear and the temperature warm. She was looking forward to seeing her Granny. It had been at least seven days since her last visit. At the time Granny was fighting a fever, but she recovered quickly enough with the help of Red's mother and her special vegetable stew. Red often wondered what it was that made the stew so special but her mother would simply smile at her and continue to stir the pot.
Red continued walking and walking until suddenly she came across a wooden sign that pointed left. The word "village" had been carved on it. Recognizing the sign with a look of the purest relief, Red turned left. She began skipping for joy that she had finally found the right way to go.
Mother will be proud, she grinned to herself.
But when she reached the end of the path she was greeted by an unfamiliar sight.
Hidden behind an unsightly briar patch stood a tiny cottage with brown patches of hay for a roof, a wooden door that seemed to have been partly devoured by insects, and an old chimney missing several few stones.
Maybe I can ask for directions, Red figured.
She walked towards the cottage; basket swinging from the elbow of her right arm, and proceeded to gently knock on the door for fear that it would collapse if she hit it too hard.
When the door slowly creaked open it revealed the face of a haggard woman short of stature, grey of hair, and black of eye. The woman smiled revealing crooked yellow teeth and releasing the foulest odor Red had ever inhaled.
"Come in child, come in," she croaked.
Red complied.
"It looks as though you are off to visit someone," said the elderly woman as she closed the door behind her and signaled for Red to take a seat at the circular wooden table by the kitchen.
"I am," the girl nodded, "but I got lost. I was hoping you could help me find the way to my grandmother's."
"Of course I can, child."
Red smiled.
"But before I do that, I wonder if you could help me with something as well," said the hag.
"Sure, what do you need me to do?" asked Red feeling rather important for being asked to be of service to someone older than her.
"Would you be so kind as to cook me a delicious pot of vegetable stew?"
