Gadge retell of "Little Red Riding Hood"
Madge wandered into the forest. The shadows always compelled her to wander off the path, deeper into the unknown. Her brown boots laced to perfection and crisp dark purple socks caught on the brambles. She fixed her red cape, pulling the loose hood over her wild blonde hair.
She came to the stone bridge. The river lapped at the edges and the ducks squawked in the little sunlight. Her fingers traced the large stones as she crossed and she peaked up at the blue sky shining through the trees.
The dirt path was narrow and curved around the old oak trees and pines that surrounded her. She clutched at her basket full of buns and pastries from the bakery in town. The black ribbon in her hair was coming loose and she stopped to tie it up again.
She let the hood go limp against her back. The crunching of twigs, stopped her from reaching the basket in front of her. She glanced behind her, unsure of where the noise had come from.
"Hello?" She called out and picked up her basket, clutching it to her rib cage. The blonde pressed on, now checking her surroundings with a kind of paranoia. Her dress twirled around her knees as she stepped over logs fallen over the path.
Another noise snapped out of the shadows around her. Madge's ponytail flung over her shoulder as she tried to peer through the darkness that flooded around the trees. "Is anybody there?" She called, and her basket scratched against her arm as it left the crook of her elbow.
She pulled on her hair, bringing the ponytail back to where it had been resting before. Now, Madge kept her eyes on the ground. She picked up her pace and tried to keep her breathing even and calm. She entered a clearing and was thankful for the bright blue sky and sparkling sun.
As she was looking away from the feathery white clouds, she noticed a displacement in front of her. The bushes were pushed aside. She went to turn back. Her heart was racing with the feeling of someone watching her.
"Hello there..." She squealed. The deep male voice behind her, made her skin crawl and her feet to leave the ground. "I'm truly sorry I frightened you." She turned, unsure of what she expected to find. A towering mass of black and gray furred chest faced her.
It rose and fell with heavy breathing. The creature's legs were skinny and jaggedly bony. The fur travelled from the protruding chest down the rest of the torso and along the legs. Her eyes couldn't stay in one place. "What are you?" She whispered and finally met the eyes of the creature.
The eyes were large and dark with flecks of gold that reflected off the sun overhead. "A wolf," Madge took a look at the long sharp teeth that gleamed inside his mouth and the long red tongue that salivated his mouth.
"Why were you following me?" She asked, straightening her shoulders and extending her neck. His tall ears twitched and he pulled back his lips to smile. It looked more like he was ready to snarl. His claws dug into the dirt as he hunched over, smelling the plaid cloth over the basket.
"I could smell something delicious coming my way." He reached over the basket to feel the fabric of her dress between two fingers. Madge stumbled back, out of his grasp. "I had to figure out what it was." He said and stood, once again, casting his shadow over her.
"They're for my grandmother." She said, keeping her voice calm. "I always bring her goodies."
"Do you now... where does your grandmother live?" He asked and dropped down to be eye to eye with the blonde. "Wouldn't want her precious granddaughter to be lost." He said, his breath sending Goosebumps down her skin.
"She doesn't live far from here. Just through the woods and into the meadow. I know the way, I really must be going." She took off in a hurry, bursting into the trees and running down the path. She checked behind her ever so often. Just praying that the animal wasn't following her.
Madge stopped on a log. She buried her face in her hands and let herself catch her breath. She checked the contents of the basket. All of her pastries and buns were in place and still warm from the morning. She took her time now, weaving along the path.
The surroundings were starting to become familiar and flowers were starting to appear around the trees. She gained a bounce in her step as she came out of the tree line and into a garden. A long wooden fence and gate stood in front of her. It was the perimeter of the house.
The house itself was a large log cabin. Steam rose from the stone chimney and the vegetable patch looked vibrant and successful. Madge unlocked the gate and the bell chimed on it as she opened it. She walked slowly to the backdoor.
It was open slightly and Madge looked around for a second. She knocked and opened the door all the way. The house was warm but the only light was coming through the small windows. "Grandma?" Madge called out and set her basket on the kitchen table.
"In the bedroom." Her voice was unfamiliar to Madge.
"Do you have a cold?" She asked as she wandered over to the bedroom door.
"No, why do you ask?" Madge grabbed hold of the door knob and entered.
"No reason." She muttered. Her grandmother was lying back in bed. Her hands were under the quilt and her hair was covered by a lace cap. "I brought you some things from the bakery." Madge said approaching the bed.
"That's very nice of you, dear." Madge was sent back by the image of her grandmother.
"Why grandmother!" She cried, "what big arms you have." She was amazed that the fabric on her body was being tested so.
"The better to hug you..." Her grandmother trailed off and uncovered her hands from the sheets, showing her a loving embrace. She turned her legs towards Madge.
"Oh and what large legs you have!"
"All the better to run around the garden," Her grandmother said looking out the window. The cap was open on the side and her grandmother's ears were exposed.
"Grandma, what big ears you have," Madge said and placed a hand on her chest.
"Better to hear your stories," Her grandmother leaned forward towards her.
"What big... eyes you have, grandmother." Madge whispered, starring at the black and gold eyes.
"Better to see your pretty face with, my child." Her grandmother's lips pulled back in a smile.
"Grandmother, what big teeth you got!" Madge cried out and pressed herself against the wall behind her.
"... all the better to eat you with." The wolf stood up from the bed, ripping the clothes off his body. Madge scurried from the wall and over to the window. "You can't go far." The wolf snarled, leaning forward on his haunches.
"What have you done with my grandmother?" Madge cried out, hoping to buy time. She stumbled towards the door.
"I ate her." The wolf said as if it were obvious. He launched himself at her.
"Leave me alone!" Madge pulled open the door and slammed it in the wolf's face. She stumbled across the ground and out the open back door to the garden. She got to the gate and swung it open.
"I heard screaming!" Someone called out to her. Madge turned to come face to face with a tall man. His dark hair was glowing under the sun, his arms were buff as he held up a large axe.
"There's a wolf." Madge explained, as she gestured to the house. "He killed my grandmother and now he's after me!"
"I'll take care of it." The man ran past her through the gate and into the house. Madge left the yard and wandered over to the shelter of the trees. Her cape draped around her as she sat down in the grass and her mind raced with all the previous events.
"I had run into him before." Madge said later when the young man returned. He offered her hand. Madge's hand molded with hers as he brought her up to his chest.
"The wolf?" The man asked again.
"He kept asking questions. I unfortunately answered every one." Madge muttered as she swooned to the musky sweet smell of the person in front of her.
"That's why he was here." Madge nodded and tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry." He said.
"It was my fault..." She said softly and drifted away towards the trees. "Thank you for, uh, saving me." She offered a shy smile and looked up into the man's grey eyes.
"I'm Gale, and you're welcome."
"Madge." She smiled and looked down at her boots. "So is it... dead?"
"Yeah, I took care of it." Gale nodded and reached out taking her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you." He kissed her hand and smiled. Madge blushed and looked away quickly. "Would it be alright to make you dinner. So you can- calm your nerves?" Madge blushed again.
"Of course, thank you."