Week 5 Story: Bride and Wolf
Once upon a time, there was a man that believed heavily in fate. He believed so much so that his life seemed to depend on it. The man had positive experiences with fate, and he assumed that meant he was being blessed due to his good behavior. When he wanted information about the future, he'd consult with an akhund to reveal his horoscope.
One day, the man wanted to know if he'd have children. To his surprise, he consulted with his horoscope and found out that he would have a son. However, it was not going to be a positive experience. The akhund revealed to the man that his son would be torn to pieces by a wolf, no matter how much he protected him. Worried, but not discouraged, the man knew he could reverse fate and protect his first child from this tragedy.
Becoming a father meant everything to the man. The man was overjoyed with the news. He immediately began building a chamber for his son to live; a chamber in which he knew his son would be protected from wolves.
The man did indeed have a child, and he was good. Every day the man worried about his son. He double checked the chamber every day to make sure it was a safe place. The father of the son brought reading and writing teacher's to the chamber, and the son grew up living a semi-decent, but very safe, life.
The father of the son was pleased with his work. He had raised his son safely against fate, and it was finally time for his son to receive a wife. The father chose his son's wife, and the two had a beautiful Iranian wedding. The father was so content he could provide such a life to his son.
Photo of an Iranian wedding. Taken from Wikipedia.
After their marriage, the newlyweds returned to the chamber to live happily ever after. Being protected his whole life worked for the son of the man, and the father was overjoyed.
One morning, the father of the man returned to the chamber to visit his son and daughter in law. What he found was unbelievable. The son had indeed been changed - though not ripped to pieces. The wife was staring, awestruck, at what was left of him.
"What on Earth happened? Where is he?" The father screamed out to the wife, tears forming in his eyes.
"I don't know what happened... We have been the only two in here," she replied. "Now I'm left with a wolf. He is gentle wolf, though. He just stares at me and sleeps next to me at night very comfortingly. Could it be that this wolf is now my husband?"
The father of the man stood surprised. He couldn't fathom that his son turned into a wolf. How could that have happened if no one else visited the chamber? And now that there's a wolf, wouldn't it have torn his son to pieces?
The wife and the father of the man investigated the chamber for remainders of the man. But, there weren't any. The wolf was very kind, and watched the two closely as they looked around. Though it couldn't speak, it nodded its head at their questions. The two realized that the wolf was indeed the wife's husband. Because of his good behavior, he had changed his fate; however, the actions of his father caused him to live as an animal for the rest of his life. The father apologized to the wife, but was somewhat content that his son was still there in spirit and not ripped to pieces.
The wolf was gentle and protected his wife. Though they could never be a normal couple again, the woman learned to love the animal her husband turned into. In fear of him being killed outdoors, the wife and the wolf lived in the chamber together forever.
Author's Note
The original story "The Story of the Wolf Bride" is about a man that looked into his fate, which revealed he'd have a son. The man looked into what would happen to his son during his life, and was told by an akhund that his son will be torn into pieces by a wolf. The man's son grew up in a lonely chamber all his life, and once of age to marry, had his wife join him in the chamber. One day, the wife turned into a wolf and tore the man to pieces, just like the father envisioned. No characters in the story know how or why the wife turned into a wolf, but they know that fate played out just like the father was told. In my version, I had the son transform into the wolf from his fate, and created a happily ever after.
Bibliography
One day, the man wanted to know if he'd have children. To his surprise, he consulted with his horoscope and found out that he would have a son. However, it was not going to be a positive experience. The akhund revealed to the man that his son would be torn to pieces by a wolf, no matter how much he protected him. Worried, but not discouraged, the man knew he could reverse fate and protect his first child from this tragedy.
Becoming a father meant everything to the man. The man was overjoyed with the news. He immediately began building a chamber for his son to live; a chamber in which he knew his son would be protected from wolves.
The man did indeed have a child, and he was good. Every day the man worried about his son. He double checked the chamber every day to make sure it was a safe place. The father of the son brought reading and writing teacher's to the chamber, and the son grew up living a semi-decent, but very safe, life.
The father of the son was pleased with his work. He had raised his son safely against fate, and it was finally time for his son to receive a wife. The father chose his son's wife, and the two had a beautiful Iranian wedding. The father was so content he could provide such a life to his son.
Photo of an Iranian wedding. Taken from Wikipedia.After their marriage, the newlyweds returned to the chamber to live happily ever after. Being protected his whole life worked for the son of the man, and the father was overjoyed.
One morning, the father of the man returned to the chamber to visit his son and daughter in law. What he found was unbelievable. The son had indeed been changed - though not ripped to pieces. The wife was staring, awestruck, at what was left of him.
"What on Earth happened? Where is he?" The father screamed out to the wife, tears forming in his eyes.
"I don't know what happened... We have been the only two in here," she replied. "Now I'm left with a wolf. He is gentle wolf, though. He just stares at me and sleeps next to me at night very comfortingly. Could it be that this wolf is now my husband?"
The father of the man stood surprised. He couldn't fathom that his son turned into a wolf. How could that have happened if no one else visited the chamber? And now that there's a wolf, wouldn't it have torn his son to pieces?
The wife and the father of the man investigated the chamber for remainders of the man. But, there weren't any. The wolf was very kind, and watched the two closely as they looked around. Though it couldn't speak, it nodded its head at their questions. The two realized that the wolf was indeed the wife's husband. Because of his good behavior, he had changed his fate; however, the actions of his father caused him to live as an animal for the rest of his life. The father apologized to the wife, but was somewhat content that his son was still there in spirit and not ripped to pieces.
The wolf was gentle and protected his wife. Though they could never be a normal couple again, the woman learned to love the animal her husband turned into. In fear of him being killed outdoors, the wife and the wolf lived in the chamber together forever.
Author's Note
The original story "The Story of the Wolf Bride" is about a man that looked into his fate, which revealed he'd have a son. The man looked into what would happen to his son during his life, and was told by an akhund that his son will be torn into pieces by a wolf. The man's son grew up in a lonely chamber all his life, and once of age to marry, had his wife join him in the chamber. One day, the wife turned into a wolf and tore the man to pieces, just like the father envisioned. No characters in the story know how or why the wife turned into a wolf, but they know that fate played out just like the father was told. In my version, I had the son transform into the wolf from his fate, and created a happily ever after.
Hey Demery! I like the twist you put in your story! I had not read the original story, so I was a bit confused at the beginning, but your author's note cleared that up for me pretty well. I like that in this version, there was a happily ever after even though the son was turned into a wolf. It seems as if everyone found their peace with that fact. Good job on this story, and good luck with the rest! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Demery, Great way to take a tragic story and give it a (mostly) happy ending. Not sure I'd want to be transformed into a wolf, but it beats being eaten! I haven't read the original, but I think you did a great job at giving the father character and expressing his concern for the son. It was nice that he could live with a wolf kid, maybe this is the legend of the first dog.
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