Ruby Red has a minion!

I Love the Fable

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

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The Tale of Ruby Red
A retelling of Little Red Riding Hood

On a particularly warm, autumn day, Ruby Red emerged from her burrow and smelled the crisp air.

"What a beautiful day!" she exclaimed. "I wonder what Grandmother is doing. Maybe I'll surprise her with a picnic!"

Ruby went back into her burrow and began to prepare a few snacks. She packed egg salad sandwiches, fresh strawberries, and homemade buns with plenty of butter. She then placed the food into a basket and headed towards the forest.

After a few minutes, Ruby began to hear a thwaping noise. She put down her picnic basket and turned her large ears towards the sound.

Thawp thawp. Thawp thawp.

"That sounds like Mr. Beaver," Ruby Red declared. "I should go see why he's making so much noise."

Ruby picked up her basket and turned towards the river, following the thwaping sound of Mr. Beaver hard at work. After a few minutes, she found him sitting on top of his dam, patting down a fresh layer of mud on his home.

"Good day, Mr. Beaver!" Ruby Red called out. Unfortunately, Mr. Beaver wasn't expecting visitors, and Ruby's call startled him. He began to flail his arms before sploosh! Mr. Beaver fell right into the river!

A moment later, Mr. Beaver emerged from the river and shook the water from his fur. He then looked at Ruby Red and frowned.

"Whatcha do that for? Don't ya know it's bad manners to sneak up behind a working beaver?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't think you'd fall," Ruby apologized. Then she had an idea. "I'm on my way to Grandmother's to have a picnic. Would you like to join us?"

Mr. Beaver began to smile. "I'd be delighted, Miss Red!"

"Okay! See ya later, then!" Ruby picked up her basket and trotted once again towards Grandmother's borrow.

Some time later, Ruby Red heard a snap behind her. She turned around to see a very tall man standing on the path. He was so tall that his long shadow stretched all the way from the tips of his toes to the ground in front of Ruby's small paws. The man smiled down at her, exposing a large gap between his front teeth.

"Hello, little fox," the stranger said.

"Hello," Ruby replied. "What are you doing in the forest? Man has never set foot here before."

"Oh, I'm simply looking for a couple of animals who would like to play a game," the large man said. "Would you like to join me?"

"No, thank you," Ruby Red answered. "I'm on my way to Grandmother's."

"Okay. Maybe we can play next time," the stranger said, the gap-toothed smile never leaving his face.

"Goodbye," Ruby stammered before turning and running into the trees. Knowing that man should never be trusted in the forest, she took a wrong turn and hid behind a big rock. After some time, the stranger walked by Ruby Red's hiding place, and she was able to come out.

"That was close!" Ruby exclaimed before beginning to walk away. "I'll have to be more careful."

As Ruby Red continued to walk along the path to Grandmother's house, she began to hear a conversation between two woodland animals: Mr. Elk and Miss Falcon.

"Hello!" cried Ruby as she ran up the trail. "What's all the hullabaloo about?"

"Mr. Elk and I were going to share lunch, but we can't seem to agree on what to eat!" sighed Miss Falcon.

"I thought grass would be best," said Mr. Elk. "But Miss Falcon likes meat."

"And I thought stew would be best, but Mr. Elk only eats plants!" declared Miss Falcon.

Ruby pondered over their problem before coming up with an answer. "I'm having a picnic with Grandmother and Mr. Beaver later. There will be dishes with meat and plants since I like both! Would you like to join us?"

Mr. Elk and Miss Falcon looked at each other before nodding at Ruby Red. "We'd be delighted," they chorused.

"Hooray!" shouted Ruby as she jumped for joy. "I can't wait!"

Ruby Red then said goodbye to her friends and continued to Grandmother's burrow. After some time, she came to the familiar looking hole in the ground. Ruby knocked on the door before letting herself in.

"Hello, Grandmother! Are you home?" asked Ruby.

"I'm in here, deary!" answered Grandmother.

Ruby Red followed the sound of her Grandmother's voice until she was in the bedroom. She could see Grandmother curled under the covers of her bed, only her long and graying ears and tail sticking out from beneath the sheets.

"Hello, Grandmother," Ruby said as she approached the bed. "It's a beautiful day. Would you like to join me, Mr. Beaver, Mr. Elk, and Miss Falcon for a picnic?"

"Oh, that sounds wonderful, deary," whispered Grandmother in her soft, elderly voice. "Bring the basket closer so that I may see the goodies you prepared!"

Ruby Red began to do as she was told, but she noticed something peculiar about Grandmother's voice. She stopped a short distance away and asked, "Grandmother, what happened to your voice? I've never heard it so scratchy!"

"Oh, I have a bit of a cold, deary," Grandmother said as she coughed to clear her throat. "But it's nothing to worry about."

"Is that why you're hiding under the covers?" Ruby asked as she closed the remaining distance.

"Yes, yes it is," declared Grandmother. "Now show me this picnic you've prepared."

Ruby Red put down the picnic basket and began to open it when fwoosh! The blankets were tossed aside from the bed by a gust of air. Ruby looked up to see not Grandmother lying in bed, but a puppet! Ruby Red stared in shock before a hand reached through the window and grabbed her by the tail!

As Ruby was dragged out the window, she discovered whom the hand belonged. It was the gap-toothed stranger!

"I've got you now, my little fox!" he cheered, raising Ruby Red so she was at eye level. "Your pretty red fur will be worth a fortune!"

"You're a poacher!" Ruby cried, struggling with all her might in the man's grasp. He watched and laughed at her failing attempt.

Suddenly, Ruby Red had an idea. She reached up and chomp! She bit the poacher's hand!

The man screamed and drop Ruby. She took this opportunity and began to run as fast as her legs could go. Ruby Red could hear the tall man's heavy footsteps behind her. She knew she'd have to think fast if she wanted to escape!

A-ha! Ruby spotted a cave and quickly ran instead. Moments later, the tall man ran into the same cave and looked around. He spotted Ruby and started to walk towards her when ROAR! A bear raised on its hind legs behind Ruby Red.

The poacher yelled in fright before running out of the cave, chased by a very grumpy Mrs. Bear. Ruby watched and laughed, knowing perfectly well that Mrs. Bear never did like being woken from her nap.

Later that day, after thanking Mrs. Bear and finding Grandmother hiding in a closet, Ruby Red laid out her picnic blanket. Surrounded by her friends and family, she passed out delicious treats and shared with them her adventure that day. Ruby learned that not everyone that appears friendly actually is, but you can always fall back on good people to help you out in your time of need. And with that thought, Ruby Red took a big bite out of a buttery bun and enjoyed the company of good friends.