The woman sighs, and focuses on her daughter again, gently caressing her hair.
"Mommy, could you tell me another story? I love to hear your stories..."
"Of course, my baby. Come here."
Clarissa smiles wide and sits on her mother's lap. The woman kisses her forehead very gently, and begins to brush her hair with her fingers as she starts talking.
"Once upon a time, there was a little girl. The little girl was a witch, and she lived alone, far from the humans who feared her. She had no friends and no family."
"Oh, she must have been lonely..." says Clarissa, frowning.
"Yes, Clarissa. She lived alone, and practiced magic every day. She couldn't help the humans who lived in sickness, but she helped the nature around her. She healed the trees and fed their dry roots. She cleaned the rivers, and made their waters blue. She tamed the fire, and fed it wood. She was loved by animals. The one who loved her was a young wolf."
"A wolf?"
Her mother nods.
"Yes. The young wolf saw how lonely the witch was, and came to visit her every day. The witch and the wolf became friends, and soon, a unique bond formed between them. The little witch grew into a beautiful young maiden, and the wolf grew up. However, the wolf wasn't strong enough. The wolf had a pack, but the pack was constantly hunted down by the humans. The pack needed a strong leader. So, to help the wolf, the witch made him stronger. She used her powers, and she gave him a human appearance, so he could talk with the humans. She made him a werewolf.
"The first werewolf began talking to humans. He learned their ways, and he learned how to live with them. He taught the other wolves to stay away from humans. He became the powerful Alpha of his pack, loved by all, but no one loved him more than the witch. As her beloved wolf now had a human appearance, the witch began to love and love him more. She fell deeply in love, and as he treasured her greatly, she thought the wolf loved her too. The wolf came to visit her every day, bringing her gifts and affection. However, the wolf's love was different. The wolf already had a partner, a young she-wolf he loved greatly."
"Oh, no..." mutters Clarissa.
"Once the witch learned of this, she got angry," resumed her mother. "The wolf had betrayed her, she thought. He never loved her, and only used her for her powers. She had lost her only friend, and her only love. The pain and anger drove her mad. She couldn't get over her heartbreak. She cried for days because of this pain, and felt the loneliest a being can feel. Her magic tried to help her, but instead, the heartbroken witch did something very bad. Guided by her feelings, the witch put a curse on the werewolf and all of his descendants. If one was to ever betray a witch, they would have to suffer a curse. After that curse was cast, the witch isolated herself. She hated the humans and the wolves. She wanted to be alone again, and not suffer anymore. Once her anger had been put into that curse, she felt very empty and very lonely, but she couldn't trust anyone anymore, for no one could understand her pain, she thought."
"What did the curse do, Mommy?"
Her mom shakes her head.
"Something terrible, Clarissa. The witch never saw the werewolf she loved again."
"...Is it the end of the story, then?"
"No," smiles her mom. "When she thought things were over, the young she-wolf who loved the same wolf came to the witch's door. The witch thought this one had come to take revenge on her lost loved one, and she prepared herself to fight. However, she was wrong. The female wolf had come to apologize to the witch."
"To apologize?" repeated Clarissa, raising her eyebrows.
"Yes. ‘I'm sorry,’ she said to the witch, ‘because my love with the wolf you loved has caused you a lot of pain. I came to apologize for your pain, for now, I am very lonely too without my mate. I understand your anger, but please, accept me by your side now. I know you longed for a companion, and my mate was by your side for a long while. Now, please let it be me. I cannot bear to remain lonely, and I cannot bear for you to be lonely, either. My children have grown and gone. I won't have anymore, but I do not want to remain alone anymore. Please, witch, keep me by your side.’"
"What did the witch do then?"
"The witch was very confused, of course. After she had put such a terrible curse on their family, the she-wolf had come to ask for her forgiveness, and to keep her company too? It was very hard for the witch to understand. So, she decided to let the she-wolf stay by her side so she could wait and see. To her surprise, the she-wolf had spoken the truth. She became the witch's friend, her only friend. The witch understood her mistake. She had taken the wolf's love for granted, and when she had turned him into half a man, she had thought that man was hers. Humans are selfish creatures, but wolves are not. The she-wolf had a pure heart, and so, she did not envy or resent the witch. So, when she realized her mistake and the terrible curse she had put on innocents, the witch was terribly sorry."
"I feel sorry for her too, Mommy. Did she undo the curse, then?"
Her mom sighed.
"No, Clarissa. Once a curse is created, it is stronger than its creator. That is why no witch should ever cast a curse mindlessly."
"I understand, Mommy. Then, what happened to the witch and her friend?"
Her mother smiled.
"The witch said the truth to her she-wolf friend, and she apologized a lot. Sadly, it was too late. She couldn't undo the curse. So, instead, the witch tried to protect her friend. First, she gave her name to that she-wolf who didn't have one, so they could share that burden and weaken the curse. Then, she turned her into a werewolf too, so she could teach her magic."
"But... wolves can't learn magic!"
"They can, my love. This is a very old story from a very long time ago, a story from the first witches who were much, much stronger than us."
