Midnight tales🌜🌘☠

marie and the animals🌘🌜

In a village nestled between the rolling hills and thick forests, humans and animals lived side by side in an unspoken harmony. It was a rare sight, for most places in the world kept animals apart from human life, but not here. In this village, the animals roamed freely, mingling with the people, and while they didn't speak, they had a connection—an understanding.

Among the villagers was a girl named Marie, a radiant soul with a heart so pure that all the animals were drawn to her. Even as a child, no animal feared her. The birds would land on her shoulders, the deer would walk beside her, and even the more cautious creatures, like foxes and owls, would come to her without hesitation. Other children were envious; while they might approach a rabbit only to have it dart away, Marie never had to try. It was as if she spoke their language in a way no one else could.

By the time Marie was six, the entire village knew of her special bond with the animals. Adults marveled at the sight, though some were uneasy about how close she was to creatures they still regarded as wild. They called it a gift, a wonder—but with a touch of fear, for they did not understand it.

Years passed, and Marie’s connection to the animals deepened. But as she grew, tension began to rise between the humans and the animals. The villagers, once content with their peaceful coexistence, started to fear the animals. A few crops had been trampled, some livestock frightened, and whispers of danger spread. The villagers, perhaps misunderstanding the nature of the animals, began to see them as a threat.

Soon, the fear turned to anger. The humans, led by a few loud voices, decided that the animals needed to be driven away. They wanted control, to fence their lands and protect their homes. But the animals, once so trusting, did not go easily. They remained, confused and hurt by the sudden hostility.

Desperate, the villagers devised a cruel plan: a burning oil, one that would drive the animals from their territory by force. It was dangerous, and some knew it would harm the animals, but the villagers’ fear had clouded their judgment. They turned to Marie, the one person who had always been closest to the animals, hoping to manipulate her. They told her that the animals were planning to turn against the village, to bring chaos and destruction. They poisoned her mind with lies, convincing her that the animals she loved were no longer her friends but enemies.

Marie, now older but still innocent, believed them. She didn’t want to lose her home or her people. Torn between the humans she trusted and the animals she loved, she made a heartbreaking decision. With the oil in hand, she walked into the heart of the animal territory.

The animals, sensing her presence, came out to greet her, unaware of what was to come. They surrounded her, as they always did, with trust in their eyes. But Marie, her heart heavy with the weight of her actions, poured the burning oil across the ground.

Chaos erupted. The animals panicked, their homes and sanctuary set aflame. Some fled into the forest, while others, unable to escape the fire’s reach, were hurt or worse. The animals looked at Marie, their eyes wide with shock and betrayal. She could feel their pain as though it were her own. The bond she had cherished for so long was shattered in that moment.

After the smoke cleared and the flames died down, Marie stood alone in the empty field. The animals were gone. The once lively forest was now silent, save for the crackling of the last embers. Marie realized, too late, that she had made a terrible mistake. The villagers had lied to her; the animals had never planned to harm anyone. She had betrayed the ones who loved her the most.

Overcome with guilt and sorrow, Marie tried to make amends. She searched the forest for the animals, calling out to them, hoping they would return. But they had already found new homes, far away from the village that had turned against them. Only a few, the loyal dogs and curious cats, some rats and small creatures, returned to the village, but the larger, wilder animals—the deer, the foxes, the wolves—never came back.

Marie spent the rest of her days caring for the animals that remained, forever marked by the loss of those she had driven away. She vowed never to let fear cloud her judgment again, to always seek the truth and protect the innocent, no matter the cost. But the village was never the same. The harmony that had once existed between humans and animals was gone, and Marie carried the weight of that loss in her heart.

The villagers would tell stories of Marie, the girl who could speak to the animals, and the day she made the mistake that changed everything. But they also spoke of her redemption, for she never gave up on trying to rebuild what had been lost, even if only a small piece could be reclaimed.