The Forbidden Shoes: A Family's Deadly Secret

Whispers of the Wild

In the faraway kingdom of Klut, there lived a man named Cleveland Shoes, a master shoemaker. Shoemaking ran through his veins, a craft inherited from his father and passed down through generations of the Shoes family. His father never put too much effort into teaching his daughters this special skill because he knew the family wouldn’t allow women to represent the dynasty. The daughters weren’t forbidden from learning the art, but the family needed people who could dedicate their lives to preserving the family’s reputation for as long as possible. Daughters were expected to marry one day, and that could mean their focus would shift to their children and husbands. What if their husbands didn’t want them to work? The Shoes family was the best, and they intended to remain so for as long as possible—eternity, if possible.

The Shoes family was not just known for shoemaking, though; they had a storied past, once warriors and magicians renowned for their might and sorcery. But one man’s love for shoemaking changed their destiny. He forsook his sword and armor to dedicate his life to crafting shoes, combining the art of magic with his formidable skills. Toward the end of his life, he decided to create the best shoes possible, using all the knowledge he had gathered over the years, and he did—beyond anyone’s imagination. Combining magic with practical skill, he made four pairs of shoes that no one had seen coming.

The first pair was made of pure gold, shining so brightly it captured the eyes of anyone who saw them. They weren’t just beautiful—they were special. Whoever wore these shoes would be bestowed with magic, but there was a catch: they could only use this magic for good. The last pair was made from black diamonds and sapphires, stealing the gaze of anyone who dared to look at them. They glimmered like the moon and twinkled like the stars. These shoes, too, were magical, but their power could only be used for the greatest evil.

These magical shoes became the family’s most prized possessions, awarded only through an intense competition held every decade, where the finest shoes crafted by the family’s next generation were judged.

Cleveland, the fourth child of eight, had three children of his own—James, Reagan, and Olivia. After his wife’s untimely death during Olivia's birth, Cleveland poured his love and energy into raising them while preserving the family’s shoemaking legacy. James, the eldest, was as protective as he was skilled, though his temper often flared. Reagan, tall and strong, matched James's talent but had a streak of cunning that set him apart. Olivia, the youngest and the apple of her father’s eye, was the most passionate of them all when it came to shoemaking. From an early age, she’d dismantle toys and turn them into tiny shoes, just like her father did with leather and impeccable skill. Though often spoiled, Olivia's heart burned with the desire to prove herself, even if her destiny as a daughter lay outside the family’s traditional roles.

One cool autumn day, James and Reagan, along with their cousin Thomas, decided to go deer hunting. Against their better judgment, they allowed Olivia to come along. They ventured into the dense woods, the trees casting long shadows as the sun dipped lower.

"If we get caught, it’s on you," James warned, his voice laced with brotherly mischief.

"Oh, come on, a little fun never hurt anyone," Reagan retorted, nudging his brother.

"Don’t worry, guys, I’d just say I secretly followed you," Olivia chimed in, her mischievous smile daring them to disagree.

James rolled his eyes but couldn’t help but laugh. "Just stay close."

"You’d say I wasn’t there," Thomas added.

"And because we’re deaf and dumb, we wouldn’t suspect a thing, right?" James shot back.

"Brother James, Olivia isn’t a baby. Let her have some fun," Reagan said with a grin.

"I’m not disagreeing. I’m just planning my own exoneration."

They all chuckled.

"I’m not..." Olivia tried to speak, but her laughter got the best of her.

As they ventured deeper into the woods, an eerie stillness settled around them. The wind ceased, and even the birds seemed to hold their breath. Then, without warning, a low growl echoed through the trees. The children froze. The underbrush rustled violently, and from the shadows emerged a massive jaguar, its golden eyes gleaming in the fading light.

Thomas's hands shook as he fumbled with his weapon, fear written all over his face. "W-what do we do?" he stammered.

James stepped forward, his voice barely above a whisper. "Stay behind me."

The jaguar growled again, low and menacing, as if warning them of the danger they were in. But before they could react, the beast lunged. The children scattered, their hearts pounding in terror. The jaguar, in one swift movement, seized Olivia in its jaws and bolted into the woods, her terrified screams echoing in the distance.

James and Reagan exchanged a look of pure horror before tearing after the beast, their legs burning as they sprinted through the thick undergrowth. "Olivia! Olivia!" they cried, but her voice grew fainter with each step.

Meanwhile, Olivia clung to the jaguar, trembling with fear as it carried her deeper into the wilderness. Tears streamed down her face. The jaguar slowed its pace, setting her down gently in a remote clearing. It growled loudly to scare the already frightened child. She began to cry loudly. The jaguar looked startled and somewhat sorry for what it had done. It paced around her, growling softly, almost as if it were apologizing for its actions.

Just then, a second jaguar appeared, its black fur shimmering in the moonlight. It moved with a regal grace, its eyes locked onto the first jaguar with an air of command. Without hesitation, the black jaguar approached Olivia, its gaze soft but intense, and lifted her onto its back. Unlike the first jaguar, this one seemed to protect her, not harm her. Confused and frightened, Olivia clung to its fur as it raced through the forest, her fear slowly giving way to awe.

Suddenly, she heard her brothers calling her name in the distance. The black jaguar altered its course, heading straight toward the sound. James and Reagan, upon seeing the beast carrying their sister, panicked. Without thinking, they raised their guns and fired.

The black jaguar let out a pained roar as bullets tore through its sleek body. It stumbled, dropping Olivia to the ground. She screamed as the majestic creature collapsed, its eyes glazing over in death. The boys rushed to her side, terrified and guilt-ridden as they pulled her to her feet. Olivia sobbed uncontrollably.

As they made their way back, Thomas appeared, emerging from his hiding spot, pale and shaken. "Did… did you kill it?" he asked in a trembling voice.

James’s face darkened. “We need to swear that no one ever finds out about this.”

The boys agreed. They concocted a lie for their father, claiming they had been playing warriors and lost track of time. Though Cleveland scolded them and banned them from using guns for a month, none of the children spoke of the jaguar again.