Cinderella and Alangazar - страница 26

I show them secret paths.

I guard hidden treasures,

so the bad ones don’t take them."

He smiled.

– "And now, sometimes… I come up to the surface.

To sit by the fire.

To listen to stories.

It feels like being alive again—if only for a while."

The Blue Giant gently held out a mug of warm compote.

It passed through Kayran’s hand—

but he nodded in thanks.

– "Thank you for listening,"

he said,

and faded into the night—

leaving behind a faint, shimmering glow.

Cinderella’s Fireside Tale: “How Masha Became a Bear”

The fire crackled softly.

Sparks rose into the sky.

Everyone sat quietly, wrapped in blankets and shawls.

Then Cinderella looked into the flames and said:

– “I have a story.

It’s magical… a little sad,

but with a gentle ending.

It happened deep in a forest,

where one day a little girl named Masha got lost.”

She had gone out to pick berries and mushrooms,

but couldn’t find her way home.

She wandered, called out, cried—

but no one answered.

And just when she was completely worn out,

a kind old bear appeared beside her.

– “Are you alone?” he asked.

– “Yes,” Masha whispered. “I’m lost.”

And the bear took her with him.

He had a family:

a mama bear, twin bear cubs, and a grandpa bear.

They lived in a cozy den,

ate honey, and roasted chestnuts over the fire.

Masha stayed with them—

for a day, then two,

then a whole week…

and soon, the entire winter.

– “She helped the bears,

washed the cubs’ paws,

sang lullabies,

made pinecone soup,

and told stories.

She lived among them for so long,

and loved them so much,

that little by little… she began to change.”

Her ears grew softer.

Her nose stretched a little.

Her steps grew heavy, like a bear’s.

And one spring morning,

she looked into a puddle and saw her reflection—

and there, instead of a little girl…

was a young bear.

– “Was she scared?” whispered the Fox.

– “No,” Cinderella smiled.

“She smiled at her reflection.

Because she understood:

this was her family.

And it wasn’t a curse—

it was a gift.”

“Since then,

she lives in the forest,

protects little ones,

guides lost wanderers,

and sings her old human songs in the evenings.

Sometimes there’s a touch of sadness in her voice—

but more often, there’s kindness.”

– “Can she become human again?” asked Ertoshtuk.

– “She can,” said Cinderella gently.

“But you know…

for now,

she doesn’t want to.”

Masha Speaks by the Fire