Wolf in the Garden

The Red Ridinghood Story is a mixed one - the original is extremely dark, with no respite for either Red or Grandmother, and even modern recitations and re-imaginings of the story make much of the frightening experience of girls just becoming women and the predators which pursue them. Once most likely a warning to children, some women have recently embraced the story but shifted the power dynamics so that the wolf, the predator, the danger is the one in the cloak, not the one covered in fur.This idea carries through the the latest Enchantment Event, which is centered around the Red Ridinghood story and contains many indications that Red might have won over her furry attacker. In the original, Red was a trusting child who did what her Grandmother told her, though in her innocence she forgot to follow every rule her mother dictated to keep her safe. The angle of the story often lays blame at her door, but I think it's a heartless thing to blame a child for picking wildflowers, and even the firmest pathwalker will stray now and then. If there had been no predator in the woods, then no amount of leaving the path or picking of flowers would have led anywhere. Likewise, if Red had a sense of her own boundaries, if she did not automatically do as her presumed grandmother told her, than the story would go a very different way. It's understandable why later storytellers added in a huntsman to save her, but I've always been partial to the stories where she saved herself.Most women know what it's like to have a predator stalk us and to deal with covert predatory behavior; Red Ridinghood gives one narrative within which to understand our own experiences and perhaps with time it may shift the narratives of all of us.

I picked up several things at the Enchantment Event. This dress from Luminary with it's unique neckline and ruffled overdress caught my attention immediately, and I'm really glad I picked it up. The plunging dellcotage and cut-out shoulders are striking, and I love the gray-lined belt of the jacket over the patterned gray skirt. There is some awkwardness with the skirt rigging - it catches here and there awkwardly and the texture on the front can be pulled depending on the pose - but this is more than made up by the thick, luxuriant texturing of the top, and the really fun, interesting silhouette of the dress. I paired it with a dagger necklace from AZE which highlights the triumph of Little Red Ridinghood around my neck, complete with a few wolf-fangs. It really fit the angled neckline beautifully, and was highlighted by it. On my finger is a gorgeous, luminous ring from Bokeh, a simple design which also comes in a necklace, and in a wide variety of colors. My basket is my favorite of all of the baskets available, a fun and complex design from ANC which is tied with ribbons and has large, circular handles. I especially love the butterflies hovering above it, like the souls of the flowers Little Red Ridinghood gathered on the way to her battle. Finally, my poses are a series by Ilaya which were made specifically for photographing with a large basket or purse in ones hand, and which came with a basket, though I substituted my own. There are a lot more striking items in red and gray, for wolf and girl alike, available at the latest Enchantment Event, and I highly recommend checking it out if blood is a favorite accessory for you.

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: Izzie's, Irene
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Kira (Gatcha)
Hat: Purplemoon Creations, Cora
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Eyes: De La Soul, Rainbow
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Eyeshadow: Mock, Liz Shadow
Blush: Adore & Abhor, Star Blush
Lipstick 1: Adore & Abhor, Shreveport Lips
Lipstick 2: Mock, Mizu Venetian Red Lips
Wings: Deviance, Sidhe Wings
Hands: SLink, Rigged Mesh Hands
Necklace: AZE, Baneful Wolf's Eye (Enchantment: Red Riding Hood)
Ring: Bokeh, Enchanting Red's Ring (Enchantment: Red Riding Hood)
Nails: A:S:S, Dragon Scales
Dress: Luminary, Ylva (Enchantment: Red Riding Hood)
Bag: ANC, Rattenbag (Enchantment: Red Riding Hood)
Shoes: Lassitude & Ennui, Flutter Boots

Poses: Ilaya

Location: Organica Specialty Trees
Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only