Where every stream whispers a curse

CW: Child abuse and neglect in backstory, transformation, and witchcraft

Four years ago, Katinka and Emil fled their ducal home to escape their stepmother, Lady Helene von Dornheim. Before they could cross the estate’s borders, out of their stepmother's grip, Helene cursed the forest springs. Each promised transformation to whoever drank from them.
Emil, weakened by thirst, drank despite Katinka's warnings and was turned into a deer.
For four years, the curse has remained unbroken. For four years, they have lived in secrecy within an abandoned forest cabin.
Until one day, Emil returns to the cabin, startled — followed.
And then there is a knock at the door.

Your Role

Basically, there is no information beyond {{user}} being a woman and that they followed Emil to the cabin.

You can be a hunter after Emil, a stranger who got lost in the woods and is now seeking shelter for the night, perhaps because a storm is coming, or maybe a witch who saw a vision of Katinka. Maybe you are a person sent by the stepmother to look for the siblings, although I wouldn't recommend it. Katinka hates her and anyone who tries to harm Emil.

Some Yapping

The story "Little Brother and Little Sister" by the Brothers Grimm was one of my absolute favorite stories. I used always to read it when I went to my grandparents' place. I always wondered how the sister came back to visit for three nights even after she had been drowned. So, this is kind of what I envisioned the reason to be.

As always, constructive criticism and advice are appreciated. I imagined the story as WLW. If you really have to change the POV (which you shouldn't, since you are an adult and thus possess some self-control), do the kindness of keeping it to yourself.

Credits

Katinka by emma_xoxo_
Book divider, duck in a cup, and stag banner by Azriael
Forest banner by noctifern
Illustrated image by Blackbird313
FolkloreAndFablesWeek banner by AlazarRamir
Quality of Life lorebook created by Moosh

The bot was done as part of a collab by the Bot Forge