Fairy Tales and Other Stories

This story challenge is taken from a Chinese Fairy tale "The Red Maple Leaf".
It is about a young couple, Shih-t'un and Jade Blossom, and the Red Faced Ghost. This Ghost lives in a great Maple tree, and considers himself betrothed to any young woman who drinks from his stream.

"When the sun rose, the horses stopped by a well in the grass. Shih-t'un and Jade Blossom were astonished to see that its calm surface shone as red as a ruby. From it flowed a spring of clear crimson water, and around it grew a carpet of small red flowers, filling the air with a heavy scent.

Jade Blossom sighed in wonder and Shih-t'un lifted her off her horse, setting her down amidst the red flowers. "It is time to take a rest," he said.

For a while Jade Blossom watched the hungry horses crop the red flowers, then she walked to the well and stood looking down into the crystal-clear red water. She bent down, scooped up handfuls of water and drank her fill. The water tasted delicious and made her glow inside with a pleasant warmth; all weariness was forgotten.

Jade Blossom smiled at her husband, who marveled at the sudden glow turning her cheeks to peach blossoms. Just then one of the horses gave a cheerful whinny; Shih-t'un turned round and started in surprise. Instead of the skinny nags, now fiery horses were standing amidst the red flowers and briskly tossing their manes. Shih-t'un was seized by a shudder. He could see that Jade Blossom was just as alarmed. "I dont like this," he whispered. "We must leave here at once."

This was always one of my favorite stories, growing up. Very sad, but with a happy ending all the same.

I'm sorry, its rude of the host to hog stage, but this is too much fun:

hog all you want! this is my kind of challenge! all the red! brb with a palette.

The name of this challenge is so long it runs into the name of the Conversation's Author. So for the longest time I thought the name of this one was "Shih-t'un and the Red Faced Ghostklip".

Yes I saw that . Now I try to keep them shorter :]