When you have caught your bear, let her be sequestered in a cave. It is important she see no sunlight. Also, that she eat only garlic and mugwort. After twenty one days and nights, the bear will transform into a woman.
Take heed—she will be sad and lonely as the sole human. You will likely have to take her to wife, and, in this way, you will father a people. The tending of nations is a topic beyond the scope of this spell.
This story is based on a Korean creation myth. Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here
Neil MacDonald Author 
Man, that’s a tough regimen, that’d make me want to metamorphose too!
Excellent, if somewhat cynical take.
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Sorry about the cynicism. Put it down to the government’s handling of stuff
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So, the frog who wanted to be kissed has a female bear for company now 🙂
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Nice mash-up, Reena
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🙂
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Interesting story.
Great connection & retelling 🙂
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Thanks so much, Anita
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Ooo I do love a good mythological retelling. Well done.
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Thanks so much, Tannille
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Interesting…
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Thanks
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I loved the disclaimer at the end. In fact I loved it all, though I couldn’t fail to observe that having been fed on nothing but garlic and mugwort for 21 days she’s bound to be a tad lonely…
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Thank so much Sandra. In the original Korean version, the bear is sequestered with a tiger, but the tiger gets hungry and leaves the cave
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Or a wee bit stinky.
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Rather wild way to start a people!
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I prefer the ones where the gods make people out of mud
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I think I do, too
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Dear Neil,
Methinks the lady shall have a pungent odor lingering on her breath.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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And sharp claws
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Much like war, it’s the bit that comes after that’s the really tricky bit.
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Very true, Iain
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This is great. I was just looking up Lao creation myths yesterday, so this resonates.
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Thanks so much, Joshua
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Great short, Neil! We’ve been delving into creation myths in my ancient lit class. I only wish the module lasted longer; there are so many compelling tales to read! I’ve added the Korean myths to my materials.
Wow! Five more days until your book release. Thrilling.
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Thanks so much, Britt. And thanks for the good wishes for my novel’s release
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An intriguing tale indeed. I particularly like the way in which you composed the second paragraph.
Here’s mine!
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Thanks so much, Keith
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Perhaps the tending of nations is best left alone? As with tending a woman? I loved this one, Neil! Witty.
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Thanks so much, Paula
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A Korean creation story? How fascinating. Loved the style of writing in this story.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thanks so much, Susan
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So it’s easier creating a woman out of a bear than getting nations to stop exterminating each other. Yeah, I can see that. Now I just want to go and sing, “What’s it all about, Alfie?”😂
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Nations exterminating each other is what we call civlisation
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So let’s all turn back into bears … Where’s that spell? And maybe we can have that garlic in a curry this time? Our last meal as women.
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Worth a try, I guess, and if it doesn’t work, he’ll have a nice bear fur to keep him warm in winter.
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There is always that
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No mudwort for me. I am with the tiger,
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History doesn’t record what happened to the tiger
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Great story. That mythic folk tale feeling really comes through in the writing.
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Thanks so mjuch. I’m pleased you picked up on the style
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Garlic and mudwort? No wonder she’s sad, lonely, and depressed!
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But at least she’s jumped millions of years of evolution
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Should have left some interesting fossils along the way 🙂
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“Take her to wife? But she has garlic breath.”
I’m always like to learn different mythologies. That’s an interesting one.
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Thanks so much
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Ah ha! The ancient spell revealed at last! This read like old lore! Great job😊
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Thanks so much, Sue
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I think you better take your chances with becoming a bear. Perhaps you’ll be a happy bear, there’s a chance. And you already know she’ll be an unhappy human. …
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Ain’t that the truth. But, and I know this is next to sacrilege, there may be more important things than happiness
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That may be true, in a way … but I think some of it has to do with how one defines happiness – does it mean getting everything you wanted or having no challenges or does it mean feeling loved or knowing good or seeing beauty or a job well done … all of which can be happiness. …
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Oh! A myth I must look up! Thanks.
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My pleasure
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it looks like adam and eve have a competition. 🙂
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They’re in a different creation myth
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Intriguing! I like a good creation myth.
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The canvas is so much bigger in creation myths
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Lovely use of a folk tale and what’s not to like in a spell recipe that begins with catching a bear? Poor thing must be heartily relieved when the transformation’s complete, and so must any companions since they would be on the receiving end of the creature’s malodorous digestive system.
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Like most British readers, you’ll have recognised “when you have caught your bear”. Thanks, Jilly
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Sounds like instructions for an Alien race and yet has a medieval source. I’ll admit I have met some of these beautiful women, they never change their change attitudes and always remain as grumpy bears.
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You’d probably be a bit narked too if you were isolated, starved, and forced to shape-shift
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You found lots of resonances in this tale, Neil. It’s really nicely written.
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Thanks so much, Penny
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A nation born from a grumpy bear. Interesting take on the Korean creation myth.
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It may explain generalissimo Kim
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Oh wow, this was a great read. I love a good myth and legend. Indeed she would be sad and lonely.
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Thanks so much, Laurie
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Well, it makes as much sense as Adam and Eve.
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I’m not sure myths are supposed to make sense in a factual way
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If she would be the sole human, what is he who transform her from a bear?
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A god
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I really like that. It is like a fable.
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Thanks so much
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Great read of the prompt!
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Thanks so much, Trish
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I’ve never heard this creation myth but it’s a fascinating story well (re)told!
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Thanks so much, Ana
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Even after she changes into a woman, she’ll probably still be pretty hairy. And her breath? Not one I’d want to French kiss until she’s brushed her teeth. Nice take on a creation myth, Neil.
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Thanks, Russell
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Really like the idea of bear to human transformation using garlic- would the bear / woman have fine fur down her back perhaps ?
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And perhaps very sharp fingernails
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Seems that race will have problems from the off. I suggest they train up some psychiatrists double quick.
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The Koreans seem to have done alright
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“Take her to wife” sounds so impersonal, perhaps even inhumane. How interesting that it’s based on a Korean creation story!
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The phrase is intended to create and olden-time feel
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It succeeds in doing so.
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