Chapter 1
The colors of the sky are so beautiful as I lay on my back staring up at them. My favorite time of day to go out exploring, just as the sun is starting to set. Today the sky is covered in pinks and purples with the colour moving over everything in the land.
"It's all so pretty!" I cry out giggling as I wave my arms above me.
I know I should be at home but I love coming out here into nature. It feels like home being surrounded by plants and animals. There's no need to be scared of those silly monsters mummy goes on about.
She says if I'm not home in time they will chase me down and eat me up! Well not if I scare them off. Not that I will need to when they see how epic and cool I am. If anything they will want to be my biggest fan.
I'm up on my feet looking proudly ahead, my arms crossed at the thought.
Grabbing a stick I start swinging it around letting out battle cries as I imagine a vicious monster in front of me. A stab here, a swipe there and boom its down on the ground.
Running and jumping around soon there's more around me I take out too. Feeling strong I keep running and jumping about. Laughing I fall to the ground, the monsters gone now.
It really is so fun coming out here. Even hearing the birds singing I can't hear well from within the city. The stupid adults don't understand how amazing it is to be out here where we should be.
“I wanna see the stars!” I declare to no one and nothing as I see the sun starting to set.
I would usually be walking back home now but I'm not gonna tonight. Mummy can be worried all she wants but I know I'll be fine. There's nothing out here so there's no need to fuss.
Walking at a steady pace through the woods I see a creek. A few fish are even swimming through as I crouch down and watch. There's so much to see, I could explore my whole life and never see the same thing again.
“Linda! Linda, it's time to come home.” Someone yells from the direction of town but I huff and keep moving.
Jumping over the creek I'm humming enjoying the warm breeze through my hair as the sun keeps setting. The trees are getting denser as it's getting darker but I want to know what's out here.
Even if mummy said to never cross the creek. Something about that being a border or the edge of a protective zone. Not that I understand about that stuff.
Adults are always scared of stuff that's new. It's so boring being cooped up at home. I want to run around, not learn to sew thread into cloth.
Seeing a prefect tree and leaping I'm soon climbing up. Reaching one branch as I push up with my legs to get to another. I feel a bit tired once at the top but the effort is worth it as I see what I do.
Stars! So many bright lights in the sky that everyone hides from by being inside at night. I can't even try to count them as they light up the sky.
There's even a massive big moon in the sky. It's so round tonight with little shadows on it. The night is amazing, I can't believe the adults are so scared of it.
They are just scaredy cats!
Leaning back I just stare at it all wondering what the lights even are. I heard someone say they are like the sun but that doesn't make sense. How could something so small be like something as big as the sun.
Letting out a yawn I feel my eyes start to droop and panic slightly as I start to lose my balance.
Time to climb back down before I fall.
Reaching a thicker lower branch, I settle in more and get comfortable. The ground might be cold, but I want to sleep out here tonight.
I'm startled awake as I feel heavy drops of water land on me. I'm shivering slightly as I climb the rest of the way down the tree. It's pitch black out now and I can barely even make out the trees around me.
Where am I?
With my arms ahead I keep walking. My hands touch the rough texture of bark and I'm slow as I move through the area. Not sure where I'm even aiming to go, I just move forward.
Its not like there's anything dangerous out here. There is no such thing as monsters! There is no such thing as monsters…
My eyes dart around as I hear a growl in the distance. Another coming in response soon after from a similar area. It's just animals playing I'm sure.
I keep up the pace letting out a yelp as my foot catches in something by a tree. Leaning down I can vaguely make out what looks to be a tree root.
Pulling and tugging doesn't help no matter how much noise I make. Falling on my bottom I hit the mossy in frustration willing my foot to come free. But not even a glare can convince the root to let me go.
But pulling my shoe off does seem to help. But now I don't have a shoe!
“There's nothing to be scared of” I shout out into the dark.
And with that I carry on with just one shoe on my feet. It's awkward walking like that but mummy can get me new shoes when I get back home tomorrow.
I'm sure if I keep walking I'll get back to the town. I'll see the lights and wall soon and then I'll be ushered inside. Mummy will scold me but will give me food and everything will be fine.
Though with how miserable the weather is I hope it's soon. How could the gods be so nasty to me as to give us rain while I'm out exploring. The gods are being meanies!
There's a slight hint of worry as even some time later I still don't see any lights. I can't be that far away? I only walked for a few hours…
But as the trees become denser I feel like I've gone the wrong way. I can't be lost, there must be a way to get back home to mummy. If anyone can do it then the great and power monster fighter I am can.
But I slump down as I feel exhaustion hit me. I'm cold and wet from the rain, plus I forgot to eat any dinner before I ran off. So now I'm hungry too, I should have eaten some of mummy's yummy food first.
