Short Stories, Name-Calling >.> What's Going On While Sarah's Away?

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Arian crept forward in a crouch, eyes flicking back and forth, eying the dark forest.

Dark didn’t do it justice. There seemed to be an evil about the forest. It was a pitch black night, and the forest seemed to be a wall of terror. Strange sounds came from within. Howls, animal screams, growls. Arian shuddered, the fur on the back of his neck stood up. He proceeded forth cautiously, silently, hoping not to arouse any beast from within the forest.

His paws padded on wet leaves and mud. A fine mist hung in the air, making strange ghostly figures in it. Arian didn’t like being out here at night. The morning before all the stories about this forest had just seemed liked old wives tales. Now?

Moving forward cautiously, Arian extended his razor-sharp claws. If there was something to all those tales of monsters and giants creatures in this forest, he wasn't going to be caught off guard. Better safe than sorry. He moved faster, ever watchful, reaching the edge of the dark woods.

He remembered what the old fox had said at the last tavern he had stopped by. “That forest be strange. Ye be safe from it as long as ye not enter. But when ye do . . .”

Arian had shrugged it away. It was ridiculous after all. If there were monsters in this forest - giant ghostly versions of wolves that weren’t killable- why would they stay to this forest alone? What did they fear outside of the forest? They weren’t killable after all.

Now he wasn’t so sure. He thought he saw a large white, misty beast appear through the mist, and then it vanished. Arian’s heart leapt. The size! Nearly ten feet tall! Huge teeth! And then it was gone as a breeze blew through. Had it been a swirl of fog?

A growl emitted from Arian’s mouth. He hadn’t come this far to be stopped by made up stories of giant beasts. Then again they could be real. He shook his head. Enough of this! He hunched low and snuck forward at a fast apace. He went ten feet into the forest and look back. No way out was seen. Was the wood that dark and thick?

Arian turned back to the woods and advanced. His ears were perked up; tension was strung throughout his agile limbs, and his whole body shook with excitement. His light tan and yellowish skin, which looked very dark in the blackness, caught on briars and thorns. He felt his way along what felt like a deer path. There seemed to be few bushes or trees in the way. His feline vision was becoming accustomed to the almost absolute darkness. He could see large trees, gnarled twisted roots of monstrous sizes.

And yet no animals were to be seen. Then he heard a crack of twigs. A predator? A hunter? Arian glanced all around. The sound seemed to come from the left. He advanced cautiously, teeth barred. All he could see was a large blueberry bush. He swiped at it with claws, raking a few leaves off. Nothing to be seen nor smelled. He sniffed in every direction. Nothing.

Something told him that danger was near, even though he couldn’t sense. Suddenly he realized that his back was unguarded. He swiftly turned, poised for an attack. But there was nothing. Bushes, trees, twigs on the ground. He stepped forward a few more feet. A pitter-patter sound rained on the treetops, and then raindrops began to splash down in a torrent. Arian’s brought her ears down and flinched. He squinted his eyes, ever cautious.

He waited for nearly a moment, but couldn't hear anything in the rainstorm. He began to trot forward, determined to get out of the forest as quickly as possible. He watched both sides of the muddy trail, keeping balance with his claws. He picked up speed as the rain increased intensity. His fur was soaked and pressed against his muscular sides.

He would have normally enjoyed the rain, but in this instance it drenched any scent away, and made visibility even less. He finally pushed into a run. His powerful hind legs pushed him forward. He jumped over a fallen tree, pushing himself of the top for more speed.

Suddenly he spotted a streak of white to his left. Then it was gone. He pulled up to a stop in fear. That had been no illusion. He dashed to the bush and looked down. Already the rain was attempting to wipe away the evidence, but Arian spied tracks in the mud. Big tracks.

Arian shuddered. Different from his own personal doubt on the beginning of this mission, he now had a fear ingrained within his brain. These things were real. He only hoped that he could live to tell about it. Throwing caution to the winds, he took off, going as fast as he could. Lightning streaked above, illuminating the forest for a split second.

Arian looked around, trying to spot the beast he had seen. His hunter. He stumbled over an unseen log, hurtling him into a pond. The freezing water hit him like a shock of lightning. He quickly paddled out, now shivering not only from fear, but cold as well.

He pushed on for a good hour, forcing himself to go on, even though his legs burned from exertion. Normally Arian could go for several hours without slowing, but he was pushing his speed to the max, and then constant obstacles did nothing to make the run easier. Finally Arian slowed, exhausted, shaking badly, senses alert for animals nearby. Nothing still, and yet he knew there was. His hunter was in a position where the slight breeze that somehow managed to break through the trees didn't carry its scent. It was behind him!

Arian spun around. Behind him was the faint path, and then bushes and trees. And then Arian spotted the white flash of light to the right. He growled. This was it. He would stand and fight. After all, he was a well-trained fighter. But no attack came. Fatigue began to come. That was the hunter’s plan? Simply exhaust Arian?

He turned with a snarl and took off again. He glanced back and saw the hunter take off. He still had gotten not clean look at the beast. He had no idea what it was. And had no care to find out. Suddenly Arian was in a clearing. The rain stopped as abruptly as it had started, and a few moments’ later rays of the sun began to wriggle into the trees. Arian could see the edge of the forest he was free! Another hundred yards was all.

Springing into action he crossed the clearing. A warm breeze broke through, warming his face. He pressed on. Fifty yards! His breathing grew ragged but he ignored it. Twenty five yards! He reached the edge and burst onto a rolling hills that led down into a valley plain of wildflowers. A feast for the eyes! Healing for the nose!

He stepped a good twenty feet away from the forest, looking into its gloom for any sign of predators. A full ten minutes later he sighed in relief and victory. He had just made it through the most dangerous forest in all the land. He plopped down into foot tall grass, inhaling the sweetness of it. He wished to stay here, but he still had a lingering sense that it was not wise to stay here. He pushed his weary bones up and began the descent down the gorgeously green hill. The blades of grass waved back and forth like servants bowing to a higher king. It was good to be alive!

Well there you have it! Malachi took a shot at writing animals instead of humans. How do you think it turned out? did you like it? Let me know! As always, thanks for the support. We love having more Scribblets so please pass the word along about this blog! Although tomorrow is technically for other stuff, Malachi is breaking the rules since Sarah's gone, and so there'll be a sequel to the story above. IF the length scared you don't worry, this sequel is much shorter. :)

~SarChi