13 Apr 2022, 21:29
A Lurking Creature
Willa walked along the lake, scuffing her shoes on the pine needles. It was early morning. She walked through a patch of tall, brown trees that swayed its leaves in the breeze. Sunlight filtered through the cluster of trees, making dancing shapes and casting shadows. She stared at the shadows the leaves were casting, thinking. A few yards away was the great lake, reflecting herself and the trees onto it, as the image distorted when the water swayed from side to side. Perhaps something was moving down there, staring up at her with curiosity. She had heard chatter from students about a giant squid. She was curious, but she moved on. She spun around, letting the sunlight dance all over her, feeling the wind brush against her skin. A smile, then a laugh, escaped her. She was happy- a rare occurrence.
She stood still for a moment, basking in the sunlight. She was planning on going to breakfast, but she decided she'd stay here for a little while longer. She wasn't very hungry, and this was better than the crowds and the chatter that she hated so much. She sighed, contented and happy. She plopped down onto the ground, leaning against the strong, comforting form of an old oak tree. She closed her eyes, daydreaming of running in the mountains, sprinting through meadows, laughing. These were memories of her past. She felt sad for a moment, wanting to go back to when she was as tall as her mother's waist, giggly and free-feeling. She shoved the thought away, trying to think of something else.
She closed her eyes, breathing the fresh air. She was about to settle into a peaceful, warm nap when a soft noise startled her. It seemed like someone, or something, was watching her. She could feel it. She looked around, getting up at once. She thought she heard the gentle snap of a twig. She puzzled over her surroundings for a moment.
"Hello?", she shouted, nervously.
Another snap of twigs. She wanted to leave now-- she didn't like the idea of a nosy student stalking her. She turned to walk away at a brisk pace, fear in her eyes when she saw something that caught her eye.
It was another pair of eyes staring back at her. She froze in place. They weren't human, no... Some sort of animal. It looked only curious as she looked into its eyes. Not hateful. She stared at it, and it stared back serenely. And then she stifled a gasp as something struck her.
Was this a hidebehind? Would it attack her? She shivered with fear, but it wasn't moving, turning invisible, or anything. She smiled at it, not knowing what else to do. It gave her a shy look back, before scurrying away. She walked cautiously out, hoping not to be snuck upon.
Should she tell anyone? Or should she keep it a secret, and try to find it again? Her first class of the day was about to start, so she hurried off before she could make a decision.
She stood still for a moment, basking in the sunlight. She was planning on going to breakfast, but she decided she'd stay here for a little while longer. She wasn't very hungry, and this was better than the crowds and the chatter that she hated so much. She sighed, contented and happy. She plopped down onto the ground, leaning against the strong, comforting form of an old oak tree. She closed her eyes, daydreaming of running in the mountains, sprinting through meadows, laughing. These were memories of her past. She felt sad for a moment, wanting to go back to when she was as tall as her mother's waist, giggly and free-feeling. She shoved the thought away, trying to think of something else.
She closed her eyes, breathing the fresh air. She was about to settle into a peaceful, warm nap when a soft noise startled her. It seemed like someone, or something, was watching her. She could feel it. She looked around, getting up at once. She thought she heard the gentle snap of a twig. She puzzled over her surroundings for a moment.
"Hello?", she shouted, nervously.
Another snap of twigs. She wanted to leave now-- she didn't like the idea of a nosy student stalking her. She turned to walk away at a brisk pace, fear in her eyes when she saw something that caught her eye.
It was another pair of eyes staring back at her. She froze in place. They weren't human, no... Some sort of animal. It looked only curious as she looked into its eyes. Not hateful. She stared at it, and it stared back serenely. And then she stifled a gasp as something struck her.
Was this a hidebehind? Would it attack her? She shivered with fear, but it wasn't moving, turning invisible, or anything. She smiled at it, not knowing what else to do. It gave her a shy look back, before scurrying away. She walked cautiously out, hoping not to be snuck upon.
Should she tell anyone? Or should she keep it a secret, and try to find it again? Her first class of the day was about to start, so she hurried off before she could make a decision.