Post by Will Fleet on Sept 8, 2008 18:45:59 GMT
THE STAG
“Hush now Clover, c’mon girl.”
The gentle voice received but a snort in response with a light high pitched whinny to follow.
A small giggle arose from the young girl who patted the bronze nose of her pony affectionately. “Oh Clover you silly” she giggled, voice light and happy as mousy brown waves fell about the pale face, freckles delicately painting her cheeks. Eager grey eyes looked up at the pony who stood several inches above her, ears perked and twitching lightly while the thick forelock covered one of the pony’s dark eyes.
Lips quivered as and nudged the girl’s shoulder and she shook her head once more. “I have to go now Clover, be a good girl and eat your oats!” the young girl, no older than nine, chimed. With another fond pat on the pony’s nose the girl turned and ran across the worn dirt path away from the small stable addition that was placed on the side of the barn. She ran around the side of a cottage like house towards the stone porch where she stopped, a smile pulled on her lips as she turned to look at the few fields she could see, the paddock, the crops and then the forest which at a distance, surrounded the little cottage farm.
With a satisfied sigh and a light flick of her hair the girl kicked off her muddy boots and padded into the house. Removing her denim, wool lined jacket she tossed it onto the hooks and in a simple red jumper and black leggings the girl made her way through the small seemingly overstuffed cottage. Her feet padding along the wooden floors as she passed the grandfather clock which ticked away the seconds, ignoring the staircase and towards her grandfather’s study.
The young girl peered around the chipped wooden door to see her grandfather leaning over his desk, pen scurrying across a piece of paper with some haste. With a small smile the girl left her grandfather be and headed towards the den, her favourite room in the house. A stone fireplace stood old and still as the main attraction, a dark wood bookcase and cabinet residing dust and barely used in the corner, a radio nestled on a small coffee table and two old red armchairs. One having a spring poking through the cushion so silently the young child sat herself on the other and her curious eyes lifted to the prize above the fireplace. Mounted above the small ledge of the fireplace and out of reach of anyone of average height was a set of long, sharp antlers. Stolen from a once proud stag, slightly grey with age there was something about them which always enticed the young girl. Maybe it was the way her dreams ran away with her, the way she imagined the stag, romping around with friends and wielding his rack proudly and how now the stag would be without his horns.
“Emily”
The girl was roused from her daydreams which had once again lead her away from reality to look at the age worn face of her grandfather, which however did not lack the warmth of a caring person. Slightly bronzed skin and glistening blue eyes, he ran a hand through salt and pepper hair. He was wearing his old farming clothes, loose green breeks, an old gray shirt and a similar green vest, edges fraying at the hem with the odd mud stain here and there.
“How was your day Granpa?” queried the curious girl as they sat down in the kitchen for their tea.
“Not too bad Pet, the crops look good this year, should get some money out of them” the man replied with a smile, crinkles forming at the corner of his eyes.
“That’s good Granpa!” the young child said happily, enthusiasm lacing her voice as the old man chuckled lightly.
Soon only the sound of clinking cutlery filled the small, basic cottage kitchen. Ziggy, the scraggly brown tabby cat who hunted the mice was snoozing peacefully in his basket in front of the radiator.
“Time for bed now, Pet”
“Ok, Good night Granpa” Emily smiled, scraping the remains of her food into a small bucket for the pigs and set her plate on the side. After pecking her grandfather on the cheek she then headed up the worn wooden stairs that creaked beneath her feet.
Pulling the airy white nightgown over her hair and threading her fingers through her hair to tame the flyaway strands before she crawled into her bed, blowing out the candle on her bedside table and drew the duvet up to her chin as she looked up at the wooden ceiling before her eyes drifted to the which was located at the foot of her bed. She watched the way the moonlight filtered through the single window pane with milky blue hue, before a shadow cast through her room. Blocking out most of the moonlight and the darkness drew across her bed and floorboards. Long sharp claw like shadows moving and clawing, Emily gave a small frightened squeal, pulling the duvet fiercely over her head and curled up into a tight frightened ball. Emerged in the warm darkness, the last thing she heard before drifting off, was a light tapping at her window…
By the time morning poured itself through the girl’s window, lighting up the room with a warm golden glow. The girl stirred, moving about beneath the duvet before she sat up, rubbing her eye in a sleepy manner as she looked about her room. No trace of the shadow monster she’d seen the night before. She crawled to the foot of her bed, kneeling on the bed she looked out the window, only seeing the back garden which had a few patches of grass here and there and a simple fence that you would expect on make shift horse coral. At the far end of the back garden, which was absent of flowers or other garden related thing, was the break in the fence that served as a gate. But the garden was void of life.
Reassured Emily dressed and brushed her hair before heading down the stairs, feet thudding as she went, feet warm and wrapped in thick socks. She was greeted by the welcoming smell of toast and happily devoured the jam smeared toast, still warm, that had been left out for her. Her grandfather probably out in the fields by now, tending to the crops.
But dear little Emily had other things to do as she pulled on her brown hiking boots and clomped out of the house, leaping from the porch and thudding in the dry ground. Running around the cottage to the back garden which faced the forest. She looked at it briefly, it never looked as scary as it did at night. Entering the garden, she looked around curiously for any trace of the creature from last night, but the garden looked untouched. However she did notice a few rut marks in the dry ground which drew her eye. Seeing as they were directly by her window.
There were a few more, heading back to the forest to which the girl began to follow the grooves in the ground which lead her into the trees which were spread out but the deeper in the closer the trunks were grouped together. Trudging through thick undergrowth Emily spent most of the day moving through the bushes and leaves without much success, her red jumper tied around her waist now. All she’d spotted were sparrows and the odd crow. Not to mention the fluffy tail of the fleeing rabbit. Dejected and tired Emily trudged back home. Determined to find out what had been at her window that night as there had definitely been something there.
It was near dark by the time she got back to the cottage, the smell of boiling vegetables and simmering rabbit stew caught her nose as she greeted her grandfather and they sat down to dinner. The food greatly appreciated by the hungry girl who’d forgotten to take provisions with her on her hunt. After two helpings of stew and a good portion of vegetables Emily made her way to bed she didn’t want to involve her grandfather in all this, he’d probably say it was just her imaginations, adults couldn‘t do a thing with them.
Tucked up in her duvet, the room was dark and the only light was once more from the moon, it’s light casting across her floor as she kept her gaze up at the ceiling, waiting quietly in the hauntingly silent roo-
Tap tap….tap tap
The breath caught in Emily’s throat. The shadow was cast across her floor again, and her body seemed frozen when after some more tapping the shadow drew away. The blankets were suddenly thrown down as the child scrabbled to the end of her bed to gaze out the window and gasped in delighted surprise.
Standing in the worn out garden, stood a young, elegant stag. It’s head facing towards the dark forest sharp ears perked, slender legs standing tall and head was lifted proudly in a regal manner. Upon it’s head stood a set of large, magnificent antlers that glistened white like shards of crystal, making the ones mounted above the fire in the den look very grey. Her grey eyes studied the magnificent pelt of the animal, its hooves were black and the dark colour seeped up its legs, but it lightened until the main portion of the animal was immersed in a bright fiery red. If the sun had been shining it would have probably seemed like the creature was engulfed in red flames.
Suddenly, beady brown eyes looked sharply to the window catching sight of the girl and their eyes seemed to suddenly lock. Emily finding herself unable to look away from the animal which studied her with a silent intensity in its gaze. It suddenly pawed a hoof, breaking the contact and looked to the forest, pawing it’s hoof lightly once again creating ruts in the earth. Emily bit her lip, pressing her hand against the cool glass as she watched the creature. After some time, the stag raised its head as if studying the sky, glancing once more at the girl before with a mighty leap it scales most of the garden and the fence and bound with ease and speed back into the forest, soon shrouding itself into the shadows and out of sight.
Word count = 1700 something words
Dunno maybe Rudolph will break in. I'm waiting for more. I like the imagery. ^^
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