Tag-arkiv: creatures

Odd Friends Part Seven

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There are things in the water - Odd Friends by Kira Bang-Olsson

Wait, what? Who is it? We don’t know anyone around here, the creature looks onto the water in bewilderment.

We’ve missed you. A chorus of low voices in choir exclaims. Come closer to the water, you will see how beautiful it is here.

The creature and the rabbit seem dumbfounded at the sound of the eerie, yet charming voices. Startled by her own thoughts, the girl returns to the present after scrutinising her mind, trying to remember something. Friends, don’t go near the water, her voice is but a whisper. Slowly stepping away from the shoreline, she’s hoping her friends have heard her and will follow.

Stumbling on a rock, she falls to her knees, shrieking, terrified.

Abruptly awoken from a seemingly hypnotic state caused by the things in the water, the creature and rabbit turn around to find the girl lying on the ground. They rush to help her up.

Panicked squeals break the air - Odd Friends by Kira Bang-Olsson

A splash behind them, and suddenly a black tentacle shoots out of the water towards the girl and grabs the girl’s foot.

Panicked squeals break the dense air, while the creature grabs her scarf to pull her to safety. Appearing out of nowhere, the crow grabs the other end of her scarf and together they try to tow her away.

The struggle seems endless, the tentacle causing waves in the otherwise still water. At long last the tentacle loses its grip and the girl is dragged into safety by her two comrades.

As quickly as they appeared, the dark callers vanish below the water’s surface..

Out of breath - Odd Friends by Kira Bang-Olsson

The three friends are all out of breath, standing on shaky legs. Moments go by quickly, yet slowly, as smoke on a frosty morning.

Without a word, they turn toward the forest again, treading on heavy legs.

Eventually they reach familiar ground, having wandered through what seems like the entire forest. Nightfall has arrived again, and they lie down in a clearing, relieved to see the still, starry night sky.

Stargazing - Odd Friends by Kira Bang-Olsson

Odd Friends Part Six

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The creature grabs on to dry roots protruding from the walls of the cave, holds the girl’s scarf tight and begins to climb upwards. The girl, with the rabbit in her arms, feels the cold sweat on her forehead slowly disappear as soon as they start moving towards the light that must be somewhere far, far above them.

Climbing into freedom - Odd Friends by Kira Bang-Olsson

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The climb seems to last forever. The air is still, and apart from the sound of dry dirt crumbling and falling into the eerie gloom below there is no sound; all they can hear is the heavy breathing of the creature climbing the dirt walls.

Finally, the light is breaking through. The climb ends where the fall began, and everything is now shrouded in a morning mist.

Freedom at last - Odd Friends by Kira Bang-Olsson

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Thank goodness, that you saved us, the girl says finally having the courage to speak with her full voice again. Heaving for air, the rabbit lies flat on the moist ground trying to regain strength after being squished in the firm grip of the girl.

**

Almost crawling through the forest - Odd Friends by Kira Bang-Olsson

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Almost crawling through the forest, the fright only just loosening its grip of the three odd friends; everything returning to normal.

None of the three want to mention or question the unknown they met below ground.

You think you know something, but you really never do, ponders the girl silently. Her worldview having been dislocated.

**

They reach a lake in the dusk. Silent ripples break the otherwise still surface of the tar-like water.
It’s beautifully tranquil here, they agree in low voices, not wanting to disturb the peace. They stand still by the water’s edge for a while.

Inky ridges - Odd Friends by Kira Bang-Olsson

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Low splashes. The quiet is disturbed by dark shadows coming out of the water. Inky ridges appear from the water. Eyes can be seen in the dusk.

You’re finally here, almost whispering, layered voices seem to come from the obscure beings. We’ve waited for you for so long.

 

Come back later for part seven..

 

Read the story from the beginning

Odd Friends – Part Four

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The Meeting - Odd Friends by Kira Bang-Olsson

They look each other up and down. The girl tilts her head to the side and ponders over the creature in front of her. It is nothing like anything she has seen in her books. Big and furry. Oddly cut like a huge egg. Sad eyes. Unusually short arms.. You’re a peculiar shape, says the little girl at the creature. Well, so are you, replies the creature. True that, agrees the little girl.

They both look to the rabbit, and silently agree that the rabbit looks no different from what you would expect a rabbit to.

**

After a good nights sleep in the fresh air of the night, the three strangers begin to stir amidst unknown flowers and sounds. Both the creature and the girl awake with butterflies in their stomachs – the creature is too curious to feel sad.

The girl leaps to her feet, excited for a new day. So you live here in the forest. You must be forest creatures. I’ve read about these beings that live in the forest, giants, do you know of them? Are they real? Speaking quickly and almost out of breath, the girls’ eyes widen.

The creature and the rabbit eye each other, hesitantly. They are, the creature concedes. The rabbit shrugs. Can we see them? The girl enthusiastically asks.

Fear fills the furry tummy of the creature: Then we would have to go to the Giants Glade. But it’s not safe there..

Stories told while only some listen - Odd Friends by Kira Bang-Olsson

The creature continues to tell the girl things she’s read of and more, things that both frighten and excite her. We would have to leave at dusk, the creature explains, casting a glance at the rabbit who’s distracted by a withered dandelion. We have to be quiet. They can’t see us, let alone touch us. Then we’d be caught in their darkness.

**

The Giants - Odd Friends by Kira Bang-Olsson

Later that night, on a small bank surrounded by trees, they lie quietly watching the strange dance of the woodland giants. A curious musical noise is coming from the clearing.
The sight is both beautiful and loomingly haunting.
All of a sudden, a crackling above breaks the silence – They all look to the sky. Flapping his wings hastily, the crow is circling hastily above their heads. He caws: Move – you’re in danger!
The warning - Odd Friends by Kira Bang-Olsson

Odd friends – Part one

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She never felt quite at home - Odd Friends by Kira Bang-Olsson

In a dark and cold house in the middle of nothingness lived a little girl. She had lived there for what felt like all of her life. In the house were long, resounding hallways, tall, dirty windows, tables that went on for miles, and ceilings with a distinct stale odour of damp. Even though there were other people in the house (her family), she never felt quite at home. It was as though she did not fit her physical surroundings at all, because the house did not want her to.

Strange yet familiar- Odd Friends by Kira Bang-Olsson

Wherever she went, it seemed as if the house wanted her to leave. Rather than reflecting images the mirrors of the house housed strange, yet familiar, creatures only visible by pale, nearly transparent faces with black eyes glittering in the dark. She never could recognise what greeted her when she stared into them.

The darkness eerily crept up on her - Odd Friends by Kira Bang-Olsson

At night, she would lie and stare into the darkness, hide her nose under the old, dusty duvet. This was the only time of day the house would be completely quiet. Even the resounding hallways were silent. Only the peculiar raven would pick at the window, time and time again.

Still, as the darkness eerily crept up on her, it also gave her peace and a strange feeling of safety.

 

The girl liked to read fairy tales in heavy, dusty books - Odd Friends by Kira Bang-Olsson

During daytime there was not much to do around the house. The girl liked to read fairy tales in heavy, dusty books, though. Since the hostile house wasn’t furnished with comfortable sofas, she would always lie on the cool floorboards, under which she could hear squeaking and crawling. In the books she read about creatures of the forest, giants, and other strange things. It felt comforting to know that the entirety of the world didn’t amount to the dank walls of the house.

She didn’t go out much, nobody ever did. Actually, she had never left the premises, not knowing what dangers await her on the outside.
One day, out of boredom, she decided to peak out the front door – just a peak, merely leaving the door half open.

She went outside - Odd Friends by Kira Bang-Olsson

She barely noticed the massive main door slam behind her as she went outside. The raven circulated high above her head. From time to time it would cackle, before suddenly flying deep into the forest. There’s not much to stay here for, she thought, – I might as well follow.
So she did.

Soon she crossed the threshold into the strange forest - Odd Friends by Kira Bang-Olsson

Soon she crossed the threshold into the strange forest.