"Yummy." The gobbler bellowed. It gave a loud, thundering burp. Spews of spit fell on the villagers. They stung like poisoned sweat, and smelt like rotting flesh.
As the grub finished its meal, it looked at the villagers.
"Too small, too grimy, disgusting!" It cried, glowering down.
Grimacing, its face twitched with scorn, eyes flashing red.
It brought its 8 giant midgets together. Curling into a ball, it shrank, smaller, and smaller, until half its size.
A high whistle sounded, and out from its pores shot putrid gas.
In shock, the villagers kneeled and cried, shielding their eyes and one another. The ground was shaking as if ruptured by a giant earthquake.
After what seemed like ages, the rumbling stopped, and the gas diffused. Rising slowly, they looked around.
The filthy gunk on their bodies had disappeared, leaving dark, red stains. Where the monster had been, there was now empty space.
In the middle of the hall lay a lone, black shoe.
~❋❋❋~
From then on, the villagers would tell their children, "If you don't finish all your soup and vegetables, the Gobbler would come eat you whole!"
YOU ARE READING
Tales from the Woodfolk: A collection of short stories
AdventureA shadow passes between two trees as you hear scurrying across the leaves. A wind blows through a curtain of swaying ivy. Flowers fall as a maiden kisses her lover's cheek, only to disappear in the light of dawn. Have we really listened to the tree...
