Nightmares Are Real

Chapter 4 - First, to Home

Gathering up my satchel, the broken chest pieces and the stuffed bear, I take one last look around little human's room. "I'll bring her back big humans." I whisper before jumping out of the window.

I land with a thud on the red soil. I close my eyes and breathe in the scent of the earth, savouring the peaceful moment. Opening my eyelids I take in my surroundings. Still in Innisfail, but birds and other small creatures are beginning to awaken from their slumber. I shudder slightly at the thought of day creatures. They are so bright and scary with their squawking and squibbling. Glancing up towards the sky, my soul skips a movement as I see the light peaking over the distance. I fumble with the latch on my satchel, not able to get my talon under it. With hurry, I scramble to get my coat on and melt into the shadows.

I walk along a well worn trail, that I have used numerous times, that carries me into the mountains. I focus on putting one foot in front of the other trying not to think about Sadie's parents waking to find their precious daughter who means the world to them missing without a trace. Them running out into the streets desperately calling her name wanting to see their little human running towards them smiling, but instead they see nothing but the road beyond. "Stop it!" I tell myself shaking the thoughts out of my head.  "This is not going to get you anywhere." I drag myself along, trying to ignore the thoughts of Sadie that etch there way into my mind.

I stop in the middle of the trail and look around, trying to spot something familiar so I know where I am. Squinting, I turn in a circle trying to see something familiar. Out of the corner of my eye I see my cave. Relief floods through me as a trudge towards it. It is one of my numerous homes in this continent, my favourite by far. All of the others are too close to humans for my liking, but this one is perfect. A bit of a walk I will admit but it is worth it, no humans can reach you here. I shift my weight and roll the boulder out of the entrance space and walk inside. I collapse onto the mossy floor, legs throbbing after all of the work that last night made. I am tempted to lie down and rest but there is work to be done.

I force myself to get up off of the floor, and move the boulder back to cover the entrance. I fumble around in the darkness before my eyes adjust. I breathe in the familiar musky air and move over to my work space. Gently move the Huntsman Spider out of my way and allowing to rest upon my shoulder, I take off my satchel and coat and put them on the table. Unlatching the satchel, I spill its insides onto the table. I pick through the chest pieces and cob webs to get to the stuffed bear. I carefully pick it up and sit down on my mossy floor. I set the bear on the floor opposite me and study it. it had one realistic eye and the other was a big brown button. Its fur wasn't as soft as it might of been when first received but it wasn't all too bad. It is a loved possession. Sadie loves this bear.

I turn away from the bear guiltily and lie down on the floor. It has been such a long and confuzzling day. I feel my eyelids droop as I fall into a restless sleep.