The forest, Allina noticed, was filled with more life than she'd ever thought it was. As she skittered through the underbrush, searching, she heard a hundred animals moving beneath her, leaping through the trees, flying high above. Every once in a while she'd come into contact with a bug or worm. Once Allina walked into another mouse; it scrambled away in a hurry, sensing something wrong with her.
Allina realized she'd lost the trail of footprints entirely, so she climbed up a tree stump to survey the forest. Night was near. Soon there would be owls about and silent nocturnal creatures that might try to eat her.
She was so absorbed in looking about, trying to find a predator lurking in the tall plants, that she didn't notice something swift dropping down on her from above.
A falcon! Allina realized. She leapt into the safety of the undergrowth. The falcon's talons scraped the stump, and then it was off again to go hunt another creature.
Still, Allina ran. She sprinted as quick as her short legs would take her. Allina wove through the grasses, leapt over roots, squeezed herself between rocks. She crossed a babbling stream by running over a log.
It was only when she ran into a thick, thorny bramble did she realize she was completely lost. What's more, night had fallen while she was running. Rocks and trees and weeds all cast warped shadows over the bare earth. Allina's spine prickled.
She began to pick her way through the bramble. She was making good progress, but she was exhausted. Her head hurt; her joints ached. The forest, Allina decided, was a lonesome place.
As Allina kept on, the bramble became more tangled and more treacherous. Her legs and body were covered in scratches. Allina was glad to be a mouse, because her long hair would've gotten caught in the thorns.
Once or twice, Allina turned around. She could hardly see the beginning of the bramble patch, much less anything before that. Still she walked onward.
Beyond the brambles was a marsh. Its tall grass stood like a whole forest of trees in Allina's path; the slop sucked at her feet. She once or twice had to swim through muddy pools, making the cuts on her sides sting.
Beyond the marsh was a small lake. To the lake's left Allina could see forest clogged with a dozen owl's nests; to its right rose mountains she'd never be able to climb. So Allina fashioned herself a small boat from a piece of driftwood, crossed the lake, and wondered, How long can this go on?
YOU ARE READING
The Library
FantasyA young girl meets a favorite guest every Saturday at the library. She discovers an old book, and begins to wonder if the guest is who she says she is.
