On Our Side of the Forest (Short Story Compilation)

Again About the Garden Wall

Again About the Garden Wall

The Wall had held lore among us that dwelled in the garden for much longer than I had been alive. No one had dared to cross over it, and no one seemed curious as to what was beyond its towering structure. I had always found myself to be the curious one though. It was frowned upon to ask about it out loud, but at night I would listen to it. I would find myself sitting at its edge, staring high into the sky as it towered above my small possum frame.

One night, I decided to listen to its call.

I have no clue where my mind was, but I began to climb before I could second guess myself. My claw dug into the mossy stones. They were weathered with time, so their surfaces were much easier to grip on to.

When I got to the top, a breeze danced through my short fur. I shivered as I gazed at the endless sea of trees. Miles and miles of green shimmered in the moon in front of my golden eyes

I took a deep breath. All of the fear I felt towards the other side just vanished in my mind.

I looked down into the darkness that lay below me.

I jumped, using the trees as a way to make my descent. It grew darker the further down I went. Sounds began to cross through my ears that haunted me. Eerie growls, cackles, and screams called out into the night. Nothing ever lay within sight of the eye. I remained in the trees, just above it all.

There was a reason no one ever talked about the other side.

Why?

Because things that came over here seemed to not be able to come back. Reality hit me when a branch snapped right as I landed on it. I was sent to the darkness, the true darkness of the other side. I was small, far too small to be capable of playing with the beasts that roamed this woodland.

My little claws clung at the dirt. Fear ate at my soul, poisoning my thoughts. I was scared. I was forgetting which way I had gone and unsure if I had to just find a way back up, or if I had to just go straight behind me.

What was behind me?

I fell from a height, I can't recall if I was North or West....

Where was I?

It was so hard to see. My eyes couldn't adjust to this level of darkness. I just stayed shaking under a little bush. The light didn't get down here, the sun rising wouldn't matter, and the things down here were used to this.

It felt like hours had passed before I decided to move.

Another deep breath.

I began to run back on myself. I know I didn't travel that far. My eyes had slowly begun to grasp what was around me very faintly. A growl tore me from my scamper. I paused. I had fallen seconds from the thick paws of a lurking predator. He seemed to be looking around in the brush for something small. Something like me. I was frozen in place. Mortified. Its nose rummaged until it got right in front of me and snapped. I jumped back, starting to run as this six-legged beast ran after me. Four of its legs quickly carried it across the ground while it reached out for me with the other two. Its teeth glinted in the moonlight with such a menacing, hungry stare. I scurried, watching behind me closely.

Despite its size, it was graceful in the race. My eyes locked on the wall ahead of me, I had to pick up enough speed to leap high enough up from the ground. I dug into the soil, building my momentum before launching myself up.

This goes bad, I die.

Just barely I gripped at the cold, comfort of the stone. The beast slammed against the garden wall with a loud, trembling crash. I scurried up, it could not luckily climb. That didn't stop it from trying. I made it to the top, peering below to what was once again an abyss of blackness. The tops of the trees continued to dance to the night's breeze. From up here, everything was peaceful.

Tranquil.

I made my way back down to my side, the quaint comfort of the garden humbled my sense of curiosity.

I just wanted to go to sleep honestly.