Characters
Claire - A Cat
(*dee-Tooz) Detwoz - A Mouse
Radio - A Bird
Gin - A Pig
The Fox
The Rabbit
Claire's Mother
The Unknown
*w is silent
It's an elegant day in The Garden. It has been years since the boy has left. The Garden is full of new life now. Families gather, shops open up, and youngsters play with one another. It seems that each year technology is getting better and better. The animals now appear to be more human-like but still keep mostly all their moralities. Most of them have concluded it has something to do with The Eternal Spring. But none of them are unnerved by this. They are happy to look similar to the boy who once saved them.
In the distance, we go to a small cottage where we shall begin our story.
Three children, a bird named Radio, a mouse named Detwoz, and a pig named Gin, are outside her house again. Claire's mother, a cat, is presently cleaning clothing outside.
"I see you kids came to play again. She is presently taking her afternoon nap, but I'll see if she wishes to come out."
The children cheered with glee. While Claire's mother goes inside, the children begin conversing about what they will do today. Radio was the first to speak.
"Where do you think Claire will take us today?"
"I'm not sure, replied Gin. But all I know is that one place we laid the first stone yesterday had a nice mud pond. I desire we go there again."
"You just want to roll in the mud again, snarled Detwoz. I don't want to go there; it's odorous. Plus…"
"What are you guys serving? Don't you know I often take a nap around this time?"
The kids call Claire's name as if it's been years since they last saw her. Claire, who is presently rubbing her eyes, is puzzled by this level of enthusiasm.
"Now, Claire, that isn't acceptable. Your friends strode far to come to see you again. Why don't you go and play?"
"Ok, mother."
"Just don't stay out too late, and kids, please promise me you all won't get into anything you're not allowed to."
"We promise."
"Claire?"
"Yes, mother, I promise. There, can I go now?"
Claire's mother gives her a stern look but sighs with relaxation and shakes her head at her daughter. She then shoos them off, and all four scamper towards the town. She watched them go over the hill. Claire's mother looked up at the clouds in the distance; not too far, she thought she saw a hooded figure at the top of a cliff. And she ignored it as she had nothing to stress within The Garden.
"So, Claire, do you have some indications of what we'll be doing today?" Gin implored.
"Truthfully, I'm not sure. I'm still trying to revive from my nap." She said with a yawn.
"I might possess an idea," replied Radio."
"Really?" Detwoz asked with excitement.
"But it's perilous," informed Radio.
"Well, go on, inform us," said Gin.
"Alright, so the other day, I was flying over Aliceseal when I overheard some other animals conversing about a beautiful place known as The Patch. They said it was like a dreamland. And even better and lovelier than The Garden."
"No way!" Shouted Gin. "There is no place that is more lovely than The Garden. We have everything we could conceivably need, and we live longer since we always drink from the spring."
"Just listen to him, alright?" replied Detwoz.
"That's all I wanted to say," answered Radio.
Gin and Detwoz both blink and ask at the same time.
"Wait, that's it?"
"Yeah, I got so excited that I instantly yearned to tell you all. But it was already late, and I think most of you were busy at home."
To Claire's amazement, this place sounded intriguing, and she was curious about it. She'd never heard of The Patch.
"Alright, everyone, it's decided; we'll go to see this Patch place. It sounds inviting."
After hearing Claire, the animals acknowledged. Radio took the lead while Claire, Gin, and Detwoz followed. Radio was complacent in his navigation skills.
"So, how far is this place?" Asked Claire.
"It's not too remote. And it's near The Fox and The Rabbit's place," responded Radio.
They all wailed.
"The Fox and The Rabbit!!"
"Are you crazy? That is sacred ground," warned Gin.
"Yeah, now I'm not sure if I want to go," added Detwoz.
"I'm still going ahead," said Claire. "You all know me; I can't turn away when I perceive adventure. And my curiosity for this place is over the top."
"That's just like you, Claire," said Radio.
"Well, I guess if Claire is going, I'll go as well," added Detwoz.
"It looks like we'll have to sneak into yet another place," added Gin. "We can't get busted by The Rabbit, especially the Fox."
And so the children proceeded with their adventure. They were venturing into the unknown. Meanwhile, in town, a rabbit is on his way back from the store. After picking up a few vegetables, it was time to go home to his friend again, and it was the same Rabbit the boy had seen many years ago. Yes, he was heading home to The Fox.
He arrived at the path that took him home. He smelled something different along the way. At first, The Rabbit paid no heed to it. Many animals visit his cottage, and that's the only reason they'd come here. But as he can recall, there wasn't anyone arranged to visit.
As he continued along the path, he was able to make up four distinct smells. Hm, he thought to himself. "Just who all is coming to visit us?" Their home isn't big enough to hold that many people. He pondered many ideas that might have brought that many animals out here. Then he remembered what the boy had said all those years.
"No matter what, you must promise me to never let anyone near this place. It is a bad place. And it is outside of The Garden, but a part of it lives here within that figure."
The Rabbit hurried after remembering those words. The Rabbit and The Fox had seen it once. But, he remembered the most important words of the boy, "never look into the eyes."
When he came to the hidden path, he could see that four animals had taken the way to The Patch. With haste, he made no delays.
Up ahead, Claire and the others had wandered far from The Garden. It was still beautiful, and it seemed that fewer and fewer plants grew here. She even thought she saw a tree in a figure pointing to go back. It made her curiosity burn hotter. The thriller of adventuring into the unknown was enough to put all worries away. Being the cat she is, interest ran through her genes. Besides, it isn't every day you hear of uncharted territory within The Garden. To her, that news is adventure calls.
When they arrived, the children tucked in close to each other from inside a bush to take a peak. It indeed was unseen terrain, and it was an open plain. And tall grass blew as if they were dancing with one another. Claire, of course, was the first to step foot without hesitation.
"Claire, what are you doing?" Whispered Detwoz.
"Yeah, come back into the bushes. We don't know if it's safe," advised Gin.
Radio decided to follow Claire. He'd always trust Claire's cat instincts. If any trouble arose, the hairs on her tail would rise. And at the moment, they seemed calm as the light wind that blew crossed these plains. The tall grass was indeed a beautiful sight to behold. And perhaps it was indeed more magnificent than The Garden, he thought.
Gin decides to come out from the bushes. But Detwoz was shivering in fear. All three looked at him in confusion. They'd never seen him like this.
"What's the matter?" Asked Claire
"I don't know, but I feel bad about this place. Something is standing there, and I stress we shouldn't go any further."
"And he is right!"
A voice came from ahead, and it was The Rabbit. Both were caught red-handed.
"All of you, come here right this instant!"
The Rabbit looked behind the three children and saw something starting to appear in the distance.
"Hurry!" He yelled.
The children quickly followed his directions with more haste. Then the four children stood there getting scolded.
"What were you thinking of going to such a place? It's a hazardous area to be in."
"This is part of The Garden!" shouted back Claire. "We can go wherever we please, and besides, we have nothing to fear since we all bear the boy's mark."
"Young lady, I'll have you know this place is called The Patch. It's not part of The Garden but an enemy of it, and it is what eats and breeds life outside of The Garden."
"How do you know this? Asked Claire."
Just then, the voice of an unknown man came out.
"Yes, tell them, oh, chosen Rabbit. Tell the children how the boy abandoned me and locked me in this shell of a stone. Was I to not part of his creation?"
"Whatever you do, children do not turn around."
"Wouldn't the children like to know the truth about the outside world? The world they are denied. The world they seek and the curiosity within their hearts. To be more precise, their birthright."
Suddenly someone else was coming, but this time behind The Rabbit. It was none other than The Fox.
"I got here as soon as I felt it."
"Oh, The great Fox arrives, the hero."
"It's been years since the last time I saw you. The only way to wake you is if one is to see you. So which one of you brats looked? Which one of you saw the statue's eyes?"
Detwoz started to break a sweat. It wasn't his fault the moment he saw the place the stone statue was standing there. He avoided looking at it because everything around it was dead. And the figure itself was not an incredible sight at all. He did not see what the others saw as "beautiful"; he only saw death. And in the middle of this was the statue missing an eyeball. The Fox glanced at the four children and could pick out who had seen the figure.
"So it was you," said The Fox. It's good that your fear kept you from looking any more than you needed to. Because you don't want the abyss to look back at you."
Detwoz didn't understand any of this. He just wants to go home and hide under his bed while stuffing cheese in his mouth. To simply put, he could not stress the situation any longer. The voice then said one more thing that seemed to have the hairs of The Fox and Rabbit jump up.
"It appears one among the children doesn't fear me. It's almost as if they seek adventure or live for the thrill. Hm, curious indeed."
The children were shocked in fear as they knew who this voice was. Claire shrugged her shoulders without a care in the world. In her mind getting caught is half the fun, but there is always the next time.
The Fox and Rabbit continued to stare back at the statue with warrior-like eyes, ready to defend the children. The boy has specially chosen them. So they could look at it for more extended periods than most. But soon, their heads began to get dizzy, so they quickly decided it was best to grab the children and leave.
The statue cracks a smile and vanishes as if nothing was there.
On the way back, The Fox and Rabbit had the children walk in front of them to make sure none of them turned around. Then they finally arrived on the main path. They simply could not tell the children's parents about their actions. Since no one knew this place existed at all. It was tiresome, but they had to deal with it since it was one of the boy's wishes. The Rabbit decides to take his leave while he leaves The Fox with the children.
"You must never go there again. And please never speak of that place. For if you do, it will be the end of The Garden. I'll say this, don't let curiosity fool you. Don't look for things that are unknown to you. And if you look for too long, I promise it will not be what you envision it, and you'll never comprehend it. That is all, now return home immediately."
The children obeyed without a sound or turning around. They're usually never permitted to, so it seemed rude to talk to an adult with your back faced them. Slowly the four of them walked home. Radio decided it was best to hurry home, so he decided to fly. He didn't say goodbye or look back. A significant weight over his shoulders now sits as he feels everything was his fault. He regretted asking that teenager more about the news about The Patch. It was something he failed to mention to his friends. Although now, he realized he'd never seen such a strange creature before in The Garden. Well, it didn't matter; it bore the boy's mark. Besides, one shouldn't judge another by r the way they look.
Detwoz quickly ran away, and Gin followed after. Gin suddenly turns around.
"Huh, Claire, are you not coming?"
"Don't worry about me. I'm just taking my time. You can go ahead without me, and I know you two have a long walk back home."
"Well, I'll see you first thing in the morning."
"Alright, see you then, Gin."
"Wait for me, Detwoz. You know I have a hard time keeping up."
"No way, you speed up."
"But, my little legs."
Claire watched as the two wasted times with one another. "Boys will be boys," she thought. She stood there a moment and turned in the direction they came. Her blue eyes reflected in the moonlight. She hadn't yet noticed how dark it had gotten. Perhaps being able to see in the dark had something to do with that. Still, those eyes of hers were hungry to know more about The Patch. She decided that going again now would be too risky, so she started to make a plan in her mind. Just then, a question came to her. What she's looking for? What drives her to ignore dangers and warnings completely? As she thinks this, she begins to walk. She is entirely not aware of where she is going. After a few moments of trying to rack in her mind the perfect answer, she suddenly realized that she was right by the bushes near The Patch.
Again, the soft, calm wind blew and drew her inward. Lightly stepping as if not to wake anyone or alarm them, she entered The Patch. The others must have gone mad. Just what did they see? She saw nothing but beauty. This time it was different since the moon shone so bright. She flopped down, laid on her back, and stared at the stars above. One star seems to stand out to her. It had the shape of an eye, but one seemed to be missing.
She became puzzled a bit upon looking at it. She sits up and sees a figure. She rubbed her eyes a few times, and all she saw was a colossal stone missing an eye. She paid no heed to it and laid back down. This beauty that Radio talked about was what she envisioned in her mind.
"Since my nap was interrupted, I'll lounge before heading home. My mother may get upset, but I always return home."
Slowly she closed her eyes and rested peacefully.
A creature from a distance watched as the cat named Claire stood in the middle of the swamp staring into the one-eyed statue. Bones and dead trees besieged the cat. Slowly she began to descend into the swamp. As the creature watched, she smiled until her little ears went. And as if a beast that was satisfied with a meal, a little bubble popped.
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