Writing Prompt Challenge #1: The Creature

I asked my Facebook followers to send me writing prompts. I promised to write them each a story between 100 and 1,000 words. People still have a few more days to submit, but I thought I would go ahead and get started.

The first prompt is from Laurie:

Young nature-loving, loner teen finds a friend in the woods, it’s not any animal she recognizes, but it speaks to her fluently in her mother tongue.

Let's dive in!

The Creature

Caroline ran through the woods, tears streaming down her face. She barely knew why she was crying, why was running, just that it was all too much, and she had to get away.

There had to be more to life than studying and gymnastics, gymnastics and studying, over and over again in an endless loop. Mom wanted her to do well at school, Dad wanted a champion in the family ("even if it is only gymnastics"), and nobody seemed to care what Caroline wanted.

She doubled her pace, tried to outrun her thoughts, but no matter how fast she went, they stayed with her, right up until she stumbled to a halt in a familiar clearing.

The clearing was cool and welcoming. Almost exactly in the middle was a log, just the right size for a small teenager to sit comfortably. Caroline new it well.

Today, the log had a new occupant, one with six enormous black wings, ragged and bat-like, poking from its back like they had cut their way through its skin. Its body was long, like a snake, but segmented and hard, like a scorpion. It had six scaly legs ending in sharp claws. Two of these claws were balanced precariously on the tree stump. The rest of its body reared up and up towards the trees, culminating in a gaping maw in an eyeless head. Its mouth was stretched open and three rows of craggy, yellowing teeth could be seen within.

Caroline shrieked.

The creature jumped as though startled. It fell backwards in its surprise, its middle and upper limbs flailing comically as it collapsed.

"Bugger," said the creature.

Caroline was frozen in place. If she'd been only afraid, she would have turned and run, but confusion took over and left her unable to move.

What was it? Why could it speak?

The creature flailed on its back . Two of its legs were pinned beneath it.

Then it said, "I don't suppose you have a moment to help me up?"

Caroline hesitated, but the creature didn't seem to be a threat, not in its current state. She edged around the log to get a closer look.

"If I do help you up," she said, eventually, "will you eat me?"

"Eat you?" it asked. "You sound and smell like you're made of meat." The creature shuddered. "I am strictly vegetarian, thank you very much."

"You have rather a lot of teeth," Caroline said.

"Yes, I told her I wouldn't need them all," said the creature.

"Told who?"

"The creator. She's experimenting." The creature waved at its body with one of its free limbs. "But all this? Its a bit much, isn't it?"

Caroline found herself nodding in agreement.

"I'd like to remind you that I have no eyes," said the creature into the silence.

"Oh, no, so sorry, I agree complete, it is all a bit much."

"Thanks," huffed the creature.

"You said it first."

"It's still rather rude to agree, don't you think?"

"I don't think," said Caroline, sadly. "That's what my math teacher says. I just can't seem to break past an A-. And coach says I need to engage my mind as well as my body. She's always keeping me back to practice, practice, practice after everyone else has left."

"Your grownups sound like they need to relax," said the creature. It wriggled again and, before she could stop herself, Caroline was at its side.

"I'm going to try tilting you," she said. With the strength of someone who was used to performing complex gymnastics, she rolled the creature over enough for it to shake its legs free.

The creature scrambled upright. Caroline backed away hurriedly, suddenly wondering if she'd made the right choice. She glanced behind her. The trees were tightly packed, if she slipped through quickly . . .

With an enormous sigh, the creature stretched and settled on its hind and middle limbs, like a dog lying down. Its top half remained upright. It folded its front legs across its chest and tilted its head towards Caroline. "It sounds like you want to run away," it said, sadly.

"No, not at all," said Caroline, years of trying to please others kicking in. "You were saying something about the creator?" she asked, politely.

"Yes," said the creature with a mournful sigh. "I wanted to be a little grosbeak, flitting thought the trees on light little wings. Instead. . .well, you can see for yourself."

"I wanted to write stories," said Caroline. "Instead. . ." She didn't have to finish the sentence.

There was a brief silence, not uncomfortable, as the two each contemplated their own misery.

"Do you need a hug?" asked the creature, suddenly. "Sorry if it's a weird thing to ask, but I know I could use one."

Caroline looked at the creature that she had found so terrifying when she'd first entered the clearing. It was big and scary, but it was also sad and vulnerable and all alone.

"Why not?" she said. Before she could change her mind she stepped toward the creature and threw her arms around its hard and slightly slimy torso.

The creature wrapped its upper limbs around her shoulders, squeezing gently. "It will be alright," it said. "We'll either figure it out, or we'll try something new."

Caroline closed her eyes.

When she opened them again, the creature was gone. Her arms were wrapped around a tree. She looked around in confusion, but there was no sign that her new friend had ever been there to begin with.

But her tears were gone. Her racing heart had stilled. She was safe, she was content, and great sense of peace had settled upon her.

With a relieved sigh, she turned to go home.