Today
The small creature, about the size of a mouse was curled around its offspring in their nest. They slept soundly together. This creature had a dark pink fur and a long pointy face filled with sharp teeth, its light pink paws had its claws retracted, its tail ending in an arrow shape stayed around the children. It opened a simple eye and checked the kids, one yellow, one purple and one peach coloured, all safe and sound. The creature’s ears flicked and they fell back asleep.
When the creature woke it found itself alone in the nest. “Hyaargh!” They exclaimed and jumped up looking around frantically. Where were the kids! They scrambled out of the soft down lined nest onto the stick and mud base, sniffing around for any clues. They found where some of the nest decorations had been knocked over, bones, feathers and flowers, some tracks lead from the spot. The creature made a noise in worry and checked around the nest again before deciding to follow the tracks. They hurried along, so concerned for the children, that they didn’t notice when their friend, another creature ran over. This creature was similar in shape but was as big as a cat, light pink in colour, had no fur or ears and clawed feet like a lizard. They had a red bow around their neck, put there by their owner, which had so named them Strawberry. Strawberry ran up to Raspberry (named by Strawberry’s owner too) with a noise of greeting “Hyeee!” When Raspberry heard it they jumped and stumbled back in surprise. “Nyergh!!” They returned when they realised who it was. Strawberry wagged their tail happily and nudged Raspberry but gave a questioning look when they sensed their concern. Raspberry bounced around anxiously and explained to Strawberry what had happened. Strawberry was concerned now too and picked up the trail too. They let Raspberry hop onto their back so they could go faster.
They followed the tracks down to a stream and crossed hoping to find the trail continued on the other side. The trail didn’t continue exactly opposite so they had to walk along the side to find it again. As they searched a tiger snake slithered up. “Hyaaa!” Strawberry exclaimed and started running, Raspberry slipped off and chased after, trying to catch up the snake was gaining on them. They squeaked in fear and then Strawberry realised they were behind them and ran back scooping them up onto their back just as the snake was about to strike. Strawberry jumped back then stepped forward and snapped at the snake with their sharp teeth. The snake moved back then started slithering away. Strawberry hissed at the snake as it slithered off then sat down. They’d lost the trail. Raspberry climbed off Strawberry’s back and immediately went searching for it again. They had to find the kids. Strawberry watched them “Hyee…” They stood up and started looking too.
Finally Raspberry picked up the trail again and took off along it. Strawberry followed. After a lot of walking they found some new things on the trail, dark purple liquid had dripped, like whatever had taken the kids was bleeding. Raspberry sniffed it and continued following until they came up the entrance of a burrow. There was a lot more blood here and sharp rocks jutted out around the entrance. It was completely dark inside and smelt of rotting flesh and sugar. Raspberry paced around the entrance, scared to go in, but desperately wanting to save the kid. Strawberry sat and watched Raspberry, waiting for their decision. Raspberry waved their head around in their final decision. “Hyingh hyingh.” Was the noise they made before disappearing into the dark of the burrow. Strawberry nodded and looked back once before following them.
It was pitch dark and the smell of the rotting flesh and sugar was overpowering. A low hum started, and started getting louder as they walked through. Raspberry stayed close to Strawberry as they went. Raspberry squeaked as they cut their paw on a sharp rock, the blood beaded and rolled down the rock. The light went purple and the hum died off. Raspberry shivered in fear and huddled up to Strawberry, holding their paw up, little drops of blood splashing on the floor. Strawberry looked around cautiously then saw as the darkness came racing back up the tunnel. “Hyeegh!” They exclaimed and scooped up Raspberry in their mouth before dashing along trying to outrun the darkness. They skidded to a halt at the end of the tunnel, but they were going too fast and tumbled into the big space that came after it. They landed with a thud and scrambled to the feet to see the darkness writhing at the end of the tunnel. It hadn’t followed them in. They watched it for a moment before looking around the space. The light was normal in here and there were no funny smells or sounds. “Hyuum.” Strawberry pawed at the ground then felt something drip on their head. They looked up and saw tufts of coloured fur hanging through a dark web. Raspberry looked up too. The kids!
Raspberry chittered up at them but got no response. They jumped but it was much too far for them to reach, too far for Strawberry too. Strawberry looked around for something to try get them down when they realised the darkness had disappeared from the tunnel. They looked behind them to see the darkness had taken on a physical form. It had a shape similar to strawberry, but finer, with longer thinner legs. It had a fuzzy outline and a lot of glowing purple eyes. Strawberry jumped and so did Raspberry when they realised. The creature of darkness dripped dark purple onto the floor and the humming noise along with smell of rotting flesh and sugar came back. Raspberry trembled in fear and looked back up at the kids, the darkness was spreading along the walls and started dripping too. Hyeeee they hoped they could get them out soon. Strawberry growled and pounced on the dark creature, trying to rip its head off but it just pulled like putty and got stuck in their teeth. Strawberry grabbed them with their claws but just got more tangled. Raspberry bounced with concern then ran up the wall, paws stick in the new darkness that covered them. It felt cold and it hurt their paw but they continued climbing until they reached the web that held the children, they looked down below where Strawberry struggled with the creature of darkness. They watched with concern for a moment before managing to free the still sleeping kids. Now they just had to get them down safely, when just then the web snapped and the kids fell into the sea of darkness that had started filling the room before, Strawberry deep in it. Raspberry called out but held onto the ceiling, when they spotted a strange light above where the web had been connected. They looked closer at it. A glowing white crystal. They reached out their injured paw and touched it. The darkness filling the room started speeding up, almost filling the room before a blinding light flashed from the crystal. Raspberry was plunged into darkness moments before this happened.
When Raspberry came to, they stood up groggily and looked around. They saw the kids and Strawberry waking up too. The room of the burrow just looked normal now, some sand falling from the wall. Raspberry shook themself out and walked over to their kids. They nuzzled them and made sure they were okay and were greeted with lots of little chitters. They looked over at Strawberry who looked happy for them. Raspberry seemed relieved and Strawberry happily carried them and the kids out of the burrow. As they neared the end of the tunnel the burrow started collapsing behind them and Strawberry had to run to get them out. They made it just in time before the burrow collapsed completely. They looked back, glad to be out before trotting back to the nest.
When they got there Raspberry hopped in the nest with the kids and wriggled around until they were comfy. They looked up at Strawberry just as a voice called Strawberry’s name from a distance. Strawberry gave one more look to Raspberry before wandering off to their owner and gladly going home to rest. Raspberry watched as they left then curled happily around the chattering kids.