Chapter 3

Through the door, was the scene Anais had imagined. The stream beside her babbled childishly the smiling sun filtered through the towering birch trees. Blue tits chirped tunefully as rabbits chewed n wild red berries. It was an unreal dream come true. It had everything she needed. Then Anais saw it: a golden walking stick; ivy wrapped around it and a weathered talon perched upon it. A broad-shouldered owl bowed its worn face; tired and blind in one eye. ​It was so majestic. All of a sudden, she saw it: knife sharp talons curled maliciously over the mahogany rest of the perch; digging into the wood; smooth as butter. ​Her eyes opened wide in awe. She stepped foot inside the red-brick cottage; it had everything she would need to survive: a supply of tinned food; a tiled kitchen; a rustic bedroom and a welcoming and comforting snug.

“Hello!” called Anais in a sing-song voice, longing for a reply. She stepped from the arched doorway, and onto the creaking floorboards. She went upstairs. There was were she saw the bedrooms; empty. The lounge; empty. Fortunately, the bird from the forest called, as if to put her out of her misery. She hoped to find someone. There was no-one. If only there were just a few people to keep her company. For her enjoyment, Anais looked out of the window. There was where she saw it. Suddenly, it became stormy and wolves started howling to the sky. There was no way Anais could exit the cottage to get the the door to escape.

Something was odd; it was fast, and struck hard past the rattling windows. It was unusual as it was black, or so she thought, and flew past the windows. In the distance, Anais could hear leaves rustling and birds wings flapping as if they had been shot down. Anais plucked up courage, which was hard , and descended down the creaking wooden stairs. She tried not to cry out for help. A noise( not just the wondrous noises of nature) made her fairly jump. It was a screeching noise. Nothing that she had ever heard before.

Then she saw it. Trees toppled like dominos as Anais descended the stairs. The black creature had once again come back. It was then that it landed in a flurry of grey and black. It bore scarlet eyes and a long, piercing beak. It’s talons were sharp and it grabbed a small shrew while toddling around as if it were walking on hot coals. It disappeared as Anais turned away to sneeze. Where was it? She ran out of the door, not to arouse the beast. She ran towards the door.

She ran to where she thought the door was. It wasn’t there. Nothing was, just a tree wrapped in ivy. Where was the door? She turned away and tried to call for much needed help. “Help! I’m trapped!” she called, hoping for an answer. Before she could turn back to face where the door was, a talon tightened its grip upon Anais’s shoulder