Hidden behind the maze of branches stood a minuscule, enchanted castle. It was so easy to miss among the towering trees. Only the truly lucky noticed the tiny turrets; only the truly brave dared to look inside…
The palace was only about a foot tall, smaller than my dog. As I walked towards the castle the wind moaned at me for me to leave, to turn back. I didn’t listen. On the forest floor plants were all screaming for me to leave, a scream louder than I have ever heard. The overgrown grass whipped at my ankles like a sleazy ringmaster would to his animals. Wind was pushing me back, in the same way a current would. Still, I continued. I couldn’t stop now.
As I got closer and closer the growling stopped; the forest, eerily still. I was in the eye of the hurricane. My steps felt huge and gargantuan compared to the teeny castle. I knelt down beside the two towering trees. My eyes were wide, desperate to find the answer to this castle. But then, squeak. A…squeaking noise? Squeak, squeak. There it was again! And what was the smell? Wait…it smelt like…true happiness? How was that even possible? On front of the palace, I saw tiny inscriptions on the door, too tiny for a human to read. But I tried anyway. The ground was muddy and wet under my hands, but I didn’t care. I needed the answer. And so my face grew progressively closer and closer, my hands itching to inspect, to feel something that wasn’t the grotty forest floor, my breathing quickened, my eyes widened, my pupils dilated, my brain swam with theories. But then, a window opened.