Hunter

• Sylvia Tristram, Grade 5
• Short Story
• 2022

My eyes dart across the garden, left-right, right-left; following the intruder's
every move. He always comes in the morning, trying to find something he
knows is in the soft soil next to the huge, fragrant rosemary bush that is now
in bloom. He is wary and careful because he knows I am watching.
I am not sure why Master won't let me get him. He keeps the wire door shut
tight. Although, this morning, it was different. Out of the corner of my eye l
could see that the door was very slightly open.
Master had been gone for around 10 minutes, and I was free to do as I liked. "No!
Don't!" cried my friend Bella. "If Master didn't think it was dangerous, he would
let us outside!" That was actually a pretty good reason, but I had a better
one. "Well, we've both been outside at our old houses, so what's the
difference?"
"It might be-" Bella started, but I gave her no time to finish.
"That was a rhetorical question, Bella." and with that, I nudged the door open
and stepped into freedom.
It was bliss. The crunchy, squishy texture of the grass underfoot was better
than l ever remembered it. And as I looked ahead, I saw him, frozen with fear at
the sight of a free hunter. Growling, I took a step towards the enemy, and
pounced. Unfortunately he leapt into the air at the last second, and all I got
was his tail. "I don't think he will be coming back!" said a voice behind
me. "WHAT!! I yelped, spitting out a mouthful of speckled brown and tan feathers; "Bella, you came?!"
"Well... I didn't want to miss out on the fun." she said "And, well, I guess I
underestimated you." "Awww.Thanks, Bella" I said 'Let's see what that dumb bird was looking for." I began to scrape at the dirt, sending flecks of brown and green flying everywhere and tiny insects scuttling for cover. Before long, despite her protests, Bella joined in.
Around 15 minutes later, "Ouch!" I cried out. I had hit something hard. the help of Bella I pushed it out onto the grass and tried to open the lid.
Our efforts were futile however, so we dragged it back inside just as the door
opened and Master entered the house. Seeing our dirty paws, he knew we
broke his rule. "Oh you..." "Hang on, what's this?" he said looking at the chest.
"We found it in the garden but couldn't open it." I tried to explain what happened, but I don't
think Master understood me. "Let's open it!" said Master, grabbing
a crowbar. With a groan and a creak, the lid opened. Inside were
thousands of ancient coins, scrolls of parchment and precious gemstones!
"You know Bella," I said a week later, stretching out on my chaise-lounge;
"I'm glad that silly bird came into our garden" "I wonder if he was sent by someone
looking for that chest" she meowed in reply, golden collar jingling. " We'll never know since he escaped." Our joyfulness was short-lived however because out in the garden; Peck, Peck, Peck.
He was back...