Z-Seasonal Garden Chapter 24

Read Table of Content | +Kyla Scurchio
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      It was freezing, that was all I knew. I opened my eyes but saw nothing but white, I was disoriented at the sight. I could feel the wheels in my brain ticking as it tried to sort out what I was seeing. Snow, no, a blizzard. A torrent of white powder was slamming me in the face, cutting through my clothes and my body.
      "How" I chattered, as I stood shaking. To my right I saw a spark of blue light, and there by my trap stood a mouse. He held what looked like an icicle with a blue glowing orb on top. He tilted his little hat at me before another gust of wind sent the frozen piece of cheese flying. The mouse caught it in its paw, sniffed it once then
cringed. He threw the bait back on the icy ground before leaving. Only the snow didn’t go with him.
      That day I sat huddled next to the tree longing for warmth. My fingers, though stuffed in my armpits were frozen. My nose and cheeks were so cold I could no longer feel them. Though I had my red scarf to keep my neck and ears warm, I knew it wouldn’t be enough. I would have to look for wood. Fire was my only chance, I wasn’t sure how long the snow would last, forever maybe, but I couldn’t sit and do nothing.
      And to my dismay, Brie did nothing for these mice; it staled, or froze over before any mouse even looked twice at it. It didn’t matter though; I had a few tricks up my sleeve yet. I dug in my pockets until my fingers touched a soft piece of cheese. Fingers frozen, I managed to finally grip it and pull it out of my pocket. Gouda, the sharp taste perhaps would work to attract these mice better. I snatched up my trap and headed to the bridge once more, I was hoping that the other side would prove more prosperous.
      The bridge was nothing but ice. Icicles hung from the ropes, and slick sheets of ice layered the wood planks. I gripped the frozen rope and took one cautious step forward. Slower than the first time, I moved across the bridge. When I was feet from the other side my foot slipped from under me. I felt my body fly forward, my stomach lurched. My hands stayed gripped, tight on the frozen ropes above my head as my feet dangled freely off the bridge where I slipped. I clamped my eyes shut then heaved my body slowly back up onto the bridge. It was a difficult process as the whole thing was still very slick. Finally on hands and knees I crawled the rest of the distance off the bridge and fell face first onto the ground. I could hear my heart pounding in my ears; my tongue was stuck to the roof of my mouth.
"This place is crazy!" I shouted, flustered.
     When I sat up I saw I was being watched. Small, and I had to admit, cute stood a little mouse covered in layers of thick clothing; coats, scarves, and hats. He sort of waddled in my direction and I noticed I was still gripping the piece of Gouda. Grateful for having found the crate of it on some island while I traveled the seas, I threw the mouse the piece. Just as I had hoped he pounced on it. So I had bait…now I just needed the proper trap. I looked down at my Last Move, a bit of tinkering would do the trick.