So, for the last week, a spark of thought caused me to get back into writing. I have two chapters done of a story that's part "Lost", and part Little Garden. The characters from my unfinished series, Paradise Dreamers are in it, but they're not the main focus.
The first chapter is 7 pages long, so I'll be posting it in parts.
Who, or what are Pekenyo? You'll just have to read to find out.
Chapter 1, part 1
! Author’s Note:
_Pekenyo are small, mouse-like creatures which grow to be half an inch tall. They have many anthromorphic features such as speech and bipedal walking. The average life-span of a pekenyo is 200 years, and they’re strength is beyond that of an average human, despite their size. The word comes from the Spanish word “_pequeno” meaning “small”. They were to be featured in my incomplete story, Paradise Dreamers.
! The Pekenyo live in a forest clearing surrounded by trees. Because trees are plentiful, they used them to build houses for their village. It’s a primitive, but peaceful lifestyle ever since they prevented the humans from ever leaving alive.
! Every Pekenyo that can remember the events of the past holds a strong, undying grudge against the humans. Twenty years ago, a group of people claiming to be lost travelers came into the village. The Pekenyo befriended them, and helped them get to where they were going. But one morning, ten were missing from the village. Everybody knew the humans were to blame, since they accidentally left a note behind with instructions to act like travelers, earn their trust, and then take a select few Pekenyo. When the humans were crossing the bridge into the forest, four of the strongest Pekenyo destroyed it, killing everyone crossing it in the process. The Pekenyo were safe now.
! Twenty years had passed since then, and not a single human had crossed their path. Though nobody knows what happened to the missing villagers. Early one morning everybody is sound asleep, except one, a young, ten year-old Pekenyo named Pito. Pito was unique out of all the Pekenyo. All Pekenyo have either white or brown fur, but Pito was different. He was born with a shimmering, silver coat of fur. Pito just got out of bed and was walking slowly towards the front door so he wouldn’t wake his parents.
! Pito was getting ready to go outside of the village, despite knowing that Pekenyo can’t leave the village until they turn thirteen. But, since him and Leka, his friend who was a year older than him always going on secret adventures together they knew all the dangers outside the protection of the village.
! “Leka, where are you?” Pito calls out as softly as he can while walking to the front gate.
! “I’m over here, outside the front gate.” Another voice replies.
! Pito saw a brown figure standing at the gate. “Hey, Leka. I didn’t think we’d be doing this again so soon. So, why did you want me to come here?” Says Pito
! After Leka takes a deep breath, he says “How am I going to tell you this? Our camp in the woods is in danger.”
! “From what?” asks Pito as he tilts his head to one side.
! “Last night, I heard something in the woods I didn’t recognize. At first, I was pretty sure it was just some harmless animal. But, I wanted to make sure it was safe, so I snuck out of my house and went to our secret camp. On my way there, I saw a wolf get in my way. I almost got myself eaten by it, and I can’t go alone. So, I need you to help me kill it.”
! “B-but, i-it’s a w-w-wolf.” Pito replies, whimpering, and close to crying.
! “Come on, Pito. Don’t be scared, buddy. How many times have we been on dangerous adventures together? We’ve been on hunts that nearly got us killed, but here we are. Just remember, we’re in this together.” Leka says, patting Pito on the back encouragingly.
! “Yeah, we’re an unstoppable team!” says Pito, wiping the tears from his eyes.
! “That’s the spirit! Let’s get going so we can finish this before our parents wake up.”
! On their way to the camp, Pito had some questions to ask. Though he didn’t know if he’d have the answers or not.
! “Leka, can I ask you something?”
! “Sure, go ahead.”
! “Where do you think that wolf you saw came from?”
! “I’m just as confused as you are. We’ve never seen one until now. But, there has to be a reason.”
! They followed a dirt road east of the village gate they made themselves, which would lead them to their camp. As the two Pekenyo children made their way down the road, they were on the lookout for a tree marked with a diagonal cut. Leka marked that tree since it was right next to the camp.
! Pito and Leka were finally standing right next to the marked tree after half an hour of walking. “Well, here we are.” Said Leka. The camp that the two Pekenyo set up was by no means as comfortable as their homes back at the village, but it gave them a sense of accomplishment. Both of them built a small house out of branches they gathered. Even though they were poorly built compared to their real homes, they still kept them dry when it rained.