Submission (#635) Approved

There’s a little abandoned cranny just on the outskirts of where Cyprus lives, on the Palu-au Islands. He’s heard ghost stories about this place being a former hideaway for a Witch Coven. Sometimes, Ruelle tells him tales of the “sisters” that lived there and how she wanted nothing to do with their crazy magic. She went on to make candy for Kittoms. Those other witches were...Questionable at best.

Cyprus avoided this place for eons, even with his ragtag group of fellow Kittoms to come along with him. Shiva was braver than him in some aspects, although he conquered his fear of bees. Luna Nova was far too small and innocent to come along as he was afraid of losing her in a crack somewhere. Adriel wasn’t a fan of getting dirty, plain and simple.

Cyprus’ curiosity would get the better of him one day, especially when he and the others were wandering a little too far from home along the shoreline. Sure enough, Cyprus was distracted by that creepy trail that led off into palm trees and thick jungle brush. He knew what lay beyond the trail of old stone and overgrown grass, discarded shells and bottles from careless tourists. So...That’s why he should have stayed away from it. Ignored the entire thing.

Keyword: should have.

The little sandy colored Kittom with the white markings and clear blue eyes, found his paws taking him down that creepy shaded pathway. It was odd how the wildlife stopped existing the deeper he went. It was both ethereal and foreboding, the grass giving way to stones, moss, and ancient bleached planks of wood.

He’d gotten much braver ever since Shiva and the others came into his life. So much so that Cyprus was now going on his own little solo adventure to this abandoned cranny.

When the pathway opened up a little to wild tropical plants and grass that was taller than him, he could see the decrepit, dreary remains of the small hut. It had seen better days, what with parts of the roof caving in and nature growing out every nook it could find.

The place gave off a lonely feeling and a sense of dread. Cyprus tentatively approached the hut, keeping an ear out for any sign of danger, before finally placing his paws on the front steps.

“This is a bad idea Cycy, what are you doing?” He asked himself. Still...Something pulled at his curiosity like a thread. He had to find out what was in this place, even if Ruelle would surely tan his hide for going in here alone.

This place had a creepy reputation for a reason, right? But it was abandoned for who knows how long.

Cyprus stood in the doorway and carefully pushed the rickety thing open, cringing a little as it ground across the warped wood flooring. Inside was dark and musty, only lit in patches thanks to the roof being filled with holes.

There were strange plants growing wildly in this place, the boards creaking under his weight as Cyprus stepped in fully and took in the scenery. Dark, but a little...Exciting. He spotted mushrooms in a corner, softly glowing in the dim light. Little balls of light flitted around before hiding away the second he stepped toward them. The place was silent except for his noisy steps. Palm leaves littered the floor in bunches, both dried and old, as well as broken shells...And what he could assume were fish bones.

So far, the cranny wasn’t exactly impressive. It was just a dirty old hut with little to offer, clearly not lived in for some time. Feeling that he actually had nothing to fear, Cyprus relaxed his guard and casually scuffed at the dirt on the floor. That’s when he saw an odd symbol.

Careful observation led to more, scribbled here and there on the floors and walls in the dim lighting. He didn’t know what they meant but he knew they were “very witchy.” Ruelle would know more than him on this.

As he continued into the hut, he found a dark hole in the back of the room. The edges of the floor were burned and remnants of old candles lie broken and tossed about. Cyprus had no clue what happened here but it looked...Violent.

He peered into the hole, sniffing cautious, and recoiled when an old, mildew-y stench reached his nose. “Ewww, what is THAT?!” He leaned in further and tried to study the pit, not really picking up anything he could see...There. It was small as he shifted, the light casting behind him shone on something shiny at the bottom.

Of course there would be buried treasure in the bottom of a scary, abyssal pit. What spooky abandoned place WOULDN’T have that?

Whatever it was, he found the source of the tugging on his soul as it were. A shiny looking rock that almost looked blue...Just like his eyes. Carefully, Cyprus tried to find a way into the pit without getting stuck.

He looked around the decrepit interior, trying to see past the undergrowth that split the boards and some of the walls. Eventually, he found a plan that was long enough to use as a ramp and sturdy enough to hold his weight. Not that Cyprus weighed much, being such a little mite.

“Okay Cycy, you can do this! The others will be really impressed with you if you can grab that rock!” He geared himself up before taking the plunge, carefully padding down the ramp and landing on the floor softly below. Black sand met his feet and it squished between his toes, the smell was horrid, however.

He was quick to locate the strange blue rock, discovering it was an odd crystal. It was cold to the touch, but the light it gave off suddenly flared to life!

“WHOA!” Cyprus yelped, watching as the small hole he stood in got bathed in blue. All the crystal did was glow as he studied his find, noting the strange rune carved into its surface. “I KNEW this was witch stuff!”

He took the crystal in tow and made to escape the hole, when the hut started to shake. Cyprus quickly leaped out of the hole as the plank was swallowed up by the black sand. The crystal didn’t stop glowing, its blue light seemingly getting brighter before dimming as if it had a pulse. ‘Or a heart’, his thoughts unhelpfully supplied.

The house didn’t like this, Cyprus could tell that much. The floorboards creaked without weight, his fur stood on end as his instincts screamed ‘DANGER! RUN YOU FOOL! YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE COME HERE!’

Cyprus leaped over the splintering boards, the shadows dancing across the interior suddenly came to life as he raced for the exit...That seemed to stretch on forever. He didn’t know what was happening as panic gripped his little heart. His mind chanted ‘no no no no no! I’m sorry Rue! I shoulda listened!’ Over and over as Cyprus twisted and turned, suddenly being played as the shadows around him danced and laughed.

The laughter is what sent him near screaming but he refused to give up his prize, not after coming so far.

The mushrooms in the corner looked larger than before, but what really freaked him out were the eyes. The drawings and strange symbols on the walls glowed bright thanks to the crystal’s light. He swore he saw the eyes watching him. Moving as he ran and why on EARTH was this hut suddenly so LONG?!

He crouched down and gave a mighty leap, just as a vine snaked its way to snatch him. It missed by a hair’s width, taking some of his fur instead as the Kittom tumbled out of the hut, head over heels.

Cyprus landed roughly on the ground outside, the stillness returning to the area. The hut looked just as it did when he entered as he gazed up at it, eyes widening in fear. Silent. Lonely. Evil. Did all that really happen..?

It was just him, the crystal, and his beating heart in his ears before the sounds of Shiva and Adriel brought him back to reality.

“CYPRUUUSSS!!!” Shiva’s cry came from behind him, followed by the grumbling threats of his older brother.

“Cyprus I swear if you’re actually out here I’m telling Ruelle!” Followed by more complaining. “Ugh...I think I stepped in something!”

Cyprus quickly got up and met his friends at the mouth of the clearing, finally putting down the crystal. Its soft glow continued, but it looked a little dimmer than when it was in the hut. “GUYS! YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT I’VE JUST BEEN THROUGH!”

Shiva and Adriel stood there looking him over, the pink Kittom instantly drawn to the crystal at Cyprus’ feet. “Oohhh! That’s pretty!”

“Cyprus, it’s been HOURS! Where have you been!?” Adriel growled, glaring at his brother and waiting for an answer. His face contorted seconds later. “Ew, and you need a bath! You stink!”

Cyprus tilted his head, confused. “What do you mean hours? I’ve only been gone for ten minutes, tops!” After escaping a spooky witch house he was too distracted with running for his life to worry about his smell.

Shiva looked back at Cyprus while pawing the crystal. “No, it’s been hours! Ruelle’s really worried about you! We went running off to look for you since you disappeared during our hide and seek game! Which by the way, you won, so congrats.” She wrinkled her nose a bit. “And...You really do smell! What were you rolling in?!”

Cyprus still looked confused. “I was in there and then--the shadows! T-The house and the PLANTS and the magic! THE WITCHES!” He bounced on his feet, trying to formulate his thoughts. “That place is cursed!”

Adriel looked behind Cyprus at the abandoned hut, “looks like an ordinary run down hut to me.”

“The witches! The tales are true! The house CAME ALIVE and-!”

Shiva interrupted, nudging the brothers to get back down the path and on the way towards home. “Allllrrighhtt guys let's go! Ruelle’s waiting for us! We can argue about witches and haunted houses AFTER Cyprus has a bath!”

“But--!” Cyprus started, but was stopped as he was whisked home. At least he got to keep his crystal, which was the only treasure he got from that surreal experience.