The Shortcut

Word count 568

PROMPT
A great horned owl seems to be following you (or your character). Write the story or poem.

I am late it is almost dusk, and I’m not going to make it home in time for supper. If I’m not on time, I will be in trouble again. I decide to take the shortcut through the woods to save time.

Once in the woods, I hurry along the path toward home feeling a little nervous like something is watching me.  I glance around me and see two huge yellow eyes watching me from a limb of a gnarled old tree. I know at once, it’s a great horned owl. The owl is huge, it has a big head and long ear tufts that look like horns but are really just feathers.

I slowly walk past the tree hoping the owl is in a good mood and breathing easier as the owl lets me pass without a problem.  I pick up speed and  continue along the path. I hear a noise and realize the owl is following me, I look back me and sure enough the owl is flying behind me.  It has a wingspan  of 4 or 5 feet from tip to tip.

The owl settles in another tree and watches me. I know they are strong birds and are very protective of their young. They’ve  been known to attack humans who wander too close to their nest. I need to stay away from the young owls and their nest. But, where is the nest? 

I look around me and sniff the air because I know owls are the only bird of prey that eat skunks.  I can detect a faint skunk smell and cautiously take a few more steps, the odor is getting stronger and the big owl is beginning to make clacking noises with its beak.  I’m getting too close.  I retreat a few feet and the owl calms down a bit.

The big owl continues to watch me from its perch, its  legs and feet have thick feathers with only it’s talons showing,it’s big yellow eyes are glaring at me as if in warning.

I edge myself slowly off the path and make a detour for a few feet before coming back to the path.  I am safely past the nest and can hear the owl settling into it with her babies.  I breath a sigh of relief.

But now I’m even later  for supper I break into a run heedless of branches or other obstacles on the path.  Finally, I’m out of the woods and can see the farmhouse in the distance.  I run as fast as my tired leg muscles will allow, my heart pumping in my chest.

I rush through the kitchen door panting from the fear and physical exertion my body has been through.  Just as I feared the family is seated at the table and my father glares at me from the head of the table.

“You’re late again,” he snaps.

“ I took the shortcut through the woods and there was a huge owl...’

“I’m sick of your excuses,” he roared, go to your room and think about it.”

I trudged up the stairs knowing there was no use arguing with him.  I sat on my bed thinking as I was instructed to do.  I wondered who was the most frightening of the two – my dad or the owl.