Global Classroom Creative Writing Anthology 2015
The Encounter
The Land Beyond the Mountain
My grandfather had always tried to tell us, but I guess we never believed him. It was hard to believe. But we understand now, all of us.
The journey had been hard but worth it, when I finally managed to scramble up the steep, rocky mountain I stood up straight and curiously looked around.
It happened one summer afternoon, soon after we had arrived for our annual summer holiday with our cousins. We had all trooped down to the stream to go fishing with our
old nets to catch the tiny, fast fish that we would keep for a day then return. We were walking back to our grandparents’ house with buckets in our hands, trying not to spill
our catch, when Justin asked the question that none of us would forget.
I saw the most enchanting sight in the world. A vast raw green meadow spread out dotted with flowers of all different colors. Twisty towers sprang from the ground with
moss clinging on to them while ancient oaks towered above them. Their leaves were swaying in the wind softly whispering to me.
“Mummy, can we go and play on the hill?”
Thousands of tiny little birds were swooping and gliding all over the place with magnificent multicolored feathers and two wings on each side of their body! They sang a
glorious tuneful song that was like nothing I had ever heard … so soothing!
We had already taken off our wet wellington boots and when the answer came we were too excited to put them on again. So we ran outside, barefoot. The hot pebbles on the
driveway scorched our cool feet. I could feel everyone wince. We could see the hill, rising above us. We loved it, it was better than a playground. When we reached the grass it
was soft and clean. We scrambled up the hill, racing to get to the top first. The wildflowers danced in the breeze, their different hues lighting up the hill.
Glancing up towards the sky I saw proud, muscular dragons beating their giant wings in the bright blue sky silhouetted by the white, puffy clouds above me. Even though
these were magnificent creatures, I was not afraid – they did not seem interested in me at all. Maybe, I thought to myself, all the stories we’ve been told about their evil
were not real.
I remember everyone sat down out of breath half way. I picked up a buttercup and held it under Justin’s chin. It was really yellow and we all laughed.
Once we had made our way to the top we looked down. This was our kingdom. Lazy sheep were dotted on the bumpy landscape like pieces of white fluff on a royal green
robe. The crowning jewel was the Scafell Pike towering over everything. Even though it was summer the summit of the mountain was snow-capped and sparkled. The song
of a robin filled the sky.
We were sat down on the ground next to “our trees”, as we called them, telling each other jokes.
That was when it happened. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a flash of colour. “Shhh…” I whispered to the other four. My brother tensed. My sister and my cousins looked
wide-eyed at me.
Calmly, a fox came and sat in the middle of our trees. We stared in awe. A cool breeze rustled the leaves. The robin stopped singing. No-one moved. We were not scared; we
were transfixed by the majesty of the sight.
The fox was a beautiful golden orange and its fur seemed to shimmer in the shafts of the afternoon light. Its eyes looked at us with the wisdom of
many years.
Looking at the trees I was mesmerised by their colours and their many different shapes and sizes. Something moved in the corner of my eye. I desperately tried to see
it again, moving left and right, scanning the trees trying to spot something through the silver leaves I was astonished when I thought I saw little people with long pointy
ears and delicate little wings smile hypnotically at me. I blinked in surprise but they were gone!
In this magical, wonderful place I felt at peace but not at home, I started to wonder where I was and how I would get home. Suddenly, I heard a low rumble. In a flash the
ground below me started to crack. I couldn’t tell why the creatures were doing nothing just acting like this happened every day.
Quickly a ginormous snow white castle rose up and steadied itself. Now, I could hear a busy market and happy singing. The castle had a large chocolate brown oak door
and pointy blood red roofs. Griffins with luxurious gold and white feathers gracefully strode out and gave a loud cry of happiness. It was proud to be the castles loyal
guards. Slick serpents with quivering, shining, emerald scales slithered out showing two long pointy teeth which were sharper than knives.
Unexpectedly, I started to feel dizzy then I collapsed on the mountain… when I woke up I was in my room again. I felt something on my chest I picked up to examine it. It
was an emerald green, quivering scale. I looked around wondering…
“So,” said the fox in a soft and elegant voice. “You must be the grandchildren that Prodip told me about.”
Written by Amia Guha, Year 6, British School of Washington
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Written by Lynna Cheng, Year 5, Compass International School Doha, Rayyan & Gharaffa
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