Day Fades

"Hurry! We should of been home already!" Theo shouted toward his brother.

Two voles frantically scurried through the tall grass. It rained earlier that morning and the tall fescue grass was weighted by the drops of water that were left. This made it difficult to rush home as the water would hit both their faces continually blurring the view. The sun was at a set, warning any prey to get home.

Theo and his brother Beck were in the garden. Hungry for a sweet taste of carrots and beets that were ready for the picking. They knew of the garden for months and watch from a far as the crops grew. April through the middle of June, the brothers would hear the others talk about the fine taste of carrots. Grass and seeds were put to shame from the juice of a beet. The day had come as they planned for weeks on adventuring into the garden. Both agreed when the sun was shaded by the leaves of the Oak tree that hovered over their home, they would adventure back. But that time had passed. The sun was at the trees roots and showing the shadows of the spirits.

"We're almost to the dip, not to much further now!" Theo explained with excitement as he saw where the meadow went down to a slope. This meant to them, that their home was within seconds of their reach.

"We're not in the clear yet, don't slow down." Beck panted his words, out of breath from running.

The sun was barely showing a gleam. Theo made it to the slope first, he look down with the hope of home. The trunk of the tree was about twelve feet away. Around the roots, were little burrows where his family nested safely. He turned to see Beck had stopped a few inches away from him.

"Come on" Theo commanded. "We need to get going!"

Beck didn't budge, nor was he looking forward. His eyes were locked above. From his head to his tail looked petrified to the point of a statue. The only thing that shown any life was his chest moving as he breathed deeply with a shallow whimper.

Theo was no longer in a hurry. Something about Beck's appearance made him loose his focus on the mission home. His heart was thumping in his ear, a cold breeze went through his fur and made him shiver. Both were afraid to move. Theo was locked on Beck, mimicking the stillness.

Nothing happened for a few moments of this act. There was a twitch in Beck's whiskers, and again. It seemed he was slowly getting back his movement. As much as Theo didn't want to witness what was holding his brother from hurrying home, he knew he had to turn and see the sight.

He turned his head towards the sky where Beck had his eyes fixed. The Oak tree that guarded their home, wasn't the horror that made his brother terrified. Theo had seen a creature resting on a branch belonging to the same tree that hovered his family's nest.

The sun was now a thin line of light, making every shadow long and monstrous. The creature's dark hallow eyes didn't move for it has found Theo and Beck too interesting to look away. Its head was cocked to one side, listening to any movement that accrued. White feathers of the under belly appeared to have a slight shimmer and wings were resting on each side not ready to take flight. There was no expression to identify thoughts, emotion, nor when the creature was ready to approach them. Both of them knew what stared at them, they have heard the stories of this creature and been warned to not adventure out when the day fades. It was the grim reaper of the meadows. Here was death looking into the terrified eyes of the voles, the night hunter; a ghost, silver feathers that transition into gold shine with the remaining visible light. Rodents most feared predator, a barn owl.

~

Silent as the meadow was and the wind went away with the rain to the east. Antares heard Theo and Beck in the grass from the beginning of the journey to the Oak tree. She listened to the different movements as she detected, there were two of them. Most likely one would get away but now she had a chance to choose one that will satisfy the hunger to at least one of her owlets.

With great patience she would have her meal delivered at the edge of the slope and there they were, out of the tall grass and in clear view. From the sound of their breathing, it was clear they were exhausted. She enjoyed watching the grass shift from the voles passing bodies coming closer and closer. Without a doubt, they were running back to their nest in time before she left home seeking out dinner to feed her little ones.

One of the voles glanced up and with luck had seen her gazing down from above. Well if you call it luck, for it wouldn't matter if she was seen a few seconds earlier. She thought with confidence.

~

The sun acted like a ticking clock. Lower the sun had gone down and darkness was starting to show it's face. If the owl wasn't watching from the tree top, Theo and Beck would of been safe in their burrows. Both felt this was their punishment for not leaving when they agreed to. The garden was a dream and the food was as good as was told.

They never tasted food so delicious before and perhaps would never again. The sight of the carrots coming from the ground with large orange roots made them feel famished. Beck was the first to nibble at the tale told vegetable his family spoke of. He didn't stop eating until his stomach could no longer intake food. Theo nibbled a little on the carrot but was wondering about a beet. He was told to look for a dark round red root. He searched the garden for what seemed to be ages. Time past and he no longer cared about where the sun was located at this point. At last on the other side of the garden, the beet was found. Theo was too excited to wait any longer and ran to the root. His teeth pierced the beet again and again. At the time he thought, there would never be a better meal. Now he was about to be on the menu.

Finally the owl shifted, which made Beck wince. It seemed as though she decided on a plan. Her head was now up straight and her body leaned in. Moment to strike; to feed, become the reaper, and decide ones fate.

"Go!" shouted Theo. "Back into the grass!"

In an instant, both Theo and Beck turned around to go back into the tall grass hoping it will benefit them in some way. They heard a horrifying scream from the direction of where the barn owl sat on the branch. Running as fast as they could, trying to find something in the grass that would give them a chance of survival. Either one of them knew nor had an idea where in this meadow forest was shelter.

~

Seeing them bolt into the grass made the barn owl's entire body dance with intense adrenalin. Antares has never had a chase for a meal so enjoyable. All her prey before wouldn't have seen her from above, but instead be to busy looking for food of their own or simply on their way home. For some reason when one of the voles spotted her, she had encountered something within herself. Something that took away instinct and replaced it with taunting amusement. The ghost of the sky became a cat at play.

Before pushing off the branch, she let out a various cry to send panic through the hearts of her victims. She flapped her wings to push higher into the sky to get a good view of the landscape. In a moment, the height in the air was at perfect view. Her wings glided above and felt weightless like a spirit. The grass was still and this made it easy to see the voles location from the little wiggling blades that was disturbed by the panicking creatures.

She was amused seeing them try to outrun her. In an instant it started to become clear it was going to be too easy. She started to feel the excitement go away with the thought of this chase will end within seconds. Thoughts roam inside the barn owls head, ignoring her conscience plea to not play with her food. She wanted the excitement to continue. Within a few seconds of hovering over the grass, she had came up with a fun strategy.

~

Theo never left Beck's side, as they ran for their lives. He let Beck lead for he was afraid that once more his brothers fear would take over and leave him unable to move. You could hear the anxious heart beats, almost louder than the plastic sounding grass. The water from the foliage blurred everything in view once more, only this time there was no light. Both seeing only tall hazy dark green giants, leaning in all directions, and slapping their faces with each passing second.

Beck must of miscalculated his step, he hit the muddy ground with a good thud. As fast as they were running, the fall didn't take pity to Beck's nose. Blood ran down from his nostrils and disappeared into the mud. Not only having the injured nose but Theo could detected, Beck went into a daze.

"Beck, you have to try to move." Theo said in a hurry. "Every second not finding shelter, means not far away from death."

Shaking from all the pressure both body and mind, Beck was trying his best to recover. It seemed to have taken to good portion of time. Theo looked all around for the owl and back at Beck's condition. Much time passed, in many cases, wouldn't the owl already have made it to their location? Theo was not at ease to wittiness no sign of the beast.

He looked at the sky, filled with glittering stars and a full yellowish moon making shadows within the grass. The owl had disappeared out of sight. Where we chased by a ghost? Theo worriedly thought, but the screech was so real that echoed throughout the meadow.

Turning back to his brother, Theo could see he fully collected himself. Beck had a steady stance as he finally stood still without wobbling back and forth. Both looked up to scan the night sky in all directions, but no sign of the ghostly owl.

"Is it over?" Beck asked. "Did we both imagine the same terror? Are we going mad? Were we chased by a ghost? I don't like this... I don't like this at all!"

Just as they were about to convince themselves it was nothing but hallucinations, the phantom was heard once again. A screech came from a different direction than before. This time, they could see a figure flying and the horror became their reality once more.

Hearts pulsing with panic, Beck and Theo clumsily ran into each other before scrabbling off for their lives. The owl was seconds a pawn them and they could feel the end was near. They pushed themselves to go faster. Every inch of their muscles throbbed with pain. Beck was panting wildly and it sounded like he was about it give up. Theo felt like he couldn't breathe for his lungs were working intensely.

Finally, they couldn't push any longer and stopped after what seemed minutes of running. Their bodies clasped onto the muddy ground. This time, they were sure to feel the claws of the owl. As it was before, they waited for the moment of death and again it did not come.

Theo made an effort to turn his head to look behind him. He could feel the pull from his neck sending aching nerves into his chest. There was a shock of disbelief when he saw there was nothing. Theo felt he was loosing his mind as well as his temper.

"What is going on! Is there any since to this madness!" Theo yelled angerly.

Beck had nothing to say. He looked at Theo with worry and confusion. What if this was a spirit that haunts this land at night fall? Beck wondered.

Suddenly, a cry echoed all around them. Both jumped at once, looking in every direction fiercely. Another cry sounded, ringing their ears. Theo started going into the opposite direction of Beck looking for a sign of the monster. Too overwhelmed and scared, both of the brothers separated without notice.

Silence was once more filling the sky. Beck was standing in a little puddle, shaking with anxiety. He felt tears in his eyes when he realized Theo had gone off without him. There was no telling where he ran too and how far. The meadow had become a nightmare.

~

Antares flew gracefully towards the south of the meadow. She knew that the voles would expect her to still be behind them. Changing course would bewilder them into thinking she no longer hunted for them. She hoped it will set the chase towards different a tone of fun. Once Antares felt she flew a good distance to be hidden, she hovered over the area. There she could overhear the voles speaking to one other. A barn owl like herself, could hear very clearly. One of them ask if they were chased by a ghost, Antares was delighted to hear.

"They searching for me." She whispered to herself. "It seems they are questioning my existence. A ghost in the darkness"

The moon beamed down like a spot light into the land. Antares started towards were she left the little rodents terrified. She let out another blood boiling scream letting them know she was all too real.

Both of the creatures little eyes spotted her charging at them. Their face was in shock and stumbled over each other like fools. As they turned around to flee, Antares swooped down just enough to have them feel she was closing in. Within a few moments she noticed they had slowed down with exhaustion. Knowing they would soon glance behind, she glided off to be hidden once more.

~

Theo scarcely searched for Beck after he realized they have separated. He couldn't find any indication where he came from after the last attack. Everything became out of focus with each wild turns he made. Theo's chest was moving at a rapid pace. Not able to catch his anxious breathe for the world around him was spinning. The mud started to feel like thick clay forming onto his body. He clawed at the mud trying to get what he could off.

"Theo!" Beck cried, forgetting the danger in the air. "Theo!"

In a split instant, Theo stop in his tracks. The trembling voice of Beck filled his ears. Theo started to run toward the direction he heard his brothers cry. It sounded near and he didn't want to waste anytime.

He felt like he could almost see a little motion through the grass. It must be Beck. Faster he ran, not looking away for the fear of loosing site of Beck maybe the last. Smack! Theo's foot hit something hard. He tumbled over into the muddy ground. His face was covered with earth and little pebbles. His body lay flat and his left paw throbbed with pain.

Theo tried to push himself out of the muddy soil but his paw sent a sharp sting through his leg. He fell back down whimpering in pain. Looking back on what he had hit that injured him, there was a muddy object in the ground sticking out. With his back leg that was closest to it, he reached to touch it. His paw felt a solid cold structure that didn't seem like a root or a rock. His foot kicked it to see if it would move.

He heard a loud screech coming from the location he heard Becks voice. This made him jump and for a second forget the pain in his paw. He backed up onto the object that he fell over. The object moved sideways and Theo could see a shape point. A nail was fully covered in the ground.

Quickly he thought of a way to safe his brother but hope he had time to do so. With all he strength he had left, started digging into the mud to make a little dip for his body to fit in beside the weapon. He moved the nail, having the sharp end stick out.

"Beck I'm right here!" Theo shouted. "Follow my voice! Come this way!"

Theo knew if he shouted for his brother, it would get the attention of the owl. Sure enough he heard wings flapping toward him.

He shouted again. "Beck, I here!"

A shadow hovered over Theo but the owl did not land. What was she waiting for? Come on, attack!

"You coward!" Theo taunted shouted. "Here I am!"

You could see this had angered the owl for being mocked. She darted down with claws out to strike. Theo's heart pumped throughout his body wildly. A flash of the white feathers reflecting from the moon light. Lower and lower the owl flew down with increasing speed. Theo burned as far as he could into the dip he dug.

The moment the owl fully stepped down onto the earth, it let out a frantic cry. The nail that stood upright was now inside the owls foot and fully pierced through. In a split second the owl lifted off the ground. One of her claws caught across Theo's face, leaving a gash on his right side. He drew back from the pain.

Within moments the owl was gone and this time for good. Leaving Beck and Theo in the meadows.

"Theo!" Beck cried.

A shuffle of the grass got closer and closer towards Theo. Out came Beck running looking for any sign of him. He stopped at the site where the owl flew away. Beck could see Theo's body shaking and covered with mud.

"Theo!" Beck nervously shouted. "Are you hurt?"

Theo lifted up his head and Beck gasped at the sight. The claw of the owl dragged across Theo's face from his right ear through his eye.

"Beck, your ok." Theo said weakly. "Is the owl gone this time?"

"Yes, it seemed to have had a painful encounter and no intension of coming back." Beck replied.

"Good, now please help me get home." plead Theo.

It took several hours to make it back to their nest. Theo rested one side of his body on Beck and limped home. Inch by inch they moved forward at slow pace. The dark form of the Oak tree was their guide. They made it to the slope of the meadow once more. Beck looked up at the tree and no owl in sight. They made their way down into the nest and was finally safe. Without a word to each other they laid there tired and weak from the horrible event that night.

The morning came around and had brought life back to the landscape. You could hear the birds singing, voices of humans in the garden above, and a breeze going through the leave of the tree. Beck and Theo woke up later than they usually do. Their family was already out and about feeding on seeds and grass.

"Beck." Theo said at last. "When the sun is shaded by the leaves of the tree. It is time to go home."