The sun rose with an eerie glow, pumpkin orange against a dark cloudy sky. It was Halloween morning and the dogs at Mystic Mountain Retreat could sense the black magic adrift in the air. Onyx, the black native cat, would appear as if out of thin air just to walk across someone’s path and a loud cackling could be heard from the house. The trees around the property seemed to come alive and reach down through the autumn orange and green leaves to claim any victim who would venture too close.
Rakki cowered in the corner of his room, his white fur with dark brown splotches stood up on end, prickly with fear for he knew the cackling must mean there was a witch up at the house and the smoke drifting from the chimney had to mean she was boiling some evil brew over the fire. Paco on the other hand knew it had to be some trick. Someone must be trying to scare them so they would stay in their room all day and whoever it was would be able to have all the toys in the field to themselves.
It was now eight in the morning and a woman with a black pointy hat came down to let everyone out for potty and give them breakfast. Shadows lurked upon her face in the dim morning light. This must be the witch Paco and Rakki thought as they relieved themselves and ate. Once they were through Paco said to Rakki with a confident Chihuahua snarl “Let’s investigate and reveal her for what she really is.” But Rakki just shook his head lowered his tail; he said, “We can’t. If she catches us she might brew us for supper.” However, Paco was determined so he patiently waited since the witch by now had gone back up to the house.
At ten o’clock they heard a noise and the door creaked open slowly in a menacing tone and a figure stood in front of their room. She looked like a vampire with pointy white teeth and pale skin, her lips were blood red and she loomed over them with a creepy smile as she opened the gate to their room. Rakki became part of the wall in the corner thinking, she is going to eat me. But Paco went charging out of the room to protect the toys he knew she must be trying to steal, so Rakki scooted out past her as fast as he could to escape her clutches and follow his brother.
Once they got out in the field, they were encountered by the most terrifying thing yet: a werewolf that must have been 10 feet tall came running at them, his drooling tongue made them think he was hungry. Yet when he reached them they realized it was only their friend Robby, an Irish wolfhound, and Rakki did a little play bow and a spin in grateful relief. Paco went up to Robby standing about as tall as Robby’s wrist and looked up at his huge furry head. “Did you see that witch that came down from the house and the vampire that was just by our rooms?” Paco asked, “I think they are trying steal our toys out here; dressing up as monsters to keep us away from what is valuable so they can have it to themselves like in Scooby Doo. We are going to investigate and be meddling pups so that all the dogs can play with what’s rightfully theirs.” Robby just laughed. “It is Halloween, you sillies. It’s a holiday where humans dress up as scary creatures to celebrate All Hallows Eve, not to steal your toys.” Paco became sad for there was no need for a Scooby Doo gang investigation and Rakki breathed heavy pant of relief smiling his goofy happy grin.
As their day went on as normal the wind ripped through the trees and Onyx eyed them with a knowing grin. “Not all is as it seems, you foolish, drooling dogs,” she whispers to herself as a bat flies off unnoticed from a shadow where the vampire costumed person had disappeared and a chilled crept up the spines of all who dwelt there.
By Christine Young, Mystic Mt Caregiver