The Shadow Dwellers


The garden looked different at night.

Especially in moonlight.

Shadows stretched across the lawn like long, spindly arms reaching out, trying to grab whatever was there. They never managed to.

No. The grabbing was done by the other things. Them. The dwellers.

The moon lit the path to an extent, but not completely. The shadows took control of more than half, and the dwellers lurked within the shadows.

If you were unlucky, if you were in the wrong place, you’d be grabbed.

They like legs. They go for legs. They snag legs.

Come summer, the thorns will have to go.

20 responses to “The Shadow Dwellers”

  1. Andra Watkins avatar

    HAhahaha!! As a veteran of a huge rose garden, I felt this piece.

    Like

    1. Tom (Aquatom1968) avatar

      Ouch. Sorry about that, Andra… my garden’s made up, but it’s just how I’d imagine it to be!

      Like

  2. Visionkeeper avatar

    Better install a motion light out back T…..Doesn’t sound as if they care if they are female legs or male legs…. VK

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    1. Tom (Aquatom1968) avatar

      No, they’re not bothered either way, VK… or if you’re a cat or a dog either – they’ll snag anything that passes! The only thing with the light is you’ll see them move!

      Like

  3. Let's CUT the Crap! avatar

    Them thorns, them thorns. Ha, you had me wondering who ‘them’ were. Perfect twist and the picture adds a lot to this piece; it’s a wonderful shot and there’s just enough daylight to still show the colours.

    Like

    1. Tom (Aquatom1968) avatar

      But, Tess, not enough light to show the thorns. There’s hundreds of them in that image! Hundreds!!!

      Like

  4. aFrankAngle avatar

    Dang … reminded me of what youngsters think of shadows.

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    1. Tom (Aquatom1968) avatar

      They have monsters in their shadows as well, Frank, don’t they?

      Like

  5. lameadventures avatar

    You are so psyched for Halloween!

    Like

    1. Tom (Aquatom1968) avatar

      I am LA.
      I’m not actually doing anything on Halloween, but I’m psyched for it all the same!

      Like

  6. Soma Mukherjee avatar

    Tom this one was fabulouos,i was wondering in the begining who they were….wow loved it

    Like

    1. Tom (Aquatom1968) avatar

      Glad you liked it Soma… hopefully it wasn’t as scary as my previous Dawn post…

      Like

  7. speccy avatar

    great stuff 🙂

    Like

    1. Tom (Aquatom1968) avatar

      Thanks, Fiona! 🙂

      Like

  8. prenin avatar

    Nice one Tom – you had me right to the end! 🙂

    God Bless!

    Prenin.

    Like

    1. Tom (Aquatom1968) avatar

      Yes, another hidden twist with this one, Prenin.

      Like

  9. Deb avatar

    Those darn thorns will get ya every time.
    Good one, Tom! 🙂

    Like

    1. Tom (Aquatom1968) avatar

      Even more so if you are being careful around them, Deb!

      Like

  10. shreejacob avatar

    For some reason I really liked this! and it was scary too!! till we find out that its the thorns~!!!

    Like

    1. Tom (Aquatom1968) avatar

      I think anything that involves shadows is more eerie, Shree, so I’m glad the scary feel carried through!

      Like

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