The Creatures of the Clearing

Submitted into Contest #86 in response to: Write a fairy tale about someone who can communicate with woodland creatures.... view prompt

158 comments

Fantasy Suspense Kids

The iciness of the winter had been replaced with a blanket of pink blossoms. The sun was radiant once again, creatures stirring from their shelters. Flowers bloomed from their buds, swaying in the breeze, festooning the lands in a myriad of various colors.

"It's pretty, isn't it?" Said Maria, peering outside, "I wonder when I can go outside."

She picked a few nuts from the pantry, gathering them inside a cloth cover before slinging it over her shoulder and heading towards the door.

"I'm heading over to my friend's, mom!" She called out. When she was greeted with silence, she swung around and wove through the footpath, her feet padding the pavement. 

Out in the open, she shot a glance around, her eyes huge and wary. There was no one. Good. She soundlessly dove into a clump of bushes and entwined creepers next to the community park. She didn't have to dig a path through, because one had already been made, well-trodden from all her previous visits.

It weaved inwards to the woodlands that wrapped the lands behind her neighborhood. The trees grew closer and denser, beams of sunlight falling through gaps in the branches. The place smelled of damp earth and rain, insects and crickets chirping. Maria quickened her pace, her shoes sinking into the damp soil as she held the bag of nuts closer. 

Pretty soon, she could hear muffled noises of animals, birds, and critters from ahead. Except, she didn't hear merely the noises. She heard voices, inhumanely lifelike as if there were people talking. She heard it right in her mind, not through her ears. It was almost like telepathy.


"She's late."

"Maybe she's not going to come at all."

"Sheesh! She'll be here before we know it."

"Says who? It's nearly dusk."

"I think- oh she's here! I told you she'd make it!"


Maria waded through long grass, tripping in her hurry. She broke through a line of trees and came upon a grassy clearing in the midst of the woods. It had previously been hidden away, so meticulously shawled away that you wouldn't ever guess it was here.

Right in the middle, was a gathering of several animals and birds, and among them, Maria could make out a deer, birds soaring in the air, a fox watching her from behind a tree, and a few squirrels hopping over the branches. 

The arrival of any other human being would have sent these animals scattering, but Maria's appearance seemed to cheer them on. The hum and babble of voices multiplied tenfold.


"Here she is!"

"Hey Maria, we were getting worried you wouldn't come today."

"Did something hold you back?"


An impish grin stretched itself on Maria's lips. She began running towards the animals, the bag with the nuts in her outstretched arms, calling out: "Sorry I'm late, but hello everyone! I got nuts for you!" 

The creatures began moving around, the squirrels hopping towards her and sniffing for the food as she came to a stop beside them.

Maria dipped her hand in the bag, bringing out a fistful of gleaming nuts, fresh and crunchy. She stretched her arms and scattered them at the animals which scrambled to snag some. 

She propped herself on the ground, facing the sky, swinging her legs in the air. She spoke to the animals, prattling about everything that had happened, and they spoke back into her mind, chipping in. 

The sun continued its descent, sucking the daylight away and bringing with it pink skies and intumesce clouds. The trees formed shadows over the clearing.

“You should go home.” the deer voiced, “It’s almost night.

Maria wanted to stay back and continue talking, but she knew it was futile to object. She scurried up to her feet, scooped up the bag, and waved at the creatures.

“I’ll see you soon! I’ll be here tomorrow!” she said, before feeling her way through the bushes, returning on her initial path. She didn’t fear the dark, nor did she mind getting messy from scrambling about, but she knew her family would have many questions. 

“Where were you?” her older sister, Margot asked her, the moment she slipped into her room.

“I was at my friend’s,” 

“Oh right.” Margot narrowed her eyes, “When I went to check the pantry a couple of hours ago, there weren’t any nuts. Have any idea where they went?”

* * *

Maria continued visiting the woodland creatures whenever she could, spending an hour, two, or even three. She didn’t take along nuts or berries anymore, and mostly got away and returned without letting Margot be any the smarter, but when Margot was on the lookout, things suddenly became complicated.

Are you off to your friend’s?” Margot would ask.

Yes, I am.” Maria would say, hoping she didn’t sound too bothered.

She wished Margot didn’t do that.

One cloudy evening, Maria was getting ready to swoop in on another visit, when she found Margot hovering around her. When she made for the door, Margot blocked her way, stalling her.

“I need to go,” she said.

Margot moved aside to let Maria pass, but the look in her eyes couldn’t be missed. The glint, a gleam that flashed across her irises, lasting only an instant.

Too bad Maria didn’t catch it.

All through her journey to the woods, she didn’t suspect a thing. As usual, not a soul was around, but she had a strange feeling that she was being watched. Yet, when she turned around to look, abandoned pathways and empty streets greeted her eyes.

"We must be careful." Maria told the animals, "My sister smells something fishy and I find it impossible to sneak away right under her nose."

"That's a pity." The deer said, "Don't let her find this place. If she's being too intrusive and you can't throw her off your scent, keep away until the track is clear."

Maria nodded, her eyebrows knit together. 

"Besides," the former continued, "It's nearly a year since we met for the first time."

"Why, yes it is!" Exclaimed Maria, "It was last spring, wasn't it?"

Even though it had been so long, the memory stood bright in Maria's mind. When she closed her eyes, she could picture the very first time she stumbled into this clearing and realized that there were animals she could talk to… 

She hadn't known what was going to happen. She was just another lonely kid, roaming about in the neighborhood. 

"Why can't I speak to other animals?" Maria asked, thinking of all the times she had tried to approach creatures elsewhere and hold a conversation but had failed terribly. Those animals had scampered from her, fright dancing in their eyes.

"There's something about this place." The deer said, its eyes glittering, "We can't speak to humans either, if we stray away. Something here empowers us to be able to communicate with creatures from another species."

"You mean this clearing has some- power?" Maria said, unable to believe her ears. 

"Both this clearing and us. One wouldn't exist without the other."

"I have power?"

"Yes, you do."

"The thing is," began the fox, exasperated, "This place was created millennia ago, like everything else. And nothing can last forever, especially if word about it is out."

"Goodbye, Maria." Said the deer when she was leaving, "We can't say which goodbye will be the last.

Maria headed back home, the words echoing in her head. She wanted to believe that it was all a joke, but she couldn't dismiss the change today. The way the deer's eyes shone, the way the fox's words were filled with vehemence, the way all the other creatures present acted twitchy, and the way the clearing gave off an eerie vibe.

Her mind still buzzing, she opened the door to her house.

She froze the moment she did. Voices, a babble of voices from the living room. 

Out of which, rose the most noticeable, her sister's. 

“She glided into the bushes and just disappeared!” Margot was saying, “I searched all over for her, but she wasn’t there at all!” she paused, seeing Maria enter, “Here she is!”

“W-what happened?” the words had already formed in Maria's mouth before she could realize it.

“Don’t pretend you’re innocent.” Margot said, throwing all the contempt she could, in her voice, “I saw you burrow into a nasty hollow in the bushes and vanish into thin air.”

“But I-” began Maria, obvious to Margot’s accusing stares and the dubious looks showered on her by her family. Her words melted away, because she knew it would be too futile to try to repudiate Margot’s claim.

“Is that true, Maria?” her mother asked, sternly, “That you sneak off to places you don’t know instead of going to your friend’s like you say you do?”

It’s not unknown.’ Maria wanted to say, ‘It’s a special clearing in the woodlands and it’s the only one to exist. I’ve been going there for a year now.’

But how could she?

She could only stare at her shoes, her face pale. The words had begun to swell again, trying to escape into the open, but she forced them back.

“Are you going to speak up?” said her mom, “Or should I believe Margot’s side of the story?”

“It’s true!” Margot chanted, “She’s been lying to you and going off to dangerous places.”

The color in Maria’s cheeks rose. She couldn’t stand seeing her sister gloat over something like this while she stood aside, too overwhelmed to speak.

“I meet animals there.” she said, her words finally tumbling out, “I speak to them and they speak to me. I spend all my evening talking with them because it’s fun.”

“Animals?” Margot feigned choking, “You think we’d believe that?”

“I’m not lying!” Maria protested, “They’re special, you can’t find them anywhere else, and the place I go to is-”

“Wait,” cut in Maria’s mom, “You mean to say you’ve been talking to animals all these days?”

Maria nodded.

“Maria, if you were to say you played pretend with a few stuffed animals, I could take your word, but talking to animals?” her mom shook her head, “I can make out you’ve been up to mischief, and I forbid you from going anywhere without us knowing. You won’t go to those bushes again”

Maria’s mouth fell open.

No more secret meetings.

No more slipping away.

All because of her own sister.

And now she’d probably never see her only friends again. 


* * *


Maria couldn’t make herself go to sleep that night. The events of the evening played in her mind on repeat. The uncomfortable feeling gripped her once again.  

From the window, she could see the dead of night, trees waving soundlessly, and an owl hooting far away, as the neighborhood slumbered on. She was the only one awake, for all she knew. Even downstairs, her family had gone to sleep, the house still and echoing with silence.

Wait. She was the only one awake?

Maria leaped out of bed, a thrilling thought striking her. The back door leading into the garden would still be unlocked, and if she was really careful, no one would be able to hear her tiptoeing down the stairs and making her way out…

I’ll do it.’ she told herself, ‘I’ll meet them again and tell them everything that has happened.’

She creeped out of her room, her ears wide open for any telltale sounds. She wore a sweater over her pajamas and scooped a torch into her hands, her heart thumping.

Soon, she was out into the open, cool breeze ruffling her hair as she strode through to the hollow, the same place she had been used to seeing through the past year, every single day. She would swoop in just for a couple of minutes, notify them, and hurry back to bed.

No one would know, not even Margot.

She walked on and on, the path never seeming to end. Her legs began throbbing from carrying her weight, and the torch did little to show her the right way. When she came to the familiar place and spotted the bushes, she gave a yelp of satisfaction and dove through.

She hit brambles and branches instead.

Maybe she’d missed the hollow, maybe she’d only need to look around more properly and she’d find it again.

Grunting, she felt around for the hollow that would guide her inwards, but no matter how much she dug around for it, it didn’t present itself. She stuck her arm through, but it only came out on the other side. She scanned the shrubbery over and over again, but it was of no avail.

There was no hollow.

* * *


“Mom,” began Maria, the next morning, “Have you ever heard of the woodlands?”

The previous night, after her futile hunt, she had returned home, her spirits drenched. Perhaps her eyes were playing tricks on her and she hadn’t been able to locate it. Fortunately, no one had noticed her absence, and here she was, at the breakfast table. Just like anybody else.

“Woodlands?” her mom frowned, “I don’t get you.”

“Yeah, the woodlands that run behind our neighborhood.” Maria quipped, chewing her sandwich.

“Maria, I think you’re mistaken.” said her mother, as the girl looked up, her eyes wide, “There isn’t a woodland near our neighborhood. There never has been.”


March 24, 2021 16:05

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158 comments

Meera Lakshmi
16:40 Mar 24, 2021

THEY DOWNVOTED ME AGAIN!!

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Meera Lakshmi
16:41 Mar 24, 2021

It was only 30 tho

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Akshaya ✨
16:43 Mar 24, 2021

ME TOO

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Meera Lakshmi
16:46 Mar 24, 2021

NOOO! I got downvoted more!

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16:19 Mar 24, 2021

OOh that ending. This kinda reminds me of Holly Black's "Darkest part of the woods". You've injected whimsy and fairy tales into a world of modern problems, and it's really powerful (and difficult to write, at least from experience).

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Akshaya ✨
16:21 Mar 24, 2021

Thank you so much, Ethan!! I kinda wanted to stick to the fairytale thing, but I couldn't help bringing in a little backstory! That's nice!! Is 'Darkest part of the woods' nice? I might read it now!! Thank you!! :))

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16:25 Mar 24, 2021

Okay, I'm biased but it's really really goodddd!!!!

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Akshaya ✨
16:25 Mar 24, 2021

I'll def read it then!!!!

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17:21 Apr 12, 2021

Wishing you luck on your novel! I know the feeling. :) happy almost-birthday! ╮╭╭╮┏╮┏╮╮╭ ┣┫┣┫┣╯┣╯╰┫ ☆ ╯╯╯╯╯╯╯╯╰╯╭━┻━╮ ┏╮┊┏╮╭╮╮╭╭┻━━━┻╮ ┣┫┊┃┃┣┫╰┫┣╮╭╮╭╮┃ ┗╯┊┗╯╯╯╰╯┃╰╯╰╯╰┫ ━━━━━━━━━╯╳╳╳╳╳╰

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Akshaya ✨
05:19 Apr 16, 2021

Awww ty ty tysm!! :DDD Thank you!! Wish you luck on your novel, too! We're all in this!! :D :)

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12:03 Apr 16, 2021

Yep! Novel time!

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Upvotey Girl ✨
18:28 Mar 26, 2021

Dear hooman, Heylooooo! As the Downvoting Police, I’ve gotta ask: Have you been downvoting recently/would you like me to upvote you a lil? (There’s way too many kind people who refuse to be upvoting, but frrr, if you’ve been stripped of your well-earned points, YOU’D BETTER TELL ME MISSY) Love, Random Upvoting Girl Who’s Going Around Spamming This Message Even Tho I’m In School P. S. I just liked this story so now you have a perfect 800 points, CONGOOOO

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Akshaya ✨
08:26 Apr 08, 2021

Hi Upvotey! I think I was downvoted a lot at the end of March, but not in April after I went a lil inactive. Aww, thank you! But they'll probably just downvote me once again, so it's alright! Some of my friends need points I think! Love, Another random girl who's on Reedsy instead of going and having lunch P.S. Thank youuuu! :))

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21:17 Mar 24, 2021

I can talk to you if you need help, I saw you on blxxii's thing. I'll be here for you.

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Akshaya ✨
04:20 Mar 25, 2021

Aww, thank you so much, Em! It really helps a lot! :) Also, I'm there for you if you need help, too.

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11:33 Mar 25, 2021

Thanks! You're a great writer, and those nasty downvoters shouldn't be messing around with your points. Don't think your writing is bad, I love your stories, I think this is a self-esteem issue. Maybe the downvoter is a bad writer so he goes after everyone with a lot of points as revenge. It might not be a he, but...

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Akshaya ✨
13:19 Mar 25, 2021

Thank you!! 😭 I do suffer from self doubt in writing but I try not to think that the downvoters are targeting me because they think my stories are bad or I am bad as an author! It might be anyone, and I think there are many of them. I read your bio and I agree completely with you. It's really sad to see great authors leaving, and Reedsy becoming less and less active. I still remember so many friends of ours left Reedsy forever. Are they downvoting you as well?

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15:21 Mar 25, 2021

No. I want them to, though. Just because Aerin was first place for a while doesn't mean she deserves to be downvoted. If you get downvoted, give them my link. I am throwing myself in front of the down arrow. Get it? Like in fantasy stories where they throw themselves in front of an arrow? Urgh. People like you are getting downvoted for no reason. HEY DOWNVOTER! COME PICK A FIGHTWITH SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE!

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15:22 Mar 25, 2021

No. I want them to, though. Just because Aerin was first place for a while doesn't mean she deserves to be downvoted. If you get downvoted, give them my link. I am throwing myself in front of the down arrow. Get it? Like in fantasy stories where they throw themselves in front of an arrow? Urgh. People like you are getting downvoted for no reason. HEY DOWNVOTER! COME PICK A FIGHT WITH SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE! Or, skill, hehehhehe. I bet they're all bad writers and want revenge on the people who deserve points.

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Akshaya ✨
16:24 Mar 25, 2021

What they're doing is rather mean. C'mon, 31k to 1k? That's like 30,000 down arrows!! I wonder how they seem to have SO much time to spend on negativity! Do they sit doing this all day or something? Maybe. Hey, you don't deserve downvotes, either! No one does. You're an awesome author and you definitely deserve points because you care for other writers here! :) (p.s. Our birthdays are only 9 days apart!!)

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Hi Akshaya! Aww, thank youuuuu! For dedicating this amazing story to me<3333 I LOVE ANIMALS AND FANTASY COMBINED! And u did both:))) It was all so mystical! And the ending was unexpected but super mysterious!!! Keep it going!

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Akshaya ✨
05:03 Mar 25, 2021

Hi Varsha!! No problem! You've been an awesome friend and I wanted to dedicate a story to you, too!! <3333 Thank you so much!! I'm glad you liked it!! :DD

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Akshaya ✨
16:08 Mar 24, 2021

I dedicate this story to Varsha Vimal who is one of my first friends here on Reedsy! She's an awesome friend and a fantastic writer, and I'm so glad I met her! She's really kind and I love talking to her!! If you haven't read her stories yet, you should definitely go check them out! I promise it'll be awesome!! Her profile link: https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/author/ea3b11/

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Angel {Readsy}
19:41 Oct 24, 2021

Upvoting upvoting upvoting

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Akshaya ✨
14:14 Oct 29, 2021

:))

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Akshaya ✨
14:35 Oct 12, 2021

YASS! HOW HAVE YOU BEEN

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OMG HIIIIII IM GREAT HBU

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Akshaya ✨
15:32 Oct 13, 2021

ME TOOO WRITING ANYTHING?

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Akshaya ✨
13:23 Oct 14, 2021

NOICEEE :DD

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Karin Venables
16:54 Jul 12, 2021

The animals warned her, and it came to pass. Someone else discovered their secret, and the clearing disappeared. Great story.

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Akshaya ✨
14:35 Aug 30, 2021

Thank you for the lovely comment, Karin!

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Aww Akshaya :(( why do u think we forgot u :((( I havn't.

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Akshaya ✨
14:15 May 16, 2021

Aww thank you Varsha, I changed my name on an impulse, but I'm back :)

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Of course, Akshaya! And I'm glad ur back :)

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TJ Squared
03:41 May 09, 2021

so, you wanna do a rp? also, how have you been?

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Akshaya ✨
14:17 May 16, 2021

Sure we can do one! I've been good! What about you?

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TJ Squared
15:11 May 16, 2021

yay! I feel like this week was at its climax, and now it's starting to level itself out again so yeah :)

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08:33 Apr 20, 2021

Hey Akshaya! Just hollering to see if you see my msgs? I replied but don't think I got through...

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Akshaya ✨
10:38 Apr 20, 2021

Hey Sythe! I wasn't on Reedsy yesterday but I did reply to your previous comment (the one before the birthday one) but I think I didn't press reply hard enough (hate this tech glitch with the reply button ugh) Lemme go and type it all again

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09:33 Apr 23, 2021

Oh yes, that glitch... sometimes sometimes reply twice to avoid it, which you're probably sick of now XD

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Akshaya ✨
14:30 May 16, 2021

Yup! I'll do that lol XD

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06:08 Apr 19, 2021

Happy Birthday, Akshaya ! Are you 14 XD

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Akshaya ✨
10:35 Apr 20, 2021

Thank you Sythe! Yep, I am, lol!

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09:32 Apr 23, 2021

Haha! How are you so comfortable with everyone knowing your deets? I mean, when I publish Archangel's Chess, I guess the same will apply to me, but, there's still time XD I haven't started typing nothing because, grandparents. No iPad or computer.

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Akshaya ✨
14:32 May 16, 2021

Lol! I think it started with that! Maybe! XD I'm okay with stuff like age, country etc etc but not like EXACTLY where I live, study, and all that XD oh I see! Same here, I barely get any time to respond to stuff!

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13:45 May 18, 2021

I mean, we do know your real name, haha... I kind of hate my real name, hence my pseudonym. And sure, that makes sense! I used to be kind of stingy about here I was form, but now I'm really proud of it and will flex my Indian heritage ;)

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Meera Lakshmi
16:46 Apr 17, 2021

Shall I create a doc so that the two of us can chat??

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Akshaya ✨
10:10 Apr 18, 2021

Sure! Do you need my gmail?

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Meera Lakshmi
14:49 Apr 18, 2021

Nope. I'll paste a link soon.

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Meera Lakshmi
15:52 Apr 18, 2021

Actually, email might be better. Since, we are in different time zones, I wont be able to put up the link and then immediately take it down

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Akshaya ✨
10:39 Apr 20, 2021

Sure! :)

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Meera Lakshmi
12:05 Apr 20, 2021

k. I got it, you can take it down when you want to.

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17:19 Apr 12, 2021

Here to wish you luck on your novel, I know what it's like. Mine is impossible. Also thanks a ton for the birthday message! I'll send you one too.

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Akshaya ✨
05:20 Apr 16, 2021

Aww, that's so sweet of you! Thank youu :D I wish you all the best on your novel, too! No problem! :D

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14:45 Apr 07, 2021

Are you leaving? Your bio makes me think you are.

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Akshaya ✨
08:12 Apr 08, 2021

Hi Em! Sorry my bio gave that impression. Actually, I'm just going to be a little inactive for a while until I finish my novel, and I should've probably mentioned that in my bio. But thank you so much for caring :) <3

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16:57 Apr 08, 2021

That's okay! I may be inactive soon, too, because I'm gonna start my novel in a week :)

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Akshaya ✨
05:27 Apr 16, 2021

Awesome!! A novel is a great idea! All the best on yours! :D

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12:05 Apr 16, 2021

Gonna hurry to finish a zombie story before the new contest starts ':( he's sweating

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Akshaya ✨
10:12 Apr 18, 2021

Cool!! I saw you submitted it!! I'll read it soon!! :D

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TJ Squared
02:46 Apr 06, 2021

awww, I'm sorry to see you go :(

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Akshaya ✨
08:14 Apr 08, 2021

Hi Tiffany! I'm not actually leaving, but I'll only be a little inactive for a while. I think my bio made it look like I'm leaving but sorry for that! I sort of wrote that in a hurry. Thanks so much for caring <33

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TJ Squared
17:15 Apr 08, 2021

that's good to hear! Everyone needs a bit of a break sometimes :))) ofc I care iT iS mY nAtUrE tO cArE <333

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Akshaya ✨
05:25 Apr 16, 2021

I agree!! Aww thank you!! You're really nice! <33 :D

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TJ Squared
14:54 Apr 16, 2021

aw thanks :) you're rather nice yourself :P

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Akshaya ✨
10:10 Apr 18, 2021

Thank you!

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Meera Lakshmi
14:59 Mar 31, 2021

hiii

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Akshaya ✨
08:14 Apr 08, 2021

Hullo!

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Meera Lakshmi
15:09 Apr 08, 2021

Heeeeyyyyy

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Meera Lakshmi
16:26 Apr 10, 2021

How are you???

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Akshaya ✨
05:28 Apr 16, 2021

I'm good! We have summer break and my birthday's coming soon! :D How are you?

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Meera Lakshmi
12:09 Apr 16, 2021

me is good!

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Meera Lakshmi
23:10 Mar 25, 2021

#StopDownvotingNow Share this with 10 friends!

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Akshaya ✨
15:29 Mar 26, 2021

Okay!

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