It’s hard to be inconspicuous when you’re hanging upside down. Scouts are supposed to be sneaky, cunning, and quick. Clearly, I’m none of those.

This is the unfortunate predicament I now find myself in. Not just trapped in enemy territory, but hanging upside down thanks to one of the simplest booby traps of all time. I don’t know how the hell I missed it.

If I could only reach my foot to yank it free. The rope that snared it is tied in a single knot. If I pull the right strand free I’ll drop to the ground.

The blood rushes to me head in a steady stream of whooshes. It thumps in my ear like a drum, maintaining a thundering beat that threatens to make my head explode.

If I don’t get out of here soon I’ll either die from some sort of heart attack or be killed by enemy scouts. I’m not sure which would be the worse way to go. At least the heart attack would be quick.

I use the last of my strength to rock my body up toward my tethered foot. For about the twentieth time I grab hold of my ankle and pull my body up to my foot. The base of the knot is only twelve inches anice me. I just need to climb my own body to reach up there. Then, I’m home free.

I take a big breath and pull myself up one inch at a time. Deep breath in, pulll. Exhale out.Deep breath in, pull. I’m halfway there when the hear men yelling in the not-so-faraway distance.

Shit.

I scramble up four more inches, the knot is nearly within grasp.

“Almost… got it..” I breathe out. I grab the knot and pull it loose with shaky hands.

I hit the ground with a thud, pain erupting from my entire right side. My vision goes white and all I’m left with is the fire dancing across my body. The ringing in my ears drowns out every other sound, so I have no idea how close the enemy is.

I groan and remain motionless, trying with all my might not to pass out. My heart thuds in my ears, and the white of my vision pulses with each beat.

After a few minutes of utter misery, my vision starts to return in splotchy patches. The ringing slowly fades, and the sounds of the forest take its place.

I attempt to roll over and wince. Even with my two most important senses back, there’s no way I’m getting up any time soon.

“Now, what do we have here?” Says an accented voice I recognize all too well. “You’re a bit far from home, aren’t you, Lassy?”

It’s Homer’s squadron. I’m as good as dead.

It’s hard to be inconspicuous when you’re hanging upside down.

I glare at Noah, who stands below me, struggling to keep a straight face. I’d been too distracted by the floating crystals, and before I knew it, the magic had me dangling by my ankles 50 feet from the ground.

“You know, I could get you down if I wanted to,” he says, his voice a smooth mix of mockery and patience. “It’s my magic that’s keeping you from falling after all.”

“Then what are you waiting for?” I snap, my frustration bubbling over.

He shrugs, the faintest smirk on his lips. “It’s kind of amusing.”

I try to use my own magic to sever the threads holding me up, but it’s useless. “Okay, Noah. I’m sorry I tried to run. Are you happy now?”

His eyes harden, but his tone stays measured. “Why? Why did you try to run?”

“Everyone in Court wants me dead,” I mutter. “And don’t pretend it’s not true. Your father nearly had me executed in front of the whole kingdom.”

There’s a flicker in his gaze, a flash of something I don’t like. “And you think I didn’t try to stop it? You think I didn’t fight him for you?”

“Then why save me?” I can’t keep the bitterness out of my voice. “Why drag me back here, where nothing’s changed?”

Noah’s eyes narrow, and for a brief moment, the mask of the prince slips. “Because I wasn’t going to let them kill something that’s mine.”

I freeze. __ Mine.

The word hits like a blow to the chest. I’m not just some stray he’s taken pity on. I’m something he thinks he owns. “I’m not yours,” I hiss, fighting the tremor in my voice. “I never asked to be.”

He steps closer, and for the first time, I feel the full weight of him, of the power he holds. “You don’t have to ask. You never did.”

My magic flares again, but I can’t move, can’t break free. “You think you can just decide this for me? That I’ll play along with your twisted little game?”

“No, I don’t think you’ll play along,” he says, his voice cold. “But you’ll survive it. Because I’m not going to let you die, Sitara. Not because of my father. Not because of any of them.”

I can feel it now—the weight of his words, the impossibility of what he’s asking. I’m trapped, and he knows it.

He extends his hand, magic swirling between us. “I’ll get you down,” he murmurs, almost gently. “But don’t think for a second that things are going to change just because you hit the ground.”

The magic snaps, and I fall. But I know now—there’s no escaping this. There’s no escaping him

The Naturalist’s Encounter with the Giant Bat

In the dense heart of a tropical rainforest, a naturalist had heard rumors of a creature so strange, so impossible, that she couldn’t resist seeking it out. A man-sized bat, they said—a fruit bat that defied nature, defied reason. For weeks, she followed stories and sightings, venturing deeper into uncharted wilds.

And then, she saw it.

It was hard not to notice the bat. Cloaked in leathery skin, its wings spanned wider than any she had ever seen. It hung upside-down from an enormous kapok tree, its body shrouded, its face hidden behind folded wings like the hood of some ancient monk. Even while still, it exuded a presence that could not be ignored.

She watched for hours, scribbling notes, sketching its form. The bat stirred restlessly, unable to find peace in the searing daylight. Its leathery wings covered its eyes in a vain attempt to blind the light, but the harsh rays penetrated, making its discomfort obvious. The creature would shift, twitch, and grumble low sounds that echoed through the forest. The naturalist wondered if it ever truly slept.

Then the sun began to set, and the bat came alive.

Its wings unfolded like a dark curtain parting, revealing sharp, inquisitive eyes. The naturalist marveled as it stretched, showing its immense size—its body nearly as large as her own, its wings spanning over twice her height. The bat leapt from its perch, and for a moment, it hung suspended in the twilight, a silhouette against the fading orange sky.

But the night was not kind to the creature either. As the stars emerged, the naturalist observed its struggle. This was no vampire bat, no hunter of blood. It was a fruit bat, its kind thriving on nectar and soft fruits. Yet, it seemed unable to find sustenance. After hours of gliding and searching, its massive frame seemed to work against it. The smaller bats flitted quickly from tree to tree, devouring fruit while this giant could do little but linger behind.

It returned to its perch, weary and defeated, and the naturalist felt a pang of empathy. In the still of the night, as she watched, she wondered if it had always been this way—too large to escape notice, too cumbersome to thrive in a world built for smaller creatures.

The next day, the naturalist resolved to help. She filled a sack with ripe guavas and mangos, climbed as close to the creature’s perch as she dared, and left the fruits in a hollow of the tree. That evening, she waited again, breathless.

The bat awoke, stretched, and sniffed the air. It glided down to the hollow, its great wings stirring the humid air. Tentatively, it sniffed the offering, then began to feast. She could hear the sounds of its sharp teeth tearing into the fruit, the soft slurping as it devoured the juice.

For the first time, the creature seemed content.

It’s hard to be inconspicuous when you’re hanging upside down.

I watched their wicked faces contort with laughter. Some of them were doubled over in tears. I tried fruitlessly to pull myself upright. This was supposed to be a private practice. I was gonna show them…

But no, of course not. How could I believe that I, the anemic girl who could only afford wash her hair and clothes once a week, would ever be seen as an equal?

I bit back my tears. I wanted to be strong. I wanted to prove them wrong. I had snuck into the school gym every night this week, spending three hours trying to pull myself to the top of the rope. I’d been so proud of myself today for finally making it past the first knot.

“That’s the best you can do?”** **I heard Katie’s voice below me. I whipped my head down. She was smirking, one hand on the chair I had used to boost myself up to the rope.

“No, please, don’t.” I begged. I had been afraid of heights my whole life and Katie knew that. We had been best friends until middle school, when she began hanging out with the wealthier kids and left me behind.

Katie laughed and dragged the chair to the dark corner of the gym, completely out of reach. I tried to slow my panicked breathing.

“You got up, you can make it back down.” I repeated over and over in my mind.

Suddenly, I heard a cacophony of laughing voices coming towards the gym door.

Katie walked back towards me. I made eye contact with her as she neared the rope. There was a cruelty and contempt in her eyes - gone was the empathetic girl I used to know. I had turned from her tribe mate to her prey.

She grabbed ahold of the bottom of the rope and swung it back and forth, violently. I lost my grip and my head swung towards the ground. I barely hung on, my thighs squeezing the rope for dear life.

Katy let go of the rope as the gym door banged open. The rest of her friends crowded the gym. As soon as they saw me, it was open season.

The laughter was deafening. One of them pulled out their phone and took pictures of me.

“Nice one, Katie!” yelled Nick, the short brunette who never stopped bragging about his dad’s successful tech startup. Katie curtsied and skipped back over.

There was nowhere to hide, I was completely stuck there, a deer caught in the headlights. I didn’t have the strength to pull myself up, and if I let go, I’d fall and hit my head. I closed my eyes and tuned them out until their voices were a dull roar, hoping they would get bored and leave soon.

But it was never-ending and eventually, my thighs started to slide down the rope. My feet and hands were going numb and my legs were shaking. I tried one last Hail Mary.

“HELP! HELP!!” I screamed as loud as I could. Their faces changed.

“Shut up!” yelled the big, dumb muscle of the group, Ken. But I didn’t.

“HEELLLPPPP!” I yelled louder.

He started towards me, but Nick held him back.

“Dude we better go. We can’t get caught. My dad will kill me if I get expelled.”

That gave me some confidence. I screamed louder and louder, using all of my energy.

“HELLLPPP! HELPPPPP! HEEEEELLLLPPPP!!!”

They all jumped at the sound of loud feet storming down the hall, and bolted through the emergency exit door. I let out a shaky sigh of relief, and finally let myself cry.

The door slammed open. It was Coach Carr, my PE teacher and coach of the girl’s varsity soccer team. He quickly ran over to me.

“Let go, I’ll catch you.” He said calmly.

“No no no no, I can’t move. I can’t move.” I panicked. I could still see how far the ground was below me.

“You can do it. Take a deep breath.” He said, encouragingly.

My left thigh began to slip lower. I clamped onto the rope tighter, my whole body shaking and burning, and took a deep breath.

I felt the relief of his arms a moment later, realizing I had done it. I had jumped.

“Nice one, Syd!” He said with an enthusiasm I hadn’t heard before. He gently laid me down on the ground.

“Don’t get up yet. You’ll get dizzy.” He sat cross-legged next to me and we waited in silence for a minute.

“I should probably suspend you for sneaking in here.” He said. I looked over in panic, ready to plead, but he continued,

“But I’m proud of you, Syd. You’re a good kid. Next time, just ask for help if you need it. Before you end up slipping off a rope 10 feet off the ground.” he added with a mock scolding tone.

“Thanks Coach.” I said quietly. It was the first time anyone had told me they were proud of me.

“Now let’s get you home.” He offered me his hand and pulled me up. He held my shoulders while I steadied myself, and we slowly made our way out of the school, where I had gone in feeling like a loser, and left feeling hopeful. All things considered, that night was a win.

It’s hard to be inconspicuous when you’re hanging upside down.

While everyone sat in neat rows on the grass along the edge of the trees trunk, I dangled from a tall branch in the air. Quietly hovering above everyone else, observing their actions and how they socialize with others, trying to fit in while I do nothing but fit-out. Some people call me “unique” when they try not to hurt my feelings, but sometimes I don’t care if I’m diffrent why is that so bad? So, now I hang upside down on the tallest tree branch of my favorite tree and watch as I ignore the wishpers that float my way.

“It’s hard to be inconspicuous when you’re hanging upside down.” A deep male voice said behind me. I rolled my eyes and exclaimed “can you help me down then?” He came around to my face, with a boyish grin on his face. “And why would I do that when we’re having such a good time as we are? I especially love the view.” I groaned in annoyance- glad I had decided to wear leggings, as I tried to hoist my body up the rope i was hanging from, the ruffles of my dress getting in the way. “Fine. Don’t hurt yourself, it would be such a shame.” He sighed, grabbing a knife out of his pocket and slicing the rope, causing me to fall to the ground with a loud thump.** **I grunted as a jolt of pain was sent through my chest, “ow!” I exclaimed, standing up and fixing my outfit- A long, poofy, periwinkle dress, that showed off my body with a tight corset. “Now, if I may, what were you doing in the trap Kylie?” I thought back to the letter that was on my desk in my room in my Kingdoms castle. It was signed by a “J”, who I can only expect is the prince of the Kingdom I was currently in. The letter said to meet with him in the courtyard at exactly ten o’clock in the evening. I didn’t want to think what this unsanctioned meeting could possibly be about, but I wasn’t going to ask questions. “I’ve been asked to meet here with someone, they signed by the initial ‘J’. Me personally, I’m not the type of princess to turn down a meeting.” I explained to this mysterious boy who looked around my age from what I could see. “Well I didn’t expect you to wear a huge dress when I sent that!” He sighed and I suddenly recognized who he was. He _was _the prince I’ve seen from across meeting halls so many times. The one I’ve developed a small crush on. Who am I kidding? I have a ginormous crush on him, it’s almost unbelievable. I felt heat rising to my cheeks, “You left that? How did you know where it was,never mind get to my room?” I asked astonished. He stepped closer towards me, I could feel the warmth radiating from him, which would be so comforting in this frigid, winter air. “I know a lot about you princess, so it wasn’t hard finding out what I wanted to know.” I gulped hard. I had so many questions. Has he been stalking me? And If he has, has he read my diary where I wrote down all of my feelings for him? “Uh, y-you’ve been stalking me-e?” I shakily asked, wary of the situation around me. “I wouldn’t say stalking, more like… watching you whenever you’re around.” He said, moving closer, taking a bigger step than before, our bodies almost touching. Okay. Its way too cold out here, even with the warmth of Jason. “C-could we go inside? I’m f-f-freezing.” I whispered. Jason nodded his head, and started walking towards their castle, beckoning for me to follow. I quickly caught up with him and his hand found the small of my back, guiding my through the twists and turns, us soon ending up in… His room. “Here you go princess, I wouldn’t want you to freeze, Now would I?” He asked rhetorically. I looked around his room, It was oddly similar to mine. But that is probably just because we both live in castles. Large stone walls, a king sized bed, pushed up against the wall, with a dark blue bedspread. I sat down on the edge of his bed and rubbed my hands together, to warm them up. Jason came over and stood right in front of me, making m my heart pick up speed. And grabbed my small, cold hands in his large, warm ones. Slowly he trailed his arms up mine, keeping me warm. Just a few short seconds later, his hands were at my back, holding me in an embrace. “Are any other parts of you cold, Kylie?” He softly asked, his voice reverberating through his chest as I let my head rest on it. I shook my head, even though I was cold, I didn’t want to bother him. “Really? ‘Cause to me, It looks like your teeth are chattering.” I blushed lightly, “I was hoping you wouldn’t notice.” I said softly. He pulled back from our embrace slightly, hooking his finger under my chin and tilting my head up, making my eyes meet his. “I notice everything about you princess, especially the fact that the part of you that is cold is your lips.” He said in a low, breathtaking voice. How did he guess? I asked myself, my heart pounding so loudly I’m sure he could hear it. He leaned in, lining his lips up with mine, not quite letting them touch, giving me a chance to pull away. I didn’t, instead, I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him into a deep kiss that conveyed all of the emotions we’d been holding back. I felt Jason smile against my lips, pulling me flush against his body. I suddenly felt his tongue run across my bottom lip, I gasped and he took the opportunity to slip his tongue into my mouth, exploring it with a great intensity. Jason picked me up off the end of his bed and sat down, replacing where I was without breaking the kiss. I wrapped my legs around his waist and then he moved one of his hands to my thigh, over my leggings. He gently lifted me up, so i was hovering over his lap and he pushed all the fabric of the back of my dress over his knees so I could be more comfortable. He put me back down and I finally broke the kiss, leaving him pouting. “I totally love where this is going, but my father will get mad if I don’t return home soon, I kind of told him I was in the garden.” I said in solace. “okay princess, I shall bring you back to your kingdom… and then declare my love for you to the King and beg him to let me marry you.” My heart swelled at the gesture, but I can only imagine what my father would do to him, especially since he is from our enemies kingdom, never mind the prince of it. “I don’t know if that is a good idea Jason… my dad… I don’t know what he would have done to you.” I got up off his lap, quickly fixing myself, and rushed out the door into the halls. Then I remembered the twists and turns of them and stopped, waiting for Jason to catch up to me, because I just know he is following. “Fine. You can bring me back to my kingdom. And you can do whatever you want to declare your love for me, but please, don’t get yourself killed, I could never live with myself if I was the reason you passed.” He copped my cheek with his hand, “Kylie, if I was killed for loving you, it would be worth it, I would wait for you every day until I could see you again. All that matters is that I love you and you love me… you do, right?” He asked Shyly. I smiled “of course I love you! I’d be stupid not to.” He smiled softly, and kissed me quickly. “Cmon, let’s go.” He said, rushing through the halls, me following behind him. When we reached my castle, i walked in first, and then forced the guards to let Jason in too. I walked into my fathers throne room, knowing he’d be there, he always is u til he is sure im asleep in my bed. “Uhm… father?” I called out. His head whipped towards me, or who I thought was me, but his eyes were fixated on then figure behind me. “What is _he _doing here?” My father asked with disgust tainting his voice. “Allow me, sir, I am in love with your daughter, so very much. I wish for us to soon marry of possible. I couldn’t ever imagine a life without her…” Jason continued on about how we were perfect for each other and I slowly saw my fathers face soften. “And Kylie? Do you love him too?” He asked. “Y-yes father, with all my heart.” I answered. He nodded. “Very well then. All I’ve wanted was for you to marry someone yountruly cared for, and all the suitors we’ve brought in you’ve declined. So, you have my blessing to get married.” I smiled, taking Jason’s hand in mine, “thank you sir. Though I have to admit I have a small secret.” He said. “Oh?” My father asked. “Today, I asked my father for his blessing too. At the time, I had no idea if your daughter would have come to the meeting I set up with her, but to my luck, she did, though it wasn’t exactly how I expected to see her. She had been hanging off a rope upside down with a very displeased look on her face.” As he told the story (excluding our kiss) I smiled, wanting to remember all of it for years to come.

~Time skip- wedding day~

“You may kiss the bride” the officiant said. I looked up at Jason, slowly leaning towards him and letting our lips press together in a slow, gentle kiss, and when we pulled away, the crowd cheered for us.

Upside down All round Hear the sound My heart pounds

“It’s hard to be inconspicuous when you’re hanging upside down,” I mused to the child. She was perched haphazardly on the chipped blue monkey bars, held up solely by the crook of her purple jegging-clad knees, a camouflage pattern to blend in. Her long, rust-colored hair drooped down, brushing the rough tanbark with its nostalgic woody smell. “Hey! I’m on a top secret mission here. You’ll ruin it!” Of course this was at the equally-conspicuous volume of a stage whisper. She looked a bit ridiculous with the upside down pout that followed. “Let me guess- a cover identity, blending in as a fourth grader? Genius. They’ll never figure it out.” I let out a laugh one could only describe as “the classic dad chuckle.” Raia groaned in response. “Daaad. I’m actually meeting someone. This is a ron-day-view.” She had just learned the word and couldn’t quite pronounce it right. “Oh?” I said. “Who are you meeting? Did you make a new friend? I know it’s been hard since we moved here…” “This is purely business.” “Oh I see.” She swung herself up so she was sitting on top of the bars. She let go, using her fists as binoculars. “Honey, be careful. Your Papa will kill me if I don’t bring you home in one piece,” I said. Her no-handed wobbling made me nervous. “I’m fiiine. We do much more advanced stuff in gymnastics.” “I’m sure you are. Well, I’ll leave you to your sleuthing.” I gave her a mock salute. “Copy that Agent Dad.”

_It’s hard to be inconspicuous when you’re hanging upside down, but so far I have been careful to only leave the belfry just before the bell tolls and so far no one has noticed me. _ __ _The few occasions I haven’t made my exit in time the vibrations have rattled my teeth and it became difficult to adequately bite down. The days that followed I would grow weak and transformation and flight would become difficult. I would find myself feasting on small forest creatures until I recovered. _ __ _Lately, however I’ve been perfecting my timing and life up here has been wonderful. I watch from above the town square and when the moment is right I swoop in and take what ever it is that I am after. I own the night. _ __ _It took me a moment to adjust to this new town but I think I could make it mine, at least for now. I’ll bleed it dry in a few months time and move on to the next one just as I always do. _ __ __ _May the moonlight fill your darkest nights. _ __ __ With these final words inked onto the page in a refined calligraphy, pale fingers folded the letter and slipped it into an awaiting envelope.

A bell tolled steady and deep not far away. A shadowy figure flitted down the alleyway, footsteps echoing on the stone street corner as if just barely making contact with the ground.

Under the shifting moonlight it slipped the letter into a mailbox, vanishing into the night before the letter came to a rest at the bottom. The final bell toll rung out shaking the trees as it did.

“What are you doing?!?” she yelled. “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m spying.” “Spying…” “Ya. A friend of mine dared me to spy on this girl… And I now see that was a horrible mistake.” “You would be correct.” “Sorry,” he muttered. “Don’t apologize to me. Apologize to the poor girl who has an eleven year old boy staring at her.” He flushed. “A tip for next time: It’s hard to me inconspicuous when you are hanging upside down in a tree.”