I was walking down the path in the misty forest, dreading the moment I would arrive at my destination.  I had heard the rumors that pursued that mysterious place, and I was not eager to find out which ones were true.

Passing the shadow trees towering over me from each side of the path, I thought I heard leaves rustling.

“That’s strange,” I thought.  “There’s no wind.”

Then I realized that there were clicking sounds, like claws on stone.  I sped up my pace.

I thought I saw a shadow in the vegetation to my right.

“Oh my-” I whispered, but was cut off by a bone-chilling scream.

I began to run.  I didn’t get far, though.  A figure jumped out onto the path in front of me.  Two red, beady eyes peered out at me through the mist.  I stopped suddenly.

The slinking form crept toward me, and I could make out a tiger…made of metal…a robot tiger?  It was made of copper and iron.  A screen was placed on its chest.  The robot tiger’s furious eyes seemed to burn a hole into me.

The screen on the robot tiger’s chest suddenly turned on like a T.V.  A man’s face appeared on it.  He had a matted beard and black sunglasses.  The man opened his mouth to speak.

“You seek my fortress, heh?” he hissed.

I just stood there.  I knew who he was.

“Tedy Ber,” I muttered.

Tedy laughed.  The sound was like fingernails scratching on a chalkboard.

“Tedy.  Ha!  I am not referred to as ‘Tedy’ anymore!” He snapped.  “Now I am…am…ok, I haven’t gotten that far yet.  But-”

I cut him off.  “So what do I refer to you as?”

“IT DOESN’T MATTER!” Tedy boomed.

I stepped back.  “So I can call you Bob the Builder?” I asked.

“Gah!” Bob the Builder exclaimed.

I smiled.  I was enjoying myself.

An owl hooted in the forest.  Bob the Builder smiled slyly.

“My messenger has returned,” he told me.

A fly flew into my face.  I swatted it away.  The fly hooted loudly and fell to the ground.  The hoot sounded like an owl.

“No!” Bob the Builder cried.  “No!  I told you to stay away from her!  I’m supposed to be mysterious!” His voice broke.  “Tiger, attack!”

The robot tiger jumped into the air at me, its claws extended.

I was paralyzed with fear.  The tiger seemed to come closer in slow-motion.  I closed my eyes.  Nothing happened.  I opened my eyes again.  The robot tiger was standing with its paw in my middle, except it didn’t hurt.  I swiped my hand through its back.  It was a hologram!

“She’s figured out my secrets!” Bob the Builder cried as the tiger faded into the mist.  “I will get you, kid, if it’s the last thing-” Bob was cut off as the tiger disappeared.

I laughed and turned around to go home.  Wait ’till my mom hears what I did today!

By Aurora  Age 11