The Garden Outside the Gate: story transcript
Page 1
The Garden Outside the Gate
Page 2
Liora had promised Thistle the night garden. "The moonflowers open when the bells go quiet," she said. Thistle shook his indigo mane. "Then we had better be quieter than bells." They padded past the last lit window, where even their shadows seemed to whisper.
Page 3
At the garden gate, a heavy chain hung through the handles. Liora tugged once, then twice. The chain answered with a clank loud enough to startle both of them. Thistle peered between the bars. Inside, pale buds waited like folded paper.
Page 4
"There must be another way," Liora said. She wanted that to be true. She also wanted Thistle to think she knew every path in her own home. "Follow me." She marched toward the hedges, trying not to look back at the gate.
Page 5
They circled the wall. A gravel path ended at a watering can. Another ended at three sleeping cabbages. "Excellent," said Thistle. "A secret entrance for someone the size of a cabbage." Liora laughed, but the laugh felt too small in her mouth.
Page 6
Beyond the cabbages, Liora spotted a narrow gap under the hedge. She knelt to inspect it. Thistle lowered his head beside hers; his pearly horn caught a leaf. The gap led only to more hedge. Liora stood, brushing dirt from her golden slippers.
Page 7
"Thistle, I don’t know another way in," she said. "I only said I did because I didn’t want to disappoint you." Thistle freed the leaf from his horn. "I was disappointed by the chain," he said gently. "Not by you." Liora let out a breath.
Page 8
They walked back slowly, with no secret entrance to hunt. Without hurrying, Liora heard water ticking from the can onto the soil. Thistle heard something else: a faint rustle above the wall. "Wait," he whispered. "Do moonflowers make a sound?"
Page 9
They looked up. A vine had climbed over the wall, and its buds were loosening in the dark. One flower unfolded above Liora’s head. Another opened near Thistle’s ear. He went cross-eyed trying to see it. Liora had to cover her giggle.
Page 10
More blossoms opened along the wall, white as little pools of moonlight. Liora held still while Thistle watched the one by her shoulder. "I promised to show you the garden," she said. "I thought it was all behind the gate."
Page 11
"So did I," said Thistle. He stepped back to make room for her beside him. The bells had long gone quiet. Together they watched the last bud open, and when a petal brushed Liora’s cheek, she didn’t move away.
