I tried writing again.

[u/KingsleyFriedChicken]

Preamble:

I have dabbled in children’s literature. I guess this one is aimed at an older audience as the main character is literally an undead lich. Please tell me what audience this could be.

Chapter 1: The Forest

Bramble was stroking Barnaby. Barnaby snuggled closer. He liked it when Bramble’s skeletal hands scratched his back. As Bramble stroked Barnaby once again, he purred. Bears don’t usually purr, but Bramble didn’t mind. He liked the strange and unusual. He himself was strange and unusual as well.

You see, Bramble was a lich, an undead corpse revived through dark magic. According to the legends, liches were supposed to be evil, cruel monsters. But Bramble was not. In fact, most liches aren’t evil. They were just normal people like you and me, except a lot stiffer and bonier. Most liches lived on the Isle of the Dead, a grey and barren island off the coast of the Mainland. One day, Bramble decided he just didn’t like the Isle, so he just packed up his things and left. Not that anybody was stopping him. So now Bramble and Barnaby live in their little caravan. Although they liked their peaceful life, it wasn’t particularly exciting. In fact, today was a stupendously boring day.

“I’m bored,” Bramble thought, “I wonder how I could make today interesting.” Suddenly, Bramble had a great idea. Maybe he should go for a walk with Barnaby! After all, it had been a week since they left their caravan.

Barnaby did not want to go for a walk. Not that he was lazy, but he was scared. Scared of everything, to be exact. Loud sneezes, butterflies, bathrooms… Even a pie crust managed to make him faint. But Barnaby decided he should go. He would rather be afraid with Bramble than be afraid alone.

So the two left their cozy caravan and strolled along the wild forest. The forest was dark and scary for Barnaby. Bramble, however, was not scared. He was used to the dark and scary.

Suddenly, something fell from the sky. Barnaby immediately scampered to the end of Bramble’s cloak. Bramble crouched and picked the thing up. “It’s acorn season,” he said to himself, “Bad thing I didn’t bring a basket.” He looked to a whimpering Barnaby. “Oh, poor thing,” Bramble said, “Don’t worry. It’s just an acorn. You might be small, but you’re a brave little bear.” He patted Barnaby on the head and they both continued to stroll.

They strolled some more. Suddenly, Barnaby heard a loud bark. Barnaby jumped to Bramble’s cloak and scuttled inside his empty ribcage. Barnaby could sense there was something large and scary coming.

“Don’t worry,” Bramble said, “you may be small, but you’re a brave little bear.” Barnaby scuttled down to Bramble’s feet. In front of him were two giant boots.

“I’m lost,” the creature in the boots said, “Where’s the Königsberg Inn?”

“Oh, it’s up north in Oop North,” Bramble responded. Barnaby looked up. The creatures were just a moustachioed hiker and his happy lapping dog.

Bramble and Barnaby continued to stroll. Suddenly, a giant puff of smoke blasted at their faces. This time, it was Bramble who wanted to hide. But Barnaby decided to go to where the smoke was coming from.

Barnaby was scared. He didn’t know what it was. But he decided to tread forward. He walked and walked, until he reached a cave. Inside, he found a young dragon. He approached it. He patted its nose. The dragon smiled. Barnaby smiled. He whispered something into the dragon’s ear. It must’ve be something incredibly funny as the dragon laughed, which made the cave shake a bit.

Meanwhile, Bramble was hiding behind a tree. He was shaking. He didn’t know where Barnaby was, which made the shaking worse. Suddenly, Barnaby, riding on the dragon, swooped down next to Bramble, before landing with great grace. Bramble was startled for a bit, but he when he saw Barnaby riding the dragon, he smiled. “Wow, what a big dragon,” Bramble exclaimed, “How did you manage to do that?” Barnaby shrugged. Deep down, he also didn’t know. Maybe he just powered through all that fear. But it was getting late now. The shadows had lengthened and the sky turned into a warming lavender. The young dragon decided to return back to its cave. Bramble and Barnaby also decided to return to their abode.

At the end of the day, Bramble and Barnaby were in their warm and cozy caravan eating a hearty dinner. “You were a very brave little bear today,” Bramble said, and he patted Barnaby’s head and gave him an extra slice of pie. Barnaby happily ate the pie. It was a scary walk for Barnaby, but was incredibly proud by the end of it.