Sebastian Barnes

Willow Tree's Gift Sebastian Barnes

Is this world cruel or kind? Does your community shape this belief? Do you believe in your community, but fear others? The little mouse doll woke one night beneath a willow tree before a storm. The willow tree is in a meadow between two communities. One is the farm that is controlled by the farmer. He is grieving over his dying son and his farm animals suffer as a consequence. The other is the forest that holds a hidden secret. The forest is full of fright and a place of mystery and peril. It is home to monstrous beasts like owls, foxes and snakes. These two communities fear each other. The little mouse doll doesn't belong to either community. He can get scared, but doesn't understand fear because it never stopped him from being himself. This is a story about belonging, differences and why they matter at all. The little mouse doll makes friends, some enemies, falls in love, and vows to help the dying farmer's child. But to do that he must learn the forest's secret. And to learn it he must discover how truly kind or cruel the world is. A storm is brewing...