On the evening of October 31, Louane, 8 years old, was half-hidden under her blanket, listening to the strange noise that seemed to come from under her bed. Every night, she heard scratching sounds, whispers, and sometimes even little chuckles, as if a mysterious creature was waiting for her. She had glimpsed it once or twice out of the corner of her eye—a misshapen shadow with bright eyes in the darkness. Her fear grew each time she thought about it.
But that night, encouraged by the Halloween spirit, Louane felt a newfound determination. She thought to herself that it was enough. She wasn't going to let a closet or bed monster ruin her sleep. After all, she was dressed as a witch, and witches are brave! She took a deep breath, felt her heart beating so loudly she thought it might wake up the whole house, and leaned gently over the edge of her bed.
The blanket trembled slightly under her hands, but she lifted it all at once, ready to face the monster... and then, she couldn't believe her eyes.
Under her bed, instead of the usual darkness and lost toys, there was a portal filled with shimmering colors—deep blues, vivid pinks, and golden sparks dancing like little stars. The portal seemed to pulse softly, as if inviting her to enter.
Intrigued, Louane forgot her fear. She leaned in a bit closer and, as she peeked her head through the portal, she discovered a fascinating world, a world that existed only in dreams. Vast hills made of clouds, rivers of sparkling milk, flowers that sang softly, and even magical animals that flew, trotted, or floated around her. This world seemed to be waiting for her.
Near the entrance of the portal, a small creature appeared, resembling a mix between a cat and a fox with soft purple fur and emerald-green eyes. It looked at her with an amused smile.
"Hello, Louane," the creature said in a gentle yet mischievous voice. "I am Luna, the guardian of dreams. I am the one you heard under your bed. But I am not a monster; I am your guide in this enchanted world!"
Louane blushed a little as she remembered her fear. Luna explained that she had set up this portal under her bed to help her cross into dreams, to travel and live adventures every night. She had nothing to fear; it was all about wonders.
That night, Louane found herself transported to a forest of a thousand twinkling lights. The trees were huge, and their leaves seemed made of crystal, casting gentle rainbow glows around them. At the foot of one of these trees, Louane saw Luna waiting for her, her purple fur gleaming in the magical forest lights. With a mischievous smile, Luna whispered, "I’m going to show you the Forest of Wishes!"
Intrigued, Louane followed Luna along a path lined with soft moss that crunched under their feet like cotton. Around them, mysterious creatures appeared and disappeared. There were giant fireflies floating in the air, misty silver foxes weaving between the trees, and winged squirrels carrying tiny golden lanterns. Louane watched it all with wide, amazed eyes.
Eventually, they arrived at a clear, still lake where a boat made of leaves floated, waiting for them. They climbed aboard, and Luna gave it a gentle push with her paw, sending them toward the center of the lake. Around them, the water shimmered with an enchanting glow, and Louane leaned over to look at her own reflection.
Luna explained, "This lake is special, Louane. In this forest, each dreamer can make a wish, and if the heart is pure, the wish may come true here in the dream world."
Louane thought for a moment, closing her eyes to concentrate her whole heart on a single wish. She often thought of her grandmother, who lived far away and whom she didn't see as often as she would like. So, with her hands clasped tightly, she whispered her wish to see her grandmother again in this magical world.
As soon as she expressed her wish, a soft light rose from the lake, dancing gently around Louane and Luna. Slowly, the light condensed, forming a familiar silhouette... It was her grandmother! She wore a dress made of cloud fabric, and her eyes sparkled with the same warmth Louane remembered. Louane felt her heart swell with joy.
"Grandma!" Louane exclaimed, throwing herself into her arms.
They spent the rest of the night walking through the forest together, picking glowing fruits and sharing stories. Her grandmother spoke of her own childhood dreams and adventures she had wanted to live, while Louane shared all the wonders she discovered every night with Luna.
When the first light of dawn began to appear, Luna guided Louane and her grandmother to the edge of the lake. Louane knew it was time to say goodbye, but she felt at peace and happy to have experienced this adventure with her grandmother, even in this dream world.
Since that night, Louane was never afraid again of what might be under her bed. She knew that every night, an enchanted world awaited her, and she slept with a smile, eager to reunite with Luna and set off once more on fabulous adventures in the world of dreams.