The Moss Creatures Highly Commended Story - Understory Writers (Age 7-10): The Dream of Purple Guy by Izz Naeufal Bin Faizul

The Dream of Purple Guy

By Izz Naeufal Bin Faizul, 9
Kedah, Malaysia

In a quiet little village surrounded by emerald forests and singing rivers, there lived a boy named Izz. Izz loved stories about magical creatures and always wondered what lived deep in the forest, where sunlight barely touched the ground.

One night, under the silvery light of a full moon, Izz had a dream. In his dream, he stood by a sparkling stream, its waters humming softly. Out of the mist came a strange but friendly figure a creature with a big golden head, two pointy ears, and a huge smile that stretched as wide as a rainbow. His clothes were a mix of black and the brightest purple Izz had ever seen.

“Who… who are you?” Izz asked, his voice a whisper of awe.

“I am Purple Guy,” the creature replied, his voice warm like the sun but gentle as the breeze. “I come from the Dreaming Forest, where creatures like me care for nature while humans sleep.”

“The Dreaming Forest?” Izz’s eyes widened. “Is it real?”

“More real than you know,” said Purple Guy, laughing, and with a wave of his arm, the forest around them seemed to come alive. Trees whispered secrets to the wind, glowing fireflies danced like tiny lanterns, and flowers opened their petals to sing little lullabies. “We, the Dreaming Folk, live in harmony with the forest. We care for the rivers, the plants, and the animals. Each night, we make sure they are happy and healthy.”

Izz could hardly believe what he saw. “But why are you purple? Why do you look like this?”

Purple Guy smiled, his big black eyes glimmering like stars. “I was born from the dreams of children who love nature. My purple is the color of imagination, and my golden head comes from the light of hope. You dreamed me into being, Izz.”

“Me?” Izz gasped. “But why?”

“Because you care about the earth. Your heart dreams of green forests, clean rivers, and happy creatures. That’s why I’m here to help you understand how important nature is.”

As the dream continued, Purple Guy took Izz on a magical journey through the forest. They walked through carpets of moss, soft and bouncy under their feet, and Purple Guy explained, “The moss and plants here are like a blanket for the earth. They keep the soil cool and clean, helping the trees grow tall and strong.”

They visited a family of deer drinking from a clear stream. “The rivers are like the lifeblood of the forest,” Purple Guy said. “Without them, animals and plants cannot survive. That’s why we must keep the waters pure.”

Next, Purple Guy showed Izz a patch of wildflowers buzzing with bees and fluttering butterflies. “Do you see these tiny creatures?” Purple Guy asked. “They may seem small, but they are heroes. Bees and butterflies help plants grow by spreading pollen. Without them, the forest would lose its colors, and there would be no food for the animals.”

Izz looked around in wonder. He had never thought of the forest as so alive, so magical. He began to feel something new a deep love for every leaf, every stream, and every creature.

“Can humans help the forest too?” Izz asked suddenly.

“Yes!” Purple Guy beamed. “You can help in many ways. Plant trees, clean rivers, care for animals, and most importantly, teach others to love nature too. The forest will give back to you if you care for it.

As the dream started to fade, Izz looked up at Purple Guy and asked one last question. “Purple Guy, what do you dream of?”

Purple Guy knelt down and whispered softly, “I dream of a world where humans and nature live as one. A world where children, like you, grow up to be protectors of forests, rivers, and all living things.”

The next morning, Izz woke up feeling different. He ran to the window and looked outside at the trees swaying in the wind. Birds chirped cheerfully, and sunlight dappled the ground. He smiled and whispered, “Good morning, Purple Guy. I won’t forget.”

From that day on, Izz spent more time outside, planting seeds, cleaning up litter, and learning about the forest. He even told his friends stories about Purple Guy, the golden-headed creature in purple clothes who cared for nature.

And every night, as Izz closed his eyes, he hoped to meet Purple Guy again in his dreams, knowing that together, they could make the world a better place one tree, one river, and one dream at a time.

From the young writer

“I’m Purple Guy, a magical creature born from children’s dreams of nature. I protect forests, rivers, and animals in the Dreaming Forest. My story reminds kids to care for the earth, because together, imagination and action can make our world greener, healthier, and full of wonder!”

A word from our judges

The Dream of Purple Guy is a sensitive and touching story. We loved reading it and seeing the vision that Izz and the Purple Guy have for the world. The environmental messages are pure. This is a beautifully descriptive story - we particularly loved the use of poetic phrasing. Well done, Izz! We hope to read more of your stories in the future.

The Moss Creatures Short Story Competition for Young Writers was hosted by Words of a Feather, inspired by and with the support of French artiste Marianne Broggi. This free-to-enter competition was open to young writers aged 7 - 14, anywhere in the world.

The Moss Creatures - Stories from the Forêt, an anthology of prize-winning and highly commended stories, will be published in 2025. Stay tuned!

Congratulations on your story, Izz!