I wrote a raccoon, released it back into the wild, and then secretly followed it as it explored the woods for 2 hours

I was sitting in my living room and suddenly, a raccoon fell through the screen in my window. It hit the ground with a thud, let out a little squeak, and then was gone. I named the raccoon Rocky and wrote the following short story:<br><br>---<br><br>Rocky had always felt like something was off. Living in the woods can be peaceful, but he had always wondered what was on the other side. As a child, his curiosity got the best of him, and he would spend hours at the forest's edge, staring out into the open fields. But he had been caught by his parents, who told him he wasn't to go there, and if he did, he would be on his own.<br><br>One day, he decided he had enough. He packed a small bag and set off into the unknown. He was immediately struck by how different everything was. The trees seemed taller and closer together, the birds sang different songs, and the animals scurried away as he approached. It was all so overwhelming.<br><br>But he was determined to keep moving forward. He had to see what was on the other side. As he walked, the trees began to thin, and he found himself standing on the edge of a field. He had never seen anything so beautiful. There were rolling hills and tall grasses that swayed in the wind. He wandered through the field, feeling the sun on his fur and the air in his lungs, and he felt free.<br><br>He came to a stream and followed it, watching as it flowed into a small pond. He sat down on the bank, dipping his toes in the water, and felt a sense of peace he had never known before. This was it. This was what he had been searching for.<br><br>He spent the rest of the day exploring the field and the pond, and as the sun began to set, he curled up in a ball and fell asleep. The next morning, he woke up and began his journey back home. He was tired and hungry, but he felt a sense of satisfaction he had never felt before. He had been on an adventure, and he had seen the world.<br><br>As he approached the woods, he saw his parents waiting for him. They looked worried and relieved, and they rushed over to him, hugging him tightly.<br><br>"We were so worried about you," his mother said.<br><br>"I know, I'm sorry. I just had to see what was on the other side."<br><br>His father nodded. "I understand. But you can't just leave like that. We love you, and we want to protect you."<br><br>Rocky nodded, feeling a little ashamed. "I know. I'll never do it again."<br><br>His parents smiled and hugged him again. "We love you, Rocky. And we're glad you're home safe."<br><br>---<br><br>After finishing the story, I wrapped up the raccoon in a towel, put it in a plastic bin, and drove it to a nearby park. I opened the bin slowly, the raccoon peeked out with a look of confusion, and then it scurried out and up a nearby tree. I followed it at a safe distance as it explored the woods. It scurried up and down trees, jumped over roots, and ran along branches. I followed the raccoon for 2 hours until it was out of my line of sight. But the memory of it will stay with me forever.<br><br>**EDIT**<br><br>Holy crap, I didn't expect this many upvotes!!! Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read my story!! I really appreciate it!!!