Science fiction model for Y5 or Y6

Here is a short science fiction/suspense model for Year 5 or Year 6. I have also included an annotated version with teacher notes showing all of the key grammatical features, the way the text is structured and some suggested activities.

How is this text organised?
Are you good at hiding? Do you ever keep secrets? Can you keep secrets from your reader? This story is all about keeping secrets, and causing confusion, uncertainty and suspense! Can you keep the identity of your man character (a cat in the model text) hidden until the end and let the reader try and work out what they are? Can you keep the danger unknown until right at the end? Can you finish on a cliff hanger? So many questions…
Build your own story from here. Scatter clues about the identity of your main character and keep the danger hidden.
Here are the themes of each part of the story:

1. Setting, fear, an unknown thing coming
2. Flashback 1: unclear warnings and rhetorical questions
3. Sustaining injuries: main character stops what she is doing and runs for home, but it is treacherous
4. Home and family: How is the character motivated to survive? Her den and cubs!
5. Flashback 2: she remembers more warnings, but the threat remains uncertain and confusing
6. Main character finds a familiar place – nearly home? – nearly safe?
7. A mysterious object finally appears – everything scatters – character’s identity revealed
8. Fear changes to hunger – prey becomes predator… cliff hanger!