The catch of the moonstone dream – Finders Keepers.
Previous Chapter: Change of the Soul Jar – Finders Keepers
Sleek and smooth and far older than time itself. Once a part of something much larger. Now, simply cast off into the expanse. A journey of eons, and finally a resting place in a strange new world. How long before they find out? How long before the rulers of that far away world come forth to find their precious moonstone? Furthermore, what lengths will they go to for its return?
The Catch
Chris feels the ground under his feet change from hard packed earth to soft soil. As he nears the river’s edge he can still see it. The glow on the shore of the river is unmistakable. At first he wasn’t sure it landed this close to the river. In fact, he was so startled when it shot across the sky it took a minute for the shock to wear off. It was the closest pass of a meteor Chris had ever witnessed. Furthermore, he saw it hit the ground. Or, he saw the effects of it hitting the ground.
This could be important he thinks, and decides to check it out. Besides his dad wasn’t expecting him home until later. He didn’t have much homework tonight and football practice wrapped up early this evening. Now a brightly lit meteorite just blazed across his sky. It is almost a rule that he needs to check it out. Furthermore, he wants to tell his dad about this. It is his first time witnessing an impact from space. Maybe it’s a spaceship. He can’t help but speculate as he nears the impact point by the river.
Chris is a senior in high school. He’s planning on going to college, but right now he just wants to enjoy every adventure he can, before he goes off to college. Sometimes he feels like the only thing he’s ever done is go to school and study. Therefore he likes to take a little drive on the way home after football practice. It’s nothing too time consuming, mostly just enjoying the scenery by the river. Besides he still has to figure out how he’s going to break the news to his dad. It’s this thought he’s chewing on, when the meteor streaks past.
The Dream
He’s within ten yards of the object now. It is definitely glowing. However, he can’t tell if it’s the heat from the impact, or something else. In fact, he’s still only seeing the glow from the object. There appears to be a small crater at the impact point. The river is vast and silently moving on his right, as he nears the crater. The glowing from within is enough to cast an eerie reddish aura across the water. Now that Chris is closer, he can see that the light is pulsing.
A sense of trepidation runs through his system. He’s looking over the edge of the small impact crater. A small breeze is stirring the field grass around him as he gazes down into the surprisingly shallow hole. It is about three feet deep and the earth around the inside of the crater looks black as coal and fused like melted glass. At the bottom of the hole, is a stone the size of a coconut. Furthermore, it appears to be ultra smooth and glows with a pale blue light from within.
The Moonstone Dream
Chris doesn’t realize it at first, but he’s holding his breath. As if the realization causes the trigger, he exhales with a whoosh of pent up air. The effect is as though he is gasping in surprise. Which, as he stares at the impossibly beautiful stone, he can’t help but do. Its ethereal beauty is far more than just aesthetic. It’s mysterious and more compelling than anything Chris has ever experienced. As he stares at the moonstone he is unaware of his own movement.
The hand that reaches down, and touches the moonstone, can’t belong to Chris. For one thing, he wouldn’t do something like that. There’s no way he would reach down into a recently formed crater, and grab an unknown object that just came falling from the sky. Yet, there he is, picking up the moonstone, and holding it in his hand. It feels cool to the touch, and it vibrates with a frequency that seems to make his teeth itch. He can feel it in his arm. In fact, he can feel something much deeper than that.
The Moonstone
Images and visions begin to form in his mind. The river and the surrounding area fades and Chris feels light on his feet. The visions and images in his mind are strange, and unlike anything he has ever encountered. There are, what appear to be, math equations and strange diagrams. Then it shifts into images of galaxies and constellations. The feeling is almost overwhelming. Not only do the images take up all his concentration, but also there is an increase in information.
Chris begins to grasp things he never imagined. In fact, his pulse quickens, as he absorbs the energy from the moonstone. Within moments a strange thing begins to happen. Chris feels himself absorbing the energy, and as he does, the glowing of the moonstone seems to transfer into Chris. Furthermore, he feels like he has become lighter than air. Seconds later, a bright flash pierces the night, as the moonstone vanishes, and Chris falls to the ground unconscious.
Thank you for reading! Like, follow and share The Frog Journal on X @1finja1 – and on The Frog Journal Facebook page click here. Subscribe to the free newsletter to stay up to date on new content and updates.
All original stories. Download in seconds, new titles weekly. The Frog Journal e-book shorts.
