Original Story: The Stone Guardians · 4:57pm Apr 18th, 2016
Original Story: The Stone Guardians
By Emma Lee Downs (LyraAlluse)
It was a hot day in the world of Tamerine. I was looking for a way to escape my chores on the farm so I decided to take a day trip into the Gothern Desert. My grandmother told me stories about how the great god Bentec put guardians in the desert that would help anyone who was lost and needed help finding their way back home. There were many legends about the stone guardians but I did not believe them. Grandma was always telling stories, especially about the giants who used to roam the land way before all of the different people and creatures came to live on the world. She told so many stories I never really took any of them very serious.
Even so, a part of me wished that I could find them. In some way I wanted to believe that there was something wonderful I could find if I hiked far enough on the desert trail. I was thinking all about my grandmother’s stories when I happened upon a stone with a great rocky face and stone body. He looked as though he was pointing toward the east. I thought it was weird to find such a monument in the desert so I leaned in closer to get a better look and wouldn’t you know it; the stone man blinked!
I jumped back a few paces, shaking a bit. I wanted to run but somehow I couldn’t. The great stone man simple let out a hearty laugh that sounded like a rock slide.
“I am the Great Stone Guardian Ruu. You are the first traveler in a long time to find me in the desert. But I can tell that you are not lost. So instead, I will send you to meet with my brothers.”
I felt a little more comfortable after I heard Ruu speak so I moved in closer.
“Why…why should I meet with your brothers?” I asked, still shaking a bit.
Ruu smiled.
“Because it is not every day we encounter a traveler out here in the desert. You must journey to the east. That is where you will meet my four brothers, Shen, Ryu, Norg, and Urn. When your mission is complete, my last brother Urn will grant you a wish. It is your reward for finding us.”
I wasn't really sure what Ruu meant or even what I should wish for but I told him that I would do as he said. I didn’t want to anger a stone guardian and I was curious what the other stone gods were like. I waved goodbye to Ruu after having a friendly conversation with him and getting detailed direction on how to find his brother Shen. Then I set off to meet his other family members one by one.
I walked and walked until finally I happened upon The Stone God Shen. I could see by the expression on his face that Shen was surprised that I was able to find him.
“It has been a long time since a traveler has ventured this way,”
He said, stroking his rocky chin.
“But how exactly did you find me little one?”
I explained how I had found Ruu sitting out in the desert not to long ago and how he had told me to visit each of his brothers as a reward for finding him. Shen nodded.
“Ah. So it has come to this.”
He gestured for me to come over to where he was sitting on a grand stone seat. He told me to hold out my hand and I did. He gave me something strange. It was a gold stone that shone brightly in my hand. He told me to keep it with me until I reached his brother Ryu.
He pointed toward the east and said, “Keep walking that way, little one. If you walk along this path surly you will meet my brother.”
I placed the gold stone in a satchel hanging on my belt and told him that I would do as he had said. After talking with Shen for a little while, I went on my way. Shen seemed a bit sad as I left to complete my journey. I think it must be lonely to be an ancient rock guardian.
It wasn’t long before I came upon the next Stone Guardian, Ryu. Ryu was so large that I could only see his big rock teeth. He was lying in the path I was walking upon and would not let me pass until I answered a riddle.
Ryu asked, "What is invisible to the eye but essential to the heart?"
I thought a moment and then said, "Is it friendship?"
Ryu laughed and said, "That is wrong. I'm afraid that I cannot let you pass little one."
I was feeling a bit discouraged but then I remembered something my grandmother once told me.
I said, "I change my answer. The thing that is invisible but essential to the heart is belief. If you believe in yourself, then anything is possible."
Ryu grumbled a few times and then said, "Alright, I will let you pass. Continue on your quest, little one."
I thanked Ryu and after having a friendly conversation with him I continued on the path. I wondered what the next stone god would look like as I made my way down the large valley.
Next I came upon The Stone Guardian Norg. Norg told me that I could only get to the bottom of the valley if my heart was pure. Otherwise, I would walk around in circles for all eternity and would never get a chance to make my wish come true. I asked Norg how I could accomplish this task and he said to close my eyes. When I did, he told me to picture the most beautiful thing I could imagine.
I pictured a white leopard with blue eyes. The white leopard came to me in my vision and told me to get on its back. I did in my mind and I heard Norg say in the background to open my eyes. When I did I was on the back of the leopard that I had pictured. The leopard jumped from ledge to ledge until it got to the bottom of the valley. It smiled and then disappeared. I saw a new path cutting through the woods below so I began to follow it. Somehow I knew it lead to the last stone god.
Finally I reached the last Stone Guardian, Urn. I remembered the gold rock that Shen had given to me earlier so I took it out of my pocket and showed it to Urn.
Urn smiled and said, "Since you journeyed long and far to reach me, I will grant you your wish. Hold that stone in your hands. Whatever wish you make it will grant it. However dear traveler, do not take this lightly. Be careful what you wish for, because you can only make one wish. After your wish is granted the stone will disappear and you will be stuck with whatever you have wished for the rest of your days."
I nodded and grasped the small stone in my hands.
I thought long and hard about what I wanted and then I said, "I wish that I could visit my stone god friends whenever I liked to. That is my only wish!"
The gold stone glowed and then disappeared.
Urn smiled and said, "That was a very good wish. I would like to be friends with you too. Please visit us whenever you like."
I told Urn I would and then began my journey back to my home on the outskirts of the desert. When I got back to my house, the gold stone was sitting on my kitchen counter.
Underneath was a note that read, "Wish on this stone whenever you want to see us. The stone will take you to us if you say any one of our names."
I smiled and put the stone in my pocket. I later put it in a safe place in my room so no one would bother my special treasure.
Eventually I took my grandmother along with me on my visits with the stone guardians. I thought it was only right that my grandmother should visit them since she told so many stories about them growing up. Ryu and the others were happy to be reunited with her. For you see, my grandmother was one of the travelers who had found them long ago. But she had been lost then and was forced to use her wish to help her find her way home. Now, thanks to me finding her old friends, she is able to visit with them whenever she is able.
Today my grandmother and I still visit the stone Gods. Ryu tells very good jokes and can make us laugh no matter what kind of day we have been having. Ruu always gives us wisdom and helps guide us on the right path. Norg gives us encouragement and reminds us to never give up on our dreams.
Shen always gives us pretty stones which we take home and put in a special place in my grandmother’s sewing room. As for urn, well, he my grandmother and I have become really good friends. We talk all of the time and he tells us all sorts of stories about the desert where we both found him, my grandmother when she was a young girl and me on that fateful day in my teens when I was desperate to get away from the farm.
If you ever happen to travel through the Gothern Desert and find the Great Stone guardian, Ruu, take his advice and follow the path. You may just find my grandmother and me out along the trail visiting with them like we do at the end of each week when we have finished with the farm chores. If you follow the instructions of each stone God your wishes will be granted and your dreams are sure to come true.
An interesting one, well structured, though I personally like the other one better. But I suppose that's just my tastes
3878876 Fair enough. Thank you for giving it a read. :)
3879147 Your welcome mate.
3879276 It is very much appreciated.
A few mistakes here and there, but a nice journey-of-discovery tale. The first-person perspective is a nice touch; makes it feel like I'm reading a journal.
-Ru
4351730 Thank you for the feedback. I am glad that you enjoyed reading it. :)
I always found wishing to be a tricky subject. After reading "The Monkey's paw" I felt wishing was more of a curse that had to be handled carefully. This was a well thought out wish
4353173 I am glad that you enjoyed reading the story. Thank your for taking the time to read it. :)
4353444
Of course Lyra
4354089 Hurray!
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