Stories Within Stones by: [<>]Little Ru[<>]
matron_hotaru@hotmail.com  Rating: G

	The small red velvet drawstring pouch hung lamely on a hook near 
Hotaru's six-foot mirror.  She sat cross-legged on her high bed
and read an anthology of poetry that had once belonged to her
father.  Very rarely did the poems she read bring her any special
feeling; she found them rather difficult to interpret.  With a 
resigned sigh, the snapped the large book shut and idly threw
it to the side; it landed at the foot of her bed and sank 
considerably into the soft matress.  She smiled at the small 
scene.

	Her dark eyes scanned the room for a new pass-time.  Her
gaze landed on the velvet pouch.  She raised an eyebrow; it had 
been quite a while since she had last pulled the strings to that 
little pouch.  She decided it would not hurt to have another go 
at it.  Heaving herself off of the comfortable bed, Hotaru 
walked across the room and up to her mirror.  She smiled at her 
own reflection, pleased today with her appearance.  She reached
out to the side and unhooked the soft pouch, grasping it tightly
in her left hand.  She took a deep breath; the energy was strong
and healthy. 

	Soundlessly, she turned and walked back to her bed,
settling the bag down before her.  Delicately, she pulled the 
golden strings and opened it.  Out poured a dozen small stones
of a multitude of colours and shapes; Hotaru smiled to see them
again.  Closing her eyes, she reached out with her left hand 
and waved her palm over the little gems, recieving from them a 
warmth that beat like a heart against her hand.  They had been 
in the sun and were clean, all negative energy had been washed
away by the sun's rays; and they had remained so for a while.

	Instinctively, she reached for a crystal of Fluorite, a
purple-pink stone that she held particularly dear.  It was a 
mind-healing stone, a doctor.  She closed the fingers of her 
left hand over the crystal and cleared her thoughts.  This
would take a while to work up.  The Fluorite's energy soothed
her and took hold of her being like a summer breeze; she had
been forgiven for her lengthy absence.  Silently, Hotaru asked 
for a story; she asked to see the stone's history --if, of
course, it agreed to tell her.  

	The crystal responded with a projection of faint images
inside the girl's mind.  She saw a misty river, felt a sudden 
a chill and gathered it was cold there.  The image faded and 
became a darker place, a place that Hotaru found difficulty 
recognizing; sensing her confusion, the image dissipated and
returned to the river bed.  Seasons swept the shore and things
surrounding it died and grew; time was passing and Hotaru bent
her head in recognition.  Soon, the river's water-level lowered
and then left altogether; the crystal's energy was growing 
cooler.  Civilization came then, and the misty river became a 
busy town.  Hotaru felt a twinge of sadness.  Then, the dark 
image returned, but this time she could see it clearly.  It was
a forest, and she understood that it was the remainder of what
was once the pond.  There were many stones there; normal-looking
rocks that held their own stories.  Hotaru felt hope; this was
the Fluorite's home.

	She opened her eyes slowly.  The crystal in her hand pulsed
gently; she uncurled her fingers and held the stone up in the air,
then to the ground, and finally to her stomach.  It was a thanks.

	She put the stones away and got up to replace the velvet 
bag on the hook by the mirror.  When she was done, she looked over 
at the clock by the door; an hour had passed.