https://caspercollege.cvlcollections.org/files/original/14b0ea79fcf88d4fa6e2683d47b85e50.pdf 8c95b4d9b40dd5b1931cc2288cf1c513 PDF Text Text NLqht of a Thousand Staas Zoe von Gunten Fiction She was from the moon, and the people of the Earth waited for her every hundred years. June 28th, the night was sweltering, quiet, and filled with anticipation. There were no clouds in the sky, and the stars above glittered and danced among the midnight curtain. The moon full and blue, all in the village below watched from windows and the streets as the moon, like water, cried a single teardrop. It fell like a comet, a moon drop, it glowed and shimmered, morphing, and soon she appeared riding a caravan being pulled by bears made of constellations. Bells rang out in the warm night, her lantern glowed with liquid silver moon. She landed in the village with an impossible silence and grace. The villagers gathered in crowds outside and watched her pass by their houses in hushed awe. The jingling of golden bells filled the air as the caravan swayed back and forth on the cobblestone streets. The hat that adorned her head curtained her face with hanging beads and stars that swayed with the summer breeze. As the strands of stars and beads bumped against each other, they sang an ethereal melody that sounded like no bell known to man. High pitched and ethereal, it was what one would imagine what falling stars to sound like. She reached the edge of the village where the cobblestone streets became dirt paths, and houses grew into tall dark trees. The bears stopped, stooping low to the ground, settling side by side. The woman stepped off of her seat and with a wave of her hands the back of the caravan flew open. Navy blue cloth floated up and situated itself on two large sticks, a small roof shading the entrance into the caravan from the cool moonlight. With that, the night began. Elders prepared the young, dressing them in their finest clothes, dusting the dirt off their faces, and adorning them with family crests. They ushered them to see the woman of the moon, to hear her stories, and perhaps if lucky.. .have their future read. The legends and tales were a guarantee of visiting the woman, but a reading was far less common. Legend stated that her readings were destined to come true and that in order to get one of these fortunes one must give up a token of significant value. Yet there was a fear within the eyes of the elders. Whispers of “the prophecy” floated through the village. Mothers hugged their children for much longer than normal. Fathers held their breath looking over their sons and daughters, hoping that none of them would be chosen. XL CxpvssLon Magazine �Nl^ht of a rhausand Stais The Moon Woman was the protector of the village, the spirit that watched over the souls that resided in the quaint seaside town, but this protection came with a cost. Eternities would pass and the spirits would live and die, but eventually live again within different bodies. Centuries prior, the great leader Yuu Xi had made a deal with the spirits. The village was in danger, invaders were crossing the seas, destroying and pillaging, the small town stood no chance. So Yuu Xi offered the spirit of the moon sanctuary, a soul like her own to carry on her life when her time should come, in return she would watch over the village and defend it from invaders. That night became the mark of her return. Every hundred years, she would come from the moon and find her replacement amongst the young. The village youth crowded at the entrance to the caravan, where the open door was visible. Teens bickered and teased each other attempting to hide their anxiety, the smaller ones clung to each other, peeking into the mysterious caravan. Finally, a brave boy pushed through and made the first pilgrimage in, the rest followed. Through the door a cavernous room filled to the brim with mystical sounds lay before them. Gold, silver, bronze, and gem covered trinkets decorated the room. Feathered headdresses, golden moon charts, and silver crowns glowed around the woman who sat at a large round table with intricate carvings of the moon phases atop it. Stars strung on silver strings hung over her head, satin drapery along with shimmering tapestries that looked as if they were weaved from the night sky decorated the wall. The Moon Woman’s dark eyes shimmered as she looked up calmly, sending the sounds of falling stars through the air as the beads dangling from her hat rattled together. A translucent lunar moth rested on her face, fluttering its teal wings gently. The children took their seats around the table, nervously glancing at one another. "So you’ve come to hear the legends?” She finally spoke, the timbre of her voice was deep and melodic, hypnotizing. Those around the table nodded, and she began her stories. Hours passed but in the caravan it felt as if a few minutes went by as the woman of the moon told her legends. Warriors who battled monsters of the sea who desired to steal the moon from the sky, tales of bunnies who chased fluttering cherry blossoms into the stars, and stories of the love between the sun and moon. The legends entranced the children, they were in a daze until the woman of the moon paused, her red lips parting slightly as her eyes wandered upward to the door, 64th EditianUt^'iata'ie. XU �Ni^ht ofa. Thousand Sta'is “You’re late, but please, come sit." In the door stood young Magnolia. The poor girl lived in a run down house at the edge of the village, her clothes were nothing but rags, her red hair thick and messy was falling out of her braids. “I’m not here for the stories...” her soft voice rasped. “Oh?" The Moon Woman smiled, interested, “Then what have you come here for child?" The group of children at the table had already turned their heads to stare, the boys snickered at her pitiful silhouette, the little ones averted their eyes remembering the warnings their parents had told them about the poor family at the edge of the village. Magnolia reached around her neck and unclasped the chain around her neck and held up a necklace with a shining silver coin. She thrust her arm out towards the Moon Woman. "This necklace has been in my family for generations, my grandmother says it fell from the sky. It brings me luck... ” The air froze as the eyes around the table stared in awe at the coin and Magnolia who stood with the grace and pride of a queen. The Moon Woman stood with a wide grin and held her hand out, the necklace pulled away from Magnolia and gravitated to the Moon Woman. It floated peacefully through the air, the children around the table whispering to each other as they watched it pass each of them. “So, is it a reading you want?” she held the necklace in her hand tightly, "...Yes this is a valuable item. It has been a long time since I have seen this coin..She traced the coin with her finger. The Moon Woman sighed, the longing of a lost memory reflected in her eyes. “Your fate... ” The Moon Woman looked up, melancholy saturated her voice, “yes.. .your fate is to become the moon.” The children around the table began to whisper frantically. “The moon?" Rhye, youngest daughter of Hua the fisherman, exclaimed, “That don’t make sense, lady!” “Oh, sweet Magnolia, you are the one..The Moon Woman slowly rounded the table, her feet never touching the ground, she hovered. "Thank you children, thank you for listening to the stories.. .the night is long, go home and see your loved ones...” She ushered the children out XLII Txff'iission Magazine. �Night ofa. Thousand Sta.'is silently. “But I want to hear more stories!” Whined small Yuzu, her white ribbons fluttering as she stood up reluctantly. “Fear not child, the stars will tell the stories,” The Moon Woman smiled softly and placed a hand on the small girl’s back, “When you watch the night sky, you will know. I promise.” The children left, sour in mood, yet confused and fearful. What would happen to poor Magnolia? What would it mean for her to become the moon? The Moon Woman floated around Magnolia, her eyes wandering from the necklace and to the girl. “Do you know who this coin belongs to, girl?” The Moon Woman hovered in front of Magnolia holding the necklace, suspended in the air. "My Grandmother says it is from the stars.” She responded. The Moon Woman laughed full and harmoniously, "No sweet child, the stars have no claim over this. My love, my dear Solaris gave me this as a parting gift. My last visit I had lost it.. .and yet," she gently grasped Magnolia’s hands, “you are here, dear child. You bear the last gift I had ever received from my love.. .there is no doubt in my mind.. .your spirit, your soul, and now this tells me that you are my successor.” Magnolia stood in silent awe, she stared at her small hands in the Moon Woman’s pale shimmering skin mixed with her dirty dull skin. She furrowed her eyebrows and looked up at the Moon Woman, her golden eyes digging deep into her soul. “Successor? I’m not meant to be your successor. I’m poor and don’t have much education. The people of the village avoid me, I barely exist to them.” Magnolia spoke, “Grandmother says that the Moon Woman protects our village, that if she were to choose someone to replace her. that they would have to be loved and cherished just as she is.” The Moon Woman released Magnolia’s hands, she left the necklace in Magnolia’s grasp. "Your grandmother has not hidden you from the truth of my visits it seems.” She waved her right hand gently and gracefully through the air like the conductor of a silent orchestra, "Magnolia, the village may not always love you...they may not always love me. To live is to experience pain, but what makes us stronger is our love for those who inflict pain. If you can grow kinder and stronger from these experiences, then this is a sign of someone who 1 can trust to be my successor. I have seen into your soul. Magnolia, you care deeply for this village no matter how much pain it has inflicted on you. You are strong. 64th. EditionLLttiatuie XUII �Nl^ht ofa. Thousand. Stais as I push and pull the tides, you push and pull the people to become more tolerant and more kind.” Within the Moon Woman’s right hand was a blue glowing orb. Small enough to fit in between the index finger and thumb. It glowed and pulsed, small gold and blue sparks shot off from it releasing a pop and the ringing of a small bell. “Will you miss this world, Magnolia?” The Moon Woman asked. “...Of course 1 will. I would miss my mother and my grandmother very much, but I also love the sea and the Earth beneath my feet. I would miss the breeze on my face and the sun on my skin. Do I have to lose these things? Do I have to become the moon now?" She responded, she bit her lip trying to show no fear, but beneath her was nothing but writhing worms and cicadas that buzzed in her stomach. “I wish you didn’t have to..The woman smiled sadly, "But I am growing old and weak.. .of course you’d never know. Us spirits have a way of looking rather beautiful when dying, don’t you think?” "But what about my family?" Magnolia pleaded. The Moon Woman tilted her head and looked down at the glowing orb in her palm. She sighed softly, the attachment to the material plane was something that still ached deep inside her heart, she understood but knew better. “To love your family is to protect them and to live on for them, whether it be in this world or amongst the spirits.” She carefully explained. Magnolia looked down, rainwater tears trickling down her cheeks. She took a deep breath in, she knew there was no other way around it. She loved her family and she loved her village, perhaps she loved them enough to leave them. “I'll protect them all if I do this..." She whispered trying to reassure herself. The Moon Woman nodded silently, “The star is the last step.” She held her hand out to Magnolia, the glowing spec of energy was a star, “Once you consume it...we will become one." Magnolia carefully took the star into her own hands, the blue glow was warm, the crackling energy spewing from it tickled her fingers. “Do you feel pain...?" She questioned the Moon Woman XLIV Txf'iesslan Magazine �Night of a Thousand Stdls "Of the physical variety?” “In your heart.” Magnolia clarified, focusing on the star and avoiding the tears in her eyes. “Not as much as I used to. The sadness will leave, but the aching will persist.” She held her hand to her heart, “With time...your heart will heal.” Magnolia nodded. The star popped and rang out again, the heat in her hands was comforting. Magnolia brought her hands to her mouth and put the star in her mouth. It went down her throat like warm tea on a cold winter’s day and tasted like lavender and sea salt. Her body felt numb and tingly all at the same time. Her stomach twisted, her heart panged with sorrow and loss, and then...it stopped. The caravan rocked sleepily, from side to side, like a sailboat on waving seas. The constellation bears trudged along the cobblestone streets, their claws clicking on the stones with each step. The village people watched from the sides of the road, eyes wide in disbelief. A single woman dressed in rags, being held by an older woman, broke free of her grasp and stumbled into the street, but quickly collapsed by the side of the caravan as it roiled by. Tears wet her dirty face and she let out an anguished cry: “Magnolia! My sweet Magnolia, my darling girl.” The older woman reached her side and put her hands on her shoulders. “Dahlia, she is no longer your Magnolia.” She croaked. The Moon Woman looked down to the poor woman on the street and stopped the caravan. Her hair was red in perfect braids, her skin pale and luminescent, she held out a necklace with a silver coin to the woman. Their eyes met, golden glowing eyes of a spirit melting into the dull blue eyes of a mortal woman. “This is a gift from the stars.” she smiled, “With time, your heart will heal.” 64tk£ditionUte.'iatii'ie. � Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. 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All rights revert back to the author/artist after publication.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 2024 Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Zoë von Gunten Language A language of the resource ENG Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Expression Literary and Arts Magazine, CCA 04.ii.c.2022.01 WyCaC US. Casper College Archives and Special Collections. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context CCA 04.ii.c.2022.01_Exp_2024_Prose_04 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Searchable PDF Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Casper College