18 December 2006

Based off of some fairy tale I heard of once and an illustration for it. Also for my mum.

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Starcatcher

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Night falls upon the forest. Stars wink lazily as the moon hangs low and heavy, a swollen, sleepy deity. Night creatures creep from their places, beginning their night dance singing their strange song in a clamour of sly, rapid voices.

A different creature, small, delicate, and pale, creeps about silently. Calloused feet make no sound as this young thing, female and quiet, makes its way across the forest floor. She clutches a fine net, hunting. The pale blue dress rustles gently, blending in with the night sounds.

Up and away, over the moon. Caught a star. Oh, what fun.

She lands gently on her feet, smiling brocadening to reveal sweet teeth. Runs off through the forest, crushing dead leaves loudly. Maneuvers through brush and low branches deftly, like a fleeting shadow trying to outrun the dark. She races to the clearing, moon revealing hair so pale blonde, almost gilded snow.

Opens the tightly woven net slowly, small fingers releasing the sphere of light. It shoots off to the branches, resting there. The whole clearing glows with the lights of stars, caught by an old creature stuck within its young body.

She rests on the ground, staring at the small orbs. She has been capturing these balls of lights for centuries, more. Caught them one by one, rushing back to the clearing to send them to the leaves.

They would disappear by morning, vapours taken away by the sun. She would become a mere whisp, too, till night fell again and would be able to start her collection over again. She was a starcatcher, the only one of her kind.

She stared at the stars till morning came, shutting her heavy lids as the sun rose over the horizon, fading away till she could just barely feel herself. Another night over, another day begun. Would begin catching stars as soon as the sun fell and night reigned supreme with Mistress Moon and their large army.

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I love stars. And I love reviews.