The Yellow Stone | Once Upon a New Time

Once upon a time, in the small village of Marren’s Eve. Every person was gifted a stone by the good witch, Evanore. Everyone either had a stone, a shade of red, or a shade of blue. Until one day, Idoney was born. Idoney’s stone glittered like honey on a summer’s morning, the shade of golden rays of sun hitting the ground. The people stared at them, their stone was not normal. It wasn’t a warm shade of red, or a cooling shade of blue, like the rest of them. They always told them “somethings wrong with their stone!” or “the witch must have made a mistake!”

Once upon a time, in the small village of Marren’s Eve. Every person was gifted a stone by the good witch, Evanore.

Everyone either had a stone, a shade of red, or a shade of blue. Until one day, Idoney was born. Idoney’s stone glittered like honey on a summer’s morning, the shade of golden rays of sun hitting the ground. The people stared at them, their stone was not normal. It wasn’t a warm shade of red, or a cooling shade of blue, like the rest of them. They always told them “somethings wrong with their stone!” or “the witch must have made a mistake!”

But Idoney didn’t really care about what the villagers said, they loved their stone, the way it glimmered in the light of the sun. Yet every day the villagers would tell them it was wrong, that they probably painted over their stone. The people would always try and guess what color the stone “really was”. But years and years of being told the color of their stone was wrong had taken its toll.

One day they finally snapped and cried out, “Fine! I’ll go see the witch if it’ll get you to stop bothering me!”

The villagers seemed appeased by this proclamation, giving Idoney a cheery farewell as they left to find the good witch, Evanore. They had packed a satchel full of food, tools, and supplies they would need for their journey.

The people stared at them, their stone was not normal. It wasn’t a warm shade of red, or a cooling shade of blue, like the rest of them. They always told them “somethings wrong with their stone!” or “the witch must have made a mistake!”

One day they finally snapped and cried out, “Fine! I’ll go see the witch if it’ll get you to stop bothering me!”

To begin their quest they would have to travel through the Amrood Thicket, across the Ever Reaching Creek, and climb the Roserood Peaks, and after all that they would arrive at Evanore’s tower.

As they approached the Amrood Thicket, they took a deep breath, and then took their first step into the forest. It was dark and damp, the air filled with humidity. The soil squished a bit under their feet as they walked. The hairs on the back of their neck stood on edge as they trekked through the heavy forest. Out of the corner of their eye they saw a flash of white. Idoney quickly spun to get a better look at what they saw. But nothing was there. They slowly turned back and continued on. The soft squish of their footsteps sounded through the forest, echoing off of the twisting trees. Idoney couldn’t help but notice how eerily quiet it was. There were no birds singing. No trees or bushes rustling. No squirrels scampering. Not even the quiet chirping of crickets.

Idoney gripped the strap of their bag with unease. Then, they saw a dart of white up ahead. They froze, the air suddenly feeling like a 20 pound weight in their chest.

“Who’s there?” they called out, “I know you’re here.” Yet they received no response. After a steadying breath they cautiously continued forward. They cautiously began walking at a quicker pace. Out of the corner of their eye they spotted the flash of white again.

To begin their quest they would have to travel through the Amrood Thicket, across the Ever Reaching Creek, and climb the Roserood Peaks, and after all that they would arrive at Evanore’s tower.

As they approached the Amrood Thicket, they took a deep breath, and then took their first step into the forest.

Idoney gripped the strap of their bag with unease. Then, they saw a dart of white up ahead. They froze, the air suddenly feeling like a 20 pound weight in their chest.

Idoney began to sprint, the dart of white on their tail. The white blur slowly caught up with Idoney no matter how quick they ran. Until it suddenly stopped. Idoney slowed down and looked over their shoulder. Behind them layed a pure white stag with golden antlers who had seemed to have hurt its leg. They stopped, realization flooding them. They carefully approached the wounded deer, the white blur that had been running around.

“Oh… I’m so sorry, you’re hurt aren’t you?” They said quietly as they knelt down to the deer’s level. Idoney reached out their hand gently towards the fallen creature, it shifted away seemingly frightened. “Hey- it’s alright, I wanna help you.”

A few moments of silence passed, neither the strange white deer nor Idoney moved. Then, the deer shift closer to Idoney, allowing them to see to it’s wound. It’s leg had broken, seemingly from tripping on a root if Idoney had to guess. Idoney picked up some sticks from the ground beside them and from their bag pulled a small roll of bandages. The roll only had enough bandages for one use, and it seemed this would be it. They carefully aligned the deer’s leg back into place, and set the sticks on top of it. Next they wrapped the leg and sticks in bandages, giving the deer a makeshift splint.

“Sorry I can’t do better for you right now,” Idoney sighed. “I didn’t have much medical supplies but I hope this is alright enough for now. I’ll move you to a safe spot to heal.”

It was dark and damp, the air filled with humidity. The soil squished a bit under their feet as they walked. The hairs on the back of their neck stood on edge as they trekked through the heavy forest. Out of the corner of their eye they saw a flash of white. Idoney quickly spun to get a better look at what they saw. But nothing was there. They slowly turned back and continued on. The soft squish of their footsteps sounded through the forest, echoing off of the twisting trees. Idoney couldn’t help but notice how eerily quiet it was. There were no birds singing. No trees or bushes rustling. No squirrels scampering. Not even the quiet chirping of crickets.

Idoney gripped the strap of their bag with unease. Then, they saw a dart of white up ahead. They froze, the air suddenly feeling like a 20 pound weight in their chest.

“Sorry I can’t do better for you right now,” Idoney sighed. “I didn’t have much medical supplies but I hope this is alright enough for now. I’ll move you to a safe spot to heal.”

Idoney stood up, but before they could attempt to lift the creature it bolted up. It stood perfectly fine on its wounded leg, as if nothing had happened at all. It bowed its head to Idoney and began to run deep into the woods. The air around them began to clear as the sun shone through the treetops. Song bird’s music filled the woods. Bushes and trees began rustling with the sounds of animals crawling through them. Squirrels chirped and skittered around the forest floor, and even a faint chirping of crickets from holes deep in the ground.

Idoney blinked, not sure of what had happened, but somewhat relieved it did. They relaxed into the familiar sounds of nature, and continued on their journey through the forest.

Idoney blinked, not sure of what had happened, but somewhat relieved it did. They relaxed into the familiar sounds of nature, and continued on their journey through the forest.

Idoney wiped a bead of sweat off their brow. They had made it through the thicket, and now they approached the Ever Reaching Creek. Once their feet hit the banks of the creek they could see how it had received its name. The creek seemed to run endlessly and was wider than a tree was tall. They saw no bridge, and though the water was as clear as a crystal it was too deep to wade through. Idoney paused to think. They then noticed a large piece of wood next to them and had their idea.

It took a bit for Idoney to build, but when they were done they had a makeshift raft. They had grabbed a large branch found elsewhere and formulated a plan. They would push their raft into the creek further up the bank, accounting for the quick current, and they would use the branch to direct them to the other side of the bank. Then it would be like they had traveled straight across from where they stood now.

So they trekked further up stream until they found a spot they liked. Idoney sat in their raft, took a deep breath, and pushed off. It was going smoothly for the most part, they had to correct their balance a bit but with the help of the branch they were on the right track. That is until they saw the large rock right in their path. They tried to redirect their raft, but it was too late. The raft hit the rock, breaking into pieces and throwing Idoney into the water.

Idoney quickly swam to the rock that had just caused their downfall and gripped on to it for dear life. The current pushed against them, trying to drag them along with their broken vessel. They had managed to keep hold of their branch and bag but they weren’t sure for how long they could hang on to both. Idoney glanced around and saw that the branch was just long enough to reach the other shore from their rock. As delicately as they could they pushed the stick into the creek’s bank and rested the other side on the rock.

Carefully, they used the stick to shimmy their way across the creek to the other bank. As they stood at the other side they checked their bag, though everything was thoroughly soaked through their stone still sat there. They let out a sigh of relief, resigned to continue their journey soaked through down to their socks.

Carefully, they used the stick to shimmy their way across the creek to the other bank.

As they stood at the other side they checked their bag, though everything was thoroughly soaked through their stone still sat there. They let out a sigh of relief, resigned to continue their journey soaked through down to their socks.

They let out a sigh of relief, resigned to continue their journey soaked through down to their socks.

They continued to search when they noticed a sign near a tree. It read “Though the hue of my peaks glitters in the sun, once it has left I am undone.” Idoney stopped a moment, letting the words churn in their mind. After a moment of thinking, they simply sat on a rock.

Idoney let the time pass as the sun slowly descended underneath the horizon. Once the last rays of sun finally sank away, the mountain range began to flicker as if a figment of light. Within a few seconds of the Roserood peaks flickering, they disappeared as if they were never there at all. On the other side of the mountains a tall stone brick tower stood alone, warm golden light emanating from inside. With caution, Idoney stood from their rock and began walking to the tower.

The sun began to set as Idoney finally reached the Roserood Peaks. The tall blush toned mountains loomed over Idoney. They glanced around for a path up the mountains. But as much as they looked, there was no simple way up. They continued to search when they noticed a sign near a tree. It read “Though the hue of my peaks glitters in the sun, once it has left I am undone.”

They continued to search when they noticed a sign near a tree. It read “Though the hue of my peaks glitters in the sun, once it has left I am undone.”

Idoney stopped a moment, letting the words churn in their mind. After a moment of thinking, they simply sat on a rock.

Once they arrived at the door to the tower, they took a moment to take a deep breath before knocking on the door. They heard loud clamoring from inside, and a voice shouting, “I’m coming hold your horses!”

With a loud click of the lock, the good witch Evanore opened the door, her long hair tied behind her back. “Hello- Oh my goodness gracious you’re soaked to the bone! Come in child, sit by the fire.” Idoney couldn’t get so much as a word in as they were ushered to the fire, and given blankets and a warm bowl of stew.

“Thank you,” Idoney said with a smile.

“No need to thank me darling, please tell me what’s brought you to my humble abode,” Evanore prompted with the gentleness of someone dealing with a small child.

“Oh- that… It’s my stone, there’s something wrong with it.” They said, the smile falling from their face. They carefully pulled the yellow stone from their bag, and handed it to Evanore.

Evanore examined the stone, turning it this way and that, and then looked back to Idoney. “My dear, what are you talking about? It’s exactly as I remember gifting to you.”

With caution, Idoney stood from their rock and began walking to the tower.

“Thank you,” Idoney said with a smile.

“No need to thank me darling, please tell me what’s brought you to my humble abode,” Evanore prompted with the gentleness of someone dealing with a small child.

“Oh- that… It’s my stone, there’s something wrong with it.” They said, the smile falling from their face. They carefully pulled the yellow stone from their bag, and handed it to Evanore.

Evanore examined the stone, turning it this way and that, and then looked back to Idoney. “My dear, what are you talking about? It’s exactly as I remember gifting to you.”

“Thank you,” Idoney said with a smile.

“No need to thank me darling, please tell me what’s brought you to my humble abode,” Evanore prompted with the gentleness of someone dealing with a small child.

“Oh- that… It’s my stone, there’s something wrong with it.” They said, the smile falling from their face. They carefully pulled the yellow stone from their bag, and handed it to Evanore.

Evanore examined the stone, turning it this way and that, and then looked back to Idoney. “My dear, what are you talking about? It’s exactly as I remember gifting to you.”

Idoney laughed bitterly, “It’s not a shade of red or a hue of blue. It’s just… yellow.”

“And what’s so wrong with that?”

“Well in my opinion nothing, the village hates it though. They sent me here to have it fixed. They call it a mistake.”

“Darling, I can promise you the yellow tone of your stone was no mistake. I do normally gift stones of a shade of red or blue but neither of those fit you.” She said, placing her hand on their shoulder.

Idoney laughed bitterly, “It’s not a shade of red or a hue of blue. It’s just… yellow.”

“And what’s so wrong with that?”

“Well in my opinion nothing, the village hates it though. They sent me here to have it fixed. They call it a mistake.”

Idoney laughed bitterly, “It’s not a shade of red or a hue of blue. It’s just… yellow.”

“So the problem is me then?” They asked, not meeting Evanore’s deep brown eyes.

“That’s not what I meant at all, darling. There is nothing wrong with you or your stone, I gifted you this stone because it most reflected you, as I do with the others. But if you do not like the stone’s color I can change that for you. But only because you wanted it, not because the village deemed it so,” Evanore explained.

“Well, I don’t want the color of my stone to change, it’s beautiful and I love it. But they will keep bothering me if I don’t,” Idoney replied, lost in thought.

“My child, if the village continues to bother you, simply replied that there was no mistake, I said so myself.”

“But they won’t believe me.”

“Some will, some won’t. It’s the ones who do that matter, isn’t it?” Evanore said with a kind smile. She then handed Idoney their stone back.

“You are very wise,” Idoney responded, putting their stone back in their pocket.

“Thank you my dear, you may stay here for the night, tomorrow I will show you a simpler way to and from my tower,” She said with a wink. Idoney laughed, and finished their bowl of stew.

The next day, Idoney was sent back to the village a much easier way, only being a few hours walk. Once they returned the village asked what color their stone was now. Only for Idoney to reply with, “The same color it’s always been and meant to be, yellow.” And though some people never believed them, and bothered them from time to time. The people who Idoney truly cared about accepted this as the truth and apologized for ever believing otherwise.

The End

“So the problem is me then?” They asked, not meeting Evanore’s deep brown eyes.

“Well, I don’t want the color of my stone to change, it’s beautiful and I love it. But they will keep bothering me if I don’t,” Idoney replied, lost in thought.

“My child, if the village continues to bother you, simply replied that there was no mistake, I said so myself.”

“But they won’t believe me.”

“Some will, some won’t. It’s the ones who do that matter, isn’t it?” Evanore said with a kind smile. She then handed Idoney their stone back.

“You are very wise,” Idoney responded, putting their stone back in their pocket.

“Thank you my dear, you may stay here for the night, tomorrow I will show you a simpler way to and from my tower,” She said with a wink. Idoney laughed, and finished their bowl of stew.

The End

“So the problem is me then?” They asked, not meeting Evanore’s deep brown eyes.

“Well, I don’t want the color of my stone to change, it’s beautiful and I love it. But they will keep bothering me if I don’t,” Idoney replied, lost in thought.

“My child, if the village continues to bother you, simply replied that there was no mistake, I said so myself.”

“But they won’t believe me.”

“Some will, some won’t. It’s the ones who do that matter, isn’t it?” Evanore said with a kind smile. She then handed Idoney their stone back.

“You are very wise,” Idoney responded, putting their stone back in their pocket.

“Thank you my dear, you may stay here for the night, tomorrow I will show you a simpler way to and from my tower,” She said with a wink. Idoney laughed, and finished their bowl of stew.

The End