Moondance

She ran over to one of the berry bushes and dropped everything. She was about to eat one when her dagger screamed at her. Startled she dropped the berry and looked at the dagger. Slowly she picked it up.

"Blackmoon,I....Did you scream," she was puzzled," And why?"

" Why did I scream? Why? Do you know if those berries are poisonous or not? Well do you?"

" Uh well no I don't."

" See! You could have died and all you grandfather and father's work would have been for nothing. Take the berry and place it on my blade, if it burns don't eat them, if not have a feast." Moondance did as Blackmoon instructed. She wondered why she was listening to a dagger.

She removed him from his sheath and placed a berry on his blade. Nothing happened so she quickly resheathed him and then began to feast on the raspberries. After awhile she became very thirsty. She picked up the water skin but nothing came out.

" Blackmoon there's nothing in it." He began to laugh.

" Child will you never learn. You must fill it then the water supply will never end until you open it and say empty." She placed him in the water to see if it was safe then filled her water skin. As she was she heard Blackmoon snickering.

" What are you snickering for?"

" I was just imagining your face while swimming and having a fish tickle you as it swam by. There are fish in this pond my dear, so don't be shocked if one brushes by you."

Suddenly Moondance burst into tears. Blackmoon transformed into an elf of silver skin and onyx hair. Moondance gasped through her tears.

" At times of need I can become this," He stood with his arms open," but only when needed, as it is needed now." He sat beside her and Moondance laid her fiery, golden head in his lap and cried herself into a deep sleep.

As she slept, Blackmoon found a deep hole in a large old redwood and made it as comfortable as possible and placed Moondance in it with her belongings. From her bag of holding he pulled out a blanket her mother had made for her and covered her with it.

" Oh child there is so much you must learn and you only have me. What can I teach you in my short time? We will be at our destination before either of us knows It." he sighed deeply.

CH. 2

FIRST JOURNEY

Moondance awoke to the smell of cooked fish and berries. She looked around at the inside of the redwood. It was old but strong. She stepped outside to see the triple suns setting.

" Oh how beautiful. Blackmoon why have you resumed your dagger form?" She sat by the fire.

" It was no longer necessary to be in my other form. Eat your dinner then go bathe. Tomorrow we will try and find civilization." Moondance nodded as she hungrily ate the fish and berries. Then she went into the redwood and grabbed her bag of holding. She looked surprised when she opened it.

" There's nothing in here. I don't understand."

" Speak the name of what you want and it will appear, that is if it's in there." Doing as told Moondance asked for a brush, a towel, soap (which didn't appear) and a nightgown made of soft material. Even though it was night the weather was warm. The water was a little chilly at first but soon Moondance was playing around more than she was bathing. Blackmoon yelled at her to stop fooling around, for much had to be done before tomorrow. Quickly Moondance finished bathing and dried off. As she pulled her nightgown on a thought struck her.

" Blackmoon, your male."

" Yes, so?"

" You've seen me naked, only my mother has seen me naked. It's very improper." She began to blush, half from embarrassment and half from anger at not realizing this soon.