Momo and the Isle of Monsters

Prologue

He looked up into the branches of the old oak tree, puzzled. For hundreds of years the tree had borne no seed, no fruit, no flower. But there, in the topmost branches rested a huge, fully ripened peach. It hadn't been there the day before. As he puzzled over it, a stiff breeze caused the branches to sway. With a loud snap, the peach fell. His eyes widened as he dove to catch it. It passed just out of his grasp and splattered on the ground. He looked in horror as the fruit fell away, split cleanly in half. A small cry rose up from the ruins of the massive peach. In the hollow where the pit should have been, was a newborn baby. Her curly black hair was plastered to her tiny head by slimy peach juice. Her ears ended in a perfect point, much like his own. He scooped up the baby from the ruins of the peach. She seemed unharmed from the fall. Her lip quivered as she gazed up at him with emerald eyes. He kissed her perfect little forehead. His heart felt warm as he pressed his palm to the rough bark of the tree. He sent a prayer of thanks to her. A warm pulse of love filled his chest in return.

"Well, little one, let's get you cleaned up." His voice cracked from lack of use. She looked up at him. Her little eyebrows scrunched into a frown, "We'll have to come up with a name for you. You can't be little one forever." He looked at the ruins of the peach and said, "I'll name you Momo, for the peach that brought you to me." Momo cooed and grabbed onto his offered finger. He winced as tiny finger shaped bruises wrapped around his knuckle. He pursed his lips, "We'll have to teach you how to control that. Can't have you accidentally hurting someone. Or worse." HIs heart melted with her tiny yawn. He smiled at her as he opened the heavy oak doors leading to the rest of the grove.