Ashes and Stone

Chapter 1

There was, at one time, a young lady named Melody. She was medium height at about 5' 6". She had long black hair that went down to the middle of her back, almost to her butt. Her hair of set her eyes very nicely. She had tan skin. She looked Indian even though she was only 1/16. Her hair, as always it was fashioned into a french-fishtail braid, and it was thrown over her right shoulder-for Melody to play with.

Melody loved flowers more than anything in the world. Everyday, she went a valley, and Mel picked flowers for hours until it wasn't possibly for her to carry anymore.

There was one day that she went to one of the lush beautiful valleys near her village, after she picked a flower they immediately turned to stone or, depending upon the flower type, turned to ash. She left feeling quite puzzled, but when she arrived home, after stopping at the market, and arriving home all of her flowers had turned to stone or ash. She was puzzled, but, strangely, she though nothing of it. (Usually people think something strange is going on when something like that happens, but no, not Melody.)

This went on every for three days then Mel finally got fed up. She went to the villages fortune teller seeking advice. "Can you help me?" she asked after explaining the predicament that she was in.

"Can you help me, first?" she asked after explaining the predicament that she was in. Anita was very old, however, she was beautiful all the same. She was short just barely over 4' 4". She has long silver grey hair that went down just past her butt. She was wearing a dark purple dress that complimented her grey hair and blue eyes. Her long flowing dress had green, blue, and light purple designs on it. They all complimented her skin, hair, and eyes perfectly. Her skin was pale white and as soft as velvet. She was beauty personified.

"Yes, but you must do something for me first."

"Anything just as long as I get my flowers back."

"You will have to go to the forbidden valley, and collect two roses I need after that I will help you."

"What are the two roses for?" Melody asked quizzically. "If I may ask," quickly adding.

"One rose is in the northern most part of the valley. That rose is black; it turns anything living into stone when it touches it. The other is the southernmost rose, and it is all black; it turns anything living into stone," Anita said changing the subject, "The black flower is made entirely of stone, and it is completely unbreakable. The white flower is clear quartz crystal. It isn't really white but everything around it is giving it a white appearance. You can not touch either flower with bare skin, or you will be turned to stone or ash."

"Okay... How long will this take me?"

"It is a three day trek through the forest to get the forbidden valley in which these flowers reside. After that it is a two day trek to the north flower, then a four day trek to the south flower, and then six days back to the mouth of the valley closest to the village and and three days home. Eighteen days all together, however; you should pack for three and a half weeks in case of any stalls or delays. Also, just in case you run into some monsters. You should probably pack some first aid kits. I will supply you with two maps, a compass, a book, and special gloves. What you do with those items is up to you."

"How will doing this bring back my ability to gather flowers again?"

"All in good time, young one. Leave now and pack. I will be there in the first rays of light to send you off. Drink this," Anita said as she handed her a drink that she had been mixing. Melody drank it heartily.

"That was delicious."

"Thank you. It makes it to where if you should not return, or if you should take my roses, you will die. This drink has a two month waiting spell before it starts. That will give you ample time to get the flowers return and take the antidote."

"You're crazy. That was poison!"

"Inactive poison," Anita pointed out

"Poison nonetheless."

"You should get going. I'll see you in the morning," Anita said quickly changing topic and ushering Melody out the door.

Melody was so anxious that she couldn't sleep that night. It was nearly daybreak before she finally fell asleep. She had packed all of the essential things the second she got home. She borrowed a large pack from her neighbor promising it to be returned as soon as she got back. Mel didn't want to ask too much of one neighbor, so she asked her other neighbor to watch her home, and water her few remaining flowers. She entrusted both of her neighbors probably too much.

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This is my first try at writing any long stories, or stories that weren't for school. I'll post the update in just a bit. Sorry if this sucks.

If it isn't too much trouble, rate and comment. I'd love to hear feedback. Have a great day, lovlies.