The Raindrop's Journey
The Raindrop's Journey — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.
Page 1
EXTREME WIDE ESTABLISHING SHOT. A shimmering labyrinth stretched before Elara and Bram, its walls crafted from countless mirrors, each reflecting a different, impossible future. Elara, a wisp of a girl with eyes that mirrored the twilight sky, gasped at the sight. "It's like... a thousand different worlds all at once!" Bram, ever the pragmatist, adjusted his spectacles and squinted. "More like a thousand ways to get utterly lost, Elara. Let's stick together."
Page 2
A sudden gust of wind swept through the labyrinth, and a single raindrop, gleaming like a tiny jewel, splashed onto Elara's outstretched hand. "How strange," she murmured, gazing at the droplet. "It feels... warm?" As she held it, the raindrop pulsed with a faint light, revealing a miniature reflection of a single, wilting flower trapped within its form. "I believe," Bram stated, adjusting his spectacles, "that this might be more than just a simple raindrop."
Page 3
"The raindrop... it shows a dying bloom," Elara breathed, her voice laced with concern. "We must help it!" Bram hesitated, his gaze sweeping across the endless mirrored paths. "Elara, we have no idea where this flower is, or how to even reach it in this maze." Elara's eyes flashed with determination. "As Helen Keller said, 'Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.' We have to try, Bram!" she declared, stepping forward with unwavering resolve.
Page 4
They ventured deeper into the labyrinth, the mirrored walls twisting around them like a dizzying dream. Suddenly, a gruff voice echoed from behind one of the mirrors. "Halt, travelers!" A stout, gnome-like creature with a bushy green beard emerged, clutching a gleaming hourglass. "To pass, you must answer my riddle: I have cities, but no houses, forests, but no trees, and water, but no fish. What am I?"
Page 5
Elara's brow furrowed in thought, her eyes darting across the reflections. "Wait," Bram interjected, adjusting his spectacles, "I read about this once! It's a map!" The gnome chuckled. "Indeed! Clever boy. Here's something I'll bet you didn't expect, Maps, as cartographers once figured out, uses symbols to describe landscapes and features of the real world. Very well, you may pass. But be warned, the path ahead is fraught with peril."
Page 6
As they continued, the raindrop began to shrink, its light fading. "It's getting worse!" Elara cried, her voice trembling. Bram noticed tiny symbols etched onto the hourglass the gnome had held. He remembered something he had read in an ancient text: "Hourglasses are not only able to measure time, but they can also act as a portal. It may only work if its sand matches the color of its intended destination." But now, where would we even find sand that matches the flower's origin?
Page 7
They walked swiftly. As golden hour approached, they stumbled upon a hall filled with mirrors reflecting deserts from countless futures – each with sand of a different hue. "Look! Sand!" Bram exclaimed, pointing at a mirror reflecting a desert blooming with blue flowers identical to the one trapped in the raindrop. "But how do we get there?" Elara asked, the wind howling down this mirrored hall.
Page 8
Elara gasped. "The sand in the desert must have the same color!" she shouted. Bram grabbed the gnome's hourglass. Desperately, he poured sand in, the image shimmered, and the mirror became a portal! Elara reached out. "Hold on," Bram said. "'Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body,' as Seneca said." Elara grabs his hand and they both leap into the mirror. The words echo, as the portal seals shut.
Page 9
They landed softly on the warm sand, the raindrop almost gone. Elara spotted a blue flower identical to the one inside the raindrop. Gently, she released the last drop of water onto its petals. The flower instantly bloomed, its vibrant blue color restored. The raindrop vanishes. Bram smiled. "It worked!"
Page 10
The desert glowed under the twilight sky. The journey had changed them both. Elara, once hesitant, now understood the power of courage and kindness, while Bram, once skeptical, now appreciated the value of a little faith. They knew they had saved something more than just a flower, and they were ready for the world. This was just the beginning.
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)
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