The Stone Age Artist
The Stone Age Artist — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.
Page 1
Anya, swift and nimble, darted through the whispering reeds, her best friend, Bram, struggling to keep pace. "Wait up, Anya!" he called, his voice echoing slightly across the still lake. Anya paused, peering intently at something gleaming in the mud. It was a shard of obsidian, black as night, catching the morning light. "Look, Bram!" she exclaimed, holding it up. "Perfect for carving!" Bram, ever cautious, approached slowly. "Are you sure it's safe? What if it belongs to the Shadow Witch?"
Page 2
Bram's words hung in the air, heavy with fear. But Anya, ever the optimist, brushed off his worries. "Nonsense, Bram! The Shadow Witch is just a story. Imagine the pictures I could carve with this! Birds, deer, maybe even... a mammoth!" Bram shivered. "But what if it's cursed? What if it brings bad luck?" Anya sighed. "Bram, you worry too much. Today, we make art!" Anya suddenly feels a strange vibration in the obsidian shard. But she is too excited to notice.
Page 3
"THEREFORE," Anya declared, her voice ringing with excitement, "we shall carve the greatest mammoth the world has ever seen!" Bram, seeing the fire in her eyes, couldn't help but smile weakly. "Alright, alright," he conceded. "But if we see any shadows moving on their own, we run!" Anya laughed. "Deal! Now, to find the perfect canvas." She spots a large, smooth rock face near a babbling brook. "There! Perfect!" Anya grabbed Bram's hand and dragged him toward the rock.
Page 4
As Anya began to chip away at the rock with the obsidian shard, a low growl echoed through the trees. Bram froze, his eyes wide with terror. "What was that?!" he whispered. Suddenly, a large, shaggy dog, twice the size of Bram, bounded into the clearing. It was Grunt, the grumpy village elder's dog, notorious for chasing anyone who dared to venture near his master's cave. "Run, Anya!" Bram yelled, but Anya was too engrossed in her carving to notice. "Almost... almost... got the tusk!"
Page 5
Just as Grunt was about to pounce, a melodic voice rang out. "Grunt! Heel!" A woman emerged from the trees, her face etched with wisdom and kindness. It was Elara, the village storyteller, known for her enchanting tales of the ancient spirits. She notices the carving Anya is working on. "My goodness!" she exclaimed. "What a magnificent mammoth you are creating! Did you know mammoths used to roam freely here? Their tusks were used for tools and their fur for warmth!" Anya looks up, startled, but also curious.
Page 6
"That's amazing!" Anya breathed, completely forgetting her fear. "But I can't seem to get the shading right..." Elara smiled knowingly. "Perhaps," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper, "the stone itself holds the key." She pointed to a dark vein running through the rock face. "BUT be warned, child," Elara continues. "That stone is said to be the Shadow Witch's tear. It holds power, but also... darkness. Use it wisely." Anya and Bram exchange worried looks. THEREFORE she decides to use it anyway.
Page 7
Ignoring Bram's pleas, Anya carefully chipped off a small piece of the dark stone. As soon as it touched the obsidian shard, a strange energy surged through her. Images flooded her mind: mammoths thundering across the plains, the Northern Lights dancing in the sky. "I see it!" she gasped. "I know how to shade it now!" Bram, seeing her determination, grabbed a handful of colorful clay from the brook bank. "Here, Anya! Use this for highlights!" Elara smiled, sensing their teamwork. "Remember, balance the light and shadow, children."
Page 8
As Anya applied the dark stone, the mammoth on the rock seemed to come alive. Its fur bristled, its eyes gleamed with ancient wisdom. Suddenly, the ground began to tremble. A deep voice echoed through the clearing: "WHO DARES AWAKEN MY POWER?!" The Shadow Witch materialized before them, her eyes burning with fury. Elara stepped forward, her voice firm. "The children meant no harm. They only sought to create art!" Anya, terrified but resolute, stood her ground. "Inner beauty can overcome anything, even shadow!"
Page 9
Anya's words seemed to resonate with the Shadow Witch. A flicker of confusion crossed her face. She glanced at the mammoth carving, then back at Anya. Slowly, her fury subsided. "Art...," she whispered, her voice cracking. "It has been so long..." She extended a trembling hand toward the carving, her touch gentle. The dark energy around her dissipated, replaced by a soft, silvery glow. Elara smiles, while Bram peeks out from behind her. The Shadow Witch seems to be changing.
Page 10
The Shadow Witch smiled, a genuine, kind smile. "Thank you, Anya," she said. "You reminded me of the beauty within the shadows." With a final nod, she faded away, leaving behind only a faint shimmer of light. Anya looked at Bram, then at Elara, her heart filled with joy. She had faced her fear, created something beautiful, and shown kindness to someone in need. She understood that true strength comes not from power, but from courage and compassion. From then on, Anya was no longer just an artist; she was a hero.
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)
Questions and answers
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