The Stone Flower
The Stone Flower — an illustrated tales story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Tales.
Page 1
In a garden nestled beneath the roots of the Elder Tree lived the Bloomfolk: tiny people with petal-skin and hearts of pollen. Old Griselda, the village elder, guarded a secret, a whisper of magic woven into the earth. Young Leif, restless and yearning for more than the garden's borders, dreamed of the legendary Stone Flower. He knew this flower, the heart of their world, was fading. His story is the quest for its restoration.
Page 2
Leif tended the glowpetal blossoms, his heart heavy. 'Why does Griselda keep the old ways?' he asked Briar, his friend. 'The Stone Flower could save us!' Briar, practical as always, replied, 'The forest beyond is dangerous. The Thistlewings haven't been seen in decades.' Leif sighed, 'If we don't find a cure, all of us will turn to dust with this season's first frost'.
Page 3
Griselda approached, her voice raspy as dry leaves. 'Curiosity killed the cat, Leif, or so I was told by my elder brother, who often quoted Ben Jonson. Some knowledge is best left buried.' Leif countered, 'But what about the Flower, Griselda?'. She held up a withered leaf. 'This is all that remains of its bloom. The answer lies not in the wild, but in understanding what you already have. Tend your garden, little one.'
Page 4
That night, Leif dreamt of a twisting path leading into the dark forest, a single beam of light illuminating a shimmering, stone-like petal. He confided in Briar, 'I have to go, Briar. I have to try.' She squeezed his hand. 'Then I'm going with you. If the forest is the unknown, we'll face it together.'
Page 5
Deep in the forest, a voice hissed, 'Looking for something, little sprouts?' A Thistlewing, with sharp features, purple skin and thorny wings, emerged from the shadows. 'The Stone Flower?' he chuckled, 'I know where it lies. But knowledge comes at a price.' Leif stepped forward, 'What price?' The Thistlewing's eyes gleamed. 'A secret for a secret. Tell me what the Elder hides.'
Page 6
Briar grabbed Leif's arm. 'Don't tell him anything, Leif! He's a trickster!' But the lure of the Stone Flower was too strong. Leif, with a trembling voice, revealed, 'Griselda guards the last seed of the Flower, locked away because it bloomed from greed.' The Thistlewing cackled. 'Excellent! Now, follow me.'
Page 7
The Thistlewing led them to a crystal cave, where a single, stone-like petal pulsed with faint light. 'Here it is!' he exclaimed, gesturing dramatically, 'But first, the seed must be released. Its magic is what is needed. The seed is the key to restoring the bloom in our hands!' He grabbed for the seed. This will be mine! I will restore its former bloom to take power!
Page 8
Briar shoved the Thistlewing aside, grabbing the petal, but Leif knew what to do. 'It blooms from greed!' Leif yelled, recalling Griselda's words. He pulled a handful of glowpetal seeds from his pouch and scattered them onto the stone petal. Instantly, a blinding light erupted, followed by a wave of pollen.
Page 9
When the light subsided, the Stone Flower had vanished. In its place bloomed a field of vibrant glowpetals, their light stronger than ever. The Thistlewing shriveled into dust. 'It wasn't about the Stone Flower,' Briar realized, smiling up at Leif. 'It was about understanding the value of what we already have, our natural ability and love for the world.'
Page 10
Back in the garden, the glowpetal blossoms shone brighter than ever. Griselda smiled knowingly. Leif understood. The Stone Flower's magic wasn't lost, it was transformed, reminding them that true bloom comes not from chasing power, but from nurturing what already exists within them. 'The impediment to action advances action,' Leif murmured. 'Like my elder friend, Suzanne Cory, the Australian molecular biologist, often says.'
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)
Questions and answers
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