The Moonlight Pond

Traversing through the wilderness, Troy spotted the moon behind the clouds. There was a mystic aura about it, as if it had the power to heal a thousand scars. The moonlight lit the distance he needed to cover, but the grey clouds hid the way.


The Luna people held this night in high regards. It was the night of the Winter solstice. "There is magic in this night", they said.

This lonely island can only be reached on the ramshackle boats that sailed from the mainland. "Outsiders seldom arrive here...the waters have a way to trick the mind." Hence this was never a sought after destination. The untouched beauty of the little island amazed Troy, but also instilled somewhere deep within a sense of fear.

This was unlike his last travel where he knew exactly where to go. This was a trip to feel his way through to find the first dew drop that fell onto the Moonlight Pond. It was a place hidden in the middle of the forest. There was no map. "Follow your heart, and the moonlight will light your way".

Dark clouds covered the moon again, and transformed the forest into a treacherous maze. Troy used a big stick to guide his way ahead. His lean companion helped him narrowly miss a quicksand, avoid getting stumbled onto rocks and roots, also clearing the path as he traversed on. When the cloud cleared a bit, the moonlight shone again. Up in a distance Troy noticed long bunches of Wisteria, almost dropping from the sky, like a lilac rain. This was unusual for this season. He had to reach this tree.

Troy sprinted on to make the best use of the moonlight. He stopped when he reached the tree, for right below the tree, was the most beautiful little water body one can ever see. A perfectly round basin held crystal clear water, surrounded by bushes of lilies. The water reflected the moonlight and the grey clouds. The lilac flowers of Wisteria looked like sliver strings in the moonlight, bowing down to kiss their own reflection. Cicadas were chirping in the surrounding forest and a distant Owl was hooting. "There is definitely magic in this night", he thought.

Troy took a seat on a big rock and was blissfully admiring of the beauty of Nature with wide eyes. It made him realise why the Luna people were still Nature worshippers. They believe, "Nature holds the secret to all magic and mysteries. Her love makes us flourish and her fury makes us perish. She is the beginning and she is the end."

Just then, Troy felt a ripple on the still water of the pond. It was a dew drop that likely fell from the funnel of a lily! But, did he see it fall?

"What do you think?" asked an old man, with a gleam in his green eyes and a grin on his face as he closed a big blue book, and walked in to light up the chimney. The kids sat around him, listening to his stories with great interest.

"Now excuse me, I have to light up the fireplace. We don't want to be cold now, do we?"


Want to read more?
Part 1: The North Wind
Part 2: The Tiger Eye
Part 3: Mystical Butterfly
Part 4: A New Beginning

And also The Mountain's Lullaby