Eclipse Monsters

A short science-fiction love story about eclipses on the moon and how they effect others. **This is my first attempt at science fiction writing. I definitely welcome your feedback!

The year was 3010. I remember it vividly. It was the year my father died. It was a year of change for the moonlings.

For the past decade, the wealthiest of the wealthy had been trekking to the moon in pursuit of adventurous vacations and explorations.

Moon natives, or moonlings, tried to keep to themselves; burrowing deep into their craters; creeping out only at night.

As days, weeks, months and years progressed, the moon became less of an oddity and humans seemed more interested in extending those vacations and setting up permanent residency.

Simple pods were erected but quickly became more and more elaborate. Small villages became booming, busy cities. The hustle and bustle on the moon was unsettling for most of the natives but there were some curiosity-seekers amongst them.

My Mom was one of those curiosity-seekers. She knew the eclipse was coming. She knew it was dangerous but she couldn't help herself. She had been watching him. She loved the buckles on his heavy gravity-boots. Her doe-like eyes had wandered over the slight curve of his hips and his broad shoulders as he moved about in his thin flight suit. She giggled as she told me about the moonbeams dancing through his sandy hair.

Peaking through the heavy Plexiglass of the pod, my mother grasped the door handle with each of her three long fingers. Dark shadows elongated a pale turquoise countenance.

"Tonfa! Tonfa!" she heard her own mother call in the distance. "Asil nocja!" She must return to the crater immediately before the eclipse was at full strength. Eclipse extermination was imminent.

But for Tonfa, it was too late. She would be unable to make it to the crater in time. A sense of panic rose inside, causing the tiny gills on each side of her neck to quiver slightly.

The human inside the pod looked out, right into the moonling's fear.

"Etul osba!" Tonfa shrieked. "Etul osba!" The language was shrill, demanding, yet pitiful. He felt sorrow for the creature. He knew the eclipse monsters would soon be on the prowl. Humans or moonlings; it didn't matter who or what would satiate their hunger. As soon as the total darkness enveloped the moon, the feast would begin.

Tonfa urgently shuffled through the open pod door. My mother was so brave. Going into the virtually unknown, she was more afraid of the danger without than the danger within.

I had heard him, many times, describe my mother as beautiful and wonderfully unique. She was highly intelligent and learned quite a bit of English from him that very night.

They huddled together in his sleeping quarters as they listened in horror to the screams, clashing of teeth and claws and the crunching of bones.

"Reaf roht," my mother said as she lay her head on his shoulder. He put a strong arm around her torso and they wept together in silence.

The year was 3010. I remember it vividly. It was the year my father died. It was a year of change for the humans.

I was six years old and began to notice how different I was from the others. I was not quite human and not quite moonling. I had the large doe-like eyes of my mother but the white skin of my father. I had gills on each side of my neck like my mother although not as prominent. I had ten fingers and toes like my father. I was the first half-human/half-moonling to ever exist. I was shunned by both species.

This particular morning I knew the eclipse would be coming. My mother had reminded me several times.

"Augnill," she warned. "Eclipse extermination is imminent." I nodded my head knowing the procedures. As soon as the dark shadows emerged, take cover in the pod. Looking toward the sky, I knew I had plenty of playtime left.

As I sat near the edge of the dark side of the moon, I sifted dust through my chubby fingers. My gills twitched and flapped wildly as I snickered at the moonbeams' glitters and sparkles.

It happened so suddenly I didn't even notice at first. Blackness, like thick oil, stained the rocks, the rims of the craters and the carefully constructed pods. As I wiped the dust from my human hands, a group of moonlings grabbed me from behind. They were going to throw me to the eclipse monsters.

"Estseb seimit!" the tallest moonling exclaimed. "Kroy wen." They were ready to be rid of me as I was a disgrace to their kind.

As I twisted in their hard three-pronged fingers, I saw several humans running in our direction.

"Hold her!" a harsh-looking woman screamed. "Don't let her get away!"

The darkness descended, deeper and deeper. Chants filled my mind. "Eclipse! Eclipse! Erocs! Erocs!"

Almost pitch dark, I began to sob. I was not ready to die.

As I was thrown to the ground, I closed my eyes tightly. I didn't want to feel the flesh torn from my bones. I didn't want to hear the crunch in my ears. I didn't want to taste my own blood in my mouth.

"Leave my daughter alone!" my father bellowed. Both groups, human and moonling backed away.

I opened my eyes just in time to see a giant claw clasp around my father's ankle and drag him away. He didn't scream, only whispered, "You will always be beautiful and wonderfully unique!"

The year was 3010. I remember it vividly. It was the year my father died. It was a year of change for humans and moonlings.

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Today, I teach history to human and moonling children alike. I want them to know dates and facts about their home, their past and the dangers of the eclipse monsters. I want them to know about my father; the man who started the Moon Unity Movement. And to the other half-human/half-moonlings, I want them to know that they will always be beautiful and wonderfully unique!

Author's Note

Please give an overall review on this first attempt at a science-fiction story. Thank you!

Reviews

[J. Swaney]

I liked it. It held my interest and allowed my imagination to do most of the work. I will ad you and read more of your work.

[MelissaAndres]

Thank you very much, J. Swaney! How nice!

[David Jae]

Very compelling with a strong story. A little heavy on exposition and could maybe have done with some more dialogue, but you should be pleased with this. Well done.

[MelissaAndres]

Thank you, David! I am really not into sci-fi much but thought I would give it a shot. I'm just glad to hear you didn't think it was horrible! I appreciate you reading it.

[David Jae]

You have real potential. You should be pleased with this.

[MelissaAndres]

I appreciate that so much!