Venturing Out

Just before sunrise, Sophie began her journey.  The crystal she had taken in was beginning to bother her in her sleep.  The night before, Sophie awoke with the curious feeling that the crystal had been talking to her.  Naturally, she feared she was losing her mind in her old age, and wanted more information.

She began her day by bringing the crystal to the leader of the village, hoping he could tell her.  Even in all his years, he had never seen such a thing.  After asking a few more questions around town, Sophie grudgingly set out upon a journey to town.

A long trail wound through the mountainous countryside, and Sophie followed it. Even though she had never traversed this way, she knew the traders often did to gather life's essentials.  She heard them tell of a strange little shop right in Ay Town, where odd creatures reside.  She hoped that the owner of that store could tell her about the crystal.  

Arriving at her destination, Sophie opened the door nervously. She walked slowly, uneasy about being so far from home. She looked around in wonder at the strange things lining the shelves. She shuffled up to the counter, depositing a glowing purple crystal upon it.

~!~

She returned home later then planned that night, setting the crystal upon the table and rubbing her sore feet.  'Well,' she said, 'maybe there is something special about you, little darling.'  

Sophie slept not so soundly that night, waking in a dreamlike state sometime during the night.  
'Hello?' she heard a voice in the night.  
'Hello,' she called back, unsure of what she was talking to.
'Yes!  You're there!  I've been trying to contact you for a while now.'
'Um... who exactly are you?'
'Look around and you'll see me.'
Sophie looked, and saw only the glowing crystal, vibrating more then ever before. 'Stella?' she asked, voicing her private name for the purple stone.
'Yes' came her answer.
'But how... Sybil said..?'
'You'll learn soon enough' Came Stella's reply.  
With that, Sophie awoke to the songs of birds and early morning light.  She looked at the little crystal, wondering if last night was nothing more then a dream.  

She began the day catching up on her weaving, talking avidly to the crystalline Stella.  She wasn't sure she got a response at all from Stella, and wondered if she sometimes felt a reply.