Kristen and the Stolen Moonglow

By Martha Ferris

Kristen was wandering by the back hedge the evening of her tenth birthday when she heard someone crying.  After much encouragement a little face appeared in the hedge and, with more encouragement, two others.  Before her were three creatures eight inches in height; round of face with pointed ears and very pale.  The creature introduced them all as Moonbabies.

The Moonbaby explained that they were crying because their moon glow had been stolen and was now hidden in the land of Conlar; a dark, dark place that they only spoke of in whispers.  If they did not get it back they would die.

Joined by Frederick, a gnome with surprising abilities, they set out for Conlar in a land where time is not a time and a place is not a place meeting helpers and dangers all along the way. 

When at last they come to Conlar Kristen must face Dagmire, the creator of Conlar, alone and defeat him to save the moonglow and the Moonbabies and with them the world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Martha Ferris
• Release date: Aug 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386791294

Martha Ferris

Martha Ferris became interested in and began writing as a teenager and has made many contributions to her local newspapers however Kristen and the Stolen Moonglow is her first book.  Now retired she tends to her gardens and plans to indulge her interest in writing.  She is currently at work on two books of poetry: Traveling the In Between for adults and Playful Poetry for Children as well as a historical fantasy novel. She is the mother of four children and has four grandchildren.

Book preview

Chapter 1 Kristen's Discovery

It was the eve of the first day of summer, one of those magical times between day and night when the light becomes soft and hazy, the damp begins to settle and the scent of the earth rises with each step. It was also the evening of Kristen’s tenth birthday and she was alone in her backyard wandering amongst the trees and shrubs and the flowers. She watched as the lightening bugs began to flicker once, twice then ever more frequently and she made a game of trying to pick the spot where the next one would emerge.

Kristen lived with her mother and grandmother in a house with large airy rooms and a big front porch where she would play on rainy days.  The house, bordered by flower beds, sat on a piece of land enclosed by hedges with a creek running along the back of the property and with neighbors who were close enough but not too close.  Behind the house was a garden where her mother and grandmother grew much of what they ate and even farther still were the bee hives where her grandmother raised the bees that provided their honey.  She had a wooden swing in the old maple tree that was outside of her window where she spent hours thinking her thoughts and singing to herself.

It had been a full day for Kristen.  She had had fun with her friends who came for a birthday party that her mother had held for her but, now, she needed some quiet that only the gardens could give her.  Twilight was her favorite time of day when the world was settling down to sleep and today, like many others, it drew her to itself.

She listened to the birds sing their good night songs as the world began to hush until she became aware of another sound emerging.  First she noticed a faint rustling among the leaves of the bushes and what sounded like the teeniest, tiniest sob.  Kristen stopped and stood very still holding her breath, listening.  Was that a....?  No, she decided and shook her head beginning to wander once more.  But ... Kristen froze and pushed her hair behind her ears.  There it was again but from another place in the hedge.

She started to creep closer, very quietly, one step at a time.  The leaves rustled.

Hello?  Kristen said in a quivery voice.  The rustling stopped and the bush became very still.  Kristen halted in mid-step and listened hard.  Is anyone there? she called just a little bit louder.  The bush didn't move but the tiny sob came again then broke off as if hands were clapped over a mouth.

Hello?  Are you okay? Kristen asked.  She leaned a little closer.  It's all right.  You can come out.  I won't hurt you, she encouraged.

Gradually two large eyes peeped out at her from amongst the leaves.  Kristen jumped back.  The bush squeaked and the eyes disappeared.  Kristen's breath was coming very fast and her heart was pounding.  She gulped.  What should she do?

There was another sob from the bush.  Uncertainly Kristen stepped closer.  It's okay, she said you just scared me.  Come back out.  Really, I won't hurt you.  Please? she pleaded.

The eyes appeared again then a tiny nose.  On each side of the first, two more sets of eyes and noses emerged until there were three sets of eyes blinking at Kristen.  The noses were all red from crying.

Why are you crying? Kristen asked gently.  Tears formed in each eye and dripped onto the leaves below.  Kristen looked at the three, her face worried.

Won't you come out and let me see you? The eyes were unsure. Uh, uh they seemed to say and they withdrew a little.

Kristen had an idea.  Look, she began, I'll stand over here then she walked several steps away from the bush her eyes never leaving those that looked at her with such sadness.  They still hesitated.

Maybe I can help, she suggested.  How will you know unless you tell me?

A long moment passed as the eyes seemed to think about it then a small face appeared.  The eyes were big in the little round head.  Below the button nose was a mouth shaped like an O.  The ears were big and pointed at the tips and there was no hair anywhere.  Then the rest of the creature became visible.  It was no more than eight inches high from the top of its head to the bottom of its feet. It wore no clothes and seemed to glow dully from its white, white skin.  It stood at the end of a branch not moving as the other two also came from their hiding places to stand next to the first.  All three were identical.

Kristen gasped,  Who are you?  What are you?

The three looked at each other then the first one spoke, We're Moonbabies, it said its voice as tiny as itself.

Moonbabies?  Kristen repeated.  The eyes blinked and all three heads nodded.

What...who are Moonbabies? Kristen asked.  Again a look passed between the three.

Moonbabies come from the moon. said the first and the eyes again filled with tears as all the heads nodded again in unison  We have lost our moonglow and cannot find it anywhere.  A sob caught in its throat and all three heads shook back and forth sadly.

Kristen took a step forward.  What is moonglow? she asked.

It is what makes the moon shine and it is what we are made of but we have not had any in a long, long time and we are so hungry.  Little hands clutched each tummy.  See, they urged her as they looked down at themselves, we are losing our glow.  Without the moonglow we will not be.  The tears fell even harder.

But what happened to the moonglow?  Kristen asked as she drew even closer.

Conlar, the creature whispered the one word.  The Moonbabies looked at each other and shuddered.

It is gone, gone, the Moonbaby moaned.

Kristen thought a moment  But... who is Conlar? she asked.

"Conlar