THE STORM STONE

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It was a warm afternoon before the sky began to change. I stood frozen on the porch, holding the railing as the wind blew through the fields. Emily, my younger sister, gripped my shirt before saying, “Maya, do you see it?” She asked, her voice trembling. I didn’t need to answer. The tornado was in the distance, a twisting monster of black and gray. It was heading straight for us. Dad was in the barn, trying to save the animals. The thought of him out there, so close to the storm, sent shivers down my spine. “Stay here,” I told Emily, shrugging on my shirt. “You can’t go out there!” she shouted, grabbing my arm. “I have to,” I said firmly. “There’s no time.” But I wasn’t just going to the barn. The stories of the Storm Stone filled my mind, stories I’d always thought were just old tales. The townspeople of my town said the stone could calm any storm, but no one had dared to look for it in years. I didn’t even know if it was real but I had to try.

Pushing through the wind felt like fighting an invisible wall. Dirt on my face, and my braids whipped around wildly. I reached the barn, where Dad struggled to open the stall doors.“You shouldn’t be here!” he shouted over the storm's noise.“We need to get back to the house!” I yelled.“I’m not leaving the animals!” he said. The barn creaked as the wind hit its walls. I knew we didn’t have time to argue. “Go, Dad! I’ll be fine!” I shouted, running toward the edge of town. The Old Wellhouse was barely visible in the chaos, a damaged shack leaning far away. The stories said the Stormstone was hidden there, though most people thought it was a fairy tale. But as I stumbled through the door, I felt something strange the air inside was frozen which seemed untouched by the storm raging outside.

In the center of the room, on a crumbling pedestal, sat the Stormstone. It was small, glowing faintly blue, but it seemed to have an aura within. I hesitated, staring at it in awe, before reaching out. The moment my fingers touched the stone, an aura spread through me. The storm grew louder, and the shack around

me began to shudder. Outside, the tornado roared closer.“Please,” I whispered, clutching the stone. “Stop the storm.”The stone glowing in my hands, growing hotter and brighter. Suddenly, there was a flash of light, and everything went silent. I opened my eyes. The sky was clear. The tornado was gone. Back at the house, the town had gathered, staring at the blue sky in shock. Dad ran to me, pulling me into a tight hug. Emily's eyes were wide as she stared at the Stormstone.“You found it,” she said softly. I nodded, my hands still shaking. The storm was over, but I knew I’d never be the same.

THE END 🂮