On the Subject of Giftgiving

Long ago, before the common reckoning of time was in use, people gave gifts fashioned from the starlight of their souls.  The value of the gift was determined by the usefulness of the item made, and by the amount of emotion that went into the making.  When a gift like this was given, it created a bond between the giver and the recipient.  The stronger the emotion behind the making, the stronger the bond.
Now in this time there lived two men and a woman.  The men's names were Alig and Daib, and the woman's name was Klach.  Now, both of the men were very much in love with Klach.  They both proclaimed that they're love was stronger than the others.  Klach was very much in love with Daib, but couldn't turn down such a powerful and wealthy suitor as Alig without allowing him to attempt to prove himself.  So Klach set them a challenge.  "Both of you shall make me gift, and give it to me on the date that day is the same length as the night.  From this I will choose my suitor."
Both men accepted this challenge, and as they were both quite adapt at gift making they were each sure in their chances of winning.  So they set to work, using all of the time that they had to their advantage.  Alig was a rich, but bitter man.  He was a man of great arrogance, and only cared for Klach as something pretty to set by his side.  Something to be looked upon and marveled at, and something to increase his reputation.  As such, he made a beautiful golden pool of water that would allow them to see each other from great distances.
Now Daib was truly in love with Klach, and would have given anything for her.  "However," he thought,  "as long as she is happy, I shall be content."  So he set to work, and it was his crowning achievement.  It took him nearly all of the time he had been allotted, and at the end he was exhausted.  He had neither slept nor eaten while working, and the work had taken a little over what we would reckon as three weeks.  However, he had his gift for his love.  At the end of all this time and effort, he had a small stone.  It was about three inches by three inches, and was a deep honey color.  If it was turned this way, and that way, it would bring the holders hearts desire into being.
So the day of the competition came, and each man showed their gift to Klach.  Of course, Klach choose Daib, as she had always been going to.  Alig, enraged and bitter, stormed off vowing his vengeance on the new couple.
The night before Daib and Klach's wedding, Alig returned.  Through foul magic and his anger he had grown stronger than ever, and he used this power to sneak into Klachs house.  He destroyed all of her beautiful things, save the stone, and attempted to take Klach by force.  By doing this Alig broke the ability to give the soul shape.  Klach turned the stone this way, and that way, and Alig dropped dead to the floor.  Unable to face her love with nothing to gift him for the connection that should be shared between husband and wife, she fled into the forest.
Klach ran for days and days, until finally she tripped and fell.  She cut her hand on a sharp stone, but when she raised the stone to look at it she realized it wasn't a stone at all.  It was a beautiful crystal, a brilliant deep green, the same color as Daib's eyes. Threaded through the green were strands of brilliant blue, the color of her own.
Klach spoke to her deepest self then, and realized she had been a fool.  The gift itself is of no importance, the important part is the connection that is made with the gift.  Realizing this, Klach fashioned the crystal onto a ring of plain oak that she had made with her own two hands.  The crystals beauty was in sharp contrast to the rough shape of the wood.  For one instant, Klach was terrified that it wouldn't be enough, and that her beloved Daib would turn her away.
When she returned to her village, she found Daib weeping for the loss of her.  "My dearest love, please don't cry!  I left when I was frightened and hurt, but I've come back now.  And I have a lovely wedding present for you, if you'll still have me."
"Oh, my darling one and only, of course I'll have you!  But I fear you shall not like the present I have for you."
"I have the same fear in my heart, love.  Lets exchange them together, and have come what may."
Klach had fashioned a little wooden box for her gift, and received a box of stone from Daib.  When they opened the boxes they both gasped.  Inside Klach's box, was a ring.  It was almost exactly like the ring she had given Daib, save it's predominate color was that same brilliant blue of her eyes, with threads of his green running through it.
Then they heard a voice from the sky, soft as the petals of the rose, and wide as all the oceans.  An all encompassing voice, and they both knew it came from the moon.  And the moon said,  "As I rode across the skies, I saw true love.  The kind of love that touches but a few hearts every century.  I was happy, and proud to see such love in my domain.  But then a cruel force broke the magick I gave you, and I was deeply saddened.  So I wept two tears to bring two lovers back to each other.  Now go my children, and live and love with my blessing."
And so Klach and Daib lived out their lives.  The first couple to exchange rings with their wedding vows, one of only a few couples to be married by the moon, and two of the very few to have ever felt true love.  The tradition of giving rings has continued down to this day, and although the form of the rings, and the mode of the marriage has changed, the meaning remains the same.  The same meaning as the vows that Daib and Klach spoke together, on that day so long ago.  "My love for you is made up of you, and of me.  We are tied together by bonds unbreakable, that sparkle and shimmer like the tears of the moon.  Our love is endless, and boundless, and forever repeating, just like the circle of the ring.  I will be yours, and only yours, from here into eternity.  This I promise, with the gift of this ring."

Tal and The Moon

Once upon a time, in an ancient forest, there was a beautiful black wolf.  His name was Tal, and he was strong and lean, with a beautiful glossy black coat that he was very proud of, and deep green eyes that would flash with the fires of life.
Because Tal was so beautiful and strong, other wolves would frequently attack him.  Tal was a great fighter, and was never even touched by his opponents.  Then one day, while a young wolf challenged him, he saw the Moon rising into the sky.  Stunned by her beauty, he let his guard down and the young wolf ravaged his beautiful coat and took one of his eyes.  Tal let loose a heart broken cry, for who could ever love such a disfigured wolf?
While Tal sat bemoaning his loss, a forest spirit walked by.
"Oh, Tal, why do you howl and cry so?"  Said the spirit, concerned that one who had been so beautiful and strong was so upset and damaged.
"Oh, spirit, I have gazed upon the beauty of the moon and I have fallen in love with her."  Said Tal, his voice full of sadness and pain.
"But this is news to rejoice over!"  Said the spirit. "Why, I am close friends with the moon, and I know that she grows lonely, and I am sure that I could arrange a meeting between the two of you, since you are both my good friends."
"No, please don't, my friend," cried Tal, " for who could ever love me, now that my coat hangs in tatters and I have but one eye.  Even if I grew fit and strong again, my skin will be forever scarred and I will have one eye."
"You silly wolf," said the spirit, "the moon is not one to be troubled by such things.  She will look into your heart and see the gentle, intelligent being that you are.  However, if this physical appearance troubles you so, I will help you."
"You will?"  Said Tal.  " Oh thank you, my friend.  I will forever be in your debt!"
"Now, now, let's not be too hasty, friend." Said the spirit.  "All I ask is that when you win the moons heart, don't keep her from the skies for more than three nights at a time, for without her the tides and the water will not function properly and all will waste away."
"Done." Said Tal.  "Anything to gain the heart of the moon.  Now, how shall you help me with my appearance?"
"Well, first I shall fashion you a new coat."  Said the spirit.
"Out of what materials?  All the fur is either in use, or bloodstained and tattered."
"I shall fashion it from shadow of course!  You shall have a coat so deeply black that it will glisten nearly purple in the light.  Now leave me to work, and return in three days and you shall have your coat."
So, Tal left the spirit to work.  Over the three days he grew increasingly nervous about his appearance, especially his eye.  He trusted his friend to fashion him a wonderful coat, for the spirit was well known as a weaver of shadows, but who could ever love a one eyed wolf?  No matter how beautiful the coat, he needed a new eye.
When the three days were over, Tal returned to the spirit.  True to its word, the spirit had fashioned a beautiful coat from the shadows, shading from the grays of moonlit night to the deepest black of the hollows under the trees.
"Oh, it is more beautiful than I had dared hope, my friend.  A thousand thanks."  Said Tal, "but whatever shall we do about my eye.  For no matter how beautiful my coat, who could love a one eyed wolf?"
"The moon could," said the spirit, "but I understand your distress, and I have found a solution for this too.  I shall fashion you a new eye, from river stone and moss."
"Oh, my friend, thank you, thank you!"  Cried Tal, truly overjoyed at the news.
"Yes, yes. Love is, of course, the greatest cause." said the spirit. "Now leave me be, for three nights.  Then return here and I shall have your eye for you."
"Yes, my friend, and again, thank you."  Said Tal, and he left.
Over the three nights, Tal again grew increasingly worried and nervous.  He worried that despite his beautiful coat and new eye, the moon would reject him.  Who was he to ask for the love of the moon.  Just some common wolf.
When he returned, the spirit, true to it's word, had fashioned him a gorgeous new eye.  Made from a smooth white river stone that it had carved and polished and some deep green moss, the exact shade as Tals' deep green eyes.
"It is beautiful and perfect, my friend." Said Tal.
"Yes, I daresay it is one of my best works," said the spirit "now put it in and we're off to see the moon."
"Thank you my friend," Said Tal, his heart full of trepidation, " But I am concerned that even with your efforts, the moon cannot love a mere wolf."
"Tal, I have slaved away for six nights for your love.  I have done all that I can to help you and urge you forward.  Now I have the last piece for you."  Said the spirit.  " I have a message for you, from the moon."
"What?!" Cried Tal, fear and hope filling his voice. "Let me hear it please, my good friend."
"Six nights ago, she rose and saw you look up at her.  She was stunned at your beauty, both physical and in you heart.  She could see how much you hated this violence, and how much you despised hurting others, and she loved you for it.  When you were wounded, she heard your heart broken howls and ran, fearing that you blamed her for you loss.  She fled crying for these six nights, and has been laying in bed inconsolable.  The earth grows stale and empty without her to guide it through space, and the oceans and rivers are dying.  I beg you, my friend, go to her.  Go to her and confess your love, if not for your sakes, then for the sake of this world."
"Oh, no!"  Cried Tal, " I have unintentionally injured my dearest love!  I am off to set things to rights.  Thank you again, for all your help my friend."
"You are welcome, Tal. May the Gods speed you on your way."  Said the spirit.
Off went Tal, and the winds and the earth sped him on his way, so that it was still the middle of the night when you came upon the moon.  She lay face down in her bed, hair the color of quick silver pooling around her head, sobbing inconsolably.
"My lady, why do you weep?"  Asked Tal softly.
Without turning her head the moon replied, " I weep because I am in love with Tal the wolf, and I have caused him great injury and he could never love me now."
"Maybe," said Tal, " or maybe he loves you all the more, for helping bring humility to his proud soul.  Maybe he looks at you with hope and love.  Maybe he has spent these past six nights worried over your loss and working to be worthy of your love.  My lady, look at me."
Then the moon turned her head, and when she saw that it was Tal standing there saying these things a great sob went up from her heart, and turned to laughter and joy.  For she could see the love in his slightly mismatched eyes.  She could see the humility in his patchwork coat.  He was more beautiful and lovely for the loss of his beauty and the hardship therein than she could imagine.
As for Tal, his breath was stolen away at the sight of her deep amber eyes and the love they shined with.  At the beauty of her porcelain skin and her shining hair.  At the oval shape of her face and the her little nose.  Every part of her was perfect, even the lines and wrinkles from nearly a weeks worth of crying.
They fell into each others arms, and exchanged such kisses of passion and love that have rarely been seen on this earth since.  They vowed their love to each other, and the moon went out and set the world to rights.  A month later, they were married.
When the moon has to leave Tals' side to guide our planet, she is thin from sadness and longing.  But as she travels through our skies, she grows heavy with child.  When she returns to Tal, she gives birth to the stars, and they love each other and their new children.  This is why the wolves howl to the moon, for she is their sister by marriage, and this is how the stars were born.

Guess what!

So, I'm a writer.  As such, I've decided, thanks to some moral support from my wonderful girlfriend and family and friends, that I should be posting some of my stories.  So stay tuned, because there will soon be lots and lots of short stories coming.  I'm thinking I might update once or twice a month at first, and if people like them I'll start updating more.