*Star Speaker* (Prologue)

by Marie Lynn in the little place that exists over the rainbow

Okay, I know I use the name Hwin again but it isn't the same person as the penguin-girl. Got it? Ok, good. Now here we go.

It was the deep of the night. Nothing stirred except for restless squirrels in their trees, and the rustle of the leaves as a breeze blew by. The sky was the deepest black, dotted with shimmering stars.
Suddenly a girl emerged from the nearest rosebush. She had long, flowing curly chestnut brown hair, and eyes the color of rich chocolate. Her skin was creamy, and she was wearing something that wound up her body like a snake, but nonetheless it was beautiful.
She gazed up at the sky with twinkling eyes, and timidly called out, "Stars, do you hear me?"
Just as she expected, the stars answered her - TALKED to her - and called out in unison, their voices sounding like the hiss of a contented snake, "Yes, Hwin, we hear you. What is wrong? Your eyes are filled with worry and your face shows stress."
Hwin attempted a weak smile. She was the Star Speaker, the only girl in the universe that could speak to stars. This also gave her other unique powers that she treasured and feared. Nobody knew of her secret.
Abruptly, she burst into tears and sobbed, "What is WRONG? Like you do not know! Every day I try to hide my abilities, it makes me timid and withdrawn! I hardly speak to anyone anymore! I live my days in terror! This ability is not a blessing, it is a burden!!"
A single star spoke. It was her favorite, the star she called Drizzle. "Why do you keep it a secret?" he demanded. "If it causes you so much pain you could tell somebody."
"No, no, no!" cried Hwin. "I can't - I can't! They would HATE me! The people at my s-school, they beat up people who are different from the rest. I would certainly be the next victim if they knew! And my friends would ditch me. I know because I told Gracelynn, and she said I was a freak and that I was lying. She never spoke to me again."
"Surely they wouldn't all react that way," said Drizzle.
Hwin glared up at him. "They will, I can feel it," she said dramatically. "And if they do not hate me, they will want to use me and my powers. So I have kept quiet."
Drizzle said suddenly, "There is a human walking your way. He looks like your father. I'll see you tomorrow night, I suppose."
Her father burst into the clearing. "Hwin!" he said, startled. "What are you doing out here? You've got tears on your cheeks - you've been crying. What's the matter?"
"...Nothing..." muttered Hwin. "Just tired..."
"Something must be the matter," said her father. "Let's go inside."
"...mmm...fine..." Hwin said quietly, and obediently followed him back inside the house.