Lizard Stone

Francis started walking again and the other two followed behind. He stopped at a boulder and knelt down in the sand, placing his knapsack on the rocky shelf beside. There was a pile of thirty or so smaller pebbles - just like the Moon Flower she had seen just moments ago. He was sorting through them, but they all looked pretty much the same to her.

"Are you looking for another?" she asked timidly - it was almost as though she was frightened to interrupt his concentration.

He handed her an especially large pebble. She turned it over and over in her palm - it looked just like an ordinary stone. She showed it to Chips but this time he was not interested. Instead he went to the collection Francis had put to one side and sniffed the small mound. He barked and took two steps back.

Francis put his hand on the dog’s head, and leant forward staring at the ground. One of the rocks was exuding a mist - it was happening again - only this time it was a lizard that popped out from its crusty centre.

“I've been looking for you” he exclaimed.

She could have sworn she saw him then put the little creature into his pocket. That can’t be right she thought. This expedition was charmingly curious and curiouser …


-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances