Jillian pulled the card out and read it aloud, "This stone has come to you at the right time. It will change your life if you let it, and only you can find the secrets to its magic."
“ Let us take a look at it,” Illianna said.
Jillian slowly loosened the cord on the bag and pulled the hole wider. Illianna stepped closer and peered into the bag. She looked back into Jillian's eyes. Jillian began to worry. She bent closer and looked into the bag.
In the darkness a mist started to form. And in the mist they could see Jillian looking at herself in a mirror. Then the vision shifted as if blown by a gentle wind and they saw a dry meadow, sad and fruitless. It grew dark and then a moon appeared, casting a long shadow on the ground. The ground then melted into ripples in the water, floating outward, expanding. From within, the waves began to ebb and flow on a shoreline with flowers dancing in the background. Droplets of moisture began to develop. Tall trees in the rain were the backdrop to iridescent flickering green lights. The visions shifted into the fluffy white heavens and then onto the stars sparkling in the night. As they stared into the bag it seemed as if they were traveling into the starry sky and out to the edges of the universe. A pinpoint of light appeared in the center of the bag. This light began to grow and fill the bag. As they watched in amazement the light began to emerge forth and seemed to swallow it in the most beautiful warm feeling. And then it was gone.
Illianna looked at Jillian. Calmly she said, “I know what we must do. Put your hand on my mane and close your eyes. Free your mind and just 'be.' Send your mind to where it knows it must go, and your body will follow. What you are seeking, you will find!”
Jillian stared at Illianna a long moment. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She relaxed her body from head to toe and held Illianna's mane. She could feel her heart beating in her ears. As she took another long breath it began to slow down. She sensed warmth in her chest. A faint light began to grow from deep within her. This light and warmth began to grow and ripple outward. It was extremely soothing.
"Is that better?" Illianna asked Jillian.
"Yes," she replied. "Is it magic?"
"No, you trust me. You know that I am here to help. Your body is responding to your trust." Jillian smiled realizing Illianna was right. She closed her eyes and began to 'feel' a rumbling. Was it below her or was it her? She felt like there was electricity or static all around her body. The hair on her arms stood up. The vibrations got stronger and stronger. Her white knuckles held onto Illianna's mane. She squeezed her eyes shut even tighter. And then it stopped.
She slowly opened her eyes to see only darkness. Illianna was right there by her side as before, but they were no longer in the meadow. This place was dark and chilly. Behind them the moon cast a long shadow of their bodies onto the ground before them. Looking around Jillian realized that they were standing at the mouth of a cave. She slowly turned to Illianna.
"What happened? Where are we?" She whispered.
"This is our first place to search for the secret." Illianna said turning sideways to see the shadow that the moonlight cast onto the cave floor.
"Have you ever been here?" Jillian asked.
"No, but I know about it. You're not afraid are you?" Illianna asked as she rose on her hind legs.
"Nooo," Jillian said trying to convince herself.
Illianna came back down onto all fours and turned to face Jillian. “What kind of things are you afraid of?"
Taking a deep breath and sighing Jillian rolled her wide eyes. “ Oh...Not much.” Illianna looked Jillian in the eyes.
“ Then why is your heart pounding so loudly?” Jillian had hoped that she hadn’t heard it.
“ Well, who knows what could be hiding in here waiting for us?” Jillian said, "I don't think this