<I>Long ago, when the Land was young, there were only Animals here; Man had not yet come to share this place. Things were simpler, quieter, and all of Nature’s Creatures lived in Balance. But sometimes, even today, a Creature may find that it needs help in keeping Balance.

Unfortunately, Animals were not gifted with the loud speech of Man. No, they are more subtle in their words, and few Men can actually hear them… Even Deity, with all of the things it must attend to, misses one here and there. Finding this unacceptable, Deity took a chunk of its strength, rolled it into a small, white and silver sphere of light, and hung it in the Night’s sky.

Thus was the beginning of the Moon, and all of its many magical effects on our Land.

However, though the Moon was full of Deity’s light, it had few specified purposes… that is, until Deity gave the Land yet another gift, a gift of moths. Soft and delicate, much like hopes and dreams, they scour the night, listening to those who have prayers, and carrying the prayers of whichever creature spoke to them away into the Night, gathering Moonbeams on its wings as it went. In taking the Moon’s light, it may be used to shine down upon the Animal in need, and answer its prayers. Slowly, the Moon’s light is depleted, and the Moon gets smaller, and empties, until Deity slowly fills it again.

Thus, is why the Moon changes shape, and disappears.

But the moths have to assure that the light on their wings will shine on those in need from anywhere in their Land, so the moths fly so very high, higher than the Moon, until only the light on their wings can be seen, forming Stars… That is, until their work is done, the prayer answered, at which point they glide back to earth to listen to yet another creature.

Thus, is what makes the Stars, and why they fall…

And why the Night is so very beautiful.</I>

<center>I have many things to pray for… but what I find myself praying for the most is the safety and happiness of those I care about. There are so many people who mean so much to me, and deal with things so much harsher in their lives than I do in my own. Many of my friends live with hardships that I fear will happen to myself… others have lost family, furred and not. Some simply have rough spots that they are going through, while others have inner demons that are slowly consuming their spirits… I pray for the best for all of you. Those I Love, in all senses of the word. There are days when you are the only things holding me up and keeping me going… and there are days when you remind me that I’m something worthwhile, that maybe, it’s a good thing that I’m here, in Our Land. In spite of the problems you have, you all do more for me then you will ever know, or that I could ever ask for… Thank you.

This one is for all of you.</center>

~Nashoba "Nash" Hostina