6
"Sir Azure"�

This story is dedicated to all who follow their heart�s path and find their way.

��The diamond light of the Chaste Moon(1) shown gently upon the water. It was a warm, very early spring night filled with the misting scents of sand and surf.

��Crawling from behind the oaken mooring post of the jetty(2), an infant blue crab startled a young sea turtle sleeping among the seaweed.

��Hey, wake up!� yelled the little crab drawing attention to himself.

��Yawning, the tiny reptile(3) shouted, �Hey, can�t you see I�m trying to sleep? Go away!�

��Oh, I�m so sorry, but I�ve just arrived here and I don�t know my way around these shores,� said the crab, shyly.

��Hey! Are you deaf?� I said, �Go away�! The turtle was very impolite.

��The tiny crab crept on, silent and alone wondering what he had done to be treated in such a rude manner.

��It seemed like he had traveled forever as the Moon hung low in the deepening sky.

��Gee, I wonder if that creature is a friendly one,� thought the crab, looking at the bright, celestial(4) smile. �It sure is a silent creature.�

��Suddenly he heard a lovely, flute like voice. �I am not a being like others you will meet. I am here to help you and light your way. Just follow the path of my beams and you will be safe.�

��Oh, um, thank you,� said the tiny crustacean(5).

��Who are you?�

��I�m the one who lights the night. I am the Moon and my name is Luna. His Majesty King Neptune(6) asked that I care for you for as long as you need me. In a short time, one of my daytime friends will arrive to help you. You will see Him shining where I am now. His lights are much brighter than mine. He will make your way bright and warm. His name is Brill and he will be here soon.�

��And what is your name, little creature?� asked Luna.

��Oh, I don�t think I have one. At least I don�t think I do. How can I get a name?� questioned the Moon�s new friend.

��Well, since I�m the only one here, I suppose I can give you a special name. Little crab, because of your beautiful blue color, I will name you Azure. This name will bring you luck and happiness,� said Luna, smiling.

��Hmm, Azure! I think I like that,� voiced the tiny crab.

��The little creature repeated his new name over and over as he tumbled in the cool sand. He danced and played with the Moon as the stars laughed.

��Azure, I would like you to rest now. You�ve had a difficult first day,� said Luna. �Please push on and dig into the sand behind the weeds over in the field behind the fence. You will be safe there. When you awaken, my friend I told you about will be here to guide you. Now, sleep well and I will see you when night falls again.�

��The little crab did as he was told and nestled into the weeds. He yawned a deep yawn, listened to the gently splashing surf, and fell fast asleep.

��The Sun rose and morning came.

��Feeling quite warm, Azure awoke. He crawled from his sandy dugout. Stretching his claws to greet his first day, he needed to adjust his eyes to view the world around him.

��What in the world! Everything is so bright and big! Luna, where are you?�

��A chime like sound came to his ears.

��Hello, little one. I am Brill, Luna�s daytime friend,� heard the tiny crab.

��Where in the sky are you? Everything is so bright. I cannot see too well,� cried Azure a bit frightened.

��Oh, your eyes will clear soon. I am up in the sky where Luna was last night,� voiced the Sun.

��Where? I can�t see you,� screamed Azure.

��You�re looking right at me, gentle one,� sang the Sun. �I am the brightness in the sky. I have come to help you through the next few hours. What would you like me to do for you throughout your first day on shore?�

��Azure�s fear began to subside. He thought for a few moments and began to speak.

��Well, since I�ve arrived here I�ve met only two others besides you who have spoken to me. The first creature I did not care for very much. He made me feel like I was bothering him. I don�t want to be like that creature. Luna made me feel important. That�s what I want. I want to feel important.�

��Azure made his deepest wishes known to the Sun.

��So tell me, how can I help you today?� questioned Brill.

��Well, let�s see,� said Azure.

��I think I would like to swim deep into those great waters beyond the sand,� wished the little crab.

��Oh, so you would like to be a fish,� said Brill.

��Yes, a fish!� Azure was very excited as he thought about being a fish and swimming the great ocean.

��All is right, little one. The sea is yours. Do your best,� sang the Sun.

��Azure entered the cool water and the churning waves carried him outward toward the ocean�s depths.

��Oh, this is such fun. I�m going to like being a fish,� said Azure, happily swimming and diving beneath the salty billows.

��On he swam. The waters became deeper. It became very difficult for the crab to keep afloat. His tiny legs ached from trying to stay above the rough waves.

��I don�t think I like this. Help! Help! Brill, where are you? Please help me!� screamed Azure quite upset.

��As his call for help was heard Azure was lifted from the deep water.

��Oh thank you kind sir. Who are you?� cried Azure half laughing and half crying but very relieved.

��Hello little fellow. I am Triton(7) son of His Majesty. I am King of the Merrow(8).�

��Merrow? What are Merrow?� asked the inquisitive(9), little Azure.

��Triton roared a hearty laugh and caused even more waves ~~~~ if more could be had!

��Of course! You�re so young. How could you know? The Merrow are peaceful creatures of the sea that look like me. They are men, women, and children with human form at the tops of their bodies and fish form at the bottom. We can live on the sea and on the land just as you do. Our kingdom, which you may visit at any time, lies at the ocean floor but we do not always remain there. Once in a while we need to surface the water to view nature and make sure all is well with the world. That is what I was doing when I heard your cries.�

��Triton taught Azure the legends of the sea and the little crab began to feel different.

��Now, little Azure, close your eyes, cross your claws and wish yourself to shore,� commanded the great Triton.

��Azure politely did as he was commanded and upon opening his eyes he was safe on shore.

��Gosh, that was very odd,� thought Azure to himself. �No matter, I�m safe now.�

�� So, my little friend�, chimed Brill. �How was your adventure?�

��Azure chatted on to the Sun.

��It was wonderful until I became afraid in the deep water and couldn�t breathe. Triton came to help me. He�s of the Merrow, you know. He was very kind and taught me about the sea. I had no idea there were so many creatures and beautiful happenings around here. But, I still don�t feel important and I certainly cannot be a fish. Umm, I think I would like to be one of those gull birds so I can be in the sky with you. May I?� Brill laughed most heartily at Azure�s enthusiasm(10), but supported his wish.

��Fine, my little one. If that�s what you need to do. Be a bird!� Leaving Azure to frolic about, Brill had no idea how this little creature of the land and sea would take flight.

��The little blue legged shell played and tumbled in the warm sunlight trying to calculate what he must do to fly.

��The day wore on toward evening. Azure noticed the air blowing around him and remembered that Triton said it was called �wind�. He saw the reeds and grasses blowing in the wind and saw how it churned the waves. Little did he know that it was his friend Luna that was helping the great waters in their churning. On and on he traveled.

��He looked up into the sky very puzzled. He saw Luna on one side of the sky and Brill, losing his brightness, on the other.

��Hello, sky friends. Why are you both up there?� questioned their newest student.

��At certain times you are able to see both of us sharing the sky. Now, little Azure, how is this day going?� chimed the Moon and Sun together.

��I couldn�t be a fish and I don�t know if I can be a bird,� grunted Azure.

��Take your time, little one,� sang his guardians. �You are learning much today. Keep up the good work!�

��Good work? Right! Little do they know. Now, how can I fly?� wondered Azure.

��Looking down about him and ready to give up the thought of being a bird, Azure saw two small shells, almost identical, lying on the warm sand.

��He thought. �I�ve learned that birds have wings, one on each side, just about the same size. I�ve got it! I�ll put one shell on each side of me, climb up to that pier, jump off and I�ll fly. Yes siree! That�s what I�ll do.�

��Now we all know that Luna and Brill knew of Azure�s thoughts. They smiled at each other as they kept a watchful eye on their little friend.

��Evening was close at hand.

��Azure slipped one shell over his right shoulder and the other over his left. He began to stumble from the weight of the shells but he trudged on.

��I can make it to the pier. I know I can,� thought Azure. He never doubted that he could do it.�

��Phew! That was tough. Now, I�ll count to three and jump.�

��He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and counted.

�One,
Two,
Three!�
KERPLUNK!

��There lay Azure, nearly unconscious in the wet, sandy seaweed.

��Poor Azure!� said Brill.

��Oh my brave Azure!� sang the Moon.

��Little Azure, little Azure, please come to your senses,� pleaded the Moon sending her brightest beams to waken him.

��Azure shook himself off and began to cry.

��Brill, before you leave I need your help with something,� whispered the Moon to the Sun.

��Azure, please look at me,� pleaded Luna. �Please! Look at me! All will be well, you�ll see.�

��The little crab was a bit confused and upset but did as Luna requested.

��Brill remained for as long as He could and helped Luna with a most important happening.

��The Moon spoke in Her most beautiful and gracious voice.

��Azure, at this moment in time you are one of Neptune�s tiniest creatures. His Majesty, Triton, Brill and myself know of your struggles today. We are aware of your strengths and thirst for knowledge. In everything, you were most kind, polite, and ever so brave. You swam the depths of the sea and gained knowledge of the skies.�

��She continued. �Little fellow! I, the Mistress of the Night, realize that you have gained great wisdom in the span of this day.�

��Luna spoke majestically.

��Azure, for your kindness and your bravery I bestow Nature�s blessings upon you. I name you Sir Azure, Knight of the Ocean Shore.�

��She spoke further as the Sun set in the Western sky.

��I give you this sword, shining and new. May it ever reflect the love and guidance of all of us and be your protector. Be happy, my little one. You have brought laughter to our shores.�

��Azure felt important. King Neptune rose from the deep. He placed a small golden crown with a perfect blue sapphire in the center spire on Azure�s tiny head.

��After a courteous bow to the King, Azure raised his glistening sword toward the heavens in grateful praise.

��Using his sword to draw a circle in the sand around him, Azure spoke.

��Brightest blessings to all my friends of sky, land, and sea!�

��Luna�s light made the sandy circle around Sir Azure glisten. The tiny knight�s gentle prayer was carried upon the mighty waves.

��All nature answered as the stars sang. �Thank you, Sir Azure. We wish you a long and healthy life!�

��For the last time he heard the Chaste Moon�s enchanting voice as She rose high into the darkness. �Now you know how important you are, my humble Knight. Be happy. The universe is yours for the asking.�

��Sir Azure grew into life and guided many others with his vibrant wisdom of the sea and sky.

for March

WORD LIST FOR THIS STORY

(1) CHASTE MOON - March Moon

(2) JETTY - a reinforcement, usually a wall, built out into the water to protect an area from rising tides and heavy currents

(3) REPTILE - the turtle

(4) CELESTIAL - heavenly

(5) CRUSTACEAN - the crab

(6) HIS MAJESTY KING NEPTUNE - "Lord of the Deep"

(7) TRITON - I'm sure you remember him from the story of the "Little Mermaid"! He is the son of His Majesty King Neptune.

(8) MERROW - mermaids; mermen

(9) INQUISITIVE - used to describe someone who is continually asking questions

(10) ENTHUSIASM - eager to learn; interested

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