The valleyfolk were gone, now a people of stone made the mountains their home. The young girl finally had friends, filled with the same joy she felt. The same excitement. We did not know much, practically babes once more, but that was fine. She wasn’t alone.

Knowing that she could make many more friends, the young girl who go on trips to more villages. Dragging the souls back, yet more pebbles would be born anew. All was good. But not everyone liked her growing family of friends.

One dark day, the clouds that hid the peaks of the crags would part, an unnatural light scathing the land. The pebbles did not understand what was going on. We had been gifted with life and emotion, not yet knowledge. Beings not of this realm descended, and before we knew it our brilliant gem was gone.

Accused of crimes most foul, the gods had taken her away. They feared what her powers could do unchecked. Now, we were alone.