The Dream of Aluna

    By kalog

    The Dream of Aluna cover image

    22 Feb, 2024

    a girl in a dress standing in front of a full moon with mountains in the background and clouds in the sky, space art, a storybook illustration, Aaron Jasinski, comic cover art

    One serene and bright night, a child named Aluna was deep in sleep when she started to dream. She was shouting repeatedly in her sleep, echoing the words, "No more, no more".

    a woman sitting on a bed in a room with a lamp on the side of the bed and a painting on the wall, harlem renaissance, a character portrait, Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy, kinkade

    Her mother Luciana woke up suddenly hearing Aluna's screams. She woke Aluna up and asked her about her dream. Aluna, terrified, shared about the strange little creatures in her dream wanting to take her away.

    a cartoon girl sitting on a bed with a lamp on the side of the bed behind her and a painting of a woman in the background, bengal school of art, a comic book panel, Ella Guru, kinkade

    The next morning, Aluna fell ill with a high fever. Despite taking medication, her condition didn't improve. Luciana was worried as her daughter's fever remained high.

    a woman and two children standing in front of a tree with a house in the background and a forest, serial art, a storybook illustration, Ella Guru, comic cover art

    Luciana decided to visit Aluna's playmates to find out the cause of her daughter's illness. She asked Sheila, one of Aluna's friends, about their recent playtime. Sheila revealed that they had ventured into the secluded woods behind their neighborhood.

    a woman and a child standing in a room with candles on the table and a picture of a woman on the wall, harlem renaissance, a storybook illustration, Ada Gladys Killins, storybook illustration

    As the night fell, Aluna's fever didn't subside. Worried, Luciana sought help from a local healer, Liling. She invited Liling to their house to help her sick daughter.

    a woman with a white robe and a red belt standing in front of a dark background with a white angel, fantasy art, a detailed painting, Clint Cearley, rossdraws global illumination

    Upon arrival, Liling started her ritual and was suddenly possessed by a powerful spirit called Karangit. The spirit revealed that it was punishing Aluna for not sharing her food with it.

    a woman in a red and white dress holding a cigarette and a red cloth over her head and a red curtain, fantasy art, a character portrait, Charlie Bowater, mars ravelo and greg rutkowski

    Luciana, desperate to save her daughter, asked the Karangit how to cure Aluna. The spirit demanded an offering of red and white cloth, thread, betel nut, and tobacco or three cigarettes.

    a painting of a woman with a tray of fruit and a glass of orange juice on a table in a jungle, altermodern, a character portrait, Ella Guru, high detail illustration

    The spirit instructed Luciana to place these offerings in a bamboo tray and leave them under the mango tree where Aluna ate her meals. The spirit promised to heal Aluna once the offerings were made.

    a woman in a white robe standing in a room with a lamp on the side of the wall and a plant in the corner, art nouveau, a character portrait, Constance Gordon-Cumming, character portrait

    Luciana agreed to fulfill the spirit's demands, hoping it would heal her daughter. Soon after, the Karangit left Liling's body, leaving the room in utter silence.

    a woman sitting on a bamboo floor surrounded by fruit and vegetables, with a bamboo background and a yellow sky, afrofuturism, a storybook illustration, Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy, official art

    Luciana did as instructed. She arranged all the items in the bamboo tray and placed it under the mango tree as the sun began to set. Then, she prayed for her daughter's quick recovery.

    a painting of a woman hugging a young girl in a room with pictures on the wall behind her and a vase of flowers in the corner, samikshavad, a storybook illustration, Ella Guru, maya

    Days passed and Aluna's fever finally broke. She recovered swiftly, much to Luciana's relief. The mother's heart was filled with gratitude towards the spirit for sparing her daughter.

    a cartoon of a woman in a yellow dress with a blue top and gold earrings and a vase behind her, cloisonnism, a character portrait, Ella Guru, maya

    Aluna, though weak, managed to smile at her mother. She was oblivious to the supernatural ordeal her mother had undergone for her recovery. The dream remained a secret, and life returned to normal in their household.

    The Dream of Aluna

    AI Fantasy Stories