Luna Goddess at Night Scattering Stars Playing Cards

High atop a crescent moon, its horns reaching like celestial fingers, stood Luna, the Moon Weaver. Unlike the mortals who saw only a silvery orb, Luna possessed a breathtaking beauty. Her form, sculpted from moonlight itself, shimmered with the echoes of countless prayers. A cascade of stardust flowed down her form, veiling her essence, and her hair, a luminous waterfall of the same celestial dust, trailed behind her as she raised a hand, its fingers long and elegant. --- A hush fell over the world below. In every land, hearts skipped a beat beneath the watchful gaze of countless stars. Tonight was a Night of Scattering, a night when Luna blessed the world with new constellations. With a flick of her wrist, she plucked a ball of light from the celestial tapestry. It pulsed in her palm, a nascent star yearning to be born. --- But tonight was different. Nestled in the crook of Luna's arm sat a young girl, no older than ten. Her eyes, wide with wonder, held the spark of a future goddess, brimming with potential. Fear etched on her innocent face, she held tight, raw and desperate prayers spilling from her heart. This star wouldn't be born from mere celestial order, but from a wish so pure, so powerful, it resonated through the very fabric of the cosmos, a wish for peace in a world ravaged by war. --- Empowered by this heartfelt plea, Luna flung the nascent star into the night. It arced across the velvet sky, leaving a trail of pearlescent light. As it landed in the heavens, the star blossomed, morphing into a magnificent dove, its wings outstretched in eternal flight. A constellation, a symbol of peace, was born. --- A cheer erupted from the war-ridden kingdom below. People poured out into the streets, tears glistening in their eyes as they gazed at the celestial dove soaring through the night. It was a sign, a promise whispered on the wind. Hope, fragile but tenacious, flickered in their hearts. --- Luna smiled, a soft, ethereal glow emanating from her. This was the true power of a moon goddess – not just to preside over the tides and the night, but to weave the hopes and dreams of mortals, like the young girl beside her, into the very fabric of the heavens. As the other stars twinkled their approval, Luna continued her nightly ritual, scattering more stars, shaping constellations, her influence a tangible force guiding a world yearning for peace. --- a 1927 painting by American artist Edwin Blashfield 1848-1936.This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 70 years or fewer.