Cosmic Powers...

Snoop had a nose for news.  In the many years he had been the editor (and owner) of the Bellwether, he had honed his ability to shift through normal stories and find the extra-ordinary to give his readers the best newspaper in the Realm.  So, it was when Sprigg'n (a Spite) tells you that something unusual is going on, its time to check it out!  "Anyone who is entirely created by a magical event and thinks something is strange - it definitely is something to check out," thought Snoop as he was walking through the hills towards a cave.

This was not just any cave, Snoop was off to visit.  It was the home of Dewin the Wizard.  Since the "news" Sprigg'n shared with Snoop was astronomical, it seem a good idea to check another source.  "I hope this isn't a wild duck chase," pondered the newsman.  "I have a paper to get out, but if it is something, I will be delighted with this big scoop!"  Deciding that the hike to the cave would still be worth the story, he continued on until he was almost to the entrance.

Snoop didn't even have to knock since Dewin was already outside setting up some strange contraption on some sticks.  From a distance it looked like three sticks tied together at one end creating a tripod and he had some long tube attached to the top.  "I wonder what he is doing," mumbled Snoop to himself.  It was while Snoop was approaching the wizard that without looking up from what he was doing that Dewin called out to him.

"Hello, Augustus.  I take it that the Spite... oops, I mean Sprigg'n... told you about what was coming?"

Surprised, Snoop stopped near the contraption while noticing that Dewin was now busy turning dials and looking through a small hole in the side of the tube that was indeed mounted to three sticks.  "Not really," answered Snoop.  "All Sprigg'n told me was that some strange and powerful magic was coming and that you were trying to capture it since it will only be here once every 1000 years."

"Well, Sprigg'n is partially right.  A solar eclipse happens much more frequently than that, but it won't be for another 1000 years before we are in the path of a total eclipse, especially during a new moon" answered the wizard.  Seeing Snoop's look of confusion, he continued explaining.  "A total solar eclipse is when the sun is fully blocked by the moon and the land will turn dark for about 10 minutes.  The animals that normally come out only in the dark will be confused and those expecting sunlight will wonder what is happening.  I have seen it long ago from where I came from and there the eclipse even drove normal people crazy with fear."

"Now this is a story indeed," realized Snoop.  "Tell me more and what is that thing you have there?" he asked Dewin.

"This is called a teliskop," answered Dewin.  "It was invented by an astronomer many years ago in another realm to look at the moon and stars.  I am adjusting it so when I look at the moon as it starts to block the sun, I don't loose my eyesight.  You know how staring at the sun is not a good idea? Well, when using a teliskop it is even worse if you don't take the proper precautions."  

"But why would you want to?" asked Snoop.  "I will be able to see the sun go out.  Couldn't I look at it then?"  Dewin thought about this question and told Snoop that even when the sun is totally blocked out, it is always good to use eye protection.  Especially because Dewin wanted to watch the entire process from start to finish.  "It is something that rarely happens and I want to see it all so that I can study it.  It is something rare and the magical energy that will be produced will be very powerful.  I am hoping to capture some of that magic and bottle it!"

As the wizard went back to fiddling with his 'teliskop', two things popped into Snoop's mind.  First, this was going to be an interesting story for his readers as it appeared no one else knew about the coming eclipse, and secondly, wizards were strange indeed.  It wasn't until after the eclipse happened that the newspaper editor found out how true his predictions turned out.