The sun beat down on the sun-baked earth, casting shimmering mirages across the parched meadow. Bill, an eastern box turtle with a shell as vibrant as a sunset, trudged along, his heavy shell dragging behind him. He was lost, his usual path obscured by a recent wildfire that had ravaged the landscape. Smoke still hung heavy in the air, and the ground was hot beneath his feet.

Thirst gnawed at his throat, and his legs ached. He longed for the cool, damp earth of his burrow. Just as his spirits began to flag, a flicker of light caught his eye through the smoke-filled haze. He followed the faint glow, stumbling through the blackened trees until he emerged into a clearing.

In the center stood a magnificent cathedral, its shattered windows ablaze with a kaleidoscope of colors. The air inside the cathedral, in stark contrast to the heat outside, was cool and damp. Bill, drawn by the promise of respite, cautiously pushed open a heavy wooden door that groaned in protest.

Inside, the air was thick with the scent of damp earth and old stone. Sunlight and glittering dust filtered through the stained-glass windows, casting vibrant patterns on the cool stone floor. Bill shuffled towards the center of the nave, where a small pool of water had collected beneath a long abandoned artesian fountain. He drank deeply, the cool water soothing his parched throat.

As he drank, he noticed the intricate designs of the stained glass. He had never seen anything so beautiful. “What is in this water?” He mused. He gazed up at the vibrant colors, mesmerized by the way they danced and shimmered in the light. He saw images of other animals, caught in the stained glass: birds, deer, mice… even a fox.

Suddenly, a wave of warmth washed over him, and the world around him began to spin. He felt himself shrinking, his shell becoming lighter, his legs more nimble. He looked down and saw that his skin was now a mosaic of orange and yellow, mirroring the colors of the stained glass. He had become part of the cathedral, transformed into a living work of art.

He wasn’t frightened, though. He felt a sense of peace, a connection to the other creatures trapped in the glass. He was no longer just Bill, the lost box turtle. He was Bill, the stained-glass turtle, a part of the cathedral’s magic.

He spent his days slowly exploring his new world, wandering through the stained-glass landscapes, talking to the other animals. He learned their stories, their hopes, and their dreams. He was no longer lost; he had found a new home, a new purpose. He was part of something beautiful, something magical, and he knew that he would never be truly alone again.

“Shattered Box Turtle – Bill” is a Gansai (Japanese Watercolor) painting featuring an Eastern Box Turtle named Bill. He’s orange and yellow and the background is also orange and yellow. The background could be a vibrant sunset or more likely a wildfire he just escaped. It looks like he’s floating or it could be that the surface he is standing on is very shiny but it is also orange and yellow. The painting is very vibrant and Bill is easily seen even though he matches his background. The lines on his shell resemble the lines of the stained glass look of the painting.

This and more paintings from the “Shattered” series will be offered for sale summer 2025 along with. Prints will also be offered in the future.

Please feel free to use the form below for commissions or gallery appearances. I will answer your request as soon as possible.

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Check out my other paintings at www.tobitokens.com or find out a little more about me at About Tobi! Visit Disclosures find out how I establish these short stories.

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