Welcome to Gaia! ::

Watch closed his eyes, listening carefully to every word, noting the diction and the flow. Short, but wonderful, a delightful story, he'd have to say. He sighed thoughtfully, wondering which tale he should wrap these kin into. An epic would take too long, and it would be rude to take too much attention from the new apprentices. Hm...

"I have a story I would like to share, if I was allowed. A legend that goes beyond the mysteries of the eyes that glow and the songs that ring from our souls. About who we are, who we will become, and how we were created."

The story of our genesis.

Eons ago, before our swamp, the desert, the mountains and the plains between them, the MotherFather wandered the vast emptiness of our world. Alone, our god drifted, searching for something, anything, to fill the emptiness inside.

At last, in his wanderings, the MotherFather came across a single kin. A beautiful mare with bright eyes and fur as white as light itself. Shimmering spines glittered like crystal along her spine and a large scale upon her shoulders would mark her as one of us. In wonderful joy, the MotherFather stepped to her and asked a simple question.

'Will you be my friend?'

The silver-light mare looked at him softly and shook her head, declining.

'I cannot befriend that which I cannot see. It is too dark, I see nothing.'

She explained, for the MotherFather is all-seeing and did not understand. Our god thought and then, with a knowing nod, spoke.

'Then I shall let you see.'

With a blinding flash of light, the MotherFather parted with its eyes and sent them high into the black where they hung, bearing the names Sun and Moon, from which their tears created the stars that shine along side them. The mare blinked in their light and in it saw the benevolence of the MotherFather and was thankful. But when the god asked again, still she declined.

'I would love nothing more than to be your friend,' she said, 'But where would we play? I need land to run upon.'

She explained, for the MotherFather could canter freely among the heavens. Again, the MotherFather spoke.

'Then I shall make mountains and hills for us to climb, deserts and valleys for us to race in, and grassy plains for which we can rest in.'

And from its body, the MotherFather removed its flesh and with it molded our world in all its splendor. The mare looked upon this and saw our god's beauty and power in perfect harmony. But again, she denied the MotherFather's request.

'I have been wandering long, I too am tired and thirsty to play.'

She explained for the MotherFather would live forever and had no need to feed or drink.

Once again the MotherFather spoke.

'Then let me rid you of your thirst.'

And with that, the MotherFather cut open its veins, spilling forth torrents of blood over the earth, forming what is now our seas, ocean, rivers, and lakes. The mare knelt before a bubbling brook and drank deeply, tasting the god's purity. Despite this, however, still she denied our MotherFather his wish.

'I cannot, for a friend is someone you can confide in, laugh and whisper secrets to. But this is impossible without air.'

She explained, and the MotherFather responded as before.

'Then let my fill you so that I may hear you laugh and sing.'

The MotherFather inhaled deeply before breathing out over the land, forming the breezes and gales we call wind. His breath shook the trees and the flowers and sent their seeds dancing off and soon, the world was covered in plant life of all varieties. The crystal-white mare watched in awe, shivering as the cold wind ran through her fur. Again, our god begged for her friendship, but alas, she shook her head.

'It is far too cold to play. I need warmth.'

'Then let me still you with my flame,' spoke the MotherFather.

From deep in its chest, the MotherFather removed its heart and placed it deep within the earth, where it beats beneath our hooves to this very day. From it, waves of warmth fill our earth. The mare closed her eyes, adsorbing this pleasant heat and in it felt our god's zeal and determination.

'Please, now will you be my friend? Would you not cast off this loneliness?'

Tears fell thickly from the MotherFather's eyes, spilling onto the earth. From them, creatures of all types, foxbuns and wolves and owls and fish, sprang forth and filled the world with their jubilation. Tears too fell into the white mare's fur.

'I wish with all of my heart that I could help you, for you are kind and giving. You have selflessly given everything for which I have asked, from your very body, and yet, because of my selfish needs, we cannot be friends. For now you are but a spirit and we can never be together.'

The MotherFather looked upon the mare, seeing in her compassion and love. She too bared its pain, its loneliness, and yet, she pitied the MotherFather more than herself. Gently, the MotherFather brushed her tears away with a sad smile.

'Although we may not be able to play, or laugh, or sing. Though you may not see, hear, or feel me, I will always be with you.'

With the last of its power, the MotherFather formed a stag in her likeness. He looked to her and explained,

'So that you shall never be alone. And here, my last gift upon you.'

The mare felt the MotherFather's presence rush over her and suddenly she was heavy with child.

'You shall bare five kin of different likeness, one for each thing that I gave for you. And together, no one shall ever be alone again.'

Watch opened his eyes with a smile. He loved that story. It was never explained which race was which gift, but he loved to believe that Kimeti were the Light, the essence of the sun and moon. Perhaps that was why he was so drawn by the water? The red-eyed buck stepped back, letting someone else have a turn.