The Creation Myth

[Still in the process of being written. For now, parts of it are in rough note form; this will change some time, but I just want to not think about anything for a while.]

The Creation of the World

In which Ketha creates the world, mixing earth and water together.

In the beginning, there was nothing, and this was Ketha. And Ketha took water in one portion, and Ketha took earth in one portion, and placed the two together. And in this shaped ball earth and water were mixed, so that in some places there was earth, in some places water; and there was water above the earth, and earth above the water.

The Birth of Snake / The Beginning of Life

In which Ketha breathes on the world, and life begins with the birth of Snake.

Ketha surrounded this creation, and breathed on it. Life arose, and the plants and animals lived by the breath of Ketha. Tall forests of dark trees grew up, covering all the land, and under their branches Stag and Bear roamed. In the water's depths fish gathered, and larger creatures also. But first among all those, among all living things, was Snake. In the deepest earth she was born, when Ketha blew breath upon the world. From a tiny form wriggling in the ground, she grew until she burst from the soil and tasted air. Seeing the world barren and empty, Snake stretched out her long coils and went to sleep. As she slept, with a part of her length in the water and a part on dry land, the forests sprouted up around her, taking warmth from her body. Then the animals came, and before long they grew hungry; so they feasted on the flesh of sleeping Snake, and were sated. Then the corpse of Snake became rotten, and the remaining flesh fell from the bones to the earth. The bones themselves changed their form, becoming snakes in the image of their ancestor, but smaller than the monster they sprung from. In an instant they slithered away, hiding themselves in the earth.

The Rising of Yael

In which Yael appears and gives light to the animals.

Now the other animals began to wander about the world, seeking those places that were best for them. But wherever they went, they could not see, for all was dark. At last Stag stayed his journey, and going up to a high place he called out for a guide in the darkness. His great voice resounded across the world, and all was still. And even as the last echoes fell away, Yael rose above the horizon, a slim crescent. From even this new face soft light came down to help the steps of the beasts. And though later Yael fell down behind the earth, and all was dark once more, always she returned, growing fuller, then in turn dying away.

The Birth of the People

In which the People are born, and live with the animals.

It happened then that Wolf was running through the forest, and heard a strange cry from ahead. Approaching, he saw a creature lying in the grass, a creature that he did not recognise. Though covered in fur like himself, it had no muzzle, its ears were small, and two of its legs were different from the other two. Curious, Wolf picked the animal up, and carried it to his den.

Creature brought up with wolves.
Creature is pregnant when found, and remains so while growing to be an adult.
Creature gives birth to hairless versions of herself - human babies.
The children get hurt playing with the wolf cubs.
Human babies and their mother leave the wolves.
Babies grow up and live as their own group, like to another animal group.

The Sun

In which the People ask the gods for warmth, and for light to see by, and the Sun is created.

The Fire Theft

In which the flames of the sun are stolen as it rises at the end of the world.

Creation of the sun - no idea why.
People want fire.
People ask some animals to steal it for them.
Eagle flies to the end of the world, where the sun comes up. Takes a flame from the sun in its beak, and carries it back. It gets burned by the flame, and its crest becomes white.
Eagle passes the flame to another bird, who is also burned, etc.
The flame is given to the People, who keep it alight on leaves, reeds, branches.

The Sundering

In which the People offend against the gods, and are punished; many go into exile to the corners of the world.

Many of the People do not wish to give the promised reward to the animals who stole fire from the sun.
The animals go to Stag and complain of their treatment.
Stag causes the fires of the People to be put out - the burning branches suddenly become cold and whole.
Those of the People who reneged on their agreement with the animals are cast out and banished. Their name is taken from them.
The People begin to die without fire.
Stag reveals how the flames of the sun are locked within the wood that had burned. The People learn to bring the fire out, so that they might live.