A pause followed this single, rather unhelpful statement. Something akin to a smile fluttered across Breeze's face, but it disappeared a moment later as she drew breath to continue the tale.
"The Great One existed as a figure to all living beings that they were being watched and looked after in a time of the Great Dark. To be cared for by the Great One is to be cared for for life, and so many tributes were pledged to them. It started with simple offerings, such as leaves piled with fish or bundles of flowers, all bound together with vines, brought in with the greatest of care and respect/ The Great One's abode was high atop a mountain, in the depths of a cave, and it was rumored that they did not come out for fear of the unknown. The gifts were brought instead to the base of the mountain, as the kin who were designated to bring the offerings did not want to disturb them.
'The Great One had not brought the Great Dark, but they knew not how to undo it, either. Kin lived in quiet abodes, clustered together in case of being lost in the shadows, and for a long, long many years, it remained that way. They were not persecuted by anything else in the Swamp, for the Great One had made sure of that, but they remained in darkness, unable to see, unable to truly live."
Breeze paused here, mostly for dramatic effect. It did not solicit the response she had hoped for - a vaguely exasperated look was sent her way instead - so she continued, her head held high and her tone a little amused nonetheless.
"The Great One knew that their kin could not survive much longer without brightness, without light. The Swamp was dying, and the only way to save it was to bring the light. The Great Dark would soon consume them all, and if nothing was done, the Swamp and its inhabitants would be gone forever.
'They say that the Great One climbed out of their cave, a great and terrible beast, and that only their slithering, snaking tail was able to be seen in the distance, glittering as it dragged a path up the rest of the mountainside. A great crevice was formed, rocks splintering, falling away, but the Great One continued on, growing larger and larger with each step, determination and a desire to protect the ones they had come to care for filling their heart. They had never known why they existed, or where they had come from, only that they had been made to protect the Swamp and all who lived in it.
'Finally, at the top, they rested, curled at the peak like a great dragon. One large, yellow eye opened, and it burned brightly through the Great Dark as though cut with a sharpened rock, slicing through the shadows with ease. The Swamp was filled with light, the darkness ebbing away, and the Great One looked down at the kin, feeling the warmth flowing through their veins.
'Down below, plants began to grow, began to blossom in the brightness. Things came to life once more. This lasted many hours until weariness set in, and the great eye closed and darkness fell upon them again. But as the time passed, the Great One opened their eye again and light once more was brought into being. And so the sun was bor - "
"Wait just a moment," said Strawberry, with little effort to disguise the disbelieving tone in her voice. "What exactly was 'The Great One?' Some sort of creature?"
"Some say it was a giant lizard," said Breeze demurely, tilting her head towards her daughter. "Some say that it remains up at the top of the highest mountain and that it has now become a part of that mountain, so that it is burned into being there."
As if on cue, both of them turned their heads towards the nearest range. There was no sign of a giant lizard. Strawberry raised a dubious eyebrow before turning back to her mother.
"And that's how the sun was made?"
"That was how I was taught, once upon a time. And so, my dearest child, I pass this sacred knowledge onto you," came the breezy answer.
Strawberry did not roll her eyes, but Breeze could tell it took quite an effort. "At any rate," she continued blithely, "So the legend goes. The sun is the Great One's eye opening every morning, and then they close it to go rest for the night."
Strawberry Milk frowned. "What does that make the moon, then?"
"A tale for another time, dearest. Now, come along, we have much to do today."
