The Taming of the Sun

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... ilence.gif[/imgleft]Summer was winding down. The pale pink doe thought of the early morning chills that foretold the coming of autumn and shivered despite the warmth of the tired sun above them. She was lying in the shade of the Home Tree, taking a moment of rest, curled around the sleeping form of her foundlings. Sweet boy, Guards the Herd was all tuckered out from keeping the marshfowl from chasing his sister. But Little Brook was still awake, her chin resting on her front hooves, her large eyes peering up through the broad leaves at the glittering sunlight beyond.

"I like the sun. It's warm and nice," The tiny Acha said softly as she basked.

"That it is," She agreed, lifting her face to the sun and reveling in its warmth. After a few moments, she opened her eyes and smiled down at her not-daughter, "But it wasn't always. Have I ever told you about The Taming of the Sun?"

Little Brook shook her head, "Taming? The sun was wild?"

"Oh yes. My father would tell the story when I was little. Let's see, how did it start..."

'Long, long ago, when the Swamp was still new, the sky knew so such thing as day and night. It was ruled by two great serpents known now as the Sun and the Moon. The sun was vicious but stunning, so beautiful it was painful to look at. He chased the Moon tirelessly, snarling and snapping at her heels. But the Moon was calm and quick. Her ability to hide was matched only by the tiny stars that scattered from the hunter and his prey.

Their wild pursuit caused all kinds of chaos on the world below. Tides left the beaches bare for days, only to flood the lands with salt soon after. And the heat. Sometimes the Sun would come too close and scorch the land. His rending claws left wildfires in their wake. If the MotherFather did not act soon, the glorious world she had just finished building would be ruined before it began.

She called together the fauna of the Swamp. She asked the Feathered Serpents to brave the skies, distracting the Sun so the Moon could hide. The birds she dared to fly higher than ever before, to pluck the stars from the skies. The cats and dogs of the Swamp put aside there differences, stretching and pulling and clawing the stars into fine silver fur which the many spiders then turned to thread. From that thread, under the MotherFather's guide, a net was made by those gifted with deft little hands. At last, her plan was ready.

The MotherFather raised her voice, calling the Moon to the skies. The Sun quickly followed, teeth snapping and tail lashing wildly. As he flew overhead, the MotherFather threw out the net, snatching the Great Serpent from the skies. He screamed and he struggled, but the star's love for the Moon weakened him. She plunged him deep into the sea in punishment for his crimes, deeper and deeper until he was doused. Trapped, there he stayed until he would behave. And thus the Sun was tamed.'

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