Origin Myth

by

Katelin Hance

Before the world as we know it was here, there was nothing. There was darkness, and organized chaos, and silent cacophony. Then, out of nowhere, Earth appeared, violently, a marvel to behold in our solar system. The Sun, the center of everything, ruled Earth (who devotedly rotated around this fiery orb). While the Earth was rotating around the Sun, Sun’s little sister, Moon rotated around the Earth. During the daytime, Sun gave the Earth warmth and light. The sun provided safety and encouragement for elements and life to grow. At night time, Moon ruled Earth’s large bodies of waters (known as oceans today), pulling waves up into huge walls of water to come crashing down again, and controlled how high the water lapped at the Earth each time, washing debris and mysteries from the water ashore. Moon could give light when Sun wasn’t facing Earth, but she could give no heat. Night time became a time for resting, rejuvenating and rebuilding in preparation for the next day. On Earth’s land, there was nothing recognizable today, the wild ruled. Lush green, mysterious deep water that hid nightmares (and the beginning of life), fiery cones that sprayed magma as an offering to the Sun before leaking down and scorching Earth’s land. Untamed and unapologetic, Earth allowed all of these elements to live in a constant battle of wind, fire, and water. High above, Sun and Moon helped Earth keep these unruly forces in balance.
          Over time, each element began to build its own army to conquer Earth. Rock began to construct mountains and canyons to decorate Earth’s land. Fire spouted hot magma and fiery waves of heat. Water crested and fell in gargantuan waves and provided much needed moisture to this hot new land. Air whipped up wind into cyclones, spreading dirt and hot ash across the land, making sure that there was never a stagnant moment night or day. New life forms began to appear, crawling out of ooze, out of fire, out of water. Beings that were made by the elements that could survive on this brand new, untamed Earth. While these beings were dependent on Earth, worshipped the Sun, and respected the Moon, these beings began forming their own kingdoms, leaving no part of the Earth free to be wild. These beings born out of the elements sought to rule over the very forces that birthed them. Chaos, violence, treachery ensued until there was a clear victor for the Champions of Earth.
          Eventually, the Lizard Lords would come to victory as champions of the Earth. Some of these creatures were towering, ferocious; while others were small, cunning and could run across the land like a bolt of lightning. The Lizard Lords took the land, sea and sky. They ravaged their world around them. Fire was the only element that could contain these cruel Goliaths with liquid fire. The Earth, Sun and Moon grew tired of their pride, and convened to overthrow them. In a heroic sacrifice, Earth watched as the sun turned its back on her. With no heat from the Sun, Earth froze over, and became inhospitable to these cold blooded monsters, thus ending their reign over Earth.
          Once again, the elements battled for victory on Earth’s frozen land. The clear winner was the Ice Rulers. With their thick, luxurious coats of fur, their huge tusks to break up the ice, and their bulky bodies, they were a force to be reckoned with. They vowed to be more diplomatic than their predecessors. The harsh frozen tundra Earth had become forced all of the creatures and elements to work together instead of turning against fellow survivors. These animals made the most of this new wild and learned to tame it as their own. Outside of the Sun’s warm heat, they eked a new order. Vowing never to be completely overthrown, the Ice Rulers passed down their secrets of survival. Today, their distant cousins still rule the frozen tundras and hot, hot desert where the Sun shines brightly, but without water for the Moon to rule, is still inhospitable to weaker beings.
          Many years had passed, and the Sun began to provide heat, and Earth began to thaw. The Ice Lords were not able to survive throughout the land, and stepped down from ruling, and our kind came to be. Like the creatures before us, we were tied to the schedule and the almighty trinity: Earth, Sun, and Moon. The Earth taught us to worship the Sun, seeking its heat and light to build our society on. While the sun was shining, we were safe. We were warm. At night, the moon and stars show us where we are in the world. The night time is not safe for us to be out because it is still cold. With the Sun and the Earth, we learned to become human.
          Eventually, we learned to be in the wild. We took advantage of the Elements, instead of the Elements taking advantage of us. Unfortunately, as we continue to grow as a race, and our technology expands, our memory of being ruled by Earth, Sun, and Moon diminishes. We’ve built built shelter to lock ourselves away from the wild. We’ve ravaged Earth. Chopping down large forests, polluting the air and sea, our damage is far greater than that of the Lizard Lords. We’ve decimated other species to be able to continue the growth of our own. The Earth still reminds us how closely tied we are to her, however. Every hurricane, chasms opened deep from the Earth, every deep freeze is a reminder that Earth is rules over us, and that we as humans can not possible stop of completely destroy Earth’s Pride.

          Eventually, our time here will end. We will join the Lizard Lords and the Ice Rulers in history; our remains and our civilizations will dwindle to mere artifacts. Our great cities that we’ve built to be indestructible will eventually crumble and fall victim to the harsh Elements that we’ve worked so hard at keeping out of our lives. The Earth, Moon, and Sun will continue to work in harmony, and the elements will continue to keep the Earth wild. After we become dust that feeds the Earth, a new order will come anew. The new Rulers will hopefully look learn from the mistakes made in the past, and grow from that. Hopefully these new rulers work better with the Earth, and respect the elements. Our story is but one thread in the story of the Sun, the Moon and the Earth. We were born out of the Elements, and are tied closely to this Earth, no matter how much we try to master it.