Strongbow's voice once again reaches past the seen world and seems to roll from the earth itself. The tones as deep as the forest loam is black--as deep as the bowels of the earth. Each tree, stone, and wildflower vibrates with his presence.

"Long ago, and long ago it was when the world we tread upon did not exist; this was long before the first deer ran, or the first wolf hunted. And longer still before the Sylvan folk spoke the name of the Grandmother. In the beginning there was naught but her power, and that of the great sky-father.

"And so in the same manner that you were begat, young fox, they created the world we walk with their love. But it was an empty world. There were no oceans, no rivers, and no creatures to walk this barren earth."

"The great mother looked down and saw that the child of their love was but a dead thing, and so she cried at the loss. But as her tears fell they filled the pits and craters of this world, and so formed the great oceans, lakes, and rivers.

"But even then, the world was still-born, and so it remained until the great Tirawa..." A peal of thunder echoes through a clear mid-day sky. "...Sky-Father of the Sylvan folk, picked up some clay, formed it with his hands, and breathed the winds of life into it's mouth. It was then that the first bird took wing and flew for joy of life. This is the Robin, who comes each spring when the earth awakens from its sleep.

"Then the Grandmother's tears ceased to flow, for she had already filled a good portion of the world with life-giving water. She in her turn reached down and caressed their child, and wherever her hand touched, fertile fields grew. Then, to create wondrous diversity, she gave some of these fields a greater strength, and they became the forests.

"And as each was created, they gave them names so that they might forever remain separate and alive, and not flow together into one. The named the oceans, the rivers, the fields, the trees, and the mountains. Then they named all the beasts of the earth, and all the insects too, as they created each one, working together. They named all these things, and it was good, for now their child breathed with life.

"They had given strength to Bear, flight to the birds, and many other gifts to the animals, until there were none left. But in the end they looked down, and saw that of the wondrous variety below them, no creature looked as they did. And so it was that the Mother formed us of clay, and the father gave us breath. In that moment, we were made into flesh and blood, carrying the mark of the Gods upon us.

"Then the great Mother despaired, for she realized that the people would soon be killed or die off, for we have none of the gifts of the animals. Gifts that protect, and gifts that kill. So the Father said, 'Then give them the gift of knowledge, O Lady, for that is yours to give. You who named the birds and the beasts, the land and the water. Knowledge will make them strong.'

"And so she did. The first people were taught the nature of the land, and long they learned at the Mother's feet. She taught us how to survive, and the rituals we chant to thank her and the Father are in memory of this.

"These rituals pleased her greatly, for they kept the memory of all that was strong in the people's hearts. And so it was that she began to teach those who kept with the old ways of the secret names. To some she taught the names of the earth, and they learned to work the earth. To some she taught the names of water, and they began to work with the water. To some she taught the names of the animal-kin, and so were born the Graisha.

"In time some of the people forgot her ways. They began to cut down forests to build shelters, not realizing that the forest was shelter of its own. They polluted the rivers with their filth, and wore the bones of the earth, gold and silver, in shallow adornment. These people lost the names of the mother, keeping only a few hidden deep in their souls. And so it is that the Varati, The Atlanteans, and the Empyreans have fewer people with the magic in their blood than we do.

"Now only the Sylvans are left to care for the names of the mother, and to show her the respect she deserves. And so we will until time's end. And because we are her children, we will speak in respect, and only use the names we are taught in silence."

FIN  

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