"The Tiger and the Hare" -- Act II

And now for Act II of "The Tiger and the Hare"!

Enjoy,

~ Charles

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"The Tiger and the Hare" copyright 2009 by Charles Shaver. All rights reserved.

ACT II

THE ECSTASY OF THE BLOOD MOON: Wherein Ketsueki Retains a Loyal Servant; Ketsueki Makes a Weapon for The Empress' Champion; Elkhorn Tries His New Bow; Mabo Runs in Fear

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PART 1

In the southernmost region of Bizo there lived a brother and sister, Jiang and Qiu Gang. Came they from a close family and quite different were they in disposition. Wherein Qui Gang was powerful, outgoing, protective and trusting her brother was secretive, diminutive, shy and lonely. Qiu Gang was beautiful. So bitter was Jiang his body contorted with vinegar soul until he a hump grew on his back and he scowled at even the blue jay's song.

Together they had saved all their money since childhood and the passing of their parents to purchase a small mill in Bizo. There they ground wheat and oats for local farmers to be taken to markets all over the world. They made for themselves a happy home in Bizo, growing up and growing old together.

The people of Bizo, in turn, learned to love the newcomers Jiang and Qiu Gang. As the brother and sister adopted Bizo as their home, so the people of Bizo adopted them as neighbors and friends. Many men fell in love with Qiu Gang and pursued her only to be gently beaten away with kind smiles and soft gestures. Many men grew angry at this. One such man was a nearby farmer named Xue Xun that had recently inherited his farm after his father's passing. Xue Xun soon found himself plotting to capture the attentions of Qie Gang despite herself.

Still others grew haggard with worry for Qiu Gang. Whenever others met with Qiu Gang they would praise her charm, honesty and hospitality. And when they met Jiang, they scowled and spat his name in whispers.

"A dark man," they would say, "filled with sorrow, so much sorrow he torments his sister and keeps her from wedded life."

Time passed, friends and neighbors grew closer to Qiu Gang and evermore distant from her brother. Once, when asked by a neighbor why her brother was so foul in mood and demeanor, Qiu Gang explained, "He was tormented horribly as a child. He tried love many times with many girls, but all treated his disrespectfully and a few ran off with much of his money. He is bitter at the roots with all creatures, I am afraid to admit, but he is my brother and I love him and he trusts me so I will never part from his side until one of us dies."

Word spread of Qiu Gang's tale and her selflessness made her more adored by all that knew her.

Qiu Gang urged Jiang to seek out the friendship of others, but he refused. At last she said, "In the very least, when you take your daily nap do so outside in the sun or in the shade of a tree. Do not squander your every hour indoors, locked away from the world."

Jiang took this advice, though moreso to avoid confrontation with his sister. He soon was seen by many to be sleeping in the shade of a white oak. One such person was Xue Xun.

One day, while sleeping under the oak, Xue Xun when to a local elder known as a mystic and named Zhen. He was an old man of long, white beard and hair, His eyes were forever squinting. He never wore clothing over his torso, merely wrapping the purest white cloths about his waist and strapping leather sandals to his feet. Master Zhen glowed with wisdom.

"Please aid me in winning the love of the beautiful Qiu Gang," pleaded Xue Xun. "My life is nothing without her. When she passes my farm I can smell lilacs for hours. She does not bathe in flower water, or least I do not believe so. She is too simple a woman to take on such extravagance. She is merely beautiful to the point of being flower of her own accord. I must have her, Master Zhen! I must have her! I beg for your help!"

At this Zhen threw himself before Master Zhen.

Master Zhen eyed the young farmer. "Get up, you damned fool," he commanded. As Xue Xun did as he was told, Master Zhen said, "I do not think I'll dissuade you from taking certain courses of action to gain Qiu Gang's love, but I must issue this warning: my help will come at a hefty price."

"I'll pay you anything you ask of me!" cried Xue Xun.

Master Zhen shook his head. "I will ask for no payment. I will help you without fee and I will help you only because I am an old man and if I am to suffer it is no matter. But if I let you run off to find some other way to win Qiu Gang's love you will certainly make another suffer and I cannot allow that."

"Then what is this payment you speak of?" asked Xue Xun.

Master Zhen eyed Xue Xun closely. He said, "You will gain Qiu Gang's love, but blood will have to flow, starting with your own. You must make a sacrifice of your blood into my bowl and this first bloodletting shall only be followed by more of the same."

"What do you mean by this?" asked Xue Xun. "What kind of bloodletting will follow mine own?"

"That I cannot say. What we tamper with is the will of the Cosmos themselves and they will do as needed to set things right for our tampering."

Xue Xun thought on this moment, then thought of his beloved Qiu Gang. "I will pay any price," he told Master Zhen.

And so a ceremony was done. Xue Xun cut himself at the wrist and let his blood spill forth into Master Zhen's bowl. Master Zhen then mixed a poultice with the blood and gave it to Xue Xun, saying, "The matter with Qiu Gang, I am told, is that she is so very loyal to her brother. Remove the brother from her life and she will be open to marriage. Take this poultice to him, rub it onto his skin. I know not how you'll accomplish this, but it is no longer a matter to me. Do so and in a day's time Qiu Gang will be free from her familial bondage."

Xue Xun thanked Master Zhen greatly and promised him many fortunes before running from the old man's home. As Xue Xun ran, he hoped Jiang was yet asleep beneath the white oak and, much to his pleasure, found that he was.

Xue Xun crept up on the slumbering Jiang. As the fouled brother snored heavily, Xue Xun softly rubbed the poultice, all of it, onto Jiang's arms and cheeks before running away.

Xue Xun, knowing not else what to do, returned to his farming for the rest of the day.

The twittering fife of Teo, a foul little fairy, woke Jiang.

Jiang roared angrily, "Who is there? Who dares disturb my slumber? I shall kill whosoever plays their foul pipe upon my land!"

Teo laughed maniacally. He appeared before Jiang as a mound of moss. Only his dark face, gnarled yellowed teeth and green eyes outlined by white gave his location away.

"You dare threaten me?" Teo laughed and taunted. "But you are so big! Only fools and mortals allows themselves to be so big. Only the gods are bigger but they're so important they deserve their size. But look at you! How would you catch me? Or, wait... yes, yes, I know! This is all in jest! Ohh! Hahaha! Your jest quite amuses me! You are a good teller of jokes, big one!"

"Stop that laughing!" Jiang scowled. "I make no jokes! This is my land my sleep that you disturb, fly! Off with yourself or I'll rid myself of you with violence!"

Again Teo laughed. "Ohhhh! Please, please, dear man, please stop! Your hilarity is so immense I am in tears!"

Jiang punched at the ground where Teo stood, but when he lifted his hand he could find Teo nowhere.

"I am here, fool!" Teo called from his side, this time his voice was angry and serious. "You don't jest! You meant me harm!"

"Of course I did! And I still do!" shouted Jiang. Again he punched. Again Teo disappeared only to reappear at Jiang's side.

"Who are you! Why have you come to disturb my slumber?" demanded Jiang.

"I have come because I was called. Rather, it was my master that was summoned for help."

"What help? What master? Who are you?"

"I am Teo. My master is Masabakes, Demoness of Lust."

"What matter would a Demoness of Lust have with me?"

Teo lied, "She hasn't business with you, rather your sister. She seeks great fortune.Your sister seeks your fortune."

"Lies! My sister is the only person I can trust!"

"Very well then," Teo huffed. "If you do not wish to hear my explanation fo my presence, then you tell me my reason for being here."

Jiang thought it over only to realize the fairy's tale made sense.

"I'll kill her!" cried out Jiang.

Teo smiled and disappeared, this time never to reappear again.

Jiang grew jealous and stormed to the mill, confronting her as she prepared their supper and accused her of plotting to run off with their savings.

"All the money we've made," said he, "all the efforts we've put into this mill and you wish to destroy me to keep everything for yourself!"

"How dare you?" Qiu Gang was appalled. "I've been everso loyal to you and this is how I am to be repaid? With suspicion and accusation?"

"If this not be true," issued Jiang, "then sell me your half of the mill while you remain here to continue working with me. If you remain without any fortune to be gained, then your love and honesty will be proven!"

"But I've worked as hard as you to run this mill!"

"Sell it to me or prove yourself a liar!"

In the hour of heat, when days run long overhead and shine down with angry warmth, one often is not of their own mind. Such was this day for Qiu Gang. Her temper flared, her loyalties wounded, she cried out, "Rather would I sell my half of the mill to a demon than you!"

Outside the mill, Etain descended, Kalavata climbed high. Moonlight dappled the landscape of the southern regions of Bizo as the demon Ketsueki Sato came to them atop the flying beast Neboshazaar. Together they flew betwixt clouds, over fields growing with crops, above trickling streams until they came near a mill and, lifted on the night air, Ketsueki heard the sounds of an argument. He smiled at the anger in the voices, smiled at the suspicion and hatred in the tones.

Ketsueki Sato and Neboshazaar descended from the sky to land nearby the mill. Slowly he entered the home, opening wide the door on a world of suspicion and venom. He reveled in the sound, cackled loudly at the sight.

Jiang and Qiu Gang turned on him.

Qiu Gang screamed at the sight of the wooden demon, his lava eyes. "Who are you?" she demanded. "Rid us of yourself, demon!"

"A demon I be," spoke Ketsueki with charming tones. "But mine is not the hatred found here."

"I knew it!" Jiang broke into the conversation. "You consort with demons! You lying trollop!"

"He is not my demon to contend with!" defended Qiu Gang.

"Oh, ho-ho! But I am your demon to contend with now, young ones."

"What is it you wish here? Nevermind! I'll not know your business! Leave us, demon!" Qiu Gang spat.

Ketsueki smiled. He further entered the mill, running his woody fingers along the mill's wheel to feel the strength and weight there. He spoke slowly, baitingly, "I've come to proffer unto you a game of chance. Win and you shall live, lose and you shall die. Refuse to play and you'll both be horribly killed. Now, who's to die? Who's to die?"

"We'll not play any of your games, demon!" Qiu Gang was angry, disturbed, frightened by the appearance of Ketsueki Sato and yet shivering from anger with her brother. "Leave us now! Go back to whichever of the Hells you sprang from."

Ketsueki frowned. "If only I could." His frown turned to a wicked, gnarly smile once more. "But that is another matter entirely. Now we must play or you shall both die. Allow me a moment to consider... I know! I shall kill the weaker of the two."

Ketsueki drew near Jiang. A long vine moved out from Ketsueki's feet, up Jiang's thigh and back to caress his hunch.

"Yes," hissed the demon. "This one is incredibly weak with illness and despair. I shall take this one. Does this seem proper? But then, this other is so very pretty. It would be such a loss for the world if she were to die. Oh, to choose! I cannot make myself choose."

Ketsueki came to stand between brother and sister. He eyed them both slowly, maliciously. At last he said, "If I cannot choose, then you must choose for me. Choose now which of you will die or shall you both be rendered into the grave."

Neither brother nor sister spoke.

"Very well, then. I will kill this weak one, this hunchback, this ugly fiend of a man." Ketsueki's vines whipped out to latch onto Jiang's body.

Jiang cried out in fear.

"Stop it!" demanded Qiu Gang. "If you must take one of us, then take me!"

Ketsueki smiled. He let go of Jiang and moved closer to Qiu Gang, his vines wrapping about her waist, binding her legs and wrists. She whimpered in fear, tears waterfalling from eyes down her cheeks. Ketsueki looked to Jiang, hoping to prolong the agony he felt on the air, to feed off the terror of these weak mortals.

"Shall I do this wicked thing?" he asked.

Jiang did not look at the demon of wood, did not look to his sister. He thought of Qiu Gang's demon-consorting, of her betrayal and knew neither from the truth. Pain filled his world, broke as a wave against a shore, smashing inside him with fury.

Jiang looked up, to his sister, gazing into her tear-filled eyes.

"Kill her," he said.

Ketsueki threw the woman against a stone wall of the mill and there pinned her with his vines as his hand reached out to grasp the spinning miller's wheel and lift it some distance while the wind mill outside caught wind and turned it. Standing, the wheel grinding against his hands, filing them, splintering them, he threw Qiu Gang beneath the wheel and let the wheel drop atop her, crushing her, grinding her, breaking her down into a mulch of blood and flesh and ground bone. Ketsueki then placed a bucket by the wheel's edge to allow blood to collect within. When it was half full, Ketsueki pricked up the bucket and drank deeply the blood of the dead Qiu Gang.

Covered in carnage, his ever-drying wood body now limber once more, Ketsueki dropped the bucket and approached Jiang. He said, "Some day in the future you may want your revenge. Should that day arrive, come to me and I will kill you then."

The demon Ketsueki Sato left the mill. As he mounted Neboshazaar he spied Jiang stepping from the mill's door.

"What's this? Has the day come already? Am I to kill you now?" Ketsueki smiled a bloody smile of pleasure.

Jiang approached the two vile creatures, eyed them, said, "My mill is nothing without my sister. I cannot possibly work it alone."

"This is not a problem for me, mortal. Cry to another in your country," growled Ketsueki.

"It's not your problem, that much is true. But this mill and this land have nothing more for me. I am in need of a new life and am willing to submit to a life of service."

"What is it that you are saying, mortal? Out with your desires."

Jiang was hesitant at first, but then worked his words with the greatest of confidence. "I wish to come with you. Wherever you may go, I shall follow. If you're in need of more blood, I shall find it for you." At this Jiang went to one knee and said, "I shall promise my services to you in full and for a lifetime."

Ketsueki looked down on Jiang. "What is your name, hunchback?"

"I am called Jiang."

"Jiang the Hunched One, welcome into the service of a demon." Ketsueki put out his wooden hand to clasp that of Jiang's and pull him up on Neboshazaar's back to ride behind him. Together, the three took to the air, scudding across the moon as shadows haunting the night.

"Where do we go, master?" asked Jiang.

"We seek the Eternal Empress, boy! We seek her out for fortune and greater chances at bringing destruction into this world! We seek her out so that I may amass an army to kill the gods themselves, namely the one called Xiao-tep the Ankh-fish!"

"I have heard of such a god," spoke Jiang, loudly over the din of passing wind. "I must confess, I never liked his tales. His courage and beauty and luck are a disgrace upon us mortals. This makes me far happier to be in your service, my lord!"

Ketsueki cackled, driving Neboshazaar higher into the clouds as Jiang clung tightly to them both.

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PART 2

Came Ketsueki and Jiang upon Neboshazaar into the great city surrounding the palace of the Eternal Empresss. Came they at night, at an early hour when the moon had yet to rise to its apex, when many were bedding down yet few were asleep. Came Ketsueki to the palace and demanded an audience with the Empress.

An imperial servant in the Empress' army ran to his liege's side where he delivered this message, "My Empress, a demon has visited our fair land this evening He stands as we speak at the doorway to the palace and demands an audience with my Empress. I forbade this, but he insists. As he is a Blessed One, I've come to you for counsel on the matter. Shall I turn the demon away?"

The Eternal Empress had been preparing herself for slumber when her loyal servant came to her bedchamber. Her great flowing turquoise gown embellishments and embroidery of finely spun silver lifted on every current of air as she considered him, as she considered the demon that visited her palace.

"Bring him hence," she commanded. "I will see him while I sit upon my throne."

And so the demon Ketsueki Sato and his servant Jiang was ushered to the throne of the Eternal Empress. She sat upon her throne lifted high above them and surrounded by a series of arching steps of white marble. She looked down on them as though they were her servants, looked down on them as if she herself a goddess. Her movements were fine, thought Ketsueki, her presence demanding and powerful. He was impressed with this mortal-turned-Blessed One. Her beauty, most of all, impressed him, made him desire her, made him hate and envy her. He stood a wooden shell of his former self, a mighty demon, while she sat upon a throne of gold resting upon the finest marble with all the beauty of the world in her face though she had begun life mortal.

He shook aside his envy and said, "Empress Sulia Laree, I am the demon Ketsueki Sato and I've come seeking an alliance. I am told you currently hunt the fox-god Comet Fox for he has taken off with your daughter, acting as her guardian. I found truth in this when not more than a mere few hours ago I met your commander called Elkhorn. He has sent me your way."

"Has he now?" she asked, eying her own beautiful garments in hopes of showing no interest in the demon.

"He has, but I first came here of my own accord."

"What alliance do you suggest?" the Empress yawned mockingly.

Ketsueki scowled, his vines working wildly with anger and impatience. He said, "Let it be known that once I was the mighty ruler of the Cottonwood Chamber in the Many Hells, but I was tricked, betrayed and usurped by three foul creatures: two gods and one demi-goddess. One of those gods was none other than the very fox-god you now hunt."

The Empress at last looked to Ketsueki, though she played at her eyes being heavy with weariness from the day and a lack of interest in the demon.

Feeling slighted, Ketsueki said, "Empress, I ask that you look at me." When the Empress closed her eyes in defiance, he growled with thunderous tone, "Look at me!"

So sharp was Ketsueki's tone, his words, that the Empress could not help but look upon him. All her feigns ceased and she quietly admitted to herself a certain fear in having a demon in her palace.

"Your gazing suits me," said Ketsueki Sato. "I will not be ignored, not by any god and certainly not by any self-important, self-righteous mortal-turned-immortal!"

"How dare you?" gasped the Empress. "I should have your head for speaking to me thusly!"

Ketsueki placed a wooden foot upon the first step leading to her throne. The Empress' men drew their weapons as he spoke, "I would like you to try my fury, Empress."

The Empress looked to her soldiers and nodded. They lunged at Ketsueki Sato.

Jiang made a weak attempt to fight for his master, but was tripped and put down by a soldier that then lead a charge at the demon.

Out shot the thorny vines of Ketsueki's form, clasping and stabbing at the soldiers. He strangled, entangled and tore apart six men at once. Blood poured over the stark white marble. The rest of the soldiers stood, hesitant.

The Empress smiled. "You're ways are cruel and unique, Ketsueki Sato. I will dismiss your earlier rudeness to hear more of your proposed alliance."

Ketsueki let fall the dead bodies and body parts around him.

Jiang stood, closing the already small distance between himself and his master.

Ketsueki said, "And I will ignore your rudeness for now. What I propose is this: we join together our minds, our efforts to hunt and destroy those that have wronged us."

"I seek only my daughter and, should Comet Fox get in the way of this matter, I will also seek him."

"But Comet Fox will most assuredly not be alone."

"What do you mean by this?"

"Comet Fox is well-liked amongst many gods and mortals. Among those that may lend their services to him and his quest to keep your daughter from you are the two others that have befouled, befuddled and besmirched me."

"And these other two are? You spoke of a god and a demi-goddess?"

"Indeed," said Ketsueki. "A brother and sister, as well, for the god is Xiao-tep the Ankh-fish and demi-goddess be his sister Wu Chan Chu. Where Comet Fox travels and fights and is in need of help, these other two are likely to follow."

"Elkhorn could not possibly take on all three," the Empress realized aloud.

"Hence my proposed alliance," spoke Ketsueki as he mounted another step towards the Empress.

"A demon would be a valuable ally against gods. What could you do for me?"

Again the demon placed a foot upon the next step. Jiang stood at the base of the steps, afraid to advance.

Said Ketsueki, "Allow me to ride out with your commander, allow me to guide your Elkhorn; allow me to aid him in amassing a far larger army, an army so vast it would overwhelm every god in the Heavens." Ketsueki stepped up upon the final step to stand before the Eternal Empress upon the throne. He said, "Allow me to be your general in this war that comes to these lands. Together we shall shake the gods loose from the Heavens."

Impressed by Ketsueki's size, his power, his mind and thoughts and proposition, she nodded in agreement. She stood. She confirmed their alliance by saying, "Together we shall retrieve my daughter and kill everything that stands in our way, including Comet Fox, Xiao-tep and Wu Chan Chu."

To this day it is said the smile that Ketsueki then smiled was his first genuine smile.

"First, if Elkhorn is to do battle with gods, he must have a proper weapon," suggested the Empress.

Ketsueki nodded. "I will make for him the finest god-killer."

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PART 3

The Eternal Empress gave full command of her court over to Ketsueki Sato for the purpose of making Elkhorn a weapon. Soldiers and blacksmiths and craftsmen were roused from sleep to be brought before him. As the demon paced at the foot of the throne, his long vines working slowly in the air with thought, he spoke aloud.

"Elkhorn is mortal, yes? And we must equip him for the purpose of killing gods. To do so, let us consider the gods he must kill: Comet Fox, Xiao-tep and Wu Chan Chu. The first two can fly, fleeing the world-bound Elkhorn easily. Wu Chan Chu can jump great distances so as to appear in flight. What is needed for Elkhorn, then, is a weapon of range."

"A bow," suggested a bowyer.

"Elkhorn is known as a fine hunter," said the Empress from her throne.

"A bow would make a fine weapon," Ketsueki agreed. "A bow it will be, then. Let us begin."

Ketsueki called for a sacrifice and an ibex was brought forth and slaughtered. Ketsueki commanded the blacksmiths to take up their chisels and knives and carve the horns of the beast away from the skull. He then commanded the soldiers to collect the spilled blood with many buckets and set aside in a large tub made of gold. The Empress happened to have a large tub made entirely of solid gold and it was brought forth at Ketsueki's request. The tubw as then set outside for the blood to be kissed by the moonlight. He called for a butcher and when a butcher was brought before him, Ketsueki commanded him to cut finely at the animal's carcass to remove in whole the sinews of the ibex and dry them and to render the fat of the animal for a hide glue.

One of the horns was chosen for the bow.

The sinews were dried and braided for the string.

The hide glue was made to bind everything together.

Ketsueki then commanded the soldier to start a bonfire right in the throne room and for the bones of the animal to be ground into grist. These things were done and as Jiang set about tossing the grist about the fire, Ketsueki began chanting to the Yama Kings, the supreme rulers of the Many Hells. So perturbed were the Yama Kings by Ketsueki's audacity to have once tried to overthrow their rule but now chanted for their blessings that they at first refused. But Ketsueki continued to chant. He chanted through the night and after the next morning's first light, the blessings were granted. The bow was dipped in the blood within the tub. As the weapon was given life, it drank deeply from the moon-kissed blood until only half the blood remained.

Ketsueki reached into the tub, his hand wet with thickening blood, and pulled forth the Blood Moon Bow -- a living weapon capable of spearing the gods.

A similar ceremony was held as a fletcher was called forth to carve the ibex's bones into arrows. Cherts was used for the arrowheads and they were fastened to the bone arrows with sinew string and hide glue. The fletcher was able to make eight arrows in all in this manner and these were dipped in the ibex blood to be enchanted. The fletcher then made twelve more arrows of cherts and carved wood to be used for practical purposes and these were not ceremoniously enchanted.

When at last the bow and its arrows were completed, Ketsueki looked on them. He grabbed them up and raised them above his head in praise. He handed them to Jiang with a warning to care for them and then drank down the last of the ibex blood. He then stood before the Eternal Empress and said, "I will go now to seek out your Elkhorn. I will gift unto him this fine weapon and these arrows and with them he will be able to harvest gods from a great distance."

The Eternal Empress nodded with wonder and glee.

Ketsueki and Jiang mounted Neboshazaar, taking to the air, chasing Elkhorn southward.

Ketsueki rode on violent winds to get to Elkhorn's side. It took him a mere day on Neboshazaar to find the Eternal Empress' captain and when he found him, Ketsueki gave him the Blood Moon Bow.

Elkhorn looked over the bow, in awe of its beauty and ferocity. "It is a fine piece of craftsmanship," he said. "It looks as though it could truly kill a god."

"Try its deadliness," Ketsueki urged.

Elkhorn grabbed up one of the enchanted arrows. Ketsueki was unnerved by this. He raised a hand and said, "Put that one away. Save those for our prey. Use now one of the other arrows and do not waste the Blood Moon Arrows."

Elkhorn agreed to this and nocked one of the other arrows. He looked about for a target and saw in the near distance a small mound of grass and upon that grass a leveret. Elkhorn pulled back the bow's string, aimed and shot the small hare down.

Dismounting, Ketsueki and Elkhorn went to confirm the kill. They strode up the side of the grassy mound and looked down upon the dead hare. It was Ketsueki that picked up the carcass by the arrow yet stuck in the animal's body. He spied it and said, "You've pierced the heart at some distance. That is a fine shot."

"I can do it many times over without fail," bragged Elkhorn.

Blood trickled onto Ketsueki's hand. He removed the leveret from the arrow and drank its blood. When the animal was dry, he said, "Then do so. Practice with your bow and provide me with a meal. Kill another hare and many more besides."

This was done much to Ketsueki's and Elkhorn's delight and amusement. Arrow after arrow pierced hare after hare as Jiang was set forth to rouse them from their holes and brush. The hares ran madly, afraid. Though they had been hunted before, they had never been hunted so viciously and in so many numbers. They could not understand this thing happening to them, so they ran for their lives.

When Ketsueki filled his appetite and Elkhorn grew bored of the hunt, they left. Scattered across a small area was nearly one hundred hare bodies. All that had made their home here had been killed, all but one. The lone survivor was a leveret named Mabozay, often called simply Mabo.

Eying the field of dead kith and kin, Mabo shook with fear. He ran, afraid the hunter would return. He ran all day until he was starving. He stopped at dusk to nibble upon some wild clover. Mabo was soft gray with patches of warm brown showing through. The top edge of his tail was lined in black and the bottom of his tail was pure white. His eyes darted, his chest pounded, he breathing slowed but remained shallow and labored. His tail, nose and fur twitched with nerves. Having eaten, Mabo continued on his run until he came to a stream where he stumbled in the mud and nearly drowned at the water's edge.

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PART 4

The skies roiled with the ugliness of the Many Hells. Little Gogi the Grasshopper diligently worked his small garden before growing tired and returning to the small home he had made for himself and for his love Szu Ri out of dried plants and leaves. He entered their home to find Szu Ri lying in the bed they had made. He went to her and said, "Szu Ri, my love, are you unwell?"

Szu Ri looked up at him and smiled. She reached out to caress his face and say, "I am well, Gogi. Do not worry. I grow tired of things here, though. There is so much death in the Chamber of Despair and it can wear on one's mind."

Gogi nodded, understanding. Though they had made a good life for themselves within the chamber, though they were near their beloved friends Momoki and Twila, he, too, often felt the tug of despair upon his heart.

They made for themselves a light supper and ate it in silence. When supper was over, Gogi took his hat, a new hat that Szu Ri had made for him, and said, "I'll be going to visit with Momoki."

"Oh, let me come with you," said Szu Ri, a hint of desperation in her voice. "I would like to spend time with Twila."

Gogi nodded, "Of course."

Together they walked, hand-in-hand, to the courtyard of the chamber where they found Momoki finishing up his kata. While he was not training or riding out upon great black steeds with his warriors that passed through his chamber, Momoki was often practicing his fighting arts. This was the case when Gogi and Szu Ri found him. Twila sat nearby, watching the marmoset.

Szu Ri went to Twila.

Gogi approached his friend Momoki. Together they walked the courtyard.

"What is the matter, dear friend?" asked Momoki.

"The m-matter? Why, nothing is the matter," lied Gogi.

"Come out with it, Gogi. You cannot hide your emotions from me after all the time we've spent together."

Gogi sighed. He knew lying to his friend was a terrible thing to do and lying to himself was worse. He said, "Momoki, friend, I fear our time here in the Chamber of Despair draws to an end. The constant presence of death and fighting we watch you ride out to do wears on us and I fear it making Szu Ri ill."

Momoki considered this. "It makes sense a living creature would be made ill by living in the Many Hells."

Gogi sighed, forlorn.

"You should leave us," said Momoki.

"I-I couldn't possibly," answered Gogi.

"And if you don't what will happen to Szu Ri? I fear saying it myself, but you and I both know an illness of the mind and soul is far worse than an illness of the body. Do not keep her nor yourself here, Gogi. Ride out and make a good life somewhere in the living world."

"But," said Gogi softly, "I do not wish to leave you."

"I enjoy your company here, friend, but do not wish you to remain if it will harm you or Szu Ri. What are you afraid of, Gogi? Are you frightened our something will change between us? Listen, dear friend, we are forever friends, no matter the distance between us or how often we visit with one another. Nothing will change. You must do what is right. You've done so before, I know you can do so now."

Gogi nodded.

And so plans were made, things packed, crops harvested for the long journey. Momoki conjured a black horse and lifted himself, Twila, Szu Ri and Gogi upon its back and rode out from the Chamber of Despair. As they went, Momoki reminded, "Close your eyes, little ones."

Though Szu Ri covered her eyes and clasped hands with Gogi, Gogi remained wide-eyed and seeing as they left the Many Hells.

Ghastly faces and ghosts, demons and furies and wickedness came before him in all its forms. Some made him tremble, he admitted, but so sorrowful was he for having to leave his friends, so confident was he that he and Szu Ri needed to leave the Chamber of Despair to have a good life, that he did not cringe at the horrors the Many Hells had to offer.

Seeing this, Momoki said, "Cover your eyes, Gogi."

Gogi shook his head. "There is no need for a fear of death when one rides towards life," said he.

Hearing this, Szu Ri removed her hand from her eyes. She looked about. And though she was afraid, though she cringed and winced, she remained looking.

The world was vibrant and alive. Butterflies fluttered in the air, clouds rolled by overhead, birds floated on unseen currents of air, grass bent and spoke with a passing breeze, the trees chortled in their own language and dancing with life. Everything was alive here and Szu Ri and Gogi both felt more alive than ever. They quietly squeezed one anothers' hands and knew their choice was the right choice.

When they had reached the world of the living, Momoki slowed his steed and asked, "Where to? Is there a particular place you wish to go?"

Gogi shrugged. He said, "I suppose this is as good a place as any. We can wander on our own for some time if need be to find a proper home."

Twila wept, hugged her dear friend.

Gogi jumped to Momoki's shoulder and hugged his face, whispering in his ear, "I love you, Momoki."

"I love you, friend," said Momoki. "We will give you time to settle down here and then come to visit some day."

"That would be nice," said Szu Ri.

Friends parted.

The dead returned to their chamber.

The living breathed in the air and watched their world.

Gogi and Szu Ri traveled for some time. They went slowly as they were getting older now and age slows a body. They finally came to a small stream that reminded them of the home they had once before. Gogi immediately set about crafting a home of dried clay he dug from the mud in the small cliff near the stream. A bed of perpetual mud lay all around, but the way Gogi had built the home with warming fire inside dried their home and kept it safe. Above the cliff he plotted a small row and planted seeds. Szu Ri spun her silk and made for them a new bed and blankets. They were happy and alive and content once more.

Then, one night, came the thunderous sound of a stumbling hare drowing in the nearby stream. Gogi rushed out of their home to see the source of the racket and came to the hare's side to help him, lifting his nose and clearing it of mud so that the creature could breathe.

"Thank you," said Mabo hesitantly. He eyed the grasshopper and decided such a small creature could do him no amount of harm.

"You're welcome," said Gogi. "Are you well?"

Mabo shook his head. "There is a hunter after me, or so I think. It's been a great deal of time since I last saw him, though. He murdered my whole clan."

Gogi frowned. He said, "You're dirty and wet and tired. I've not room in my home, but I can build you a fire outside to warm yourself by and bring you food."

"Clover!" gasped Mabo. "I'm starving and I love clover, if you don't mind?"

"Not at all," Gogi smiled. He built for the leveret a raging fire, though he knew a raging fire was not always a warming fire. But he did so to put the leveret at ease. As the fire died, Gogi stoked it well into blazing, quiet embers that truly warmed them.

Szu Ri came out and gathered clover for their guest. As she placed them before the leveret she said, "I am Szu Ri and this is Gogi."

The leveret munched at the clover and through a mouthful said, "I am Mabozay." He gulped and added, "But my friends call me Mabo."

"It's nice to meet you Mabo."

So Mabo came to stay with Gogi and Szu Ri. He could not live in their home, for it was far too small for him, but he burrowed a hole of his own some distance from their home and packed it with dried foliage to warm him at night against the cold mud.

One night, as they sat around a fire after having eaten a fine meal together, Mabo said to Gogi, "Sometimes I feel as though I should seek out the one that murdered my people and bring him to justice."

"I can understand this," said Gogi.

"But what can I do? I am so very small and unimportant. He was so large, so angry, so good with his bow."

"Your size does not relate to your importance," spoke Gogi. "It is the will that defines purpose, destiny and importance."

Mabo saw wisdom in this. He said, "You sound as though you know of such things."

"That I do, Mabo." And Gogi spun the tale of the Battle Upon the Plain of Adoration.

"It is unbelievable!" gasped Mabo when he had heard the whole tale. "Such a small one, and yet..."

"It is the will, Mabo, the will that defines purpose."

Mabo nodded. He said, "It all seems ludicrous to me, but I feel I must follow after the hunter. But I know not how to do so."

"Merely go," suggested Gogi.

"Go? And leave my home and food here behind?"

Gogi nodded.

Mabo firmed himself.

Gogi and Szu Ri stood from the twig they had been using as a bench and they watched as Mabo hopped once, then again. Mabo looked back at them only to see Gogi urge him onward with another nod. He turned round and broke into a fast sprint. He knew he could not keep up the pace for long, but it was a beginning for his travels. He ran through the night, leaving behind the warming fire and his warming home, darting from shadow to shadow, between trees, chasing the moonlight without knowledge of pursuit or direction. Mabo ran swiftly, death on his mind and justice in his heart. Mabo ran swiftly, death riding far from him. Mabo ran swiftly, chasing his purpose, afraid the hunter was yet chasing him, afraid of his potential failure, afraid of death, running from memories of a green field gone red with the blood of his clan. Angered by this memory, Mabo ran swiftly.

Watching him go, losing sight of him in the shadows of a dark night, Szu Ri asked Gogi, "Think you he shall fare well?"

"If he stays true to his purpose, he will."

"How desperate and sad was that hare," remarked Szu Ri.

Gogi felt the tinge of sorrow within his heart. He thought of his friends Momoki and Twila and wished they would visit soon. He thought of how ugly the Many Hells had been and how they had made him and Szu Ri ill. He said, "How desperate and sad are we all; running from death, chasing after purpose. But we must not allow the sadness to swell within and drown us, Szu Ri. We must not allow the demons of the sea to pull us under. We must must break our sorrows with hope and love and chase our purpose joyously and unafraid. If our friend Mabo learns this, he will have a fine life, as fine a life as you and I have now."

Szu Ri hugged Gogi and he returned the hug. They loved one another and stood together, unafraid.

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Well, we've been introduced to the hare! Check back next Friday the 31st to discover the origins of the tiger!

"The Theft of Heaven" -- The Universe of Xiao-tep Returns!!!

The universe of Xiao-tep returns! I'm posting this later in the day than I had wanted. Serious electrical storms and a rather long Act I has kept me from posting this until now. I'll have to read over it again one last time later, so please forgive any mistakes. Thanks and enjoy "The Theft of Heaven"!

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"The Theft of Heaven"

(C) 2007 by Charles Shaver. All rights reserved. No part of this story may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author(s) and/or artist(s).

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ACT I: MOMOKI THE MARMOSET WATCHES THE WORLD FORMING

PROLOGUE: WHEREIN THE WORLD IS FORMED; MOTHARUS QUESTIONS THE WAY OF THINGS; TWILA IS RESCUED BY MOMOKI AND GOGI; MOMOKI’S FALL

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CHAPTER 1

In the Time of Mist, when the gentle hand of The Cosmos was slowly caressing all things into being, there was a mountain that lived in the sky, the mountain named Taliesin. Upon Taliesin lived Momoki the Marmoset, the mountain’s sole guardian. His fur was gray, soft and flowed liked the wild fields of grass on Taliesin. His tail was ringed with black stripes. While his face was brown, out of each temple grew long splaying tufts of white fur.

Within the angled fields, atop the craggy stones and through the forever bearing apple and cherry blossom orchards did Momoki play. He ate the delicious golden and green apples as he would bask in the sun’s warm rays. He slept in the wide, open fields and tended to the gardens. Each day for Momoki was filled with work, duty, play and contentment.

On one occasion Momoki dug a root from the ground and, using a stone as a tool, carved for himself a long, bent pipe for which to smoke and enjoy the pleasant tobaccos that grew high on Taliesin’s sides. It became habit for Momoki to find himself, after a day’s work and play and his last meal, sitting on the side of the mountain enjoying a bowl full of freshly picked tobacco, warming himself in the sun and reflecting, ruminating upon all the beauty taking shape far below him.

Once, after a long day of gardening, full of supper fruits, Momoki ascended to Taliesin’s highest peak with his pipe and tobacco and had a long, fine, soothing smoke. As he watched the hands of the Cosmos work the world into form he thought, “How nice it would be to visit these new realms The Cosmos are making before me.” He puffed at his root pipe. He watched the misty hand of The Cosmos molding through his thick, rolling smoke.

Rarely did The Cosmos visit Taliesin for they trusted Momoki, but when next there came a small mist to the mountain to gently water the lush gardens and orchards there Momoki cried out, "O Cosmos! My life here is serene, but the lands you make far below are so beautiful. Will ever there be a time I could visit these other lands?"

No answer was given. The light rains merely passed over Momoki and disappeared. He was not surprised nor did Momoki truly expect an answer for, he knew, The Cosmos did not answer to any creature, but rather all creatures must answer to The Cosmos.

Momoki went about his way, tending the gardens and orchards and smoking his pipe and eating the delicious apples, but some of his delight in these activities had been lost. He was not sad, but he was not joyed, either.

Eventually The Cosmos reached an end to their work, though truly their work is never ended, but the world below Taliesin came close to being fully formed and it filled with creatures of every kind, coming alive with activity and movement. Momoki watched it all from his perch, smiling and quietly desiring.

As the world below filled so did Taliesin. Insects of every variety came to feast and play in the gardens and fields with Momoki. Birds filled the skies and perched with him and made their nests high atop the mountain. Momoki once again was overwhelmed with joy and excitement for his tasks and for meeting new friends. He made friends with burrowing bugs, cackling crows, buzzing bees and industrious ants he would stop only to give him a quick "Hello!" before scurrying off to find more things to do, which suited Momoki fine for that's all he wanted. He found the new cricks and cracks, cries and chatterings of a teeming Taliesin combine into a the Sweet Song of Nature. It pleased Momoki to find himself amidst glorious bustlings and, for a time, he forgot his troubles and the world far below.

Momoki's greatest, closest friend was Gogi the Grasshopper who did not enjoying smoking as Momoki did, however he did savor the taste of the fine tobaccos of Taliesin so instead chewed upon their leaves.

Day after day, after their meals were done and work fulfilled, Momoki and Gogi would sit atop Taliesin smoking and chewing, spitting and puffing and chatting the time away.

"How did you come to Taliesin?" asked Momoki.

Gogi was a timid creature for he was a small creature. In his nervous way, wringing his tiny hands as he spoke, he said, "I-in the world far below," he said, "a friend of a cousin of mine once spoke of a tale they'd heard from their friend's uncle or some such, who was a gander I think... yes, yes, I-I think he was a goose."

Momoki looked to the skies, "Which one? Many geese fly by here."

"Oh," said Gogi nervously, for he could not remember the cousin's friend's friend's uncle's species quite, but did not want to fully admit to that, "W-well, maybe it was a goose? Or a bluejay? Or maybe it was a cat. No, no... that would make no sense. They had to have been a bird."

"Go on with your story," Momoki urged with a smile.

"Y-yes, yes. The story. Well, this bird told a tale about the gorgeous gardens of Taliesin. He loved the sight of the gardens so much that he would fly over them all the time."

Momoki looked up as a gaggle of geese flew overhead. "I wonder of one of them his him," he said.

Gogi shrugged, feeling foolish for not having remembered the details. "I-I didn't know them myself," he explained. "I simply heard the tale. I-I guess I was too overwhelmed by the thoughts of Taliesin to care about some of the details. All I know is that he was the uncle of a friend of a friend of a cousin of mine... I-I think." Gogi was now thinking over the details and second-guessing himself.

Momoki saw his friend perplexed and coaxed him to continue his tale, "His tale is what brought you here?"

"It is. Many called the tale of a mountain that lived in the sky preposterous, silly even. But it all sounded so wonderfully pretty to me," Gogi's voice took a romantic tone, "I wanted so badly to see Taliesin with my own eyes. I chased every rumor for two years to discover this mountain's location. When at last I found it, I-I had the problem of trying to reach it. I-I didn't want to fly on the back of a bird for fear the bird would eat m-me."

"Then how did you get here?" asked Momoki.

"I jumped," Gogi answered simply.

Momoki's eyes grew wide with wonder. Smoke from his pipe swirled before his face. He spoke, "how can someone so small jump so high? Not even the mountains of the land far below reach this high. Many of the clouds, even, do not dare this height!"

"It is v-very high," Gogi said. "And I-I tried many, many times before I made it. In fact, on the last jump that brought me here I-I prayed to Parnopius for my safety for I knew if I m-missed Taliesin there would be no surviving such a great fall. I-I don't think any creature could survive such a fall. Even an immortal such as yourself, Momoki."

"I can only imagine," Momoki puffed at his pipe.

Gogi sighed in relief, "But somehow I made it and I was able to grab hold of the underside of Taliesin. I was so afraid I refused to jump the rest of the way to the gardens. I instead walked. It took me three days!"

"That's quite a tale," Momoki said.

"I've all the fear I've ever needed in that jump. I've had all the adventure I can handle in my lifetime."

Together they laughed. They sat together staring at the world far below for a moment. Then Momoki asked, "What is the world below Taliesin like?"

Gogi thought a moment, for once he made it to Taliesin he hadn't thought much about the world below. "Much like Taliesin, I suppose. Both are filled with life. Some of it as beautiful as what's to be found here on Taliesin, too. Thought the view here is greater by far."

Momoki leaned on his elbow and looked at Gogi. "There was a time when the world was not so full."

"Oh?"

Momoki nodded. "In fact, I remember a time when the world barely was."

"Was what?"

"Was. I witnessed its creation by the hands of The Cosmos."

This astounded Gogi. "Have you been here since the beginning?"

Momoki again nodded. "Since the beginning."

Gogi thought on this. "How adventurous your life must have been thus far. W-was it frightening?"

Momoki smiled. "No," he said. "It was actually quite beautiful." Thinking on this, Momoki's heart filled with peace with his station in the universe, though still his mind wandered into wonderment.

The two friends sat in the soft wild grass on the side of the mountain, smoking and chewing, chewing and smoking and telling tales and laughing.

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CHAPTER 2

On went the lives of Momoki and friend Gogi for a long while. So much did Gogi appreciate Momoki's friendship and so much did he love Taliesin, he felt he should mark the day of his first full year living on the floating mountain with a gift to his friend. "But what shall I give him?" he asked himself.

For many days Gogi strained with thought. Then, one day while drinking from a small pond, a tiny worm fell from a cherry blossom nearby and landed squarely on Gogi's back. So scared was Gogi by the sudden impact that he scampered away without looking. Curiosity, however, took hold of him as he turned to look back. There where he was standing was a beautiful, sparkling white worm. Cautiously, slowly Gogi returned, nervously calling out, "A-are you hurt?"

The worm arched and spoke back at him in a heavenly feminine voice so soothing it sounded like distant chimes on the wind. The sound chased away all fear from Gogi, usually a timid creature due to his small stature. "I am well," said the silk worm. "Thank you for saving me." The silk worm crawled towards Gogi.

Gogi asked, "S-saved you? How did I save you?"

"By breaking my fall," chimed the silk worm.

"Oh," Gogi didn't want to admit to not intending to break her fall for fear he may appear foolish. "As long as you're safe," Gogi said.

The silk worm approached. "I am Szu Ri, the Silk Worm of Taliesin. Is there any way I can repay you for your kindness."

Ashamed at the undeserved attention and ashamed to admit the truth, Gogi shook his head, "No, no."

But Szu Ri took Gogi by his hand, leaving a small, glowing warmth there and a bit of silk. "If ever you need a favor, come see your friend Szu Ri in the Cherry Blossom by the Pond," she said.

Gogi merely nodded.

"I must head out. It will take me a long time to get back in that tree."

Again Gogi merely nodded.

He watched her go and as he did he felt a certain satisfaction in knowing he was not the only creature on Taliesin that was so small.

He looked at his hand and the silk there, the welcoming warmth Szu Ri had left. The silk was beautiful. it felt like a cloud encase his hand. He looked up, chasing after the silk worm.

"Szu Ri! Szu Ri!" he called.

She stopped and turned. "Yes, friend?"

"This silk," he looked at his hand then at her. "Can you make it in any color?"

She nodded. "Any color."

"Would you be able to make a gift for my friend of your silk? He is a marmoset and quite larger than you or I. Is it possible?"

"How wonderful," she said. "I offer a favor and you take it on behalf of a friend. Of course I will make you a gift to give o your friend. What kind of gift would you like me to make?"

Gogi stammered a bit. "I'm unsure."

"Tell me about him."

As Gogi spent time talking with Szu Ri, sharing with her his friendship with Momoki and his adventure jumping to Taliesin, their conversation leading eventually into smaller chatting, Gogi discovered he was making a new friend

"I like you, Szu Ri," Gogi said.

Szu Ri giggled, "I like you, too, though you've yet to tell me your name."

This horrified Gogi. "Oh, oh, oh! I am so v-very sorry! I am Gogi, the Grasshopper." Gogi blushed in his shamed.

Szu Ri laughed. "Do not blush, Gogi. It does not suit you. And you've nothing to be ashamed of. We've not needed our names until now."

Together they laughed and decided upon a proper gift for Momoki.

When the gift was completed by Szu Ri and given to Gogi, the little grasshopper scurried off hurriedly to his friend's side instantly. "Momoki! Momoki!" he cried, climbing the tallest peak of Taliesin with the gift in tow. there he found Momoki smoking his long, bent pipe after a day's work and enjoying the sun, laying in the wild, cool grass.

"Momoki! Momoki! Momoki!" Gogi cried over and over again as he ran to Momoki's side.

Momoki sat up. "What is it, Gogi?" he chuckled at his friend's enthusiasm.

"I've a gift for you!" Gogi presented it to Momoki.

Momoki lifted the gift from the grass. It was a headdress made of silk and looking much like a paper fan. It was lightweight and red except for the very center where it rested upon the head it was gold and the whole thing shone like the sun.

"Do you like it? Do you like it?" Gogi asked.

Momoki smiled and donned the headdress. It tilted some into the fur tufts at the sides of his head and blended there to give him the appearance of having a full lion's mane. At the center was a silk cherry blossom that hung from the main portion of the headdress down to rest upon Momoki's forehead. "It's beautiful," he told Gogi.

Gogi smiled and laughed and clapped. "I was so worried you may not like it! Do you see the colors? I asked her to make it look like the sun since we're always laying up here in the sun together."

Momoki kept smiling at his friend as he asked, "But why, Gogi? Why such a wonderful present?"

Gogi hesitated a bit. "I-I've been here a year now... and you're the best friend a grasshopper could ever hope for."

Momoki, moved almost to tears, leaned over towards Gogi and said, "Thank you, friend. And welcome to Taliesin."

Gogi smiled, "Thank you, Momoki. I feel at home here. And safe."

"And forever shall you be, as long as your old friend Momoki is charged with Taliesin's care. Now," Momoki leaned back on an elbow and puffed at his pipe, "tell me of this girl you've met... this woman that made this gift for me."

Gogi blushed.

"Come, come! We're friends. Share with me," Momoki said.

Gogi laughed in delight. "Oh! She's wonderful!"

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CHAPTER 3

Above the clouds, above Taliesin, is the Realm of Heaven reserved for Gods and Immortals and Gifted Ones and their friends should they wish to live there. There is always room in the Realm of Heaven, however they gods themselves are not always so welcoming.

As the misty hands of The Cosmos caressed the Realm of Heaven they manifested into Stork, a beautiful white bird, whose sole duty was to watch over the Realm of Heaven for all time. She flies constantly, rarely landing to rest or eat, but on occasion she flies low to the world to observe the mortal creatures there and smile at them.

One day while flying low she met Drae, a mortal man. She smiled and he waved and smiled back. How thrilled she was to make such contact with the world below the Realm of Heaven! She felt a warm smile and a wave was the greatest gift she could ever receive.

She made it habit to visit Drae, flying around him and chattering as he worked his wetlands for food. He would talked with her, sing to her, tell stories and jokes and laugh. Finally she worked the courage to land and talk with him without bothersome flight.

In time Drae and Stork fell in love. They commemorated their love with child, a son, whom they called Motharus, a demi-god. He was born with human body of golden brown skin and a kestrel head. Great white wings grew from his back. It was decided that Motharus would stay with his father as Stork patrolled the Realm of Heaven each day, though on occasion he would fly to visit his mother in the Realm of Heaven.

“This must be the highest point in all of creation,” he once said, awestruck at the beauty he witnessed while on one visit.

“No,” Stork corrected, “The sun is the highest point of all.”

“I must see the sun!” Motharus said. He flew higher and higher, his wings outstretched and flapping. As he grew closer to the sun, his feathers soaked in its rays and became colored, brilliant with red and tinged with blues from sky along the edge. His head, too, became sun-dyed in the same manner. Try as he might, however, Motharus simply could not reach the sun. Tired from his journey, he returned to his mother’s side.

“Oh!” she gasped. “You are so beautiful! What a wonderful gift the sun and sky have given you.”

Drae loved his son dearly. He would often sing to Motharus as Stork took care of her duties in the Realm of Heaven. He also taught him how to read the lands and find food so he could survive should he ever wish to travel to other lands.

Time passed. Stork continued tending to the Realm of Heaven. Drae grew old and Motharus grew strong and large.

The time came at last when Drae grew sick, feeble and unable to work his fields. Motharus and Stork naturally grew concerned. On his deathbed, Drae said to Stork, “Thank you. You gave me reason to live I lived for you and our son. I love you” and he died.

Drae’s death pained Motharus greatly. “Why,” he asked his mother, “did father die?”

“Because he was mortal, my son. His life is not permanent as ours are.”

“Why do we live and not father?”

Stork shook her head. “That is a question for The Cosmos.”

“The Cosmos be damned!” cursed Motharus.

“Son… no. Do not curse The Cosmos. It is the way of things. If you attempt alteration of things, harm will come to you.”

“Wisdoms have no weight in such moments. Loss is loss and today I lost my father.”

Stork allowed her son time to grieve. She watched over the Realm of Heaven, but her thoughts were always on Motharus.

Motharus raged. He flew higher and higher in another attempt to reach the sun, but he could not fly that high. “It must be The Cosmos that keep me from the sun! As they keep me from my father!”

He looked out across the world and in the far distance saw the hands of The Cosmos finalizing the world. “The Cosmos be damned!” he cursed again. He flew as fast as he could towards the end of the world. Once there he threw punch after punch, kick after feeble kick at the misty hands. His attacks flowed through the mist, causing no harm. The Cosmos continued their task undaunted for The Cosmos answer to no creature, but all creatures must answer to The Cosmos.

“Ignore me, will you?” Motharus attacked and attacked but could do nothing. He punched and kicked, kicked and punched until he was so exhausted he fell from the sky in the lands far below.

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CHAPTER 4

Motharus fell from the sky and landed upon the Hill of Srang Bo, The Wicked Wizard. Srang Bo, dressed in his long blue multi-layered robe, went to Motharus for he had seen his fall. “Had it not been for your wings,” Srang Bo explained, “you would have died.”

Motharus struggled to his feet. “Damn my wings and damn The Cosmos,” said he. “If only I could join my father in death. If only we all could die.”

“I suspected you an Immortal,” Srang Bo admitted, his curiosity piqued by Motharus’ curses. “I am Srang Bo. With whom do I speak?”

“I am Motharus, son of Stork and the mortal and now dead Drae.”

“A mortal and an Immortal’s child? You are then a demi-god, are you not?”

Motharus nodded.

“Tell me, Motharus, why do you curse The Cosmos? Is it your fathers death?”

Motharus nodded once more.

“I understand.”

“You do?”

“Indeed,” Srang Bo confirmed. “For I desire Immortality myself. It is the reason I am on the path that I am on.”

Motharus’ bird eyes grew wide. He tilted his head, leaning with listening.

Srang Bo judged his movements and Motharus what he wanted to hear, “It is unfair of The Cosmos to provide great destinies for some and horrid pain for other, to allow some eternal life and an end in death for others.”

Motharus nodded again ad again. “You speak true, Srang Bo. Who are you exactly?”

“I am Srang Bo. You now stand upon my hill. And you are Motharus, the demi-god that fell from the sky. Together,” Srang Bo plotted his words carefully, “perhaps we can challenge the order of things and remake them anew. We would make a good pairing.”

“We would indeed,” agreed Motharus.

And so began the training of Motharus by Srang Bo in the ways of mysticism. Motharus learned to make sacrifices of blood from chickens, goats and cats. He learned that blood is the source of all life, as is water, and that all creatures contain both within their bodies. He learned to control these elements through conjuration and pacts. In time, the skills of Motharus caught the attentions of the demon Adonai Ku-jal. The demon would often visit Motharus in his dreams.

Motharus stood in a cylindrical chamber blackened with darkness. Somewhere bonfires burned and lit only him, casting dancing shadows all about him. “Be warned,” said the demon’s disembodied voice, “you dabble in thing carrying grave consequences. The price is high: pain unlike any other pain, death without dying, rape and murder of the inner self.”

“There can be no greater pain than that which I have already felt,” Motharus explained in his dream.

“But there is. Trust me in that and know you the price of consorting with demons.”

“If, in the end, I can defy The Cosmos and make things right as I see them, no price is too great.”

Adonai Ku-jal’s laughter exploded, echoing through the Black Chamber. “It would seem your mind is already made up on the matter. If you wish to pursue your training, I will help you. I will grant you all my powers as you need them. You will be able to alter your body, to make it as the mist or to make it stone so you would be as a moving statue. You will also be able to summon fire into your hands incapable of harming you or anything that you don, but igniting all else that you touch. Oh, indeed there are many things I can offer you, but I warn you a final time: the price is high. The choice is yours.”

Motharus did not hesitate. “Train me, O Great Demon.”

“Then it is settled.”

When Motharus awoke the next morning he knew that the demon Adonai Kul-jal had not left him and two great, thick, curled rams horns had grown on the sides of his head. One eye had been made pure white, without pupil, while the other glowed blue. He pulled his hands together, one hovering over the other, and an orb of fire appeared. It did not harm him. He did not even feel it. He threw the fire and set a tree and some grass of Srang Bo’s Hill aflame. With another thought and yet another he changed his body first into mist and then to stone, though he kept his visage the same.

Srang Bo looked upon him and admitted his jealousy, “You have been chosen. Your powers now will forever be great. I would, if I could, slip a knife into you and spill your blood and powers, but I doubt anyone could defeat you, including me. Such betrayal would be worthless to me.”

Time passed and Srang Bo grew older. He admitted to Motharus his own shortcomings, “You need strength in ways that I cannot teach.”

“How is that?” Motharus asked. “My training is complete. A powerful demon grants me powers. What more do I need?”

“You are strong in dedication and conjuration, but you are weak in body.” Srang Bo coughed, set himself upon the soft grass of his hill. “I say this not to harm you, but to further aide you in the matters I could not fulfill. Defy The Cosmos,” Srang Bo instructed. He breathed his last breath.

Motharus was aghast. “Explain yourself!” He grabbed Srang Bo by the shoulders, but his mortal master was dead. He buried Srang Bo atop the hill. This enraged the demon Adonai Kul-jal. “We could use his blood,” the demon spoke inside Motharus’ head.

“He was good to me,” Motharus explained.

“And he could be good to you one last time. Dig up his body and drain it.”

Motharus shook his head. “No, not Srang Bo.”

“Your loyalties will kill you. Break yourself of this.”

Motharus ignored the words, though as he left the Hill of Srang Bo, he felt the desire to return and follow Adonai Kul-jal’s orders.

****************************************************************************

CHAPTER 5

Motharus came to a large town filled with mortal men and women. Debauchery reigned supreme here as the law had left long ago. The town hall had been converted into an arena long ago and therein fights were held daily. Motharus sat and watched many fights in the packed town hall. He drew much attention to himself, though few spoke with him. One such person was Tanas. “We rarely see Gifted Ones in this region,” Tanas told Motharus.

“I do not see many attractive things here,” Motharus said. “Except, of course, for the fights.”

“Do you fight?” Tanas asked.

Motharus shook his head. “I have yet to learn.”

Tanas considered this. “I am a trainer. I have a stable of three fighters. One of them is fighting now, the one in the black pants.”

Motharus watched as the man that Tanas pointed out as he struck his opponent with a chop to the neck. His knuckles dug in, collapsing the wind passage and breaking the neck. The opponent fell to the floor, dead.

“How would you like to fight like him?”
Motharus considered this. “Will you train me?”

“I would,” Tanas nodded.

The following day Tanas lead Motharus out of town to a field where an abandoned farmhouse sat. It was old, decrepit and in ruins. It had once been made of large gray stones, but now was strewn about its base. “Pick up the stones and arrange them in rows of five,” instructed Tanas. He then left Motharus to move the stones alone.

It took Motharus three days to do as he had been instructed. With each stone his muscles grew larger, his shoulders growing broader, his stomach and back hardening with the work. When he was done the surrounding field was filled with the stones and Tanas returned with several lengths of thick, handmade hemp rope. He tied the rope about Motharus’ forearms and lower legs.

Tanas pointed to the stones. “Now break them,” he instructed.

One by one Motharus broke the stones. He used his elbows, knees, forearms, low kicks and horns. He flew high and dived down on the stones. Each one in turn exploded into many smaller pieces. When he was done, the field had become a vast array of rubble.

Tanas nodded. “Let’s go get you into a fight.”

They returned to the town and to the town hall. Tanas spoke with a man there. “I have a new fighter,” he said.

The man looked at Motharus. “Him? He’s an Immortal. He cannot fight here!”

“Why not?” Tanas asked.

“We fight to the death here. How is he supposed to fight to the death if he does not die? He cannot fight here!”

“He could fight until he submits,” Tanas said.

The man shook his head. “No, no. He cannot fight here! Take him someplace else! Take him to The Peony or someplace else! He cannot fight here!”

Tanas and Motharus stepped outside, Tanas in deep contemplation over matters.

“What shall we do now?” Motharus asked.

Tanas shook his head. “I suppose we do as he said. We’ll go find another place for you to fight. My other fighters will not enjoy moving. They like it here. And why not? They make good money here.”

“What of this Peony he spoke of?”

“He speaks of The Peony Teahouse. It is a place much like our town hall here, only it is open to all manner of creatures, including immortals,” Tanas explained.

“Why not take me there?” Motharus asked.

Tanas shook his head. “No. You’re not ready. The best fighters go there.”

“Who is to say I am not the best fighter? I can break stone!”

“Stones do not fight back. Breaking stones is training, not fighting. We must first get you fights elsewhere before we consider The Peony.”

“Bah!” Motharus turned and flew away.

“Where are you going?” Tanas cried after him.

“To find The Peony!” Motharus called back.

Days passed. Motharus fed off the land, hunting and gathering. He chased rumors of The Peony. One day, he found several eggs lying on the ground near a rock while he was flying. He swooped down, grabbed the eggs up in his hand and fly off, higher and higher, eating the eggs one by one as he went until he had a last egg left. “You,” he looked at the egg, “I will savor.”

He flew higher until he saw the glorious floating mountain Taliesin. He flew towards it and landed in a field there to enjoy his last egg.

Momoki the Marmoset and Gogi the Grasshopper watched from nearby. “W-what an odd looking creature,” said Gogi.

“Indeed,” concurred Momoki. “What is that he has in his hands?”

“I-it looks like a stone.”

Momoki squinted, straining to see. “That is no stone! It is an egg!” He hurried off towards the stranger. Gogi called after him, “Momoki! What are you doing? Come back!” Without thought, Gogi followed.

As Momoki drew near Motharus he cried out, “Stop! No creature shall harm another creature while upon Taliesin!”

Motharus looked at the charging Momoki. “Who commands this?”

Momoki slowed as he drew near. “I am Momoki the Marmoset, Guardian of Taliesin, the mountain you are now on. It is my charge and station.”

“Charge and station? By whose command?” Motharus demanded.

“By The Cosmos, of course,” answered Momoki.

Motharus’ differently colored eyes grew wide with rage. “The Cosmos? They seek to control even the morsels I eat? The Cosmos be damned!” He raised the small egg to his beak.

“No!” Momoki cried out as he jumped, grabbing for Motharus’ hand. He held fast and pushed at the bird-man’s head with his feet to keep him from eating the egg.

Motharus grabbed Momoki by the scruff of the neck and threw him to the ground. “Stop it! I will do as I please!” Again he raised the egg to his beak, but by then Gogi had caught up and jumped into Motharus’ face, landing on his beak and making a racket of such calamity that it distracted Motharus momentarily.

Motharus swatted at Gogi, who jumped and jumped and yelled, “Let the egg go!”

At last Motharus was able to target the small Gogi and slapped him from the air.

Momoki got back to his feet, grabbed up a nearby rock and jumped. His screeched as he flew through the air, his ringed tail twirling round and round. He brought the rock down upon Motharus’ beak and cracked it. The crack appeared as a bolt of lightning on the left side, split into two.

Though Motharus had been trained in mysticism and fighting, never had he been struck. The shock of the sudden pain frightened him. He dropped the egg and flew off. Before he was out of reach, he put one palm above another, conjuring fire and throwing it down onto the fields of Taliesin. He then disappeared from sight.

Momoki dropped the rock and ran off, screaming a warning to all that a fire was slowly growing in the fields.

Gogi, battered and badly bruised, stood up and crawled toward the egg Motharus has dropped into the soft grass. The egg shook. It cracked. Gogi’s eyes grew wide. “Momoki!” he cried. “Momoki!” But Momoki was busy tending to the fire with several of the other creatures that inhabited Taliesin.

Gogi backed away as first a nose then a head appeared through the broken egg’s shell. The head was small, green and had a spot of red at each temple. Soon the egg fell away from a whole and complete and newly born turtle.

The fire out, Momoki returned to Gogi’s side and saw the tiny turtle. “Hello, little one,” Momoki scooped her up. “Are you hurt?”

The turtle shook her tiny head.

Momoki smiled. He looked at Gogi. “We have a new resident.”

“B-be careful, Momoki,” Gogi warned. “She m-might be a demonic b-being.”

Momoki shook her head. “She’s not evil. She is simply a turtle.” He bent low and showed Gogi the turtle. “What should we call her?”

Gogi shrugged.

“I think she looks like a Twila. Does Twila sound good?”

Again Gogi shrugged, nervously shaking.

“How about you?” he asked the turtle. “Does Twila sound good?”

The turtle nodded and smiled and rubber her little head along the length of Momoki’s thumb.

“Then Twila it is. Twila, welcome to Taliesin.”

She smiled and playfully danced in Momoki’s hand.

Twila grew big and strong. She grew big enough for Momoki to ride on her back when they played together in the fields. Gogi, too, learned to trust Twila and they became friends. All three would play and bask in the sun and eat. Szu Ri, the Silk Worm, would occasionally join them on picnics under the cherry blossoms and ride on the back of Twila, crying out, “This is amazing! You move so quickly!”

Gogi would often tell Twila about the world below, the world from which she came but knew nothing of. Szu Ri and Momoki would also listen, enchanted by the tales of his family and the adventures of friends of friends of uncles or aunts or cousins.

“I would like to visit the world below,” Momoki would often say.

A year passed. To commemorate their year of friendship, Twila asked the termites of Taliesin to build Gogi a cane and a small wooden box for Momoki in which he could store and draw tobacco leaves for smoking. They held a picnic and she gave the presents to her friends.

“Wonderful!” exclaimed Gogi.

“I can carry my tobacco anywhere!” Momoki was pleased.

They each thanked her for the presents. “But,” Gogi was hesitant. “Why a cane? All my legs are in perfect order.”

“You are always telling us abut your travels and you run all over Taliesin constantly, Gogi. I felt a walking cane was appropriate.”

Gogi considered this. “Oh! It is! It is!” He first hugged the cane, then Twila.

While Gogi was visiting Szu Ri once, Twila and Momoki lay in the sun on the side of Taliesin. Twila said, “Gogi told me recently of how you bravely rescued me from the beak of a bird-man. I thank you.”

“No thanks are needed, Twila. It is my charge and station. My thanks is our friendship.”

Twila nuzzled his thumb with her nose.
Momoki smiled. He leaned towards her and whispered, “I love you, Twila.”

Twila blushed and receded a small way into her shell. When she came back out she once more nuzzled at Momoki’s thumb. “Oh, Momoki. I love you, too.”

Then one day Twila and Gogi found Momoki sitting at the edge of Taliesin, spying the world far below.

“What are you doing?” asked Twila.

“Watching and wondering,” explained Momoki.

He sat like that for several days, each day leaning farther out to get a better view. Each day Gogi and Twila would visit him.

“Still watching?” Twila would ask.

Momoki would not.

“B-be careful,” Gogi would warn. “That fall would be most dangerous.”

Momoki did not tend to his duties in the fields and orchards. Taliesin became overgrown. Twila and Gogi decided they needed to discuss matters with Momoki. They approached him. Momoki was now leaning far forward.

“Momoki, we are concerned for you,” Twila said softly.

Momoki leaned farther out, “I can almost see people down there.” His weight shifted. His balanced moved far forward. Momoki’s eyes bulged. He gasped. He scrambled to grab the grass and rocks of Taliesin, but he missed.

Momoki’s friends watched as he slipped away. He fell, his tail whipping in the air. He screamed out for help, but there was nothing anyone could do. His three friends watched in horror as he disappeared below the clouds. The fall was immense, too immense for even an Immortal to survive. Momoki was no more.

Twila burst into tears, Gogi whimpered and Szu Ri tried to comfort them both.

Twila cried and cried. She cried for two days until her tears formed a pond around her, spilling out over the edge of Taliesin as a waterfall and created the first rains in the world below. She floated in the pond of her own tears. Gogi remained nearby, but could not reach her as she began to be swept away by the waterfall’s current. She could not fight against the strong flow, but she did not want to.

Twila was washed over the side of Taliesin and joined Momoki in death.

Gogi, panicking, ran away. He ran as fast as he could and hide beneath a rock, weeping for his lost friends. He hurt so badly he felt as though he never wanted to move from his hiding spot under the rock.

In lands far away where The Cosmos were yet finishing the edge of the world, a small patch of mist turned and headed for Taliesin.

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Watch for Act II next Friday!