In the beginning, there was the Dog, and only the Dog. It travelled the void of existence, searching for something to chase, to smell, to eat and then regurgitate only to come back to it when he was feeling peckish. These were the feelings he felt, and so he searched. It floated for a millennia. During this, it pondered the reality it found itself subject to, as well as its limits. Reaching out with its stubby legs, it found that reality had no limits. If it could not find a home, then it would make a home.
What the Dog wished, the universe willed. Thought took form in the shape of ground. Dirt piled high and held firm against the pull of the void. The ground grew solid as it pulled towards itself, burning and hardening, forming and reforming. As it grinded itself together, dirt escaped from the mounds mighty hold and entered the nose of the Dog. Confused by this sensation, it sneezed, blessing the dirt with the secrets and powers of the void, and rocketing down to the mound, exploding to spread its powers across the globe. This caused the mound to cease its shifting and finally cool. This dirt would be known as Dust. The Dog look at this, and it was good.
The Dog then sought to smell as well as feel his new home. So he willed forth the ground to burst with life. The planet was covered with green, yellow and red, as well as a myriad of colours. Soft grass covered the ground, perfect to roll in. Tall trees with deep roots, perfect to pee on. Soft fruits and delicate flowers hung from vines and tree branches, gracing the air with their savory scents and tastes. The Dog saw this, and it was good.
Soon, he saw his beloved home lose colour as they called out for nutrients that weren't on the mound. They called for sunshine, so that they could hold it inside of themselves and keep warm. Realizing their plight, the Dog rose high above the mound, and found his vision clouded while he pondered deeply of a way to save the mound's greenery. In this contemplation, his stomach churned and mulched the fruits the Dog had eaten, and escaped from his body with a graceful blow of gas. The gases worked in unison together, and began exploding with one another creating a huge ball of flame far above the mound. The gas from the Dog was so pure, that the void couldn't not silence it, nor could it stifle its majesty as it continued to combust eternally for its holy gases could not end. The mound rejoiced at this beauty, and grew healthy once more. The Dog saw this, and it was good.
Yet again, the green of the mound cried out in pain, as the Sun had grown too hot, and their roots became to shrivel and their leaves became to decay. Fearing for the precious plants, the Dog flew around the mound, searching for a way to cease the burning. Not seeing a solution, the Dog wept for his home, and kept weeping as he circled the mound. His tears descended from the heavens, and cooled the mound and its flames, healing the land. Drying his eyes, the Dog watched as his tears rose from the ground and formed clouds in the sky. So blessed were these clouds that only someone of pure heart could see them as they truly were, and feel true joy when beholding them. The Dog saw this, and it was good.
Unfortunately, the rains had nowhere else to go but up. The Dog bared witness to the constant flux of Sun and Rain, and while the green found it good, the Dog could not stand the constant downpour, as it had begun to stain his fluffy, perfect fur. Using its power, the Dog willed all the water of the mound to pool into the lower valleys and indentations of the mound, forming the ponds, rivers and oceans of the world. The Dog took extra care to keep his favorite scents and napping spots clear of the waters so that the lands could stay healthy, and the Dog could remain happy. As the greens of the mound rejoiced, all was well. The Dog saw this, and it was good.
Upon seeing the beauty of his world, the Dog created creatures to roam the earth whom could roughhouse with the Dog, chase and be chased, as well as keep the mound clean, by leaving no trace of their existence nor having a need to eat. With soft black and white fur and scales much like the Dog's own pelt, they populated the mound in large numbers, often separating to roam the world and grow, only banding together when the Dog sought a larger game of Fetch. They would be known as the creatures of Hymnal to the Dog, though one day they would be known by a far more terrible name, the creatures of Grimm. The Dog saw this, and it was good.
Many eons passed, and the Dog felt empty. He lacked contentment in simply enjoying the Sun and soft grasses anymore. He sought companionship. For months he wandered the mound he called home, slowly observing every tree, every colour on in his domain for inspiration. He found it, on an island in the middle of the world, surrounded by water. It came in the shape of a tall rock on the shores, weathered and beaten by the winds and waters of the sea. Its sides had been carved into an hourglass, as the roots from the treeline reached out from the ground to wrap around it, holding it firm in place as it maintained its silent vigil of the waves. Atop its crest rested two perfectly smoothed crystals of the substance that would become to be known as Dust. Red by nature, the Dog could see the smouldering passion of the elements behind them, of what they could be. Of what they would be. Using all of his power, the Dog willed the void to his command. Shifting the form of the rock, he gave it long and elegant arms, a smooth neck to hold up the sphere holding the two red crystals. The roots that twirled around its middle tore away at the rock, forming two legs with a powerful core and flexible exterior. The roots continued to rise, covering the whole of the sculpted rock all the way up to the sphere. The roots twirled into a pinwheel at the back of the sphere. Breathing life into the statue, The Dog gave it living flesh as the roots merged with the rocks, giving it defined feature such as a mouth, a nose as well as hand and feet. With a sickly white complexion, the creation stood on its own two feet, breathing slowly. However, it lacked two things: eyes, and a soul. The crystals on the statue began to mold into ovals, and took on a water quality as they softened with the salty air but still maintained their fiery quality. To create a soul was a far more challenging feat, as it had never been done before. The Dog sat for days as it meditated, dreamt and most importantly; focused. It had begun by drawing all the power it had left behind in the void during its travels, all of its emotions and passions. Confusion, Fear, Joy, Sadness, Anger, and the most importantly of all: Ingenuity and Determination. The same ingenuity he used to imagine the world he stood on, and the same determination he used to bring the very walls of reality crashing down. Pouring this into the rock, it manifested itself as the very embodiment of everything the Dog stood for: Harmony. The Dog saw this, and it was good.
As the creation embraced the Harmony of its creator, its eyes hummed to life with a glow that was brighter than any flame appeared behind them. She felt the love inside her blossom as her skin turned from a sickly white to a healthy and warm pink. Regarding the world around her, she smiled warmly at the being on the ground as she felt inexplicably drawn towards this creature. It was as though some part of her knew that this being would bring happiness to her life so long as she remained its companion. As the furry creature rolled in front of her, clearly pleased, she stifled a giggle and asked;
"So what is your name, my friend?" the Dog felt roused from his stupor of glee at his creation, choosing to marvel instead at her compassion. Yapping, he sent out a thought from his infinite wisdom to the creation whom he had deemed: Lady.
'Dog' the Lady thought as the beings influence echoed the thought into her mind. Grinning happily, she stretched her new muscles and felt the roots she had once been a part of rise to meet her as they sought to cover her in a gown of bark, as the red leaves of the forest drooped down and wove themselves into a beautiful cape of red only to gently lay from her shoulders.
Twirling in her new garments, she asked to the heavens in exhilaration "Then who am I, Dog?" the new thought already entering her mind in a single word that filled her with hope and joy at a wonderful world she couldn't wait to explore...
"What a beautiful name…" she mused, before turning to the oceans to murmur it once more in the fears that it would be taken from her,
"Salem…"
