For as far back as our myths and legends go, Flint and Fay have always been present. These are our most ancient of ancient tales, held sacred not only by Natalia but by Terralain as well. Something we often forget, however, when studying history is that historical figures and characters genuinely lived and were not passive in their experiences. To understand my meaning, you must also understand some archeological history.
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In the year 20 N.A., under the reign of king Smalden Joveson, the first attempts to sail back to the Golden Coast began. They failed. Of the ten ships sent, eight were sunk and their crews lost, and two returned discouraged and disheartened, speaking of an impenetrable storm barrier. Taking this as a sign, further missions were canceled. This, however, was not the end of the story.
Half a century later, in 78 N.A., under the reign of king Peter Joveson, a new fleet was commissioned and built for that exact purpose. Using king Whitson Mariner's old records, rabbits set foot on the Golden Coast for the first time in over seven hundred years. Since then, over one hundred expeditions have sailed back across the sea. Archeological excavations have revealed ruins believed by some to be over a thousand years old and dating back to before the time of Flint. This is where our history starts.
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They lived in Nedé, far south of the Blue Hills, in the shadow of Immoveable Mountain. They built homes out of harvested timber, grew crops, and maintained a small government. This is the land of the pre-time Rabbits. It is evident that, opposing widespread belief, the rabbits of the old age were indeed intelligent, at least to the extent of forming communities and understanding basic technology. While we don't know how far this knowledge went, we do know that they were capable woodworkers and blacksmiths. They had a class system that included farmers, nobility, and serfs. Children learned to read and write, they knew basic arithmetic, and had a measurement system. They were a simple people, careful and quiet, maintaining a minute guard to protect against lion and cheetah attacks. These were the future Leapers.
It is hard to know specifically what Flint and Fay's lives were like. We know that Flint had two siblings; a brother, Stoner, who shows up in several important places in history, and an unnamed sister who evidently died quite young. In Fay's writings she rarely speaks of her family or her personal life. However, documents were discovered at what is believed to be an old campsite that appear to be the journal of the unnamed sister. While there are only a few legible pages, what we can understand from them greatly aids in our understanding of the Leapers as a whole. Flint and Fay were not married yet when they crossed into the Blue Hills, and they were young, likely teenagers. It also appears that by this time Flint was an orphan, though due to what circumstances we can only guess. It was during this time that Flint crafted his sword, and this seemed to be a tension point in the family because of the weapon's nature. Unfortunately, many chunks of pages were torn out, perhaps by Flint himself to erase the journey from history. Why they left Nedé in the first place will likely remain a mystery, as will the death of the unnamed sister and the exact events of the Leaping and journey leading up to it.
The Leaping itself probably was not an actual 'leaping'. More likely, they rappelled across or built bridges. But, of course, as so many truths tend to do, the tale got stretched and stretched until it became a myth.
When archeologists first reached Blue Moss Hills, they were no longer blue. For some unknown reason, all the First Flower that once grew there had died off. This was likely some divine act to keep immortality out of the hands of those who were meant to remain mortal. We do know that it existed, however, because there are many first-person accounts that speak of it, including former queen consort Heather Longtreader-Joveson, and Fay herself.
Over the ages First Flower has faded in and out of history. Those first Leapers who ate it after running out of food quickly learned of it's healing abilities, but it was only until they noticed that no one was aging they understood the true power of the plant. Upon this understanding, it was decided by the Council that it would need to be protected. This need fell to Flint and his family, and all down the Royal line. Originally, the royal family was meant only to be guardians of our greatest gifts and curses. Today, the last store of First Flower is guarded in the far north-west by Flint's last living child; Laycie. Although many attempts have been made to rob the plant, all have failed. Laws forbid entering the mountain in which the plant is kept, and not even the king himself is allowed there. These laws were instituted by king Smalden Joveson as part of his first decree as king. The only entrance to the mountain is sealed with his symbol and can be opened by no one except Laycie.
Although the Leaper's lives are not, perhaps, as glamourous as popular media likes to portray, they are nonetheless interesting and important parts of our history. They have inspired and led a thousand generations, motivating whole movements, and speaking whole societies into existence. Even today, there lives touch ours in big and small ways. We can learn so much from those who came before us, and Flint and Fay are only the first in a lengthy line of heroes we can learn from.
