...Excerpt from an unnamed sheikan text (actually, it was more of a series of clay tablets with little pictures chiseled on them, but...)...
Before the beginning, there was the one who came Before. From this one came the many, the great Giants, and they were uncountable and mighty. The many split from the one and went off through the vastness alone and in groups, singing in joy as they went.
The Giants were as to the one as a grain of sand is to the whole of the earth. They could rest a galaxy on the tip of a finger, and become smaller than the smallest piece of a grain of sand. As they sang and moved through the vastness, orbs and clouds and unknown creatures came into being and took up the songs, and the Giants and creation were glad...
...Over years innumerable, four Giants drew very far away from the others and from the one. In a quiet, empty place they dwelt and created many things to give life to the vastness. The Giants were a kym* of four.
The Giants have no names but those which we choose to give them. Ay was one, swift and full of cleverness and very beautiful. Ag was another, playful and passionate and fierce. Raj was gentle, and of the four Giants most loved the creations they formed from themselves. Var was the last, strong but kind in nature. These four Giants made a kym of themselves, and for time immeasurable they stayed in that part of the vastness, and they were the only Giants there, and the place was made joyful with their creations...
...There was a time when Raj was moving through the vastness, singing with the creations and playing amongst them. Four creations were new, and when Raj caught sight of them, ih** laughed for joy and gathered them into ih's arms and went home quickly to show the new creations to the other Giants, for no creations like these had Raj ever seen before.
Of the four Giants, only Ay was cool toward the four creations. All the others were delighted by these new beings, dancing and singing and speaking with them, and delighting at their answers. Only Ay was cool toward them, and kept distance between ihself and the creations and spoke to them but little...
...For a long time, the four creations moved with the four Giants and were happy, and as they sang with the Giants and danced with them, they grew in strength and understanding; they saw the things that the Giants created and cared for, and they saw that this was good, though their thoughts were different from those of the Giants. After a time, these four creations grew impatient with their weakness and made creations themselves. These creations of creations were small and frail, but they were beautiful, and the four creations were glad of what they had made.
The four creations gathered up their small works and, filled with joy, went and showed them to the Giants. Ay said nothing, but shifted in discomfort at what the creations had done, for ih had a deeper understanding and a farther foresight that the other Giants. The other three were surprised and joyful at the work of their creations...
...The four creations did not sing to the things they made, nor did they dance or play with them. When Raj and Ag and Var did these things, the small, frail creations of the creations grew greater and more wonderful, taking strength from the Giants. The four creations were pleased to see the things they made flourish, and went off again to make something else.
Now, as the four creations went along, they spoke, for, unlike the Giants, they spoke more than they sang. As they talked of what they would next make, one of the four was loudest, for ih had a passionate spirit.
"Those that we first made were beautiful, but they were weak. Now we must make something strong." The other creations agreed with this, as it was obvious. "When we brought our creations to the Giants, we were lavished with praise, but the Giants saw the weakness of our work and changed them. They are our works no longer." The others agreed, taking up the thought themselves.
Another, who was thoughtful, began to speak. "That which we make now, we must keep secret." The others agreed.
Another, who held love for the Giants, said, "We will not keep our creations from the Giants forever. We will work on that which we make until they will find no weakness in it, and then they will be shown that we are as strong and wise as they. They will be happy with us."
...The fourth said nothing, but began work at once, and the others joined ih. They worked long on these new creations in secret, but try as they might, they could not make their creations strong. As time went on, the four worked longer and longer and gave more attention to their ailing works, but the things only weakened and faltered further. This frustrated the four, and they pondered why this failure was.
The fourth, who before had not spoken overmuch, now spoke. "When the Giants changed our first creations, they flourished. The Giants have something that we do not; that is what makes their creations strong."
The others found sense in this, and the thoughtful one said, "Then we must find a Giant and ask ih for that which makes the creations live."
...The four left their struggling creations behind, and went in search of a Giant. The first they found was Ay, but ih fled from them as they approached. The second they found was Ag. The four asked for that which would make creations live, but Ag could not understand what it was that they wanted. The four went away unhappy. The next they found was Var, and they asked for that which would make creations live, but Var, too, was confused by their request, and the four went away again...
...Finally, the four happened upon Raj, and they knew of a way to explain their wants to ih. Calling Raj, they led the Giant to the place where they had hidden their sick creations. Raj looked upon their weakness and sorrow, and stopped ih's singing, and spoke, "These have languished long. Why did you not bring them to us? We would gladly have strengthened them for you." And Raj was puzzled, for why would the four let their creations suffer so?
The one who loved the Giants answered, "When you make our creations strong, you add to them and change them, and they are not our creations anymore. We ask you to give us that which makes your creations flourish, so that ours may be the same."
Raj was quiet for a little as ih thought about the four's request. Then, Raj said, "What you ask for is great indeed. I cannot give you such a thing."
The four had never been refused, and were frustrated with Raj. "Why will you not help us?" asked the passionate one, "Why must we be kept weak and barren while you and your kym are strong?"
Raj did not answer, but only strengthened the four's miserable creations and went ih's way. The passionate one was angry, and glared upon the changed creations. The others were dismayed and sorrowful that they would never themselves create works such as those of the Giants. The passionate one, enraged by Raj's answer, fell upon one of the strengthened creations, ripping at it and ravaging it until ih consumed it. The others were shocked at their companion's behavior, for they had never seen destruction. They saw that the passionate one was made stronger by the creation ih had consumed, and the passionate one saw and felt this, and, elated, fell upon another one of the young creations with a will...
...The one who loved the Giants was frightened by this. "What have the little ones done that ih should devour them?"
The other two, however, saw only that the passionate one grew stronger, and they joined her. After a while of this, the one who loved the Giants saw how weak ih remained as ih's friends grew in power, and joined them, though with a heavy heart...
...When the creations of the four were destroyed, the four turned to creations of the Giants, and as they became mightier, they brought down greater and grander creations, and many strange and wonderful things passed away by their hands. The thoughtful one understood how great had become their power and their dreadfulness, and a thought came to ih. "We grow as great and terrible as the Giants themselves. Now we shall be as they are."
...The four formed a kym of themselves, and changed themselves, so that they might be more awesome to behold. Three of the four made themselves shining and bright with light, and made themselves different from the other one. They called themselves Goddesses, and females are made in their image. The fourth became the God, and males are made in his image. His form he made darker and subtler than those of the Goddesses. The Goddesses went on to name themselves, so that they would be known apart from all the rest of creation. The passionate Goddess took the name Din, the thoughtful Goddess took the name Nayru, the lover of the Giants took the name Farore. The God took a name to himself, but he never spoke it aloud, for he was ashamed of it, and so he is known by whatever name we give him...
...The Gods now tried to create as the Giants did, but were sorely disappointed. Their creations were as sickly and pitiful as they ever were, and at last the Gods devoured them again. They spoke and debated as to why this was, and Nayru said, "As powerful as we become, we have not acquired that thing which the creations need to prosper. Only the Giants have that; we must ask again for it."
Din agreed, and spoke out, "Yes, and the Giants will see that we are wise and able to create, and will give us what we seek. But we asked the last time, and were turned down. Are we still weak newborns, playing about the Giants' feet? I will go to the Giants and demand that we are given what we lack!" The other Gods were stirred by this, and Din led them in searching for the Giants...
Now, Raj had come to an empty part of the vastness, in order to fill it and give ih's creations room. The Gods watched the Giant dancing from a distance, and looked upon the wonderful things ih was creating with malice and envy, for their thoughts had changed and soured over their long years, and their hearts had hardened. After a time, Raj paused to rest and watch ih's new creations, and was so enraptured by them that the Gods were at ih's feet before ih noticed their presence. Now Raj saw the four, and saw that they were changed and were grown in strength and beauty, and greeted them warmly. "Ah, dear little ones, you've returned," Raj gathered them into ih's arms and embraced them***, "You have been away long and changed much." Raj's heart swelled, for ih was full of love for creations; of the Giants, ih was fondest of the Gods.
Din pulled herself away from Raj, and all but Farore followed after her. Raj was puzzled, for none had ever shown ih contempt before.
Din spoke. "Indeed, we have lived on our own without the Giants' aid for some time. See how we have grown?" And she bade Raj look upon her blazing form, "We have improved ourselves. We are strong and terrible and have learned wisdom."
Raj acceded this, and reached out to Din, but she moved aside. Raj spoke. "Truly, you have grown much since you left, dear little ones."
Nayru began speaking, softly at first, but gaining volume as her nervousness subsided. "We are your dear little ones no longer. We have changed ourselves. We are ours. We are Named. I am Nayru."
Din spoke, boldly, "I am Din."
The god was upset. "I am Named, but that name is to be known by none but me."
Raj was confused, and ih's heart sank within ih, for Names separate, and the four creations were now distant from ih. Raj looked upon Farore, who had remained in ih's arms. "And you, dear little one?"
Farore was saddened, for she perceived that Raj was pained. "I am Farore," she answered in a soft voice.
Raj sat in silence for a long while, unable to understand the Names of the Gods. Din grew impatient.
"Mighty as we have become," Din said, making Raj pay attention to her, "mighty even to rival you and your kym, we are still unable to make our creations strong. We ourselves are strong enough to create great things, like unto those you are making. Greater. We ask again for that which makes creations thrive."
Nayru spoke, to soften the words of her companion. "In granting us this, dear one, you do much good, for there will be two kyms to create instead of one. Four will double into eight, and the vastness can be full of bright and wondrous things."
Raj was sad at their repeated request, for ih could not grant it. "Again you ask for this, and again I must say no. I cannot give such a thing to you."
The Gods were frustrated at this, and Din was angered. Raj did not notice this. Raj wanted to return to ih's creations, and asked the Gods to stay, for they seemed agitated. "Come," Raj said, holding out ih's hands, "Come and dance with me, as you used to, dear little ones. Let us be done with talking for a while."
Nayru spoke, full of disdain. "We have our own ways. We do not dance any longer."
...Raj was put off by this, and Din moved behind ih so that Raj was fenced in. Farore moved away from Raj and spoke. "Please, dear one, we have sought for so long to be as you are; please give us what will make us so." Raj again refused...
...At last, Din was enraged. Casting herself upon one of Raj's new creations, she tore and burned and bore down upon it until it failed and she devoured it. Raj looked on in horror as the creation was cut down by Din, and Raj bore witness to cruelty and suffering, the first of the Giants to do so. At last, the creation was undone, and the last tiny remnant of it fled back to Raj and rejoined ih, and Death came into being...
...And in her rage, Din shocked even herself. Spying the remnant of the destroyed creation rejoining with Raj, she pursued it, determined to erase even the last scrap of Raj's work, and unwittingly attacked Raj ihself. And Raj was intensely confused and horrified...
...Raj escaped Din and fled, calling to the other Giants for aid. And Din, maddened by anger and tasting that which makes the creations live, chased after ih, and caught a tail of Raj to slow the Giant...
...Following behind their companion, the Gods drew near, and that which makes creations live rained down upon them, for Din had torn Raj badly, and in Raj's thrashing the substance was thrown in sprays...
...And the Gods were maddened by this, and fell upon the body of Raj themselves. There was a great tumult from the creations that were near, for now Fear and Hate, Lust and Greed had come into being, and the creations set up a terrible noise as they witnessed their creator crying out in anguish in ih's struggles against the Gods. Many of the creations fell upon the Gods in droves, hissing and glittering in anger, but they were soon devoured by the Gods, and Sacrifice and Duty came into being. Strengthened in their fury, the Gods by degrees overpowered Raj, and in desperation Raj screamed for ih's kym...
...And thus the Desecration of Raj took place, not the first act of violence, but the most horrible. This was the Gods' greatest sin...
...Hearing the cries of Raj, the Giants, each wandering alone, sped to the aid of their companion, and greatly bewildered were they, for nothing like this had ever occurred, and never had they heard such a sound as the scream of Raj...
...The first Giant to find the Gods' and Raj was Var, though ih was too late to be of use. By now, the blood-madness and fury had left the Gods, and they sat around the body of Raj, disbelieving what they had done, and pondering what they would do, now that Raj was broken and the Gods were strengthened by ih's own lifeblood. Var looked upon the Gods, much changed since their creation, and upon the body of Raj, still and blighted, and ih did not comprehend what had taken place...
...Over time, as Var listened to the mournful singing of the creations and felt the taint in the void, ih learned and understood what had taken place. Var looked upon the form of Raj, and cradled Raj in ih's arms and called and sang to ih's companion. For all Giants move constantly, and no Giant hears song without singing in turn, but Raj lay still and cold, and in time Var understood this also, and the knowledge of Death and Fear and all the other new creations came into ih's heart, and ih's heart was broken, and Var embraced the form of Raj and wept over it, and sang to it in grief...
...This is why we sing the death songs...
...Ag was the next Giant to arrive, and ih looked upon the form of Raj in Var's arms, and heard Var's weeping. And Ag also saw the Gods, changed and grown in strength, and he listened to the lamenting of the creations and understood, for Ag's thoughts moved more quickly than those of Var, for the thoughts were smaller. And Ag's spirit flared in sadness and anger for what the Gods had done. But for all Ag's fierceness, ih did not yet understand war, and so ih, too, went to the side of Raj, though ih could not keep calm in ih's frustration, and ih flitted and spun about Raj and Var...
...And the Gods watched this, especially Nayru, who was learning swiftly of many things, and she saw how the Giants were distracted and stricken, and she thought...
...The last Giant to arrive was Ay. Though Ay was the swiftest Giant in form and thought, ih was farthest by far from Raj, and heard not ih's scream but the screams of the creations. Ay saw the form of Raj, still wearing a look of pain, and Var, distraught and weeping, and Ag, raving and furious, and also the Gods, and Ay understood at once that her misgiving had not been idle, and that an unthinkable crime had come to pass. And ih could have avenged ih's companion, for ih was cunning to match the Gods, but this was not to be. Guilt came into being, and Ay took blame for Raj's desecration upon ihself, for ih had known danger and had not given warning to ih's companions...
...And so the kym of the Giants gathered near the form of Raj, Ay pacing about them and sighing in ih's sorrow. And Nayru saw this and understood what the Gods would now do.
She spoke, "See what we have done, my companions. We are stronger than the Giants; we have proved this by slaying Raj, and the others will be weaker still, for they are stupid and slow."
Farore and the god were silent, staying near each other. Din drew close to Nayru and spoke, "Indeed, the time of the Giants here is ended. Let a new kym arise to create and rule."
The god was very quiet, for nothing had been said of ruling before, and indeed, the Gods themselves did not fully understand what this meant. Farore gathered her courage and spoke, "Let us not destroy the Giants, for they were our makers, and they are beautiful. We have shown that we are mightier than they, let us instead fashion them into a new work, greater than theirs. Let us show mercy to the Giants for our own glory." The god was silent, but smiled slightly, for he remembered that the goddess Farore loved the Giants, and would not see them devoured...
...And so the Gods agreed to the plan of the Goddesses, and the three remaining Giants were broken and trapped, for they were too sorrowful to flee, and the Gods fashioned them into a new creation, one greater and grander than the Gods could have designed...
...And so the world was made...
##
* A "kym" is an ancient sheikan marital unit. Being largely polyamorous, sheikan marriages usually consisted of three to five individuals, all setting up a household together. This arrangement had a lot of advantages for a species in which half the population was sterile. Like, for instance, guaranteed free babysitting nearly every night of the week, a more substantial income while still having someone home to look after the house and children, and, with the extra dependants, a pretty nice tax break as well.
** In ancient sheikan, the syllable "ih" was sometimes used as a gender-neutral, respectful pronoun. It was considered improper to refer to one's elders/betters as "he" or "she." Don't ask why this is, it just is. And with the Giants supposedly being genderless beings, this was a convenient word to use with reference to them. After all, why wouldn't you pay your dues to the entities that your world is made of? :)
*** This wasn't really very difficult. In fact, Raj still had quite a few arms to spare.
Whee! Yay for footnotes! Bwahahaha! I hope you had fun scrolling up and down, and up and down... This dinky little thing took forever, and it's fairly stupid, but it's good background for the rest of the story, and I thought this was as good a way as any to convey it. The story IS supposed to be on the lighter side, but really, how many cheerful Genesis stories have you read? Everything's gloom and pompous deities and fruit and violent dismemberment/castration. Don't worry, though, Raj isn't dead, it's just...taking a nap. Without breathing. Or moving. ^^; Confused? Good!
Before the beginning, there was the one who came Before. From this one came the many, the great Giants, and they were uncountable and mighty. The many split from the one and went off through the vastness alone and in groups, singing in joy as they went.
The Giants were as to the one as a grain of sand is to the whole of the earth. They could rest a galaxy on the tip of a finger, and become smaller than the smallest piece of a grain of sand. As they sang and moved through the vastness, orbs and clouds and unknown creatures came into being and took up the songs, and the Giants and creation were glad...
...Over years innumerable, four Giants drew very far away from the others and from the one. In a quiet, empty place they dwelt and created many things to give life to the vastness. The Giants were a kym* of four.
The Giants have no names but those which we choose to give them. Ay was one, swift and full of cleverness and very beautiful. Ag was another, playful and passionate and fierce. Raj was gentle, and of the four Giants most loved the creations they formed from themselves. Var was the last, strong but kind in nature. These four Giants made a kym of themselves, and for time immeasurable they stayed in that part of the vastness, and they were the only Giants there, and the place was made joyful with their creations...
...There was a time when Raj was moving through the vastness, singing with the creations and playing amongst them. Four creations were new, and when Raj caught sight of them, ih** laughed for joy and gathered them into ih's arms and went home quickly to show the new creations to the other Giants, for no creations like these had Raj ever seen before.
Of the four Giants, only Ay was cool toward the four creations. All the others were delighted by these new beings, dancing and singing and speaking with them, and delighting at their answers. Only Ay was cool toward them, and kept distance between ihself and the creations and spoke to them but little...
...For a long time, the four creations moved with the four Giants and were happy, and as they sang with the Giants and danced with them, they grew in strength and understanding; they saw the things that the Giants created and cared for, and they saw that this was good, though their thoughts were different from those of the Giants. After a time, these four creations grew impatient with their weakness and made creations themselves. These creations of creations were small and frail, but they were beautiful, and the four creations were glad of what they had made.
The four creations gathered up their small works and, filled with joy, went and showed them to the Giants. Ay said nothing, but shifted in discomfort at what the creations had done, for ih had a deeper understanding and a farther foresight that the other Giants. The other three were surprised and joyful at the work of their creations...
...The four creations did not sing to the things they made, nor did they dance or play with them. When Raj and Ag and Var did these things, the small, frail creations of the creations grew greater and more wonderful, taking strength from the Giants. The four creations were pleased to see the things they made flourish, and went off again to make something else.
Now, as the four creations went along, they spoke, for, unlike the Giants, they spoke more than they sang. As they talked of what they would next make, one of the four was loudest, for ih had a passionate spirit.
"Those that we first made were beautiful, but they were weak. Now we must make something strong." The other creations agreed with this, as it was obvious. "When we brought our creations to the Giants, we were lavished with praise, but the Giants saw the weakness of our work and changed them. They are our works no longer." The others agreed, taking up the thought themselves.
Another, who was thoughtful, began to speak. "That which we make now, we must keep secret." The others agreed.
Another, who held love for the Giants, said, "We will not keep our creations from the Giants forever. We will work on that which we make until they will find no weakness in it, and then they will be shown that we are as strong and wise as they. They will be happy with us."
...The fourth said nothing, but began work at once, and the others joined ih. They worked long on these new creations in secret, but try as they might, they could not make their creations strong. As time went on, the four worked longer and longer and gave more attention to their ailing works, but the things only weakened and faltered further. This frustrated the four, and they pondered why this failure was.
The fourth, who before had not spoken overmuch, now spoke. "When the Giants changed our first creations, they flourished. The Giants have something that we do not; that is what makes their creations strong."
The others found sense in this, and the thoughtful one said, "Then we must find a Giant and ask ih for that which makes the creations live."
...The four left their struggling creations behind, and went in search of a Giant. The first they found was Ay, but ih fled from them as they approached. The second they found was Ag. The four asked for that which would make creations live, but Ag could not understand what it was that they wanted. The four went away unhappy. The next they found was Var, and they asked for that which would make creations live, but Var, too, was confused by their request, and the four went away again...
...Finally, the four happened upon Raj, and they knew of a way to explain their wants to ih. Calling Raj, they led the Giant to the place where they had hidden their sick creations. Raj looked upon their weakness and sorrow, and stopped ih's singing, and spoke, "These have languished long. Why did you not bring them to us? We would gladly have strengthened them for you." And Raj was puzzled, for why would the four let their creations suffer so?
The one who loved the Giants answered, "When you make our creations strong, you add to them and change them, and they are not our creations anymore. We ask you to give us that which makes your creations flourish, so that ours may be the same."
Raj was quiet for a little as ih thought about the four's request. Then, Raj said, "What you ask for is great indeed. I cannot give you such a thing."
The four had never been refused, and were frustrated with Raj. "Why will you not help us?" asked the passionate one, "Why must we be kept weak and barren while you and your kym are strong?"
Raj did not answer, but only strengthened the four's miserable creations and went ih's way. The passionate one was angry, and glared upon the changed creations. The others were dismayed and sorrowful that they would never themselves create works such as those of the Giants. The passionate one, enraged by Raj's answer, fell upon one of the strengthened creations, ripping at it and ravaging it until ih consumed it. The others were shocked at their companion's behavior, for they had never seen destruction. They saw that the passionate one was made stronger by the creation ih had consumed, and the passionate one saw and felt this, and, elated, fell upon another one of the young creations with a will...
...The one who loved the Giants was frightened by this. "What have the little ones done that ih should devour them?"
The other two, however, saw only that the passionate one grew stronger, and they joined her. After a while of this, the one who loved the Giants saw how weak ih remained as ih's friends grew in power, and joined them, though with a heavy heart...
...When the creations of the four were destroyed, the four turned to creations of the Giants, and as they became mightier, they brought down greater and grander creations, and many strange and wonderful things passed away by their hands. The thoughtful one understood how great had become their power and their dreadfulness, and a thought came to ih. "We grow as great and terrible as the Giants themselves. Now we shall be as they are."
...The four formed a kym of themselves, and changed themselves, so that they might be more awesome to behold. Three of the four made themselves shining and bright with light, and made themselves different from the other one. They called themselves Goddesses, and females are made in their image. The fourth became the God, and males are made in his image. His form he made darker and subtler than those of the Goddesses. The Goddesses went on to name themselves, so that they would be known apart from all the rest of creation. The passionate Goddess took the name Din, the thoughtful Goddess took the name Nayru, the lover of the Giants took the name Farore. The God took a name to himself, but he never spoke it aloud, for he was ashamed of it, and so he is known by whatever name we give him...
...The Gods now tried to create as the Giants did, but were sorely disappointed. Their creations were as sickly and pitiful as they ever were, and at last the Gods devoured them again. They spoke and debated as to why this was, and Nayru said, "As powerful as we become, we have not acquired that thing which the creations need to prosper. Only the Giants have that; we must ask again for it."
Din agreed, and spoke out, "Yes, and the Giants will see that we are wise and able to create, and will give us what we seek. But we asked the last time, and were turned down. Are we still weak newborns, playing about the Giants' feet? I will go to the Giants and demand that we are given what we lack!" The other Gods were stirred by this, and Din led them in searching for the Giants...
Now, Raj had come to an empty part of the vastness, in order to fill it and give ih's creations room. The Gods watched the Giant dancing from a distance, and looked upon the wonderful things ih was creating with malice and envy, for their thoughts had changed and soured over their long years, and their hearts had hardened. After a time, Raj paused to rest and watch ih's new creations, and was so enraptured by them that the Gods were at ih's feet before ih noticed their presence. Now Raj saw the four, and saw that they were changed and were grown in strength and beauty, and greeted them warmly. "Ah, dear little ones, you've returned," Raj gathered them into ih's arms and embraced them***, "You have been away long and changed much." Raj's heart swelled, for ih was full of love for creations; of the Giants, ih was fondest of the Gods.
Din pulled herself away from Raj, and all but Farore followed after her. Raj was puzzled, for none had ever shown ih contempt before.
Din spoke. "Indeed, we have lived on our own without the Giants' aid for some time. See how we have grown?" And she bade Raj look upon her blazing form, "We have improved ourselves. We are strong and terrible and have learned wisdom."
Raj acceded this, and reached out to Din, but she moved aside. Raj spoke. "Truly, you have grown much since you left, dear little ones."
Nayru began speaking, softly at first, but gaining volume as her nervousness subsided. "We are your dear little ones no longer. We have changed ourselves. We are ours. We are Named. I am Nayru."
Din spoke, boldly, "I am Din."
The god was upset. "I am Named, but that name is to be known by none but me."
Raj was confused, and ih's heart sank within ih, for Names separate, and the four creations were now distant from ih. Raj looked upon Farore, who had remained in ih's arms. "And you, dear little one?"
Farore was saddened, for she perceived that Raj was pained. "I am Farore," she answered in a soft voice.
Raj sat in silence for a long while, unable to understand the Names of the Gods. Din grew impatient.
"Mighty as we have become," Din said, making Raj pay attention to her, "mighty even to rival you and your kym, we are still unable to make our creations strong. We ourselves are strong enough to create great things, like unto those you are making. Greater. We ask again for that which makes creations thrive."
Nayru spoke, to soften the words of her companion. "In granting us this, dear one, you do much good, for there will be two kyms to create instead of one. Four will double into eight, and the vastness can be full of bright and wondrous things."
Raj was sad at their repeated request, for ih could not grant it. "Again you ask for this, and again I must say no. I cannot give such a thing to you."
The Gods were frustrated at this, and Din was angered. Raj did not notice this. Raj wanted to return to ih's creations, and asked the Gods to stay, for they seemed agitated. "Come," Raj said, holding out ih's hands, "Come and dance with me, as you used to, dear little ones. Let us be done with talking for a while."
Nayru spoke, full of disdain. "We have our own ways. We do not dance any longer."
...Raj was put off by this, and Din moved behind ih so that Raj was fenced in. Farore moved away from Raj and spoke. "Please, dear one, we have sought for so long to be as you are; please give us what will make us so." Raj again refused...
...At last, Din was enraged. Casting herself upon one of Raj's new creations, she tore and burned and bore down upon it until it failed and she devoured it. Raj looked on in horror as the creation was cut down by Din, and Raj bore witness to cruelty and suffering, the first of the Giants to do so. At last, the creation was undone, and the last tiny remnant of it fled back to Raj and rejoined ih, and Death came into being...
...And in her rage, Din shocked even herself. Spying the remnant of the destroyed creation rejoining with Raj, she pursued it, determined to erase even the last scrap of Raj's work, and unwittingly attacked Raj ihself. And Raj was intensely confused and horrified...
...Raj escaped Din and fled, calling to the other Giants for aid. And Din, maddened by anger and tasting that which makes the creations live, chased after ih, and caught a tail of Raj to slow the Giant...
...Following behind their companion, the Gods drew near, and that which makes creations live rained down upon them, for Din had torn Raj badly, and in Raj's thrashing the substance was thrown in sprays...
...And the Gods were maddened by this, and fell upon the body of Raj themselves. There was a great tumult from the creations that were near, for now Fear and Hate, Lust and Greed had come into being, and the creations set up a terrible noise as they witnessed their creator crying out in anguish in ih's struggles against the Gods. Many of the creations fell upon the Gods in droves, hissing and glittering in anger, but they were soon devoured by the Gods, and Sacrifice and Duty came into being. Strengthened in their fury, the Gods by degrees overpowered Raj, and in desperation Raj screamed for ih's kym...
...And thus the Desecration of Raj took place, not the first act of violence, but the most horrible. This was the Gods' greatest sin...
...Hearing the cries of Raj, the Giants, each wandering alone, sped to the aid of their companion, and greatly bewildered were they, for nothing like this had ever occurred, and never had they heard such a sound as the scream of Raj...
...The first Giant to find the Gods' and Raj was Var, though ih was too late to be of use. By now, the blood-madness and fury had left the Gods, and they sat around the body of Raj, disbelieving what they had done, and pondering what they would do, now that Raj was broken and the Gods were strengthened by ih's own lifeblood. Var looked upon the Gods, much changed since their creation, and upon the body of Raj, still and blighted, and ih did not comprehend what had taken place...
...Over time, as Var listened to the mournful singing of the creations and felt the taint in the void, ih learned and understood what had taken place. Var looked upon the form of Raj, and cradled Raj in ih's arms and called and sang to ih's companion. For all Giants move constantly, and no Giant hears song without singing in turn, but Raj lay still and cold, and in time Var understood this also, and the knowledge of Death and Fear and all the other new creations came into ih's heart, and ih's heart was broken, and Var embraced the form of Raj and wept over it, and sang to it in grief...
...This is why we sing the death songs...
...Ag was the next Giant to arrive, and ih looked upon the form of Raj in Var's arms, and heard Var's weeping. And Ag also saw the Gods, changed and grown in strength, and he listened to the lamenting of the creations and understood, for Ag's thoughts moved more quickly than those of Var, for the thoughts were smaller. And Ag's spirit flared in sadness and anger for what the Gods had done. But for all Ag's fierceness, ih did not yet understand war, and so ih, too, went to the side of Raj, though ih could not keep calm in ih's frustration, and ih flitted and spun about Raj and Var...
...And the Gods watched this, especially Nayru, who was learning swiftly of many things, and she saw how the Giants were distracted and stricken, and she thought...
...The last Giant to arrive was Ay. Though Ay was the swiftest Giant in form and thought, ih was farthest by far from Raj, and heard not ih's scream but the screams of the creations. Ay saw the form of Raj, still wearing a look of pain, and Var, distraught and weeping, and Ag, raving and furious, and also the Gods, and Ay understood at once that her misgiving had not been idle, and that an unthinkable crime had come to pass. And ih could have avenged ih's companion, for ih was cunning to match the Gods, but this was not to be. Guilt came into being, and Ay took blame for Raj's desecration upon ihself, for ih had known danger and had not given warning to ih's companions...
...And so the kym of the Giants gathered near the form of Raj, Ay pacing about them and sighing in ih's sorrow. And Nayru saw this and understood what the Gods would now do.
She spoke, "See what we have done, my companions. We are stronger than the Giants; we have proved this by slaying Raj, and the others will be weaker still, for they are stupid and slow."
Farore and the god were silent, staying near each other. Din drew close to Nayru and spoke, "Indeed, the time of the Giants here is ended. Let a new kym arise to create and rule."
The god was very quiet, for nothing had been said of ruling before, and indeed, the Gods themselves did not fully understand what this meant. Farore gathered her courage and spoke, "Let us not destroy the Giants, for they were our makers, and they are beautiful. We have shown that we are mightier than they, let us instead fashion them into a new work, greater than theirs. Let us show mercy to the Giants for our own glory." The god was silent, but smiled slightly, for he remembered that the goddess Farore loved the Giants, and would not see them devoured...
...And so the Gods agreed to the plan of the Goddesses, and the three remaining Giants were broken and trapped, for they were too sorrowful to flee, and the Gods fashioned them into a new creation, one greater and grander than the Gods could have designed...
...And so the world was made...
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* A "kym" is an ancient sheikan marital unit. Being largely polyamorous, sheikan marriages usually consisted of three to five individuals, all setting up a household together. This arrangement had a lot of advantages for a species in which half the population was sterile. Like, for instance, guaranteed free babysitting nearly every night of the week, a more substantial income while still having someone home to look after the house and children, and, with the extra dependants, a pretty nice tax break as well.
** In ancient sheikan, the syllable "ih" was sometimes used as a gender-neutral, respectful pronoun. It was considered improper to refer to one's elders/betters as "he" or "she." Don't ask why this is, it just is. And with the Giants supposedly being genderless beings, this was a convenient word to use with reference to them. After all, why wouldn't you pay your dues to the entities that your world is made of? :)
*** This wasn't really very difficult. In fact, Raj still had quite a few arms to spare.
Whee! Yay for footnotes! Bwahahaha! I hope you had fun scrolling up and down, and up and down... This dinky little thing took forever, and it's fairly stupid, but it's good background for the rest of the story, and I thought this was as good a way as any to convey it. The story IS supposed to be on the lighter side, but really, how many cheerful Genesis stories have you read? Everything's gloom and pompous deities and fruit and violent dismemberment/castration. Don't worry, though, Raj isn't dead, it's just...taking a nap. Without breathing. Or moving. ^^; Confused? Good!