The Virgin World

I first witnessed the splendour of life when I opened my eyes to a verdant universe. It was a virgin planet, Zonii, I soon learned. Wisps of dense energy rippled through the grassy field I was born, cascading over me in soothing bursts. In pleasure, I sighed and turned, locking eyes with a great column that blocked the white clouds and resplendent sunlight. Its glowing eyes burned into mine as it peered at me with curiosity and mild joy. Invoking a whirlwind, the giant crouched. It shrunk to the size of a nearby tree, its spiky red hair gleamed in the sun. The grey giant's muscular physique brimmed with power. "You are Umen, First of your kind. A sage lion. The plains will forever be your home." The energy of the world swirled around me in agreement. "Yes." I said, then startled at my own voice. "Walk with me." He said, lightly chuckling. In awe, I followed. I met newborn creatures who received their identities, having so many shapes and forms, but were not as confused as I was. They simply rejoiced in themselves and wandered away. Again and again, I marvelled. There were strange trees, flowers, herbs, grasses, insects and creatures of great beauty and strength on the way. I followed for what seemed like seconds, but times had passed. I followed on. "Are you my creator, lord?" I asked, perplexed. The giant laughed. "I am not, little one. Like you, I was born to this world. I am Moten, son of Tetal, the maker of all. You have done well to ask, for no other creature expressed such curiosity in this." He looked down at me, eyes glimmering softly. "I shall reward you. "He led me till we arrived at a grove of trees and stones, a haven he must have built. "Moten." A voice called out from a distance. Another giant, a woman, more slender but by no means lesser in power than the first, came out to Moten and hugged him. "I have returned, love." Moten smiled. Her gaze turned to me. "I found an unusual one today. Most inquisitive, I will keep him with us." He said, smiling down at me. "What would the others say?" She asked, crouching down over me. Her glowing eyes peering with the innocence of a child. "He will dwell with us, Sumi, and would be of little consequence to them." Moten's gaze sharpened as he stared north, then he sighed. I looked over the horizon and saw on one side a small mould of earth built into a dome, and on the other a dainty but well crafted wooden cave. There were others like my master. I marvelled even more.

When the two full moons had risen to their heights, I heard footsteps from beyond the grove. I perked up and Moten sensed my unease. I had to be welcomed, for I no longer desired the life of the beasts of the plains. "Do not be troubled, little one. My brethren will do you no harm. Not in the presence of our father." He said. My ears flicked. I didn't understand. "They are here to meet with the maker of all, as we are." Then I saw them. A pair, fair and blue, their golden hair contrasting sharply with the night. They looked like gods, so I bowed my head, averting my gaze which fell on the last pair. I paused in shock. This pair looked... Weak. Squinting to be sure I wasn't being deceived, I saw two green beings small as children beside the blue gods, and almost insignificant before my master. They had an extra eye at the center of their heads that seemed to be the only thing bearing the world's energy. "Moten, Sumi. I've missed you." The blue female with lush golden hair ran forward to Sumi, who raced forward, shrinking to match her friend's size, into a hug. "Neema, we met last week." Moten chuckled, turning to the approaching male, towering over him and not shifting size. "Do you enjoy looking down on me so, Moten? Look at our wives! Is it so hard?" The handsome blue male said. "It isn't, Kara. I just like to maintain a perspective that will eventually reveal your impending baldness to me." Moten laughed, stretching his huge hand towards Kara, who held the smallest finger in greeting. The green ones were quiet, walking off to the side as though they didn't wish to be there. "I see Anul is not in a pleasant mood. What did you do this time?" Moten asked, gesturing to the green pair. "He wouldn't descend from his dome to meet father, until I threatened to drown him in luscious poses of myself, day and night, wearing him out till he went mad. It proved very effective." Kara flashed a proud smile, I cringed. the green male sighed in frustration. "Moten. Kara. Can we get over with this?" "Spoilsport." Kara grumbled as he took place beside his wife, eyeing me but saying nothing. "It is a pleasure to meet you again too, Anul. Kenyi." Moten greeted dryly. Anul scoffed. My ears felt itchy. I didn't like the green duo. Kara walked forward, the six had formed a circle. His playful demeanor had changed to a reverent one. "Now. Remember when we were first born, how our father told us he'd made us perfectly, and each of us are vital for the other's survival?" Kara started. Kenyi looked at Neema's perfect form and rolled her eyes. I couldn't help but frown. "Our father left us with a directive, that we'll only get to see him if we are united as one family. Our father is the source of all this life force we have. To be separated from him means we'd slowly die. We need each other, Moten, Anul." Kara paused, severity bleeding from his silence. "So, brothers and sisters, I call, together with you, our father. Tetal, the all maker, come!" Kara called out with raised hands. A light slowly illuminated the grove, till we were swallowed in it. Rapturous. All I saw was white. "Child, how far you've come." A soothing familiar yet unfamiliar voice whispered. "My maker?" I stammered. "My son told me about you. He wants me to bless you." The good natured voice continued. "I-" I started. "Live." That word came as a massive energy field, and a flash of white light was all I remembered. I came to, at sunrise. Sumi sat by me, stroking my fur. "He's amazing, isn't he?" She giggled. I had no words. Struggling to my feet, I saw my fur had new patterns on them. I licked at them, but they were permanent. "It's his blessing, Umen. What did he say?" "He told me to live." "Then live you shall." She smiled. "Welcome to the fold."

Times passed. My master taught me many things, how to use the blessing, how to command, what the energy called verve was, and how to influence the world with the blessed verve. After teaching me gigantification, I willingly became his mount. With him, I explored the plains. Now, the beasts of the plains bowed to me. We returned to the grove when it was almost time to commune with Tetal. I was ecstatic. I couldn't wait to meet the creator again. There was a column of smoke rising from where Anul's dome used to be. "Master, there's trouble!" "Let's go, Umen." Moten whispered, cautiously. I dashed quickly through the grove, tearing past the trees towards the hills. From a distance, the giant form of Sumi was visible, flaming harshly as she struck at what seemed like an energy dome in the sky. Moten growled, jumping off my back and expanding even larger till he was as big as a mountain. "Sumi!" He called out, fiercely. "What has caused you to be violent so?!" The blazing flame on her skin flickered out, as she withdrew her fist from the cracking energy dome Kenyi had raised. Turning to us, I saw the tears of lava lining her grey cheeks. Then she pointed to the ground below. The head of a unicorn beast was separated from its body, its innards exposed on a large table. Anul was holding its heart in his bloodied hands, with no expression on his face. Moten's eyes widened in horror, then he burst out into a roar that kicked up a whirlwind and sent debris and rocks flying everywhere. Anul's expression didn't change as he dissolved the protective shield he had sprung in defense. I shrank back when I saw the cold gleam in my master's eyes. Steam exuded out of his body and filled the sky. He took a slow step forward, then another. Moten took Sumi into his arms and buried her weeping face into his chest, caressing her hair as she sobbed harder. "Moten. What is the meaning of this?" Anul growled. Moten didn't respond, stroking his wife's hair till she was comforted. Wiping away her tears, he gently set her beside me and looked into my eyes. It was rage focused into a single point. "Anul." He whispered. "Why have you slain that creature?" His voice trembled. Kenyi had descended to her husband's side, seeking his protection from Moten's melting gaze. Anul grimaced. "To learn, Moten. To understand life, and after life." He said solemnly, there was a twisted light in his eyes. "What has possessed you, Anul?! You've tainted the plains by killing what our creator has made!" Moten roared. "Possessed me? No, no. I was enlightened." Anul chuckled coldly. "Since our birth, I had wondered what was glorious purpose for my kind when we were born alongside giants and gods. We were born weak, told we were perfect! This I wrestled with, till it occured to me." Anul raised the heart. "I was meant to create life." His fanatical gaze turned my insides. I bared my teeth in rage. Sumi's fire erupted as she readied herself to pounce. Moten raised his hand to make her still. "So this is the way you've chosen, Anul." Moten nodded, aggrieved. Thick black clouds began to gather above Moten, thunder rumbling in response. "Hear me, Anul." A huge bolt of lightning poured on the ground before Moten like a waterfall. He put his hand into it, and out came a golden spear coated in lightning. Moten's red hair began to rise. Anul's eyes glowered with unbridled envy. He broke into manic laughter as he set the heart on the table. "This is why I must learn! Don't you see? How else can my kind compare to such levels of might?! How would we not be destroyed by your kinds in a whim?" He argued, staring fiercely at the armed mountain before him, as the winds raged in every direction. I hesitated. He had a strong reason.

"You have become a blight to our world, and must be removed." Moten swung the giant lightning spear, intent on destroying the pair before him. Anul flicked his wrist, and multiple sophisticated engravings on the floor beneath shone a green light. A seven layered barrier erupted from the ground to receive the mighty blow. "You see, I knew a day like this would come. I may not be able to beat you in pure strength, but I can make an impenetrable fortress!" Anul exclaimed proudly when he saw the barrier hold. The lightning strikes began to reduce as the impact was absorbed. Moten frowned as Anul's manic laughter continued. With a loud exhale, Moten expelled a column of steam, and disappeared into it. I couldn't sense his presence anymore, only a dreadful feeling. Slowly revealed in the fading steam, was my master in a small body, verve oozing out of the white patterned body that had grown a tail and a huge nest of red hair. Holding a miniaturized lightning spear, he looked divine. I turned and saw Anul's face contort in fear. He didn't know Moten had such power. Extending his arm towards Anul, a piercing force punctured through the barrier, grabbing both Anul and his spouse, and drew them out before him. The crushing force scattered the barrier energy into the winds, leaving a crater where they stood. "It is regretful, but I must exterminate you, lest you kill another." Moten said gravely, raising the lightning spear to cut them in two as they squirmed in horror. "Moten!" Kara's urgent voice called out from the distance. Before I could blink, Kara landed before Anul and the shockwave of his descent followed after, his golden hair flapping in the sun. His eyes were hurt. Neema landed on Sumi's shoulder shortly after, and seeing her sorrowful countenance, sat down and asked softly. "I leave you two together for a day, and you're about to destroy him?! What are you thinking?" Kara yelled in frustration. "Hold your peace, brother. It must be done. Anul is apostate. He has killed a creature." Moten said, pointing towards the ransacked table with the animal carcass. Kara turned in disbelief and saw. Biting back his rage, he turned to Anul. "What have you done?! How will we face our father now that you've done this?" Kara mourned. "Stand aside, Kara. I will kill my brother, Anul. This is the way." Moten raised his hand again. "No! Please, let Anul live. Without him, Kenyi would die alone, their kind will be exterminated from the world, and we would never see our father again." Kara pleaded. "Shall we then suffer a murderer to be free? Will he not kill another?" Moten scoffed. "Let us speak to Tetal. He is able to tell us what to do." Moten touched the ground with his feet, and with another release of steam, regained his previous stature. The binding force wasn't removed from Anul and his wife, who had begun to weep on him resting her head on his shoulder while he stared on resolutely. "Master, what would become of the covenant, now that these have defaulted?" I asked, walking up to my master carefully. He was not in a pleasant mood. "Tetal is merciful. They are likely to be spared. It saddens me that one creature is no more because of their insecurities. They are the firstborn." Moten glared at them, disappointed. He said no more. Silence prevailed till the crescent moons appeared. "Our father, please... Come." Kara implored solemnly. The little specks of light within the circle began to brim with white light, then we were enveloped in it, again. I stood in the bright light, basking in the kind warmth it brought, unwilling to faint and miss out on the glory of Tetal. Then he spoke. "My child." Tetal started. "Yes, my lord?" I answered. "A rift has come between my children, and they are bound to be separated from some time. They will forget my covenant." It grieved me. "Treasure the covenant. Till the time comes when they unite once more." Tetal's words filled me with hope. "I will, my lord." Emotions welled in my insides. "Endure." Tetal whispered again, a blessing. I was knocked unconscious by the sheer power of it. It was day when I opened my eyes. I looked around and found all except Anul and his wife were present. I shuffled up, not having time to groom myself. Moten gazed into my eyes and smiled. "Father favours you so. I am impressed." By the way he looked at me, I knew I had changed again, but the worry in my heart wouldn't allow me to bask in the gift. "What will become of us now, master?" I asked in grief. Sumi ran her hand through my fur to comfort me. "Father exiled Anul, for his sake. For the creatures are aware of his treachery, and would demand vengeance. He will live in the furthest west." Kara sighed, gazing at me with pity. "More painfully, we are unable to call our father into this grove from now on. We can no longer keep the covenant. But He promised to speak to us when we call, through spirit and nature." He explained. "Having said, there remains no reason for my wife and I to remain here, brother." Kara turned to Moten wistfully. He rose slowly to his feet, as though he carried a boulder. Taking the hand of his wife, he turned back to us, smiling. "I go northward, my beloved brethren. There, the connection to our father is strongest. Oh, but what cold we would endure." He patted Neema's hands and whispered something into her ear, sending a shiver through her body, and causing an instant blush to paint her ears. "She's fine with it." He laughed, turning to us. "I hope you will come visit us sometime. I will severely miss my dear Sumi, and my ever so grumpy brother, Moten." Kara sighed as he led his spouse away. Moten hugged his sobbing wife, comforting her, and as I watched, sadness washed over me. The couple soon disappeared into the horizon. The dense wind blew through my mane, and over my heart, as I vowed within to hold firm to the covenant. To bring them all together again, no matter how many generations pass. This is my testament. I am Umen, the prized familiar of Moten the only.