Be Raath Fables: The Search for Something

[Captain Obvious]

This is The first part of the creation myth for a setting i have been thinking up recently. I plan to eventually put up more parts to this, plus othe myths, folklore, and the setting itself at some point. For now, i give you...

  The Search for Something

In the beginning, there was nothing. Just a plain black void. And through this void, walked Monkey. For a time Monkey amused himself by searching the void for any distinguishing features, but there were none. Then he searched for the edges in the hope that this nothingness was just one part of a greater something. But there were no edges, for to be edges, there must be something to put outside them. Monkey tried to recruit some others to aid in his search. First he went to the cave of Rat, but Rat said, â,¬Å"go away Monkey, I am busy sleeping.â,¬Â Monkey did not despair, for that had not yet been invented. He continued climbing the cliffs at the start of the world and speaking to the inhabitants of the caves he passed.

â,¬Å"Leave me alone, Monkey,â,¬Â said Squirrel, â,¬Å"youâ,¬,,¢re trouble.â,¬Â â,¬Å"Come back tomorrow,â,¬Â said Beaver, â,¬Å"I have too much work to do.â,¬Â But what work could he have, for there was nothing yet to work on. Monkey knew this, but he let Beaver rest. â,¬Å"It is too hot to work, Monkey,â,¬Â said Lizard, â,¬Å"ask me when itâ,¬,,¢s cooler.â,¬Â But what was there to make heat it this void, for the sun had not yet been thought of. Monkey knew this too, but he let Lizard rest as well. Wolf claimed to be sleepy from his meal, Bear said he had to hibernate, Ant and Spider said they were too small, Elephant, that he was too clumsy. Turtle said that he was too slow. Scorpion said nothing at all. And on and on until he reached the highest of the caves, and entered the home of Owl.

Now, Owl is a wise and crafty old bird, and he was even then, before the start of all things. â,¬Å"I would love to help you, Monkey old friend,â,¬Â he said, â,¬Å"but my eyes they donâ,¬,,¢t see so well. I fear I would be of little help in your search. Try asking Eagle â,¬' his eyes are the sharpest of all. But come back and tell me all about what you find.â,¬Â Monkey agreed and climbed to Eagleâ,¬,,¢s cave. Eagle was crouched on a perch in the back. Monkey asked his question, just like with the others, but Eagle didnâ,¬,,¢t refuse. He didnâ,¬,,¢t refuse, but he didnâ,¬,,¢t agree either. He just glared at Monkey, until he turned tail and fled from the cave.

Now Monkey had a choice to make. There remained one more cave he could try. He didnâ,¬,,¢t want to go exploring the void on his own, but he had hoped his search for aid wouldnâ,¬,,¢t come to this. He went to the mouth of the last cave of the cliffs, his hair on end, his muscles tense, and his tail whipping back and forth like Snake in a bad mood. The entrance of the cave was covered up with a pile of rocks that almost looked like they had been placed there on purpose. Because they had been, and for good reason too. The last cave, was the home of Tiger.

Monkey crept to the wall of stones and plucked away a single stone. From inside came a low growl, but Monkey ignored it an whispered, â,¬Å"Tiger? Itâ,¬,,¢s Monkey. Are you there? I need your help.â,¬Â Instantly, the growl turned to a roar and something heavy smashed against the stones. Obviously Tiger was there. â,¬Å"Why would I help you, Monkey? I know it was you that trapped me in here. Iâ,¬,,¢d rather eat you.â,¬Â Monkey was surprised. It had been him who got the others to band together and imprison Tiger, but he Monkey didnâ,¬,,¢t think Tiger knew that. â,¬Å"You insult me Tiger. How could I have done that? I only have little arms. I could not lift all of these stones. I am your friend. See how I have come to free you. I just need you to help me look for Something.â,¬Â

â,¬Å"Well if we are friends, I promise to resist eating you long enough to help you find your Something. But how will you lift the stones?â,¬Â asked Tiger. â,¬Å"I may just be little, but I can tell you which stones to push on.â,¬Â And with that they started. With his big brain, Monkey would tell Tiger which stones to push first, and then Tiger would use his great strength to shove them outside.

Soon enough, there was a whole large enough for tiger to poke his head through. Blinking after the darkness of the cave, he asked, â,¬Å"what are we looking for, Monkey? Thereâ,¬,,¢s nothing here.â,¬Â â,¬Å"Just a Something,â,¬Â replied Monkey, â,¬Å"Anything will do.â,¬Â Tiger looked around at the void and began to rage at Monkeyâ,¬,,¢s trick. â,¬Å"There is nothing to find. We will never find your Something. You tricked me. When I get out of here, I will eat you all up in one bite.â,¬Â

Tigerâ,¬,,¢s fury was terrifying, but Monkey had been ready for this. With a quick hop, he climbed up above Tigerâ,¬,,¢s head and pushed with all of his little might on one large rock that he had got Tiger to put there for just this purpose. He struggled and he strained, and finally the rock came loose and fell down square on Tigerâ,¬,,¢s nose. With a great yelp, he leapt back inside and the rock filled in the hole, leaving only the tiniest of gaps. Monkey stuck his face right up to the gap and told tiger, â,¬Å"You are welcome to eat me up when you get out, but you never will since you will never change.â,¬Â Then, with the sound of Tiger throwing himself against the rock wall continuing behind him, Monkey clambered down the great mound of stone and went out into the void once more to search for Something.

More to comeâ,¬Â¦