As it Begun

First Chapter from the Book of Tales

There was the wind. Its gentle breadth slipping through the space asking for them to come out. And come out they did. In numbers, first in pairs then all gathering around looking out into what was there. But they were sad for their view was blocked by nothing before it. A cry sung out first from one end carrying from one distance to the next and then back again. Echos of sorrow, emptiness, fear, and a glistening flicker of hope buried in its last resonance.
The wind carried their voices near and far to those across and those beneath and those hidden from all view, it carried and each shared their sound to continue it on. Until it again returned to its place of birth and the moment was upon them.
Stars in the heavens gathered like never before; with the intent of life. They came slowly swirling spinning the web, joining in mass. Bursting into the emptiness, filling the voids of nothing. Pulling together in a mighty bolt of intensity, existence shook. Nothingness seemed to overtake, the light of stars disappeared, absolute stillness. A held breadth.
There it stood in the once void spreading out its limbs to the corners of space, reaching, filling, expanding. The first tree bound of the stars defiant against the circling bleak. It stretched outward in all directions breaking the nothing. Farther and farther, out into beyond. Below became a thick, crusty, fertile, earth, supporting filling their underside. Stretching deep into the soil the Tree took firm root sinking into place.
Then slowly reaching up with its leafy limbs the tree found the fresh air of the open blue sky. Breathing freely the Tree open his branches wide to soak in the reviving air.
The more the Tree grew the higher and deeper it would expand filling all the emptiness. As it dug farther down through the earth it came upon a well of water. An underground lake of sublime clarity. Diving its roots into the pool it took its first drink of the pure water. With that the water started to move and flow throughout the earth.
Above the Tree explored the wisps of the sky reaching its leafy branches to the blueness. Into the distance it came upon a glowing orb of sun radiating its glowing light upon everything below. It basked in the suns glow warming and shimmering in the shower of light.
The Tree was happy with all it had found in a growing world. He dug, drank, basked, and grew into the expanse. Yet, it felt that more needed to be done. It thought this world needed others to explore and grow in its bounty. Carefully, the Tree drops some of its leaves into the water and onto the floor of soil, and fluttering in the winds of the air. The leaves slowly begin to swim, crawl, and fly joining the world. Suddenly the world had others in it, full of all sorts of creatures like fish, and birds, and insects, and mice, and foxes, and goats, and beavers, and moles, and cats, and dogs, and squirrels, and badgers, and rabbits.
All these creatures lived together with the Tree, all was good. The creatures all grew and their numbers grew until the time when the creatures wished to venture out on their own to find their own homes.
The Tree knew their wishes and spreading its branches wide and roots deep it let the wind and water flow through carrying its pollen and sap to unknown places. Then begin to grow grasses and flowers, vines and bushes, plants of tasty things to eat. The creatures rejoiced and hurried out into the world.
The Tree was sad to see them go for they were its companions, its children, but knew they must find their own homes. It still grew and spread ever further.
Much time had passed, much water flowed, earth grown thick. The sun shined brightly, abundance sprung out in color and scent. All the creatures grew and spread, enriching every glowing dell. Harmony blossomed.
Yet, a day came, when bird, cat, and fox returned to the Tree. They hung their heads in confusion and frustration. Tree called out to them, asking what caused their sorrow. Fox gently raised his head and spoke of rabbit and how he spread faster and ate more than any of the other animals. Rabbit pushed, shoved, leaped into the air with glee chasing the birds. The animals felt disturbed in their peace, they pleaded with Tree to help them teach rabbit.
Tree pondered long, and finally sadly asked the animals to call rabbit. Upon rabbits arrival the Tree bowed his branches and asked him how he was?
Rabbit snapped back in joyous running and leaping, then laying in the flowers, smashing their petals, before gulping up a few.
Tree grew even sadder with what he saw. He called to rabbit, in a low vibrant voice saying rabbit I see it is time, you have chosen your calling and I must grant you that wish.
Rabbit was excited about a wish, and leaped again in laughter.
But Tree then did something stranger than ever before, Tree pulled its branches in, begin to twist and spin, splintering and cracking its roots, leaves falling like rain.
Rabbit jumped away in horror, he suddenly felt fear, an empty cold filled his body. And what about his wish?
Booming from a distant place came Trees voice in violent torrents saying, Rabbit since you have found such a carefree and prosperous life at others expense you will also be the first to know the pain and torment of fear and suffering.
Rabbits body suddenly begin to ache and shoot with pain throughout his little frame, causing him to shriek and cry out for mercy. Please leave me be, please just let me alone!
Tree called back you have your wish rabbit, my time has come to leave this world to return to my place. The world now was dark and vast, cold and cruel.
Rabbit realized his mistake and called in anguish please don¡¯t leave me Tree I need you, where are you?? We all need you?
Then a sprinkling of lights began to dot the sky and rabbit was warmed. Rabbit was awed and humbled below this grand reach above. And again a voice called out but this time a multitude, a choir of voices saying, Rabbit we have now leave you to this world. We can now only blink from this heaven, but will come to you in every darkness to warm your way. You as the first to know splendor and now suffering are the chosen stewards of this your world. You must care for all within it, helping to grow and balance all beside as brothers animals and sisters plants. You alone must protect and guide them in harmony.
For this great task we will grant you a strong body and skilled hands. We will also give keen ears, sensitive scent and rich taste to observe and watch over this delicate world. Finally we give you a wise mind to devotedly manage the workings of this world. You rabbit are now the instrument of the source.
One last gift we give you is our word, from high above we ever pour down the source.
Trees voice begin to drift away and rabbit called out in fear.
A blinding globe then rose from the darkness and the horrifying pain returned to rabbit. Crying out rabbit raced away hoping to escape the cold glow. Lost in pain and fear rabbit crumpled below a stone. And Trees multitude at last returned saying Rabbit you must now take your post. You no longer may frolic carelessly, your age has come. And suddenly rabbit began to change as all Tree had said.
Rabbit looked out on this world he belonged to and was glad, felt deep pool within. Looking above he found the multitude and felt peace. In his palm he found a seed.
Planting it gently in the earth, and caringly watching the tree grew mightily and rabbit was happy. The creatures of the world sang out with praise.
The multitude sung gently away and the heat of day returned.
And that was as is.