Birth

contact

time passed. the creature's impact had obscured the brilliant sun from the planet. deadly ash and smog blanketed the world and destroyed the native plants, in turn destroying many living creatures who depended on those plants for survival. the pit, though without eyes, could use its keen senses as its sight. it 'watched' as the world above slowly deteriorated, as mammals and reptiles alike decayed needlessly. no amount of apology would ever undo this horror...

there was little to do but rest. over time, the land mended itself, partially obscuring the pit. many years fell away. but each second, the creature grew older, and though it did not experience, it learned through observation. slowly, life returned to the planet. the pit watched the animals, as they, too, grew wiser, grew taller, and began to walk upright.

it was very cold when first contact with the animals became certain. a group of them-very hairy, very primal-approached the pit seeking warmth, which it did indeed radiate, having been born of the star, though its full, fantastic power had yet to be realized. one of them stepped forward, and sought to bathe in the hot matter, but realized very quickly that this was no muddy spring.

the mass tightened around him, desperate for any kind of attention, any manner of sympathy possible. it attempted an embrace, a very simple action, one observed but never before practiced, and easily tore into the animal's midsection.

as his body was drawn into the substance beneath, his comrades fled in terror, and for many years after that day, no such animal ever came close to the pit.

the last blizzard of the era, however, yielded a visitor, separated from its kin; perhaps caught off guard in the storm. these animals, they had already advanced so rapidly...they wore garments fashioned from the hides of other creatures to ward off the cold. by accident, this animal stumbled through the snow and into the thick darkness.

the pit had learned to be more gentle with its hold, while ruling out the possibility of escape; but the animals, in turn, had learned to vocalize their distress-and call for an acquaintance. soon there were many animals surrounding the pit again. names and pleas, perhaps even a question, were exchanged; the exact meaning of the animals' words proved unknown to the pit but the ideas behind them seemed clear as water.

and these new, developed animals, they threw objects upon the pit, angry and violent in the wake of something they did not understand.

these animals did not return to their homes, drowned and pulled apart within the center of the monster they had provoked. they had only served to fuel its anger. and if they would not accept its existence, it would not accept theirs.

for the first time since the creature's arrival, it felt the sun on its surface. it knew that this sun was shaking with mocking laughter, reminding him that he would always be alone, that he would forever exist as a powerless shadow in the eyes of the gods. in a rage, it extended its pillars towards the sky, hoping to put out the wretched light, but still it was far too young...