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During the early days of our conception, it was plain chaos everywhere. Other planets in the solar system at least however did not face such a problem as there wasn't much life. Other galaxies I do not know.

Our activities did not affect the craters and the other land forms, but Earth, was a different story altogether. The abundance of life posed a huge problem. There was so much to trail. Now shadows were being created every minute in some part of the world. Some from the abiotic factors of the ecosystem and the others from the living components.

Initially, we shadows held on tightly to our masters. Afraid that if we would leave then we wouldn't find our way back. Although, every shadow is different.

Soon emerged silhouettes, who were daring and brave.They wanted to explore this world. Without any second thought  or hesitance, as soon as they were born they deserted their liege and took off.

The faint-hearted shadows, who believed that the Laws of Nature should not be tampered with, lived their life peacefully and perished soon.

A shadow's life expectancy wasn't long in the premature days. Constantly changing geography, environments as well as close competition between the predators for the preys were the primary reasons.

But there were only a small number of spine-less shadows.The majority of them were curious and intrepid. And those who weren't usually came under the influence of those who were.

So just as the animals and other organisms roamed around freely, so did the shadows. Everyone was pleased and satisfied. But for how long could Nature's Law be broken?

This peace lasted for a couple of centuries, but sooner or later someone was going to notice, and the shadows' fears were not incorrect.

Earth's climate and geographical conditions stopped changing to a certain degree, and that's when the animals started noticing what's going on around them.

Some shadows say it was the curious apes that first noticed this, while the others say that it was the wise old owl who silently observed everything while everyone else rested. None of us exactly know who the first one to notice us was.

And this is exactly from where the age old saying, "We are afraid of the Unknown" or "We fear what we don't understand", rose. So this time, along with crazed shadows running helter skelter, the terrified and horror-stricken animals too joined the fray. The whole situation was exactly what one would describe as a pandemonium.

The shadows, now, aren't cynical or malicious. So they weren't out to plant fear in anyone's minds, nor achieve world dominance (which is the idea of most people in today's world), which they could might I add.

To top that off they didn't even know that all the animals were in frenzy because of them. So now, when the animals used to see the shadows and run, the shadows too fled on sighting an animal.

Everyone lived in constant fear and always ready to bolt.Boy! What days those were.

Well you can't really blame the shadows for the mayhem. How were they to know that Nature's Laws were not  to be tampered with?

In this process, many shadows took to hiding as well. In caves, under mountains or even floating languidly on the ocean floor. However it is very saddening to know that those who hid at such places met death soon.

Now a shadow, even though is completely made up of darkness,ultimately does need light to survive. Hence, without a speck of light on them,they soon faded away. Lost to the world. A shadow can after all only survive for five days without light.

Grief took over and a dark cloud settled above us all. It was heart-wrenching.

Thank the Lord, it didn't last long. For finally there was a divine, or should I say celestial intervention.

The elders as we now call them finally stepped in.

We call it a 'celestial intervention' because these three shadows are those of the celestial bodies themselves. They keep on alternating between galaxies, checking in periodically on all of us, everywhere.  Looks like the trip to Earth was long overdue.

The three elders are known as Penumbra, Antumbra and Umbra.Together all three of them from complete, pitch black darkness. Each elder has a specific position and shape. They do not change unlike us. They do not have to bend to anyone's will.

All three elders are never seen together at one place.Rarely are they seen together. Clearly the current situation on Earth was a rare one and for the first time the trio met on this blue planet.  Quite controversial isn't it.

Slowly but steadily, peace and order began to return. The first step involved a meeting of the elders and one representative of each species. Apologies were exchanged and promises and oaths for a better future were taken.

Now that all the other life forms were pacified, it was time to bring order back amongst the shadows.

And thus was formed... "The Council of Shadows".

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