The Beginning

Once upon a time, there was Floura. She was the very land all treaded along to explore and roam. But before humanity, she held only the natural world and its entities. Deer drank from her flowing rivers, tawny ears flicking as they listened for the silent wolves who were nestled in a den with their young. Birds chirped and fluffed their feathers in the tall trees whose roots sank into her soil and who reached towards the sunlight. They were extensions of her, free to live as they pleased.

Much later, Floura gave birth to her biggest creations: Fana and Kreo. They were the beginning of humanity. With the help of her other creations, the siblings grew, sprouting from newborns to infants and then into children.

Fana and Kreo were still young, of course. So, they romped and played, climbing the ever-growing trees and chasing after exasperated hares while wearing deerskin cloth. They learned that the plants died when ripped from the ground and that animals were more fragile than themselves. They learned a deep appreciation for the very things that nurtured them and gave them life.

The two soon diverged in life as they grew older. Fana began understanding the animals and flora surrounding her, feeling their needs and wants. She could speak with them, guide them to food sources or provide them with water. She knew when they were sickly or when it was their time to pass. She fell more and more in love with nature. From the mice to the bears, she loved their uniqueness and the way they held themselves. She loved their gentleness and fierce loyalty to one another. On the other hand, Kreo fell in love with Floura's ability to change her shape, carving new streams or building mountains in the faraway land. Soon, Kreo found himself able to do those very things.

The two explored Floura's land more with Kreo creating new paths for the wildlife and clearing fallen trees while Fana informed him what the animals needed. They worked together, expanding all Floura had to offer.

The two children continued growing, from children into teenagers. It was then that Floura offered to give them each one gift: a way of thanking her children.

Fana asked Floura for her very own companion. Thus, she was given Arctic: a striped kitten who would soon weigh more than her. Faded stripes ran vertically along his body while a feathered tail was held high in the air. Fana's favorite moments with him were his head tilts when he couldn't reach something and his want to play fetch when the stars peeked out from the night sky.

Kreo asked for others. He wanted not to bond with animals like Fana, but with those more like himself. Floura granted his wish, providing him with a handful of humans. Kreo quickly learned they were not exactly like him, but more fragile and weaker. They grew cold more easily, and sickly too. They were easier to hunger and thirst and did not have the stamina he and Fana shared. Kreo didn't let this deter him, but instead, it fueled his determination. He wouldn't waste his gift.

With Fana by his side, they began creating what would be known as the first human civilization. Kreo crafted the land while Fana found edible flora that could grow nearby. The humans were clothed with deer skin and given shelter made from wood. They were thankful towards the siblings, more so Kreo. To them, Kreo was the one responsible for their survival while Fana was simply a helper.

Fana saw this and simply watched as they admired and worshipped her brother. She kept her distance, spending most of her time in the areas further out, where the animals retreated to. They'd grown afraid of the humans. She couldn't yet pinpoint their reason, but she knew better than to question them. So, she would continue watching and waiting.