Helix sought and found the four Primes resting near the edge of the void where their bodies had come to rest amongst the dark. Twisted and seething things amongst the shades were picking over the once proud Primes stealing parts of what they once were to use in their own nefariousness. The rage within him burned brightly as he streaked across the void to scoop up and breathed new life into the four Primes.
With flame and wind, wave and stone, the four Primes fought back against the darker things that sought to so consume them. Helix watched as the Primes displayed ferocity and cunning beyond what he’d thought capable. In them he saw a portion of himself, bestowed willingly and blossoming. So taken aback was Helix that he pulled away to a distance and watched as the Primes worked to free themselves from their bonds.
He loathed and loved the new creatures he’d helped forge. They were now of him and apart from what they both were.
*****
Taeron spread his mighty hands wide and held vast swaths of the void between them as he brought them together, crushing and grinding the dark beasts to naught. His warrior’s cry rose with power and force.
Kalakne surged forth and engulfed many dark shapes and forms, holding the twisted ones within her as she doused the darkened sparks that lent so perverse a life to their forms. Her healing song spun out with heart and abandon.
Shithnae rose and encircled the sinister forms, spinning their forms out and to ribbons. Her dance spread her warming wind across the void.
Ignos burned and flared brightly in the dark, burning away the shadows and leaving light in his wake. His fury rose and crashed lending cadence to the destruction the primes rained upon their enemies.
When all the shadows were naught or fled the Primes took stock of each other and rejoiced for they had thought themselves lost amongst the void forever. But curiosity bade them gaze upwards at Helix, the arbiter of their former destruction. His furious benevolence lent its confusion to the Primes then.
Helix himself merely grinned and declared the Primes strong and bade them watch over and care for his beloved and for them to speak not of their task, merely to do as commanded. The Primes looked to one another, for they loved Matria wholly and truly and would do as they were bade do. Without words, they nodded to one another and sped through the chaos and tumult left from their battle, streaking through the void and back to the world they once called home.
*****
Matria continued to walk beneath the blue sky and twirl amongst the lesser creatures that gathered and trailed in her footsteps. Her every breath was filled with new and more wonderful scents and sensations, some sent shivers throughout her; others beaded the damp upon her skin and warmed her.
There was a vivid sense of belonging, each creature relying in turn upon another in a never-ending cycle. Matria watched as the rains fell and flowers grew, leaving seeds and seedlings for more docile creatures to feed upon. These creatures would grow fat and be eaten in turn by larger creatures still.
The largest of creatures were ones of scale and size yet existed in many forms. Enough variety existed in these great scaly ones that Matria felt never would she see their all. Even amongst these largest creatures there existed cycles of death and life that flowed so innocently through the world.
But there did come a day when she had seen every last creature, great and small, and the world once again began to lose its wondrous hue. Slowly the Great Mother’s footsteps slowed and stopped and she sat long with her head in her hands, watching the world carry on about her.
*****
The Primes arrived at the world to find it changed; a dome of blue kept them from entering their former home. There were now two great shining balls of dim light the cast light upon the dome. Their brows furrowed, the great elemental lords smashed against the sky in an attempt to re-enter the world.
The Primes cried out to the sky to let them pass and begged and pleaded with it to allow them entry. Slowly, through the insistence of the Primes, the sky turned and addressed them.
“I am guardian of this world, asked for and created by the Great Mother. Who are you that you seek to defy her will, who are you to question and plead to the greatest of her creations?” The Sky spoke softly but within it carried much threat for he cared for Matria much as the Primes did, though he knew not with whom he spoke for the Primes were of Helix and as such were alien to The Sky.
The Primes were taken aback that such a thing would address them so. How could it not know of their dominion and stewardship of this tiny world? Ignos flared brightly.
“We are the Great Primes,” Ignos crackled and popped as he spoke, “we were created before you and by Matria as well. Though another destroyed us and remade us with the power to protect Our Great Mother. Who are you to stand before us and make us cuckold in duty and deed?”
The Sky had never before been addressed by beings such as these but could feel a destructive power within each of them. Ever watchful and protective of both Matria and her world, The Sky answered in measured tones.
“I am called Arkanda, I am the true guardian of this world. I am immovable and all surrounding and you shall not pass.”
Kalakne stepped forward and pressed herself against Arkanda, spreading herself around the world and sought any small break in Arkanda’s defense. The Sky held no such damage and pushed her away.
“I hold within me power to resist so feeble an attempt. I am filled with waters both light and heavy and hold sway over where and when it shall fall and you shall not pass.”
Shithnae sped around the world, tendrils searching every inch for an even smaller crack in Arkanda’s defense. But again, The Sky held no such damage and shooed her away.
“Within me are winds I use to send my waters to where they are needed, I know you both as you are a part of me and as such you shall not pass.” Arkanda, emboldened by his successes, puffed out his chest and stood before Ignos and Taeron. “And what is it you both have that you believe will gain you entry?”
Ignos pulled Taeron aside and spoke quickly to his brother, detailing a plan. Taeron agreed and cast a mighty fist forward which Ignos lit aflame with his breath. What resulted was a massive stone, wreathed in flames, rushing towards Arkanda. And for the first time The Sky knew fear.
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