From the dawn of time, she hunted, prowling the emptiness before the birth of the stars, slinking along the dark shadows within the Halls of Light. She could not help it. It was her nature. If blame must be placed, it must be placed with Him. He who imagined the First Cat, who decided upon her instincts, her needs, and her joys, should not then bemoan the eventuality that she would act upon them.
It was Mouse who should have been upset. His lot was simply to live on the run from the Great Huntress. Night after night, she stalked him, the two playing out their eternal drama, Mouse streaking across the floor, concealing himself in corners, sheltering under His great throne, all the while dodging her sharpened claws and unforgiving eyes. Such terrible eyes! Great, vast pools of yellow brightness haunted Mouse. Those eyes could pin him in place, were he to meet them unexpectedly, and so, he existed to run and hide. He could not help it. It was his nature. If blame must be placed, it must be placed with Him. He who imagined the First Mouse, who decided upon his appetite, his quickness of foot, and his instinctive choice to hide from Cat, should not then bemoan the eventuality that he would find a greater shelter.
The first tiny crack in the door to the Vault of Possibility had gone unnoticed for centuries. Unnoticed, that is, by all except for Mouse, who saw, calculated, watched, and waited, biding his time and guarding his knowledge. Each time, for His endeavors, He sent them for materials from within, the winged ones, in their hurry to comply, shut the door a little too hard on their way out. Finally came the anticipated day; the slightest piece fell, leaving a small hole. A glow traced across the evening shadow on the floor, and a gray streak of scant fur and great fear shot into the Vault.
Cat could not abide this turn of events. Howling with fury, she threw herself against the hole, but to no avail. Mouse fit through, but she was too big, and she could not break it. The weakened piece had fallen, but the rest held fast. One great yellow eye focused through the opening, glaring into the crevice in search of her eternal prey. All she could see was that faint glow, and glittering dust. She growled in frustration, pounding upon the great door. It did not move. She shrieked and scratched. She yowled, grumbled, and paced. She poked her paw into the hole in the bottom of the door, dug in her claws, and pulled, all to no avail. She sat down outside the door, to guard the little exit, and to wait.
Days passed, and her desperation grew. Soon, she took to pacing again, then pawing and clawing at the crack, mewling in distress over the loss of her playmate. What could she do without Mouse?
An immeasurable time later, footsteps fell, and echoed along the length of the corridor. A whiteness approached. Cat hid in the shadows, waiting for her chance. Sandaled feet passed by, beneath wings too large to use between the narrow walls. A smooth skinned hand rested upon the doorknob, turning, pulling. A flash of darkness flew, unnoticed, past the feet, into the room, and behind a large chest. Unnoticed, that is, except for Mouse, ever vigilant of his own safety. Watching from the underside of the huge chest of drawers, he noted her entry and plotted his escape. He would run for the crack. If she could not get in without aid, she also could not get out, at least not until another angel came to fetch His things. By that time, Mouse could have eaten half of the Great Banquet, if he so chose.
Carefully he planned his move. He must not give her a chance to chase him in this room. Far too many sensitive items were about. Perish the thought that anything be damaged... or released. Perish the thought that she might finally capture him!
Trembling, he timed his sprint as Cat's eyes swept the room. Don't look... don't freeze! With lightening speed, he fled his shelter, running for the door, only to encounter those deep yellow orbs. Breath locked in his humble chest, heart racing, threatening to explode, he froze in front of a huge transparent sphere in the middle of the room.
Even lost in Cat's eyes, Mouse knew he had to get away from this spot. His tail twitched, and his nose followed. First his left rear foot slid to the side, and then his left front followed. A shiver ran through him as the low crouch of Cat's body stretched to a belly crawl. His whiskers wavered as she slid across the floor toward him. More tiny movement to his left barely changed the angle of the chase, though his attempt triggered Cat's tail, and it led the preparation to pounce.
Mouse sprang aside as Cat lept upon his position, only to find herself confronting the great sphere. Her claws sank deep into the soft skin, slashing down to the floor as Mouse ran for the hole in the door. An alarming hiss escaped from the deflating sphere. This was the most vulnerable of His things. Therein lay the highest treasure and most terrible curse of all; the smoky beginning and end of Existence, where He stored his hopes, dreams, and fears. This was the greatest power outside of His intent. Now that it had been allowed to escape, it would surely run amok. All ready it had begun to solidify upon the floor, piling deep and dark where the bubble had been.
A clamoring alarm rang throughout the Halls of Light. Footsteps rushed to the door. Cat, knowing she was in trouble, hid once again behind the chest. As the host rushed in, she gained the corridor, tearing away as if chased by demons. Looking upon the mess of His shattered dreams, He groaned with patient but annoyed understanding. "We suppose," He said, rolling His ancient, laughing eyes, and gathering the rich, red clay, "We shall have to do something with this. Let there be light."
And there was.
It was Mouse who should have been upset. His lot was simply to live on the run from the Great Huntress. Night after night, she stalked him, the two playing out their eternal drama, Mouse streaking across the floor, concealing himself in corners, sheltering under His great throne, all the while dodging her sharpened claws and unforgiving eyes. Such terrible eyes! Great, vast pools of yellow brightness haunted Mouse. Those eyes could pin him in place, were he to meet them unexpectedly, and so, he existed to run and hide. He could not help it. It was his nature. If blame must be placed, it must be placed with Him. He who imagined the First Mouse, who decided upon his appetite, his quickness of foot, and his instinctive choice to hide from Cat, should not then bemoan the eventuality that he would find a greater shelter.
The first tiny crack in the door to the Vault of Possibility had gone unnoticed for centuries. Unnoticed, that is, by all except for Mouse, who saw, calculated, watched, and waited, biding his time and guarding his knowledge. Each time, for His endeavors, He sent them for materials from within, the winged ones, in their hurry to comply, shut the door a little too hard on their way out. Finally came the anticipated day; the slightest piece fell, leaving a small hole. A glow traced across the evening shadow on the floor, and a gray streak of scant fur and great fear shot into the Vault.
Cat could not abide this turn of events. Howling with fury, she threw herself against the hole, but to no avail. Mouse fit through, but she was too big, and she could not break it. The weakened piece had fallen, but the rest held fast. One great yellow eye focused through the opening, glaring into the crevice in search of her eternal prey. All she could see was that faint glow, and glittering dust. She growled in frustration, pounding upon the great door. It did not move. She shrieked and scratched. She yowled, grumbled, and paced. She poked her paw into the hole in the bottom of the door, dug in her claws, and pulled, all to no avail. She sat down outside the door, to guard the little exit, and to wait.
Days passed, and her desperation grew. Soon, she took to pacing again, then pawing and clawing at the crack, mewling in distress over the loss of her playmate. What could she do without Mouse?
An immeasurable time later, footsteps fell, and echoed along the length of the corridor. A whiteness approached. Cat hid in the shadows, waiting for her chance. Sandaled feet passed by, beneath wings too large to use between the narrow walls. A smooth skinned hand rested upon the doorknob, turning, pulling. A flash of darkness flew, unnoticed, past the feet, into the room, and behind a large chest. Unnoticed, that is, except for Mouse, ever vigilant of his own safety. Watching from the underside of the huge chest of drawers, he noted her entry and plotted his escape. He would run for the crack. If she could not get in without aid, she also could not get out, at least not until another angel came to fetch His things. By that time, Mouse could have eaten half of the Great Banquet, if he so chose.
Carefully he planned his move. He must not give her a chance to chase him in this room. Far too many sensitive items were about. Perish the thought that anything be damaged... or released. Perish the thought that she might finally capture him!
Trembling, he timed his sprint as Cat's eyes swept the room. Don't look... don't freeze! With lightening speed, he fled his shelter, running for the door, only to encounter those deep yellow orbs. Breath locked in his humble chest, heart racing, threatening to explode, he froze in front of a huge transparent sphere in the middle of the room.
Even lost in Cat's eyes, Mouse knew he had to get away from this spot. His tail twitched, and his nose followed. First his left rear foot slid to the side, and then his left front followed. A shiver ran through him as the low crouch of Cat's body stretched to a belly crawl. His whiskers wavered as she slid across the floor toward him. More tiny movement to his left barely changed the angle of the chase, though his attempt triggered Cat's tail, and it led the preparation to pounce.
Mouse sprang aside as Cat lept upon his position, only to find herself confronting the great sphere. Her claws sank deep into the soft skin, slashing down to the floor as Mouse ran for the hole in the door. An alarming hiss escaped from the deflating sphere. This was the most vulnerable of His things. Therein lay the highest treasure and most terrible curse of all; the smoky beginning and end of Existence, where He stored his hopes, dreams, and fears. This was the greatest power outside of His intent. Now that it had been allowed to escape, it would surely run amok. All ready it had begun to solidify upon the floor, piling deep and dark where the bubble had been.
A clamoring alarm rang throughout the Halls of Light. Footsteps rushed to the door. Cat, knowing she was in trouble, hid once again behind the chest. As the host rushed in, she gained the corridor, tearing away as if chased by demons. Looking upon the mess of His shattered dreams, He groaned with patient but annoyed understanding. "We suppose," He said, rolling His ancient, laughing eyes, and gathering the rich, red clay, "We shall have to do something with this. Let there be light."
And there was.
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