Daen Luma'Lieno Jonnsa

[tinhuvielartanis]

Daen Luma’Lieno Jonnsa

The Tale of the Hare Moon

Not very long after the great celebration of Mother Earth’s boundless fertility, the animal and plant Goddess Artanis turned Her eyes to the deep heart of Etereh’s woodlands wherein thrived the Fox nation, or the ti’kenda. They were a strong and healthy race, possessing the slyness and speed of the puma as well as the drive and vision of the wolf. The ti’kenda were perfects when it came to hunting, able to stalk and outrun any of their chosen prey, which could be any beast smaller than they, for the ti’kenda were not very discriminatory in their choice of food. Yet one animal that the ti’kenda refused to devour was the Ai’aafa.

The Ai’aafa was distasteful to the Fox. It was not a challenging hunt, nor was it friendly to the Fox’s palate, weighing tough in the belly. It was small with tiny eyes, a blunt snout, and floppy ears that dangled uselessly. Moving in a shambling fashion, the ai’aafa was easily caught by members of the Fox nation, who took a special joy in slaughtering the ugly beast, leaving ai’aafa bodies strewn about uneaten and without honour.

The holocaust had continued until only one ai’aafa was there left, for it was that these beasts were not prone to procreation and keeping their nation alive. This lone ai’aafa it was that Artanis maiden of the Elderkin appeared before in the young evening of the Spring forests. She easily lifted him in Her arms before he could begin to amble away and She gazed upon him saying, “Little one, you are the last of your clan and you will not survive the ti’kenda’s sport as you are now. And so I give you a new name and new hope for the new clan you shall lead.”

“But how can this be, Mistress? I am but one now, and nothing but a slow and plodding thing.”

“Nay,” Artanis replied. “The ai’aafa are indeed no more. Henceforth you are Pnah’lienat, Father of the Runners.”

And she drew the beast to Her until he dissolved into her bosom. That done, the Maiden of the Elderkin went seeking Krahl’ti’kenda, the king of the Sly Ones. She found the Fox King by the woodland streams, playing with his children. The Goddess sat down beside him, Her feathered tunic spread beneath her.

“Hello, Krahl’ti’kenda,” She began. “I have been watching your sport, the ai’aafa hunt. Tell me Krahl, is their flesh that scrumptious?”

“Oh no, my Lady,” the Fox King answered. “We kill ai’aafa because they are disdainful and distasteful to us. We are glad their kind are gone from Eterah.”

“Are you now?” Artanis whispered as She touched Krahl lightly on the nose and the belly. The Fox King’s stomach growled and grumbled, and his tongue grew wet with hunger. His children sniffed the air and ground for a food that was not forthcoming. Krahl’ti’kenda smelled this also and asked Artanis,

“What is this wonderful prey that we smell, my Lady?”

“Why Krahl’ti’kenda, that is ai’aafa! But it is an ai’aafa that your nation will crave like the fish crave water; an ai’aafa that will match your speed and your wits and will outnumber you ere you know it. This mysterious and alluring nation will be called Lienat, the Runners, and they are descended from the hated ai’aafa.

“You ti’kenda will want nothing but lienat, but rarely will you catch one; rather you shall have to settle for a less appetizing meal more often than not. So happy hunting, O Fox Nation, for karma calls and your trials have commenced.”

And, with that, Artanis left Krahl’ti’kenda, hungry and bewildered, and made Her way to Her mountain keep.

It was the first night of the Full Moon and time for the birth of a new race whom Artanis called lienat. Artanis lay upon Her downy couch, attended by great owl beings, and She went into labour, giving birth to the new-formed Pnah’lienat. He was sleek, with large eyes, powerful running legs, and a dainty nose. His features were marked and enhanced by large ears that stood erect, ready for any sound for miles around.

Following Pnah’lienat was the hare race, the lienat, all fully-grown with svelte bodies made for running. They dashed joyfully about the mountain halls, dancing and mating. Before Artanis was relieved of Her own labour, several female lienat gave birth to more lienat, this time babies.

Pnah’lienat came to the Goddess Artanis sometime after She had rested from her Labour, for She had summoned him, wanting to speak with him before the Hare Nation left to find their place throughout Eterah.

“Little father of the lienat, I wish to tell you of your nation’s life on Eterah. Always shall you dwell upon the Earth but, know you this: the ti’kenda hunger mightily now for the lienat. And they shall strive to kill you, ignoring all other beasts if you are in their grasp. But the ti’kenda will succeed only when the lienat are not on guard. You are as wily as the Fox, and as swift. Use the gifts wisely and always be on the lookout, using your sharp eyes and ears, and the ti’kenda will have to settle for a less appetizing meal or go to bed with a hungry gut, unhappy and unfulfilled.”

Artanis knelt and kissed the lieno king on the brow.

“Go you now to the plains and forests of Eterah. Dig mighty warrens and have great families. Bless Eterah as I bless you now by living and being happy.

So the lienat spread themselves across the face of Eterah, being as fertile as Mother Earth. Each year the Hare Nation would celebrate their genesis and give praise to Artanis Mnemen’lienat, Mother of the Runners, on the full moon after the Bealtainne. And it was henceforth called Luma’Lieno, the Hare Moon.