"'But Mumma? What about The Flying Dogs?!'"
"SHUSH, Nibbles! Be quiet and let me tell the story!"
THE FALL OF THE FLYING DOGS
"In ancient times, Bipeds everywhere across The World worshiped The Flying Dogs and carved their likenesses reverently into living rock. There was Anubis, Cerberus, Xolotl, Garmr, and many others.
"But the real King of the Flying Dogs was Sēnmurw, and he was enormous. His wings were wider than the entire Sky Prison. Could you imagine a huge-winged Dog like Sēnmurw swooping down on us now?!"
I struck my leg repeatedly against the heavy, cast-iron radiator like a wing beat and my pups screamed in terror. They swarmed around, tumbled out of the whelping box, and collectively pressed their cold, wet, expectant noses to the picture window.
I barked once at the top of my lungs so that even the catatonic couch-bound Doug jumped up in alarm. All my pups shrieked and hit the ground.
THE BIPEDS
I began.
"One spring, King Ceruxes summoned all the Bipeds together.
"'Look at us,' he said. 'The Great Dogs care naught for us. We are forgotten creatures! We shiver and lose our furless babies to hunger and cold whilst the Bear sleeps soundly through the winter. The Ocean Dogs' creatures swim about unconcerned when The Moon is too cold or The Sun too hot. We stumble in the darkness whilst The Sky Dog's Owls hunt, and those foolish Flying Dogs mock us from the sky...
"'And The Mother Dog does NOTHING for us! She is supposed to look after all creatures in The World, yet only hands the bodies of our children to The Great Black Dog!
"The assembly agitated. Its voice rose and then went to a loud, steady murmur.
"'And where is The Great Black Dog? What does he DO? What does he do for US besides let us freeze and take our dead children?'
"The crowd shouted.
"Ceruxes continued, 'The Great Black Dog keeps Fire to warm only himself. If Bipeds had fire, there would be warmth and light. With Fire, we would have justice for our dead.'
"Now the crowd roared with a collective throat.
"And so King Ceruxes, having the backing of his Bipeds, resolved to steal Fire from The Great Black Dog.
COWLETTA - QUEEN OF THE SEAGULLS
"The Bipeds used all their grasping hands, cleverness and industriousness to build flying machines. They all failed gloriously, and many Bipeds were hurt or killed.
"Ceruxes then requested an audience with the Queen of the Seagulls, Cowletta. She was horrified at what the Bipeds asked of her. 'Steal Fire from The Great Black Dog!? MY DOG NO!'
"No! no! no! Ceruxes said. The Bipeds just wanted to borrow Fire for a little while. They would give it back. Just through the winter when they were cold. They would share it with The Seagulls...
"Cowletta knew Bipeds would keep Fire for Bipeds alone. And she knew Fire in the hands of Bipeds would upset the Harmony and Balance of The World. She told The Bipeds that a Seagull could not fly high enough. She suggested Glindesau, the King of the Seahawks, as they were more powerful and could fly much higher than Seagulls.
"Ceruxes thanked Cowletta for her time and gave her a rotten fish. She tucked into it and by the time she swallowed the last bit, had forgotten why the Bipeds were even there.
GLINDESAU - KING OF THE SEAHAWKS
"The Bipeds next sought Glindesau, King of the Seahawks. When Glindesau passed between The Sun and The Earth, creatures below trembled and believed it was the end of The World.
"Ceruxes asked if Seahawks were the biggest bird in The World.
"When Glindesau nodded, The Bipeds asked him if a Seahawk could fly a Biped to The Great Black Dog's Lair. Glindesau was uneasy and sensed treachery. It was well known that Bipeds tricked and cheated each other. They killed all the creatures of The World when they were not even hungry. They were jealous. They were vain. They thought they were the smartest creatures in The World.
"And Bipeds could disguise falsehoods within truths. He would have to tread warily around this King.
"Glindesau said there was no Seahawk who could get even an infant Biped airborne, much less a full grown one to The Great Black Dog's Lair. The biggest of his soldiers could only manage to carry a 5 pound salmon up to The Eyrie.
"'What about two Seahawks?'
"Glindesau shook his head, 'No. It was not possible. And no Seahawk knew where The Lair was. Why do you need to go there? Do you remember how to summon him? I can do that for you now if you have forgotten...'
"The Bipeds quickly thanked Glindesau and gave him a fat, slippery, wriggling mackerel.
"Glindesau snatched his mackerel and quickly flew away without a word. He never spoke to another creature about the incident. And he never spoke to any Biped ever again, as the Bipeds had spoken blasphemies that day.
A SQUIRREL'S SAY
"The Bipeds fought and argued amongst themselves. They fought stupidly, senselessly, and endlessly over how to get to The Great Black Dog's Lair.
"When they were ready to give up and go home, a Squirrel approached them and asked, 'Why don't you just ask The Flying Dogs to get whatever you..."
"DOG!! I HATE SQUIRRELS SO MUCH!! shouted Rude Boy The Alpha from the back of the litter.
A hullabaloo burst out as all the pups in my litter showed me exactly how much they hated Squirrels. Even my slow, sleepy pup, Dozer was yelling angrily. Yet none of them had ever actually seen a Squirrel.
SĒNMURW
"The Bipeds approached King Sēnmurw with a carefully rehearsed plan.
"'King Sēnmurw, do you know where to find The Great Black Dog's Lair?'
"'Of course. Why do you ask?'
"Ceruxes collapsed in rehearsed exhaustion. 'You are the only one who can help The Great Black Dog! Will you help him?'
"Sēnmurw said he would help him if he could, and asked what The Great Black Dog required from him.
"'He is walking The Emptiness and will not be back for aeons. He left Fire burning in his Lair unguarded, and there are many brigands who would gladly steal it! King Sēnmurw, if you knew the Great Black Dog's Fire stood unguarded and in danger, would you leave it so?'
"'Of course not. But why doesn't The Great Black Dog ask me for help Himself?'
"Ceruxes answered without hesitation, 'Must duty always await summoning?'
"Sēnmurw thought for a long while. Then he said, 'I think we must bring Fire to The World for safekeeping.'
"Ceruxes feigned wide-eyed horror and asked, 'Would that not be STEALING, Great Lord of The Flying Dogs?'
"'Of course not, we would only keep Fire until it could be returned to The Great Black Dog safely.'
"Ceruxes put on the weary expression he had rehearsed a hundred times and said, 'As you wish, Greatest of The Flying Dogs. When shall we leave?'
"Sēnmurw said, 'I must go alone. Only the Great Dogs and The Flying Dogs know where the Lair is, and it must be kept that way. Besides, flying you or any Biped that far and high would tire me such that we would tumble from the sky and meet our end.'
"'You are wise and determined in the face of catastrophe, Lord of The Flying Dogs, there remains only one question.'
"Ceruxes paused. 'Where in The World can Fire be kept safe?'
"Sēnmurw considered the problem. Fire would be quenched underwater. No flame could be hidden in the sky, and it would set The World ablaze. There was only one solution.
"He said to Cheruxes,'Bipeds must bring Fire under The Earth into their caves of stone and keep it out of sight until The Great Black Dog returns.'
"Cheruxes pretended to be so shocked he couldn't speak. When he regained his composure he said, 'Great Lord, I could never ask a thing of my People.'
"'Must duty always await summoning?'
"Ceruxes bowed his head so Sēnmurw could not see the flash of triumph cross his eyes.
"'As you command, King of the Flying Dogs.'
"The King had spoken.
SĒNMURW'S VOYAGE
"Sēnmurw set out immediately.
"He flew over the highest clouds, higher than any creature had ever flown before. The Sky Dog made no weather here, and Sēnmurw could not count on air currents to carry him. His wings ached with every beat, draining him of strength, but not resolve. There was no sound here, and The Sun was much larger at this height. His heat was merciless. So hot he feared his wings might dissolve and fail him.
"When he was certain he must fall back to The World, The Sun became smaller and His terrible heat ebbed. Sēnmurw broke free from The Sun's grasp and the frozen Moon loomed ahead of him. As Sēnmurw drew nearer, the Great Black Dog's universal sadness awakened in him. The Moon made him sing. So he sang at The Moon, as all Dogs are wont to do. At first he sang dully in his throat. But as he got closer, full sadness found his voice. He threw his head back and howled until he wept. He wept until he ran out of tears.
"Beyond The Moon were only The Stars, The Lair, and The Emptiness.
"'Mumma! Have you ever seen The Great Black Dog!?! Have you ever seen his Lair?!?" said the Chocolate pup Bright Eyes, clearly afraid The Great Black Dog might drop by at any minute.
"'Sweetie, I have seen The Great Black Dog several times. But nodog except King Sēnmurw has ever seen The Lair in their lifetime. But do not worry, sweetness. The Great Black Dog does not destroy.'
"That seemed to settle the group. I noticed all of them looking around anxiously. Nibbles was especially transfixed, drooling in anxiety as young dogs will.
"Beyond the glare of The Moon, The Stars revealed themselves to Sēnmurw with a brash, intrinsic beauty. They were the most beautiful things he had ever seen, and only he and The Great Black Dog had ever seen them in all their glory.
"One by one, The Stars fell away, and before him lay only scentless, soundless, maddening darkness in all directions.
"There was only the Lair and The Great Black Dog himself.
THE LAIR
"Sēnmurw closed his eyes and soldiered on, following the ancient pull of an instinct The Great Mother Dog placed in all Dogs long ago. As surely as Monarch Flutterbys know where and when to migrate, and Salmon return to the river of their birth to spawn, The Great Mother Dog instilled the path to The Lair in every Dog born, though few would ever tread it in their lifetimes.
"After a long while, Sēnmurw's front paws struck a cool, smooth, flawless, black stone. It was even blacker than The Emptiness. Sēnmurw tried to pull himself up on it, but his nails only scraped uselessly across it. The stone was strangely worn and as slippery as a large, wet river boulder. Many must have climbed here before him because in the darkness He could see a dull path chiseled by thousands upon thousands of nails from the living rock .
"He scraped desperately for purchase, and the sound of his nails fled from him. It returned again and again to his ears. It seemed to be coming from all directions at once. This must be The Lair, He thought.
"Once safely on the black stone, He let out an exhausted sigh that rang in his head as though He was sighing into both of his own ears at once. He paused only a moment to regain his breath. The Great Black Dog was counting on him. He had to protect Fire from the thieves that would ruin Harmony in The World.
"When his breathing slowed and his mind ceased racing, He listened for the crackle and pop of fire to tell him where to go. He squinted and looked all around, but he could not see even the slightest glimmer of Fire. Yet his nose smelled smoke. That was true. Like after the Sky Dog struck a dry forest with lightning, or when the Earth Dog opened up a sore that spewed smoke and red-hot rock.
"He followed his magnificent nose.
"His nails clicked and clacked on the flawless black stone. It resounded more shrilly than any warning a murder of Crows or a scold of Blue Jays could give. But when he stopped, there was no other sound. There were no robbers or thieves here. There was only Sēnmurw and Fire.
"The smoke beckoned him, and his fear lessened. His eyes became accustomed to the deep dark of The Lair. He saw flickering in the far distance, yet he advanced slowly, still wary of the thieves Ceruxes had warned him, and his obligation to protect The Great Black Dog's Fire.
"After an age of slow steps down a massive hall of flawless black stone, Sēnmurw approached the flickering opening that clearly held The Great Black Dog's Fire.
"Beyond the opening, the black stone floor continued down the hallway into darkness. The stones there were worn in the same curious way as those he had climbed upon at the entrance to The Lair.
"He approached the massive black stone arch and steeled himself. When he looked, it was like nothing Sēnmurw had ever seen.
"The fire blinded him as it was the only light he had seen since the soft light of The Stars. It was so silent he could hear his own heart driving blood through him. The smell of smoke was strong and it reddened his eyes and stifled his sense of smell. He was as senseless as a newborn pup, yet his duty to The Great Black Dog drove him on.
"When his sight cleared, he froze in horror. A massive statue of The Great Black Dog hewn from that same flawless black stone greeted him. In its eyes danced the crucible of Fire from the statue's mouth, giving Sēnmurw the feeling he was being watched intently. 'My Dog! I've awakened him!' he thought in dread as his hackles went up.
"He held himself still. When he was convinced the great carving was not really The Great Black Dog, nor a robber pretending to be him, Sēnmurw took the crucible of Fire delicately in his jaws and backed his way out of The Lair. He jumped off into The Emptiness headfirst, and after a moment his hackles went down.
THE FALL
"Sēnmurw fell much more quickly than he rose.
"The crucible flared up in his face, making him blind and set him to coughing.
"He fell.
"The Stars, The Moon and The Sun raced by him, as the crucible pulled him ever faster to The World. Sēnmurw was not afraid. He unfurled his wings to catch The Sky Dog's wind as soon as as he could to slow his descent. But there was no wind yet.
"As he fell, his wings became hot, and several of his smoking feathers peeled away. Sēnmurw was no longer master of his flight. He fought the fall. 'The Harmony of The World depends on me,' he told himself. The crucible was whipped by the wind and threw a steady stream of heat and smoke in his face. With supercanine strength, He leveled his flight until at last the Sky Dog's air found his wings.
*********************
King Sēnmurw landed to great cheers and tail wagging from all Flying Dogs in his Kingdom. A great Longflight with The Great Sky Dog and Feast was declared in honor of King Sēnmurw and his heroic efforts.
Word was sent to King Ceruxes that Sēnmurw had saved The Harmony of the World and that The Bipeds should hurry with all speed to hide The Fire.
King Ceruxes arrived soon after with a cadre of soldiers to bring The Fire to safety in their caves.
Away they went, and the Flying Dogs started their great celebration.
When The Great Sky Dog asked what her Dogs were celebrating, Sēnmurw, a little excited from the party said, "Oh, just saving The Great Black Dog's Fire!" and fluttered away on his wings.
"'What have you done?!' asked The Sky Queen flying up to him in alarm.
"'We saved The Great Black Dog's Fire from thieves and robbers! Now we're having a well-earned celebration!'
"'Where is The Fire now?" she asked in a low voice.
"'The Bipeds are safekeeping it in their caves! The Great Black Dog will reward us greatly!'
"The Sky Dog's mouth gaped. She was at a loss. 'Can you get The Fire back?'
"'No, my Queen! The Bipeds have hidden it from those who would steal it and disrupt The Harmony of The World!'
"'YOU HAVE STOLEN IT!' shouted The Sky Queen. "AND YOU HAVE STOLEN IT FOR THE BIPEDS!! THE WORLD WILL NEVER BE THE SAME! THE WORLD'S HARMONY IS BROKEN!'
"King Sēnmurw was shocked. He tried to explain to The Sky Queen that Fire was unguarded and in danger of being stolen. She dismissed him with an irritated wave of her wing. 'DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU'VE DONE?'
"King Sēnmurw only looked at her blankly.
"She stared back in dumbfoundedness for a moment before saying, 'DO YOU THINK THE CREATOR OF FIRE COULD NOT GUARD HIS OWN FIRE?'
"Sēnmurw thought for a moment and said the only thing he could think of, 'And yet I have stolen it...'
"It was then King Sēnmurw began to understand with growing alarm how he was tricked by Ceruxes: The Great Black Dog never asked for his help. There was no way for any creature other than Flying Dogs and The Great Sky Dog to get to The Lair. He saying The Bipeds must hide Fire in their caves for safekeeping... 'Must duty always await summoning...?'
"'YOU FOOL! THE BIPEDS TRICKED YOU!! THE GREAT BLACK DOG WILL SOON BE HERE!' She flew off frantically towards The Sun.
"In the background, The Flying Dogs continued to celebrate a great victory.
Then Barkey, one of my black pups, got so scared at this she ran back to the whelping box and thrust her whole body under a blanket. In a moment, I saw her fat little snout wriggling out, but the rest of her head and body remained hidden.
I would have to watch that Dog. She was too sensitive for this world.
THE GREAT BLACK DOG COMETH
"In The Great Emptiness, something stirred and turned its attention toward The World.
"It moved past The Stars, between The Sun and The Moon, and toward The World.
"The Sky Queen flew up to It. She was crying and incoherent. She reached out to him pleading for him to have mercy on her creation. They were innocent. Punish her instead.
"He pushed past her and she circled in front of him desperately, her eyes full of tears and searching for mercy in The Great Black Dog's eyes.
"'OUT WITH IT...'
"She choked back a sob and wailed, 'My Flying Dogs gave Bipeds your Fire.'
"The Great Black Dog was so stunned he could not utter a word for a long time. He hung in the sky whilst anger welled up in him, and his eyes burned with white-hot flame. Then he brushed past The Sky Dog and made for the Flying Dog's Kingdom. She followed, calling to him and begging for mercy.
*********************
King Sēnmurw did not tell his subjects to stop their celebrations, as he knew it might be the last celebration The Flying Dogs had in a long time.
So it was a shock to all The Flying Dogs when darkness covered The Sun in the middle of the day. Small creatures made for their burrows and The Moon showed himself. A chilling wind blew from the North.
The other three Great Dogs were summoned, and they converged on Sēnmurw's Kingdom. The Great Black Dog was holding court. It happened very rarely, but when it did, it usually changed the lives many, many creatures on The World.
"'Ceruxes... Sēnmurw...' He summoned. 'Bring them here.'
"King Sēnmurw strode over confidently. 'I am here.'
"'Explain yourself.'
"King Sēnmurw told The Great Black Dog that Ceruxes told him thieves were conspiring to steal Fire, and he was merely guarding it to serve The Great Black Dog at the behest of Ceruxes.
"The Great Black Dog looked at Ceruxes intently. He said, 'I merely asked Sēnmurw a hypothetical question...'
"Mumma, what's a hypno-tethicall question?" asked Little Big Feet.
"It's a question about things that are not real, my love."
"Like when Little Big Feet asks if he can have a second breakfast?!" shouted Nibbles, and everyone except Little Big Feet laughed. He ran over and cuffed Nibble's head until the other pups yelled they wanted to hear the rest of the story.
I began again.
"'I merely asked Sēnmurw a hypothetical question regarding the safety of Fire when you were walking The Emptiness, and whether he would save it from brigands,' replied Ceruxes. 'There was no danger.'
"The Great Black Dog fixed his gaze back upon Sēnmurw, and Sēnmurw was afraid. He remembered the huge carving in the flawless black rock with the crucible. 'Did you not ask me, Ceruxes, "Must duty always await summoning," and also ask when we were to leave?'
"'These were merely hypothetical questions! You said that bringing The Great Black Dog's Fire back to The World was NOT stealing. I have many witnesses to this effect. You also said the Fire must be hidden in Biped caves so as not to be seen by any other creature, including the Great Dogs. Is that not true?'
"Sēnmurw hung his head and admitted it was true.
"'And did you not say you must go alone?'
"'I did.'
"'Where is the crucible now?' asked The Great Black Dog.
"I gave it to Ceruxes to be hidden in his caves so it would be safe.'
"'Safe, or hidden from The Great Black Dog?' asked Ceruxes.
"'Why did you not give it to The Great Sky Queen?' asked The Great Black Dog.
"Sēnmurw stared at Ceruxes incredulously. Then he said, 'Great Black Dog, let me search every Biped cave in The World until I find the crucible.'
"'You shall check all the caves until the crucible and all its Fire is found. You will retrieve it by dawn.'
"'As you wish, my Lord. And if I fail in my task, let my wings fall from me.'
"I heard a muffled 'Oh no!' come from one of my pups I thought was Barkey, still covered by blankets in the whelping box.
"Despite being exhausted from his flight and celebration, Sēnmurw took to the air and began searching all the Biped's caves in Ceruxes's Kingdom.
"He found no embers, nor the crucible in any of the Biped's caves, but the smell of smoke lingered in them.
He found embers in strange places he like mountaintops, islands, and remote canyons. He also found them on outcrops of desolate rock surrounded by The Ocean Dog. They were distracting and time-consuming to retrieve, but he brought back every ember he found to The Great Black Dog and laid it at his feet.
"After a very long time of fetching embers, The Sky Dog begged again and again to help Sēnmurw find the crucible, but she was denied as many times as she asked, as were all the other Flying Dogs. 'Only Sēnmurw,' said The Great Black Dog.
"Deep into the night, Sēnmurw fetched the embers until he thought he would go mad. He approached Ceruxes, who was comfortably snoring under a spreading chestnut tree. 'You promised to hide Fire in your caves...'
"Ceruxes chuckled under his breath lest he attract The Great Earth Dog's attention. 'We did. And then we moved it. You had better hurry. Dawn is almost at hand.'
"Sēnmurw was confused. Why didn't Ceruxes tell the truth?
"He looked to the East where The Sun was rising. Soon it would be decided.
THE VERDICT
When there was the first space between The Sun and The World, The Great Black Dog summoned all creatures.
"Sēnmurw stood alone before him, drained and haggard from all his travels.
"'The crucible?'
"'I have failed to retrieve it, my Lord. All I have are these scattered embers. I have done my best. My life belongs to you.'
"The Great Mother Dog shouted that Sēnmurw had been tricked, and that set the Flying Dogs and their Queen off protesting in an awful racket. Bipeds shouted 'Blasphemy! Blasphemy!' and surged forward, whilst the Ocean Dog laughed and laughed at the raucous spectacle before him, especially the misfortune of The Sky Dog. The Earth Dog shouted that his Bipeds were honorable and could never tell a lie.
The Great Black Dog said nothing and did not break his ardent gaze at Sēnmurw.
"When all had quieted, The Great Black Dog spoke, 'Sēnmurw, King of the Flying Dogs, you have stolen The Crucible of Fire from my Lair.'
"There was complete silence. Not even the ants deep under The World moved.
"'You and your kind will be stripped of your wings, and you will no longer belong to The Sky Dog. You will be split between The Ocean Dog and The Earth Dog so you may never rise again to my Lair...'
"'Allow them to be my creatures, My Lord! I have none!' beseeched The Mother Dog.
"'You asked for all and none. Yours is Time and Life. No more.'
"The Great Black Dog continued to Sēnmurw, 'Your offspring shall eternally search for the crucible. Your descendants will strive to retrieve until the crucible is brought back to me.'
"The Great Black Dog then lifted all The Flying Dogs in the air and took away their wings. He scattered them over The World- family, adult, mother, elder, and pup. Where they hit the land, The Great Earth Dog turned them into Dogs, Wolves, Foxes and Coyotes.
"Where they hit the sea, The Great Ocean Dog took away their legs and gave them eyes that could see underwater. He gave them blubber that kept them warm in the cold ocean tides. But he did not end their addiction to air or stifle their barks. They became Seals and Otters.
"For the first time in ages, the skies were bereft of dogs.
"And when The Great Black Dog dissolved, smoke billowed from all over The World."
*********************
There was no sound for the longest time. I watched my pups' reactions. Barkey was still whining, her head beneath the same blanket since her first fright. Six of my other pups were somewhere in between, except for Nibbles, whose cheerful disposition remained entirely unchanged.
When Rude Boy the Alpha wanted to fight The Great Black Dog and started barking, Doug got up from his couch and yelled at him to shut up or he'd lock him in the closet.
More next month, my friends.
I promise.
-Zinnia.