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Story for A friend's shop. |
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Once long, long ago, when there were gods who ruled above and below, there were many creatures who roamed the Earth that were not human. Some were being who just were and others had been created. The gods celebrated both life and death; so when it came time for souls to transpire to the Etherworld, they demanded payment from those who had passed on. In the mists of the Etherworld, there existed a race of spirit animals to assist in this transition. The Kashaiyo. These Shishi, or spirit dogs, were created to guide the spirits to the underworld, protect them from vile demons and monsters that fed on the deceased's energies, and make sure that the gods received those souls that were rightfully theirs. For generations, the Kashaiyo led the spirits and lived in small packs around the world.
And so for thousands of years, the pattern of life and death flowed smoothly like the rivers of the Overworld. But this harmony was not infallible.
One day, a strange thing happened. Jindo, the head of his pack, came across a soul who did not want to cross. Her tears and wails were heard all the way to the Etherworld, her despair was so great. Now such a thing had happened before and always before these protests fell on deaf ears; who were the Kashaiyo to deny the will of the gods? The balance between life and death must be maintained. However, this time, it was a little girl of just six who had drowned in the local river. Ae-cha, who was loving daughter, had been to the river to get water for her ill mother. The monk at the temple had said that only the purest water would save her mother and if she could just return... She pleaded, cried for a day and night to be allowed to go back for it was just she and her mother. Her father had died in the war just after her birth. No siblings did she have. Without her, her mother would grow sad and wither away, the illness would claim her quickly. The girl's story and tears managed to touched Jindo so that he brought her soul back to her body. Miraculously, after almost two days of being between the Etherworld and Overworld, the girl came back to life and all was well again.
Or so, Jindo thought. When the gods realized that he had balked on performing his task of escorting souls, they were angered. He had upset the balance that was life and death. For every action, there was consequence. How did he not know that if this girl grew, she would not grow with evil in her heart having cheated death? Angry, the gods decided to punish all the Kashaiyo and strip them of their immortality. Taking all of the spirit dogs, the gods dropped them in the Overworld. From that moment on and until the ending of the Over and Etherworlds, they would be earthbound and no longer allowed to escort the souls as had once been their honored duty. Lost and scared, the Kashaiyo gathered back into packs where ever there was a temple or cemetery to try and gain the comfort of being near spirits again. Thus came the superstition of the white spirit dogs coming to symbolize death.
And now, Jindo the Ancient still tells the story of his shame to those who have come after him. He repeats their history and his fall from grace lest the young forget. Let this be a lesson to all. To disrupt the balance, is to disrupt life. Now, they must learn to live as mortals. They must learn to live on their own.
Naree · Fri Feb 19, 2010 @ 03:46am · 0 Comments |
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