The Jackal and the Sun
A Saan folktale of how Kaggen (Lithmor) and Ganeb (Zalikar) resolved their eternal battle over the sky. Based on far more ancient folklore.
Kaggen and Ganeb have always been locked in battle, killing each other every dawn and every dusk. But Kaggen grew tired of fighting with Ganeb day after day, of chasing each other across the sky and killing each other endlessly, so he came up with his greatest trick of all—he made himself into a voluptuous woman.
So taken was Ganeb with her resplendent beauty that he threw down his spear, unwilling to harm her ever again. Instead Ganeb trails after Kaggen every day always just out of her sight, as shadow always follows light, only taking the sky for his own when she slumbers. He had fallen for her but was not willing to express his admiration, Kaggen his opposite in every way.
One day, Kaggen didn't rise to her place in the sky as she always did. Ganeb went looking for her, finding her tangled in the thorns of an Murna Acacia.
"Come to laugh at me?" she asks him, "Is that why you always follow me?"
He offers to help her from the tree, ignoring her accusations. She tells him he is far too pale and thin to possibly help her and that she would burn him anyway. He ignores her hostility again, silent as he cuts the branches which tangle her. He moves to catch her as she falls but as his hands touch her they indeed burn, Kaggen falling to the ground and cutting her legs on the thorns.
"You did that on purpose!" Kaggen cries out, examining her legs.
She looks up at him with a heated look but finds herself speechless as she sees his face. Ganeb is at an utter loss, where his words fail him his face is painted with concern and remorse. He looks at her injuries as though they were some great work of art he had managed to defile.
"How am I to get home now...!" Kaggen puffs, assuming he means to deceive her.
Ganeb looks his hands over, his body comprised of shadow which has faded where he had touched her. Resolution passes over his face. Ganeb takes on the shape of a beast, becoming a giant jackal, and turns himself astride to her without a word.
"Why are you helping me?" Kaggen questions, narrowing her eyes on him, "Have we not always been enemies?"
"I only fought with you," Ganeb speaks simply, shaking his head in response, "Because no one else could be my equal, not in battle or in..." his eyes find hers before he returns to silence and continues to present his back to her.
Still wary of her nemesis, a smile forms on Kaggen's face and she decides to take his offer, knowing her light would scour away any deception. She would see his heart for herself. Kaggen climbs onto Ganeb's back, singing his fur black as he begins to run, grimacing already from the heat—to this day all jackals wear this black saddle. Ganeb is swift despite the pain, gritting his fangs as he dashes toward Kaggen's home. Kaggen searches his heart as he runs, expecting to find malice and deception but is shocked when all she can find is love, admiration and determination to see her home.
The same determination shows on his face despite the pain alongside it, and Kaggen's breath is stolen away. Kaggen was surprised to find that while he was silent, dark and cynical, he wasn't evil. In time, her own admiration for Ganeb would also grow into love. Kaggen's beauty and strength had cracked open his earnest and dedicated heart, the sun and the darkness marrying. They also had a daughter, Kaggen giving birth to the part of her which was once Kho.
Kaggen and Ganeb have always been locked in battle, killing each other every dawn and every dusk. But Kaggen grew tired of fighting with Ganeb day after day, of chasing each other across the sky and killing each other endlessly, so he came up with his greatest trick of all—he made himself into a voluptuous woman.
by Lee Stepp
So taken was Ganeb with her resplendent beauty that he threw down his spear, unwilling to harm her ever again. Instead Ganeb trails after Kaggen every day always just out of her sight, as shadow always follows light, only taking the sky for his own when she slumbers. He had fallen for her but was not willing to express his admiration, Kaggen his opposite in every way.
One day, Kaggen didn't rise to her place in the sky as she always did. Ganeb went looking for her, finding her tangled in the thorns of an Murna Acacia.
"Come to laugh at me?" she asks him, "Is that why you always follow me?"
He offers to help her from the tree, ignoring her accusations. She tells him he is far too pale and thin to possibly help her and that she would burn him anyway. He ignores her hostility again, silent as he cuts the branches which tangle her. He moves to catch her as she falls but as his hands touch her they indeed burn, Kaggen falling to the ground and cutting her legs on the thorns.
"You did that on purpose!" Kaggen cries out, examining her legs.
She looks up at him with a heated look but finds herself speechless as she sees his face. Ganeb is at an utter loss, where his words fail him his face is painted with concern and remorse. He looks at her injuries as though they were some great work of art he had managed to defile.
"How am I to get home now...!" Kaggen puffs, assuming he means to deceive her.
Ganeb looks his hands over, his body comprised of shadow which has faded where he had touched her. Resolution passes over his face. Ganeb takes on the shape of a beast, becoming a giant jackal, and turns himself astride to her without a word.
"Why are you helping me?" Kaggen questions, narrowing her eyes on him, "Have we not always been enemies?"
by Lee Stepp
"I only fought with you," Ganeb speaks simply, shaking his head in response, "Because no one else could be my equal, not in battle or in..." his eyes find hers before he returns to silence and continues to present his back to her.
Still wary of her nemesis, a smile forms on Kaggen's face and she decides to take his offer, knowing her light would scour away any deception. She would see his heart for herself. Kaggen climbs onto Ganeb's back, singing his fur black as he begins to run, grimacing already from the heat—to this day all jackals wear this black saddle. Ganeb is swift despite the pain, gritting his fangs as he dashes toward Kaggen's home. Kaggen searches his heart as he runs, expecting to find malice and deception but is shocked when all she can find is love, admiration and determination to see her home.
The same determination shows on his face despite the pain alongside it, and Kaggen's breath is stolen away. Kaggen was surprised to find that while he was silent, dark and cynical, he wasn't evil. In time, her own admiration for Ganeb would also grow into love. Kaggen's beauty and strength had cracked open his earnest and dedicated heart, the sun and the darkness marrying. They also had a daughter, Kaggen giving birth to the part of her which was once Kho.
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