Miros and the boar.

In the mountains just west of Saburra, way past the Forbidden Forest and much before Brambleberry was even a thing, there was a hole in the ground.

Inside this hole lived a stone-noodle. Miros was not a very brave stone-noodle, indeed he was known throughout the land as very cautious and very quick to hide. And Miros lived in fear. That his claws were too blunt, his pelt too dull, his sight not quick enough that birds might fly down and claim him before he turns his face to the suns.

Now also on this mountain lived the great boar - the avatar of the god of Rock and Bloodshed, whose name must not be uttered and whose face is too fearsome.

Miros was wise to not dig his tunnels too deep, to stay still when he heard the great huffs of the boar as it made its way through the great underground caverns and over the tops the the rocky mountains.

Miros though, saw regularly the birds of the valleys come to the mountains for the juiciest worms, and the hardiest beetles that they would crack like nuts with their beaks. And Miros would always hiss at them to flee, lest the boar get them with tusk and gore.

"Don't fear, our wings will keep us safe."

And each time the boar neared they would fly away.

Miros would sometimes go to the river and see the sparkling fish, they were brave and bright and they liked to stay close to the shore and each the shore bugs, grasping at them before ducking back into the shallows.

And Miros had a few holes and hollows around the river, where he could duck into and cast his face to the sky and mimic the river rocks, especially when the spray hit his face and made it slick to look at. But when the boar would come down he would his for the fish to flee. But they would say:

"Don't fear, our tails will keep us safe."

And when the boar came they swam into the river where the boar would not follow.

Other times, Miros would go to the edge of the forest, looking for tasty berries for a treat. It was harder to hide here, the dark rocks that hid Miros so well less common near the trees. But still Miros had tunnels and would hide when he heard the boar here.

But there were the hopping birds and they were fearless. But Miros would hear the boar come down from the mountain and hiss for them to flee. But once again, the hopping birds would say:

"Don't fear, our legs will keep us safe."

But the boar of stone and bloodshed was faster than the birds and when it came into the forests there was blood and bone and brutality. And Miros felt a great sadness.

Miros went to the wise turtle and asked what he could do to keep those of the forest and the mountain and the river safe. And the turtle told him that fear was not the enemy - for from fear, caution and bravery spring - for one cannot be brave without something to push against.

So one day, Miros saw the boar on the mountain below, heading for the forest and the tasty hopping birds it found there. And the boar was massive, but Miros had a face like stone, and they knew how much the mountain liked to tremble.

"Do fear, my fear will keep me safe." Miros said to himself as he found a big rock, pressing his face to it and pushing, hearing it crack and tremble. He could hear the boar huff, looking up towards the sound, and Miros so desperately wanted to flee into his holes in the ground.

But the hopping birds would be dinner tonight and Miros wanted everyone safe.

So even as the great boar approached, who could tear him apart with tusks and might should he catch Miros, Miros kept pushing.

Soon the rock gave way and with a mighty crash began tumbling down the hill. Rock after rock caught in the wake until the very mountain was angry at its avatar.

Soon the boar was buried beneath the mountain slide, and Miros was able to eat from the berries of the forest - afraid, but safe with birdsong for now.

Spread

The myth is famous among children of the Levis region that inhabit the landlocked areas of the continent. It is common knowledge, though the religious overtones have slowly been stripped over time, to just be a boar and a stone-noodle.

Variations & Mutation

Some variations on the tale change the boar to a monster - usually a many tentacled thing. Some change the wise turtle to a witch of the woods.

A stone-noodle is a type of long, mammal like creature with a face covered in rolls of flesh (almost pug like but with enough of a snout to enable proper breathing) that hides in tunnels in the rocks of hills and mountains.

About the length of a foliad arm, the stone noodle lives a solitary life, joining up with its kind to mate and raise its young until the age they can fend for themselves.

Related Species

• Foliad