There was once a great and ancient forest,
The trees of which were great unending pillars that did not end,
From which grew a great deal of fruits.
Within the forest there were three Brothers.
The eldest and wisest was the Spider.
It was a master of inventions and of creation,
It mind was shrewd and careful,
And It did love Its brothers.
Next was the Bear.
He was a master of strength and of bravery,
His mind was filled with gallantry,
And He did love His brothers.
Last was the Hawk.
He was a master of cunning and perception,
His mind was filled with the freedom of the skies,
For He alone had been above the canopy,
And He did love His brothers.
For a long time these brothers lived in peace,
They ate of the fruit from the trees and the meat of mindless beasts,
And they would drink of the rivers and pools of starlight,
And they would revel and live carefree lives under the canopy,
Through twilight and sunlight,
And all things were good.
Yet as all cycles are,
The end of these times would come,
So the Bear would come to where the Spider was resting,
And with great consternation and fear He would speak,
Which would disquiet the Spider.
"There is a slithering thing in this forest,"
He would say in a tiny voice most unlike him,
"It is eating of the fruit as we have,
It is drinking of the starlight as we have,
And like us It eats of the mindless beasts.
Yet there is no care in this slithering thing,
It devours all before It without care.
All it touches becomes rot."
And the Spider would think on this,
And It would sway upon Its web in the breeze,
Upon which It could smell the rot.
Yet as It thought to speak,
The Hawk would arrive as well,
And He was alight with fear.
"Treachery!" He would call,
"There is treachery in this forest!
A wicked and cancerous growth exists within this forest,
It is a growth that turns all It touches to Its own visage,
And demands of all that they become as It is.
Barely did I escape before Its branches clutched me,
And still Its voice I hear in my mind."
And the Hawk would turn to drinking from a nearby stream.
So the Spider would think for some time,
And Its brothers,
Who trusted It,
Would also wait.
Finally the Spider would speak.
"You were wise my Brothers,
For these issues cause me great concern,
And I thank you for seeking my counsel.
These malicious beings would threaten us,
And perhaps even this Forest that we must protect,
And so I shall meet with our foes."
And the Hawk and the Bear did protest,
For they were worried for their brother,
And knew that It was the weakest of them,
And they knew that It was in the most danger.
"Brother," the Bear would say,
"Is that wise?
Why would I not simply rend them?
Why should I not simply lay low our foes,
Then we may go back to revelry?"
"If you had the belief that you could slay this beast,"
the Spider would say carefully,
"I feel that you would have."
And the Bear fell silent,
For he knew the Spider spoke the truth.
"Why should I not fly above them?"
The Hawk would ask with indignation.
"They shall not be able to reach me in the high places,
I shall be able to gaze upon our foe,
Then we may plan our victory."
"I must see them myself," the Spider would retort,
"So I must go myself.
I hear the worry in both of you,
So I shall reassure you,
And I shall ask you to be near,
So that if I face danger I do not face it alone,
And so that we may flee if we must.
Yet it concerns me to hear you both speak-
For it seems that you wish these creatures destroyed,
Yet we do not know their nature.
I would wish to speak with them,
I would wish to understand them.
I shall know them.
Perhaps they can be turned from this path,
And we may grow our merry band.
Would it not be good to have more friends?"
And the Brothers would think and discuss for some time,
Yet the Spider would not be swayed,
So they would all make their preparations,
They would address the troubles in the order they had come to Him,
Their first journey would be into a dark place where light did not reach,
Where they would first speak with the slithering thing.
