Username: Olivia_the_lion
Name: Epemetheus(goes by Eth)
Gender:Male
Writing:
The great Iquena scratched his head gently with his forelimbs.Most memorable experience? That, he had to think about.For he'd been around many years, seen and done many things, and he could hardly remember them all, let alone assign value to them.He finally decided that it would be the day he received his name. Epemetheus, bringer of fire, also called Eth.In legends, Epemetheus was a titan, who gave fire to the earthen beings.
And apparently the Iquena was to be associated with fire. His coloring, ashen grey fur, tinged with red markings, and of course his glorious mane, a sunset orange color embellished with red and yellow, all gave the impression of an inferno. It's no wonder the name he was given upon existence was Aodh,what would later become the name given to the Gaelic sun god.However, that and much of his early life was another story, for another time.For the once Aodh has taken the time to remember this one.
It was many, many years before this one, a mere century and a half after his existence began. Those of his species weren't as lonely and sparse then, and he had joined a herd of a sort.He wasn't a leader, like Mnemaer, nothing remotely close, but he was somewhat respected for his initiative and willingness to learn from the older ones.They would tell him stories about the Iquena, and about how they too were once young like him. "Sired by the very elements of the universe," they called it, for Iquenas were never born, really.
It was in the middle of a migration when it happened. Mnemaer had insisted on travelling now, in spite of the storm overtaking the sky. Even as the lightning illuminated the overcast that blanketed the sky; even as thunder roared, shaking the ground below, even as wind whipped about and lashed its icy tongue, he made them trudge forth. They kept moving, as a herd, until night fell, and they noticed that one of the elders, Sheothoryn, had not been keeping up. After waiting for a while, Mnemaer held up the herd, and turned to the more grown Iquena, to try and form a rescue party. Aodh piped up, after Mnemaer's offer was rejected by the others.He said he would go out, and search for Sheothoryn.
The Iquena retraced his herd's steps, keeping his head on a swivel, occasionally yowling out for his herdmate. As the storm persisted, his apprehensiveness and doubtfulness grew, and he began having thoughts of heading back the Mnemaer and the others.Just as he was about to turn back, a bolt of lightning struck and felled a tree. All at once a section of the tree caught fire.Aodh was mystified at it, how it provided warmth, and light, while coming too close would burn him. He decided to bring it with him, to search more effectively for Sheothoryn. He very gently took the branch between his jaws, snapped it off, and gripped it firmly in his forelimbs, before continuing.
All at once, a low whimper could be heard from some brush off the path. Aodh cried out to the voice, earning a somewhat louder whimper in response.He dashed over, and used his fire stick to provide light source.Sure enough, Sheothoryn was there, snagged in a tendril-like plant. Aodh thrust the torch in the ground, and used his forelimbs and teeth to snip away at the plant, until he freed the ensnared elder. Together he and Sheothoryn made their way back to the others in the herd, him leading the way with his torch, flame blazing away.
Upon Reunity, the herd rejoiced, embracing Sheothoryn, and praising Aodh. Sheothoryn then spun a daring tale of his rescue, implying there had been a mightier foe than a tendrilled plant, and that he had been saved when the bringer of fire came.He winked with his third eye at Aodh, and nudged him forward. "You oughtta give the boy a traditional name, Menne!" the elder shouted to Mnemaer.He looked over, turned toward Aodh, and placed his hoof upon his shoulder.
"Brave Iquena, upon origin named Aodh, You have proven yourself today. You bravely strode out in the middle of a temperamental storm, alone, and took your own initiative to rescue Sheothoryn. I, Mnemaer, leader of your herd, believe your name to be undeserving.From this moment forward, you shall go by Epemetheus, bringer of fire."
Removing his hoof, the great leader turned to the center of the grove, where the torch was still burning brightly.He bowed his head to the torch, and looking at the newly named Epemetheus, announced:
"And may your future burn forever bright......."
The words echoed through his head.400 years past, and he could still remember the words of the late Mnemaer, echoing through the grove of ash and elm trees.It was so much prettier in the daylight than it had been that night, and in the center, where his torch had been, a Delox Regia, a flame tree, had sprung up.
