With a spoken word I was breathed into existence. A new heart pulsated with life and channeled it into every extension of my body. I drew in my first breath and felt the cool air pass over my palate, felt it inflate my lungs. After that initial invigorating inhale, I could feel the warmth of a rich golden glow beginning to radiate from the very roots of my fur. I am truly alive.

Upon opening my eyes, my senses became so overwhelmed with the smells, sounds, and vibrant colors I could not even begin to sort them. The grass beneath me made my paw pads tingle, and tickled my whiskers when I bent down to smell its fresh scent. Like my fur, each blade also seemed to glow from within. Then I began to focus my ears on a sound with a frequency so low it was barely audible. And the sound seemed to emanate from the grass itself, as if it was so alive that it was humming and quivering with an uncontainable energy . In fact, all the vegetation around me shared that same energetic quality. Every leaf and every petal had its own unique murmur, and altogether they created a beautiful melody.

I ventured to take a few steps forward to try out my new legs. I noticed that with each lift of a paw, the grass instantly sprang back as if I had never once placed a foot there. What an immensely peaceful place this is… Of course realize that I knew of nothing else, and therefore could not compare it. Silence floated in the air, suspended by invisible strings attached to nothingness. But then the strings snapped by the sharp edge of a magnificent, majestic, resounding voice that could be heard over the all plants’ whirring.

It is good.

From some inward knowing, I recognized it to be the voice of my Creator without doubt, even though he was not visible. I suppose one could say it was instinct. The words still lingered in my ears, waning until they were fully dissolved back into the air. This inspired a dire yearning in me to know Him. What was He like? Why did He create me? Already I had so many questions, but surely He had more important matters to attend to.

Suddenly the warmth of a breath caused my ears to twitch. I whirled around to an almost mirror image of myself, only this creature lacked a mane and was mysteriously attractive. She smiled coyly and sashayed around me in a circle, flicking the tuft on her tail to and fro. I found myself arching an eyebrow in wonderment. She sauntered off, throwing back several “come hither” glances. Enthralled, I followed her to a cluster of gleaming pools. We lapped at the pure, refreshing water side by side, enjoying each other’s company. Soon we were joined by other fellow creatures with the most peculiar features, including one with pentagon-plates and scaly skin, another with pointed branches projecting from its head, and a pair with muscular thighs and shaggy feathers. As droplets of water fell from my chin, I stared into the eyes of the beautiful creature beside me, and experienced a new feeling: joy. It was at this point I realized I had a voice. Acting on this sudden, innate urge, a resounding roar echoed across the ponds. The friendly creature’s eyes grew wide, clearly impressed, and flicked her tail under my nose. I snatched at it, thus inciting a lovely game of chase. All the lively activity was interrupted when I heard the Creator’s voice a second time.

Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

The curious animals congregated along the pools’ banks, and watched and marveled as a whirlwind of dust arose before them. The dirt swirled in no preferred direction at first, but soon the particles began to come closer knit and took on form. When the dust’s transformation was complete, there lay a man. Then a rush of air from above, with the strength and sound of a massive wind tunnel, flowed into the man’s nostrils. The Creator had blown on him, and He had given him a unique gift the animals could not fathom. Forthwith, the man stood up and gazed upon his new domain with an air of dignity. The animals stood wild-eyed and speechless, not knowing what to expect.

Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding see; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

In the words lay the Creator’s power, for whatever He said immediately came to pass. His authority was respected, never questioned because, of course, we knew no other.

I felt that the mighty Creator had finished speaking, but the feel of His weighty presence only slackened slightly, as if He had backed off a few steps for our courage’s sake, but still watched the scene intently from a heavenly chair. The man did not move. By this time my curiosity was overwhelming. There was something very mysterious about this “man.” He was like the creatures I had become acquainted with over the last few minutes in many physical ways, but there was something else, another element I couldn’t figure out that somehow made him superior to the rest of us. I strode boldly up to him with an unknown courage mustered from the bottom of my heart (a trait I’ve since become recognized by), while my friend lingered a little shyly at my heels. As I looked up into his eyes, he smiled down warmly and began to stroke my mane. His touch felt so wonderful… I lowered my eyelids until they were merely black slits and let out a sigh.

This is the extent of my memories from my first day of existence upon the earth.

I awoke the following morning with a flinch. My new friend sat with her paws crossed (you might say like a sphinx) and was all the while licking my forehead, plastering back my mane. Her licks were so forceful I could not even keep my head still, so she steadied it with her paw, and kept bathing my face despite my protests. I was about to give in and relax when she suddenly stopped and pricked her ears. The man had stretched out silently in the grass, which blew gently at his face, fascinated. Other creatures had gathered at his feet, some leaned against one another in pairs, or snoozed quietly. A dark, furry beast had even rolled over on it’s back, begging eagerly for attention, but the man paid no attention to it. One creature we glared down unnoticed with his shrewd emerald eyes. The claws on his wings dug into the bark as he sneered to the best that a beak can. Later we would know him as the attractive, charismatic living flute which wreaked more destruction than any one ever thought he was capable of. For now, had he had to be content with waiting.

The man meditated a couple minutes longer, and with sudden enlightenment, motioned us over. We walked calmly over, side by side. “I am Adam. The great Creator has bestowed upon me the privilege of naming each of you.” He stood gracefully and laid his finely-sculpted hand upon my back. “ I shall call you Lion. And you,” he laid his left hand on the she-creature,” shall be Lioness.”