The Cheetah Book of Creation

The Cheetah Story of Creation

“When the Earth was still new, and its soil still burned and rumbled under the feet of those that walked upon it, the only creatures that were around were the two-legged humans.

The tall, muscular humans believed they had been given the Earth as a gift from a divine presence, and their purpose was to look after it. Their offspring, the small, rounder humans, believed otherwise. They knew that the purpose of the Earth was to roam free, explore and play, but they also knew of its dire secret. The small humans always grew into the bigger humans, and forgot their original purpose, and, as they all grew, the smallest of the humans realised that she was losing all of her friends to the great cursed secret of the Earth.

The smallest human was called Maisha, and her father was in charge of the Viridian Tribe. She loved her father, but he was so serious, and almost always too busy to play games with her. Maisha tried to stay alert and happy, and one day, discovered that she alone could help the Earth.

Whilst playing alone at the riverside with some sticks, Maisha thought about the Earth and how lonely it seemed with just grown humans walking around in it. Although there were babies being born all the time, Maisha had come to realise that when they were her age, she would be much too old to play with them, and the combined idea of her unhappiness and their unhappiness, caused Maisha to cry. As she cried, she watched the river ripple and bubble to accept the introduction of her tears. She watched it form shapes and move, and it gave her an idea.

Picking up some twigs, Maisha put all her efforts into bending and shaping them into designs that she had dreamed about. When she was done, she wiped the sweat from her brow and sighed, looking at her creation. It didn’t look right. It was a long stick, with six other sticks wrapped about it – four legs, and a makeshift neck and tail. Not one to give up easily, Maisha tried something else. She scooped up a handful of mud and slopped it all over the twig-thing she had made. It didn’t help.

“I don’t understand!” she cried, “Father says that we are made up of bone and skin. I have given my creation its own bones and now some skin. What am I doing wrong?”

“The secrets of the divine are not for a girl-child to know,” a voice whispered to Maisha, “but you have impressed me, and inspired me. Your need for companionship shall not be ignored, little Maisha. Continue to make for me the structures of your creatures, and I shall help give them life.”

Maisha looked at her twig-thing, and then at the sky.

“Who said that?” she asked, before ducking her head down, “No. The Earth confuses me enough. No more questions. I will make more creatures for you, great voice…” the child paused. Coming from a tribe who knew very little of love or life, but a lot about hunting and cunning, Maisha spoke again, “I will make them, if you prove to me that your word is true.”

“As you wish,” replied the voice, “I will bargain with you.” After he had stopped talking, Maisha’s creation began to take on a solid form. It turned golden, and the sticks became real legs, a real neck and head, and a real, swishing tail. The only problem left was that it had no features – just a structure.

“It’s not quite as I imagined it in my head, great voice,” sighed Maisha.

“Touch the creature,” suggested the voice, “Shape it into your own.”

Doing as she was told, Maisha nervously put her hand on the animal’s back. When she moved her hand again, she gasped to see that, where her fingers had been, black spots appeared on the creature. Delighted, Maisha continued to stroke and shape the creature, and finally, she gave it eyes, a nose and a mouth, so that it could look, and smell, and communicate. As soon as it could do so, the creature let out a bark, and licked Maisha’s nose.

She had created Duma; the first cheetah.

As the days went by, Maisha grew, but she never gave up on her important tasks. She created the other creatures – the antelope, the alligators, the bears, the bees, the cattle, the deer, and the elephants – and so on, but she never forgot that first day, long ago, when she created her very first friend, the one with the swift feet, and the loyal heart.”

Mwogo frowned as Azanti finished her story.

“So, cheetahs were the first creatures,” she mumbled in disbelief, “I doubt it.”

Azanti smirked and flicked her tail in Mwogo’s direction.

“Well, we all know where your kind comes from,” she laughed, “So hold your tongue.” Exile yawned and looked to Mwogo, eagerly.

“I don’t believe I know,” she admitted, “Care enlightening an old panther?”

Looking back at Azanti with a sly smirk, Mwogo nodded and took a bow.

“Certainly!” she beamed, as she took to the promontory rock to begin her tale.