A/N: This is for a school project, where we were assigned to write our own myths using original characters and not borrowing from any other cultures. Mine is an explanation of the tides. I would appreciate any feedback on this, and I will be editing this constantly as I edit it for my paper. Thanks for reading!
Calmotides: Heart of the Ocean
Long ago, when there was only one land mass and no seas,
Calmotides cried out to the great god Pulastrings in misery. “Lord Pulastrings,
I am drying up, and nothing provides relief. Only drinking water can help, and
my skin is cracking, my hair is falling out, my mouth is dry. I beg you, think
of a way to end my torment. I am ready to die!”
Pulastrings was greatly distressed, and he called his most trusted messenger, Spedipace,
over to his throne. “Spedipace, most honored and fastest of foot, I have a mission
for you. Go and find the healer god Fixmawon so that he can come and provide
relief for the great goddess Calmotides.”
“Your wish is my command, O Great Pulastrings.” Spedipace bowed and then ran
through the corridors of the palace, down the great mountain the palace was
situated on, through the towns and villages and hills and valleys, along the
rivers and beside the lakes, never slowing until he ran into the trickster
Trexer.
"Spedipace, my old friend, you again attempt to
trespass on my forest? You know the rules, to pass you must beat me in a duel,"
Trexer purred, drawing his long, elegant sword.
“I have no weapon, Trexer, I come unarmed. Let me pass in peace.”
“You must earn your passage, Spedipace.”
“You still want to fight with swords? Helmablo has a much more effective
way."
Trexer paused. “What way does Helmablow use?"
“Oh, you haven’t heard? The Dark Knight Helmablo uses a game of riddles to
befuddle and confuse all his visitors, and no one has escaped so far.”
This plan was appealing to Trexer. “Very well, then, that’s what we will do.
How does this game work?”
“Simple. I, as the traveler, give you a riddle to prove my intelligence. If you
say, ‘I surrender’, then I can pass through. If you think of the answer, you
can slay me.”
“Give me your riddle, for there has never been a challenge I cannot rise to,” Trexer
boasted.
“At the end of a battle, when the losing team realizes that they do not stand a
chance against the might of the dominant army, what do they say?”
“I surrender!” Trexer exclaimed in glee.
Spedipace shrugged. “Since you cannot think of an answer, then I will be on my
way.”
Trexer realized his stupidity, but too late. Enraged, he drew his sword, but
the hand of Prova, god of justice, stopped him. “He has won, Trexer. Allow him
through," Prova's deep voice boomed. Spedipace turned and continued on his
way, leaving Trexer fuming behind.
The great healer god was outside in his garden collecting herbs, and when he
saw Spedipace, he welcomed him. “Greetings, Spedipace. What brings you to my
cottage today?”
“I come with a message from Pulastrings himself. He wishes you to come to his
palace and think of a way to cease the ailments of Calmotides, who is drying up
and cannot find a cure. However, I have no doubt that you will be able to find
a cure.”
Fixmawon smiled. "We shall see, my friend. I do have an idea,
but I will get the king's permission first."
The two of them traveled back to Lord Pulastring’s palace by a
different route so they could avoid the trickster Trexer, and they arrived near
sunset. They traveled through the palace hallways until they entered the great
throne room.
Fixmawon stepped up to where Pulastrings was seated. “Sir, I have
discovered the answer to what has caused Calmotides so much agony. You see, she
has spent so much time in the water and loves it so much, it has become a part
of her, and for her to be separated from it causes her unbearable agony. My
solution is for you to put Calmotides in a sea of your creation so she can keep
her skin hydrated.”
Lord Pulastrings nodded. “That is an excellent idea, Fixmawon. I accept that
counsel.” Pulastrings stood and stepped outside onto the mountain overlooking
the void that showed the end of the known world. He took a deep breath and
summoned all the storm clouds, pulling them from the ends of the world and then
causing them to pour out rain, filling up the void with water, reaching down
into the deepest depths and filling it with more water than had been seen since
the creation of the gods.
After the water was at a suitable height, Pulastrings dismissed the rain clouds
and filled them with water once again so they could go deliver to the village,
waiting eagerly for their weekly showers.
And Calmotides was brought, and the great Pulastrings lifted her into the newly
formed sea. She swam out to the center, and with every inhale the sea seemed to
breathe with her, flowing in, and with every exhale waves pounded against the
shore. And she still lives on, in the heart of the sea, causing the tides to
churn and pushing the waves upon the sand.
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