When World was new and Their skin was hot, no dog lived. World was sad. Soil smelled World’s sadness, so Soil made pups. Soil was so eager to make World happy that They rushed. The pups were spat from Soil, blind and helpless. World and Soil saw the pups were not ready, so formed a safe den until they were. After a cycle of seasons, the pups emerged, ready to learn about World and Soil who kept them safe. They found World and Soil had been preparing for them. To show the pups They were sorry for fabricating them so carelessly, World gave them water to drink and Soil grew plants so they had prey to hunt. Soil left sentinel-stones to guard big-saltwater where a dog might sink into the Wilderness. Because They loved them so and felt such sadness at doing the pups wrong, World and Soil promised the pups the ground would always be their home so World could hold them in love and Soil could protect them.

The pups grew and learnt, they looked after each other remembering how Soil and World had cared for them. The pups learnt Sun leaves Rise-Soil, travels over World to return to Set-Soil to rest Themself at the end of each day. One pup was smaller than the others, he had a foot that was different. When he wanted to play and learn he was left behind. One day Soil spoke to the pup whose eyes opened first,

“You are First Eyes, that means you serve by guiding Pack. Guiding Pack means you ensure every-dog has what they need. He is a Runt^, what he needs is you to ensure he too can serve Pack. Both World and I love ye, every dog may go where they choose but Pack travels as one. It is your Service to ensure this.”

So, First Eyes guided the Pack, but she was strong and proud and wanted to play. One day she let Runt drop behind while Pack were exploring. First Eyes smelled a hyena. She knew she must protect Pack and she told them to prepare to defend themselves. She forgot Runt. She heard him scream and by the time she got there, he was a body. Soil told her,

“You were meant to keep Pack together. I told you that meant guiding every-dog, even if they are different. Your lack of care means you are all weaker; Runt may not have been a strong fighter, but he had an exceptional nose. He found water running over World when you couldn’t smell it.”

Soil took the body.

First Eyes was truly sorry, she howled to the sky with the loss of her littermate. She guided Pack for another cycle and always ensured every-dog was safe. She travelled at the rear of Pack so she could track every dog when Pack moved. After a cycle, First Eyes was notched and scarred from fighting hyena and they were all tired from hunting for water. Soil said,

“You have upheld your Service to Pack, I believe you would not let a dog fall behind now. I have been Parent to Runt for an extra cycle and he is returned to you. He may not be a warrior but he is ready to be a dog. You must give each dog what they need to serve Pack.”

Time passed, dogs grew and had pups. They followed the ways of Soil and World. After many cycles, dogs grew curious about the nature of Soil and World. A schism occurred in Pack between dogs with different ideas. Rise dogs valued physical gifts while Set valued character gifts. They divided the land they found and warred over what remained for centuries.