Tall Tales and Oysters - Sparks-in-Shade 03-05-23
May 4, 2023 7:43:56 GMT
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Post by Sparks-In-Shade on May 4, 2023 7:43:56 GMT
"Have I told you, children, of the greatest story our people ever told?"
The little ones hesitated, afraid of speaking up in a group. Some gingerly opened their shells as if to reply, then thought better and closed them again. All were facing toward the Elder Oyster expectantly. The smallest, Pearl, finally worked up the courage to respond.
"You mean the tale of the adventurers who taught us about storytelling?"
"Exactly, Pearl. Of Blessed, Sparks-Shade, Vox, Wil, and Cyclone. Those who gave us the gift of fables."
Pearl shifted excitedly and opened her shell wide to hear. All of the oyster children had been told this story before, and some of the older ones even turned and sighed quietly at having to sit through it again. Pearl loved this story though.
"It was a thousand years ago, when I was but a veliger - younger even than you are now, little ones. A great Shiny Person, whose name is lost to time, approached our people and sat with us a while. His stories were the first that oysters had ever heard, but our people were so mesmerised by his words that we sat dumbfounded by them, little more than rocks. No water was filtered, no larvae were made, no pearls produced. These are the things that oysters do. This Shiny One, with his tales, made us less than oysters.
"But then came our saviours. Blessed, whose beauty and general classiness was unmatched throughout the land. Sparks-in-Shade, who some believe was the greatest warrior, swordsman, lothario, and King of the World that has ever lived. Cyclone, swiftest and kindest of the people of the air. Vox who taught our people of our true value. And Wil... who kind of bummed us out with this depressing spiel about abandonment but we eventually understood what he was trying to do."
”Their tales were wide and varied, and mostly true. Through their gifts, our people learned the value in story: collecting, reciting, sharing and listening.” The Elder continued.
"Though their influence was little felt during their own lifetimes, the guidance and leadership of these great people was instrumental in building the culture that we have today. And that is why we celebrate our most important holiday every 12 years: The Festival of Blessed's Story Picnic."
As the Elder Oyster finished his story, he widened the opening in his shell to read the expressions on his audience.
Pearl sat enraptured, and even the older children had turned back toward the Elder as his performance reached its crescendo. There was no denying that storytelling was at the heart of Galaviri Oyster culture, and the Elder was perhaps the greatest raconteur among their people.
"That's it for now, children." The Elder Oyster looked at the children, arranged around him in a semicircle. He felt relieved that these young ones would go on to do great things long after he was gone: make beautiful pearls, tell wonderful stories, and keep the lake clean and safe.
He smiled to himself, knowing he had done his part. The next generation of Galaviri Oysters would never forget the group who gave them this gift.
The little ones hesitated, afraid of speaking up in a group. Some gingerly opened their shells as if to reply, then thought better and closed them again. All were facing toward the Elder Oyster expectantly. The smallest, Pearl, finally worked up the courage to respond.
"You mean the tale of the adventurers who taught us about storytelling?"
"Exactly, Pearl. Of Blessed, Sparks-Shade, Vox, Wil, and Cyclone. Those who gave us the gift of fables."
Pearl shifted excitedly and opened her shell wide to hear. All of the oyster children had been told this story before, and some of the older ones even turned and sighed quietly at having to sit through it again. Pearl loved this story though.
"It was a thousand years ago, when I was but a veliger - younger even than you are now, little ones. A great Shiny Person, whose name is lost to time, approached our people and sat with us a while. His stories were the first that oysters had ever heard, but our people were so mesmerised by his words that we sat dumbfounded by them, little more than rocks. No water was filtered, no larvae were made, no pearls produced. These are the things that oysters do. This Shiny One, with his tales, made us less than oysters.
"But then came our saviours. Blessed, whose beauty and general classiness was unmatched throughout the land. Sparks-in-Shade, who some believe was the greatest warrior, swordsman, lothario, and King of the World that has ever lived. Cyclone, swiftest and kindest of the people of the air. Vox who taught our people of our true value. And Wil... who kind of bummed us out with this depressing spiel about abandonment but we eventually understood what he was trying to do."
”Their tales were wide and varied, and mostly true. Through their gifts, our people learned the value in story: collecting, reciting, sharing and listening.” The Elder continued.
"Though their influence was little felt during their own lifetimes, the guidance and leadership of these great people was instrumental in building the culture that we have today. And that is why we celebrate our most important holiday every 12 years: The Festival of Blessed's Story Picnic."
As the Elder Oyster finished his story, he widened the opening in his shell to read the expressions on his audience.
Pearl sat enraptured, and even the older children had turned back toward the Elder as his performance reached its crescendo. There was no denying that storytelling was at the heart of Galaviri Oyster culture, and the Elder was perhaps the greatest raconteur among their people.
"That's it for now, children." The Elder Oyster looked at the children, arranged around him in a semicircle. He felt relieved that these young ones would go on to do great things long after he was gone: make beautiful pearls, tell wonderful stories, and keep the lake clean and safe.
He smiled to himself, knowing he had done his part. The next generation of Galaviri Oysters would never forget the group who gave them this gift.
