Art and Eagle

In the Ur-Times, before Stone found its strength and before Joy learned to laugh, Art was seeking prey.

It stalked across the land that Behemoth had made, and it swam in the depths that Leviathan had gouged. Art flitted across all that was, and struck with the speed of Regret. When Art pounced, it's target was instantly unmade, and Art fed upon the image of what was once. Not always the same it was, and although many persist to this day as their representation, there were so many victims that many were lost forever.

Until one day Eagle saw with his amazing eyes that Art was readying to lunge. Eagle had no interest in becoming a unmade, so he took to the sky. But Art was not constrained to the earth or the ocean and followed Eagle. Eagle swooped low and flew between Trees, and into canyons, but Art was never far behind. Soon Eagle would become tired, and not able to continue the chase. But he had a thought.

"Do not eat me, Art!" Eagle shouted at his pursuer.

"I must eat, as must you Eagle. It is the way." Art replied soullessly.

"But you needn't eat me!" Eagle implored.

"If not you, then another. It is the same."

"Perhaps not! What if I prepare you a meal unlike you have ever had?" Eagle asked.

Art paused in its pursuit, and pondered. What could Eagle make?

"If I do not like it, I will gobble you up just the same." Art stated.

"But if you do like it, you will not?"

"I will not."

And Eagle was greatly relieved. He soared into the air, and crashed back into the earth. He landed in a great puddle of muck, and rolled himself around like a younglet. Art became very confused as it watched.

Then, Eagle stood again, covered in the much, and flew to a rock. He spread his wings, and fell back on the rock, leaving an image of his splendor in the brown mud.  He stood, and shook his feathers clean.  He indicated the muck-picture to Art.

"Here is me, and there I am!" He proclaimed proudly. "Feast on that, and be sustained, and let me be!"

Art moved to the stone, and gobbled up the image of Eagle. It was delicious, and unlike anything he had ever experienced. And Art wanted more.

But he had made a promise to Eagle so he did not gobble him up. But instead instructed Eagle to tell all the Things that Art would feed on the representation of them instead of themselves. And so we have paintings, and stories, and dances.

And so we still have Eagle.