Ugnė

A world was given unto Ugnė and Simud. It was green and overflowing with all kinds of life, and they loved it passionately. Their home rotated slowly around Leviathan and eventually began to fall into its shadow. It grew cold. The plants began to wilt in the shade and the creatures shivered. Ugnė had compassion on them and built a furnace thinking he could at least provide warmth until the sun returned.

Ugnė burned the trees first, then the bushes and finally the grasses. But the sun had still not appeared. Ugnė feared the light would never return and confided in Simud. Simud reassured him that it would and cautioned against feeding the furnace. Ugnė did not listen. He dug up all the minerals their world had to offer and threw them in the furnace which blazed and warmed the grateful creatures.

There was nothing left to burn. The furnace cooled and the creatures huddled against the frost. My loves, said Ugnė, The flame grows dim and without kindling, you will die. At once the creatures said, We will burn so out neighbor will stay warm this night. And Ugnė burned the first creature in the furnace.

Simud was horrified and bound Ugnė. You have destroyed the world, said Simud, A new day will dawn but there will be nothing left if you continue this way. And Simud stood guard over Ugnė.

Alas, Simud fell asleep. The creatures freed Ugnė and he threw the slumbering steward into the furnace. And the fire burned oh so brightly. Simud soon burnt out, the night stretched on and the creatures dutifully gave themselves to Ugnė’s flames.

Finally, the sun peaked from behind Leviathan. Ugnė rejoiced. He felt the warmth in the air. But as the light grew and he turned to celebrate with the creatures of the world, he found none left. Only ash.