Fire

Now, do you know the most important discovery of humankind? It is fire. Fire has always been the most important discovery to humanity. Do you know where the fire came from? I certainly do, now come close and listen well.

Long, long ago, before humans spread across the world. There was only one tribe of humans. They are like any other creature on the savanna. Living together in their group using anything they can use to survive. One day, a storm rolled over the dry grass. With this, all of the people of the tribe ran for safety.

With a strike of lighting, they all shuddered with fear. Then another strike, and the tribe responded in turn. While the sky continued to strike fear into the tribe. Two brothers peaked out of their hole of fear. Their skin crawled with goosebumps with what they saw. Their eyes showed wonder yet terror. A beast seemed to come from the raging sky.

It had the horns like the rhinoceros, but they were on the side of its body. The horns, even in size but big broad. Four strong legs graced the land. Each step was almost silent if it wasn’t for the bush crackling. The beast’s tail spread more fire and seem to kill any animal unlucky enough to be in its presence.

But what truly caught both of the brothers’ attention was the entire body of the beast. Not dressed in fur or armor but in flames. It wasn’t something unknown to the boys. Told many times by their elders. It is the Great Bull of Fire. Unrelenting and uncaring for any other creature. It marched forward with a mighty grace towards the village.

Both of the brothers looked at each other. The bull came closer, and their home started to catch ablaze. Both of them couldn’t sit still. The taller one first rushed out and grabbed the closest stick. Motioning to his brother to follow his lead.

He waved his stone-tipped spears, but the Great Bull of Fire still marched on. The shorter brother ran for the water collected by the village. The bull noticed the taller brother aim his spear at him. For it did not care for the stone weapon. The hamlet began to set ablaze due to the bull’s presence.

Seeing the braveness, more villagers helped the boys. Half went to get water, and others went spears to scare the bull. The weapons caught ablaze. Thus the humans panicked and dropped the spears. Slowly they took steps back from the fierce flames. Knowing all time well if they are a meter closer.

Thankfully the other villagers came with their holdings of water. They tossed the water at the Great Bull of Fire. Thankfully it backs off from the villagers when all the villagers threw the H2O. As the villagers were getting ready to cheer for a false victory. The bull raged, and its body grew brighter. Getting into a stance that only means one thing. The shorter brother recognized this and told all the villagers to move.

They listened to the boy and moved with post-haste. The bull charged the entire village was burned to ash. They mourned for the destruction of their town in silence. Moving on from the destruction, the villages set out to find a new home. Before leaving, the shorter brother noticed lions approaching them.

After grabbing the attention of the other villagers, the men of the village held the still burning spears and waved them at the lions. After a couple of waves, the lions returned from where they came. As the villagers set to head out with anything they could find, the shorter brother stayed behind. The taller brother noticed this and called out to him.

“Brother! We must go! The Village is destroyed!” He said with authority. The younger brother said to his village these very words. The words that would set humanity on an irreversible path. “This is goodbye; I will leave this village and survive on my own! The Great Bull of Fire set our home ablaze. With that, he gave us a gift that can drive away lions. I will take this gift and learn to control it and rule.”

The villagers were astonished by his words. While his brother was afraid for him. “You can not survive on your own! Look behind you!” The taller brother replied, and the younger brother did as he commanded. “The fire the Great Bull of Fire caused. What will you do when you are alone? Surely you can not fight it by yourself!?”

The shorter brother looked at the bush fire caused by the Great Bull. Then, looked at his taller brother and replied. “I will learn to control it like my spear. I will finally master it and make it a beast that serves me. A beast of burden or something.” An elder stepped up and cried out to the young man.

“You can not master the offspring! You will only get burned then die like the rest!” The short brother felt the roughness of his spear. Saw the smoke in the sky and heard the running water of the nearby river. “We have taken the trees and stone and made them into weapons. From those weapons, we have killed many beasts and gathered plants to eat. Like those things, I will master fire. Does anyone wish to join me?”

The shorter brother replied and looked at his fellow man. Four stepped forward and went to the shorter brother. A child, a teenager, an adult, and an elder. The shorter brother asked them all the same question. “Do you wish to master fire with me?” They all said, an excited yes with a tinge of fear.

Knowing full well what that would mean. “This is goodbye. Take care, brother, and I hope you find peace in the afterlife.” He said with a tearful tone. “Yes, I hope you find peace as well, brother. You are responsible for these people, so stop crying and be strong.” The taller one replied. “I can’t even cry once?” The shorter one questioned. “Not even once, the wilds are unforgiving, and if you show any weakness. You will all die, and so will they.”

The shorter brother listened and replied with a nod. Thus they were off. The village never saw the group again. The Great Bull of Fire never appeared after that day. Some say that the fire on the spear never went out.

Without the fire being snuffed out, the Great Bull of Fire can not return. A piece of itself still remains on the Earth. So the bull can not appear during any lightning storm. Or maybe the beast can not show itself because humankind has mastered fire. Who’s to say, but one thing is for sure without control, the offspring are just like its parent. A raging bull that is unforgiving and uncaring.