The One Who Remains

Long ago, before the mountains knew their heights, before the rocks had names, before the wells were drunk, before the sun had risen and stars blinked back at the eyes below. Before the roads were built, before the great cities rose from the ash of war. Before we had names, before we knew that there were gods to speak to, before we had awoken from dream ridden reveries of the soul. Too existed in a grand place.

Fragile runner, runner from a horror that stalked this world. Run run run little hare, run till your heart stills and your body returns to earn so err rested from the heavens. Run until you see the daylight, run even then. For past these hills with no names, past these mountains green and stunted. For past those stars, leave horizons behind.

The great cities rise and fall before you, times past, futures forgiven. For great kings to rise and be forgotten. For these forests to bloom in gardens lost to the mind, for these hills to swim with life. Run run run little hare, run until your heart stills and you body returns to earn so err rest from the heavens. Cycles repeat, cycles remain.

Little hare, you ran until the stars seemed like a distant memory. Your mind not lost, but understanding that all that was needed was for you to wait. For the cycle will begin again, in that darkness you saw the stars once more. You waited yet longer and the the earth was beneath your feet once more. You waited yet longer still, and the nameless mountains rose once more, the forests came back and you rejoiced.

Now you ran ran ran again, watched nameless kings rise and fall, watched great cities rise and crumble to ruin. When you stopped past the horizon once more, the stars stayed. Confused you ran and ran and ran once again, yet the stars remained. Endless you found your voice and asked the stars. "Why do you stay? When I would run before your left me behind, why stay this cycle?"

Little hare you never expected an answer. Yet, you ran and ran and ran. Heedless of your journey, heedless of the lessons the world had taught you. Wait and it returns, run and it fades away. Fragile runner, runner from a horror that stalked this world. Run run run little hare, run till your heart stills and your body returns to earn so err rested from the heavens. When your heart stopped once more, you rested. Only now, a voice answered your question.

"Oh, little hare, why do you run? I will make this world for you evermore, for you don't wait long enough."

"I don't understand" The hare said as it opened it eyes once more to find itself in the forest once more to begin it's journey again.

The little hare ran and ran and ran until the world fell behind again. Only now the cycle stopped again, the stars remained. "You heedth not mine words, little hare."

"But, what am I waiting for?" It asked as it's heart stilled and awoke again in the forest. Only now it noticed the sunrise and it's glorious colors. It paused and watched until the moon had risen following the sun across the sky, it wondered. "Just another cycle." And it ran and ran and ran until it left the horizon behind again, until only the stars remained.

Once more the voice spoke to it. "Wait longer, life is so short when you run through it."

It rested as it's heart stilled again to awaken in the forest once more. It watched the sun and moon again. Listening to the birds singing, the crickets in the night, listened to the wind through the forest. Day after day it watched and listened, not moving not wanting to repeat this cycle again. But, it ran once more. Only now pausing when it saw something new. Watched these mighty kings rise, watch them build great cities. It ran and ran again, pausing when it saw an ocean it didn't know, and watched the waves crash endlessly on the shores. Enjoying the sound of the surf, the songs the birds sang, the way the moon glittered on the shifting seas.

"Voice, what is it am I am waiting for?" The little hare asked.

"The act of waiting isn't something that is the point." The voice answered.

The hare didn't understand the voice's meaning. So it ran and ran and ran until the horizon was behind it once more. Until only the stars remained. It stopped once again and asked the voice. "What is the meaning in waiting if it serves me no purpose?"

"Does this cycle you have chosen serve a purpose?" It responded.

It awoke again in the forest, the little hare didn't rise. The little hare tired of this journey simple chose to do nothing. Watching as the sun and moon danced in their skies. Watched as the forest around it withered and a new one took it's place. Watched as the great kings cut the forests down to build their cities. Watched until the land below it eroded away and was replaced with a sea. Watched until the earth had been swallowed by the stars, and was left with only the stars once more. "I waited. I have come to you with the same result." The little hare told the voice.

"Yes, you did. But you did nothing with the cycle. You merely endured it." It answered.

"Then what am I meant to do? Waiting did nothing, and when I run I end up in this place again." The little hare yelled to the voice.

"Did you enjoy when you first watched the sun and moon, when these kings and cities rose? Did you enjoy the stars and the sea?" The voice answered.

The hare thought long and hard before answering. It felt peaceful, it felt like knowing the world had some meaning. "I suppose I did."

The voice suddenly appeared before the little hare, a wonderous women draped in a crown of leaves. "Then my child, I want you to keep enjoying what I made for you. Please, wait longer."