First One Fills the World

The place of death is cold and dark, deep and silent, and presses in on every side. The people move through Death without seeing and without hearing, without touching and without feeling, and without changing.   Only First One ever came out of Death by himself. He walked with the fast water until he came out of Death, and he found a place that was bright and open, warm and wide, and all new. But the water was still and the land was bare, the air was quiet and the sky was empty, and he was alone.   Then First One went back into Death and found Seed Woman. First One and Seed Woman walked with the fast water out of Death and into the new place. Seed Woman walked away over the new place, and her seeds went into the ground and grew into trees. Then the water went to the seeds and the land was filled with trees, but the air was still quiet and the sky was still empty, and First One was still alone.   Then First One went back into Death and found Leaf Girl. First One and Leaf Girl walked with the fast water out of Death and into the new place. Leaf Girl walked away over the new place, and her leaves went into the trees and grew into branches. Then the water went to the seeds and the land was filled with trees, and the air carried wonderful smells and the sky was filled with leaves, but First One was still alone.   Then First One went back into Death and found Dance Boy. First One and Dance Boy walked with the fast water out of Death and into the new place. Dance Boy walked away over the new place, and his dance went into the branches and grew into wind. Then the water went to the seeds and the land was filled motion, the air carried joyful sounds and the sky was filled with leaves, but First One was still alone.   Then First One went back into Death and found Rain Girl. First One and Rain Girl walked with the fast water out of Death and into the new place. Rain Girl walked away over the new place, and her rain went into the wind and grew into waves. Then the water went up and down and the land was filled with motion, the air carried joyful sounds and the sky was filled with clouds, but First One was still alone.   Then First One went back into Death and found Breath Woman. First One and Breath Woman walked with the fast water out of Death and into the new place. But Breath Woman did not walk away over the new place. Her breath went into the water and swam away. Her breath went into the land and crawled away. Her breath went into the air and leaped away. Her breath went into the sky and flew away. But Breath Woman, this one, stayed with First One. Then the water went up and down and the land was filled with motion, the air carried joyful sounds and the sky was filled with clouds, and First One stood together with Breath Woman in the new place.