The Origin of Death: Five Traditional Animal Folk Tales

Subsequent to the Creator's completion of the world's fabrication, he did dispatch the Chameleon upon a commission, stating, “Proceed hence and convey unto the populace: subsequent to thy demise, thou shalt be roused anew.”

A duration of time did elapse; the Chameleon, however, did fail to render his return.

Thereupon, the Creator did delegate the Lizard, proclaiming, “Proceed hence and impart unto the populace: subsequent to thy demise, thou shalt not be roused anew.”

The Lizard, exhibiting considerable haste, did attain the populace prior to the arrival of the Chameleon.

“Subsequent to thy demise, thou shalt not be roused anew,” declared the Lizard, whereat the populace assented, uttering, “Yea.”

When, in the fullness of time, the Chameleon did eventually arrive, he proclaimed, “Subsequent to thy demise, thou shalt be roused anew.”

The populace, however, had already embraced the tidings disseminated by the Lizard.

Wherefore, it is that the deceased are not roused from their slumber.

In the commencement of epochs, mortality was yet unknown amongst the denizens of this terrestrial sphere.

Subsequently, 'twas observed that an individual succumbed to ailment and yielded their mortal coil.

The populace, in their lamentation, did beseech the Canine, entreating, “Procure audience with the Almighty and solicit guidance in this predicament.”

The Canine, obedient to their charge, did commune with the Divine Being, yet tarried in his return with undue procrastination.

When the Canine's return was unduly protracted, the populace dispatched the Ovine in his stead.

The Ovine, upon his return, imparted the Divine decree, proclaiming, “The Almighty hath ordained: inter the deceased within the bosom of the earth.”

Subsequently, the Canine made his reappearance, bearing a revised edict, declaring, “The Almighty hath reversed his decree: apply warm cinders unto the corporeal frame of the departed, and they shall be resurrected from their slumber.”

Alas, the Canine's message arrived with lamentable tardiness, for the deceased was already consigned to the sepulchre.

The populace, incensed by this reversal of fortune, did banish the Canine from their midst.

Thus, owing to the Canine's tardiness and the subsequent entombment, the departed remain in their earthly repose, bereft of resurrection.

In days of yore, the Dog conveyed unto mankind a missive of grave import: “Ye shall perish, even as the moon doth wane. Yet, akin to the lunar orb, ye may be granted a renewed existence, conditional upon the bestowal of milk from thine own gourd and the sufferance of mine imbibing beer through thy straw. Should ye accede to this, I shall endeavour to render it feasible for thee to return from the clutches of death, much like the moon's cyclical renewal.”

The populace, in their levity, did scoff at this pronouncement. They furnished the Dog with milk and beer aplenty, yet they did withhold from him the privilege of partaking from their gourd, nor did they permit him the use of their straw.

Whereupon the Dog, seized by indignation, did proclaim: “The moon, verily, shall be restored to life's embrace, but ye, O people, shall succumb to mortality and shall not know the solace of resurrection.”

In bygone epochs, during the nascent days of both beasts and humankind, there existed a man who served as a mouthpiece for his fellows. 'We aspire to immortality,' the man proclaimed with utmost resolve.

The hyena, overhearing this bold declaration, interjected, 'Nay! Such a state of affairs is untenable. Ye cannot subsist in perpetuity.'

'Pray, elaborate on thy pronouncement,' the man enquired, his brow furrowed with consternation.

'Ye are precluded from enduring ad infinitum,' the hyena elucidated, 'for we hold a vested interest in devouring your deceased corporeal forms.'

Thus, it is ordained that mortals must succumb to mortality. While humankind harbours a yearning for eternal existence, they are destined to perish, thereby affording sustenance to the hyenas' carnivorous appetites.

Verily, this constitutes the genesis of mortality itself.

A Hyaena, engaged in nocturnal hunting, chanced upon a humble dwelling.

Within, a man afflicted with illness emitted grievous groans. 'He shall soon meet his end,' quoth another, 'whereupon we shall inter him with due ceremony.'

'A fortunate happenstance!' mused the Hyaena. 'I am spared the exertion of the chase. I shall merely exhume the grave and partake of a freshly interred cadaver.'

The Hyaena maintained her vigil throughout the night, yet the man did not succumb to his malady.

At the break of dawn, the Hyaena commenced to howl with vehement indignation. 'Deceivers! A company of deceivers, one and all! Deceivers and bibulous fools! The man hath not expired, and I am left wanting for sustenance. Deceivers! A coterie of deceivers!'

Even unto this present day, the Hyaena persists in her lamentations. 'Deceivers!' she howls.

'A throng of deceivers, without exception!'

She is, assuredly, not in a state of merriment.