Man's Best Friend

[[ Author's Note: I am using the term “Man” in the collective sense, as in humankind in its entirety; I do not mean to exclude anyone of any gender or any characteristic, only to fit my writing to the theme of the work & corresponding contest. Because this is a ancient myth interpretation, I chose to use slightly more archaic terms in places where I feel it flows better. I am a proud Ally and human, first and foremost, and nothing in this work is meant to demean, marginalize, or offend anyone – only to provoke thought and bring light and inspiration to the increasingly dark world we live in. Thank you for reading and enjoy! ]]

In ages past, long forgotten by historians and all but the most devoted conspiracy theorists, there was A Pact – that between Man and Beast. This Pact was not something written nor something spoken; It transcended language, transcended defining. Before there was civilization, before churches and town halls and schools and all things Good and Orderly, there was Man and Beast. Man was primitive, but intelligent, and with so much potential it would cause the Earth to quake. Much like a butterfly bringing forth a typhoon with the flutter of its wings, a strike of flint and tinder would spark a cascade that would change the Earth forever.

But where goes fire goes smoke and ash; Where goes Man goes trails and trash. All of these things drew the attention of Beasts. Two-legged, four-legged, and more-legged – they followed, harassed, and scavenged from Man at every turn. Man had many advantages, but constant vigilance, swiftness of foot, and fangs were not among them. In the early times, Man was few and isolated, clustered into roving tribes when they could not find more permanent subterranean homes. The land and seas were vicious and unforgiving, and the Beasts living upon them even more so.

But there was one species of Beast that did not always attack Man. They followed, harassed, and scavenged from them without hesitation, but they did not outright attack unless provoked – something that Man quickly recognized. The Beasts were four legged, ranging from the size of a small child to that of a small bear, with ears that could point straight up, flop over, or a dozen ways in between. Some had long tails, some were short, and some were naught but stubs. They all had bright eyes of widely varying colors and wet noses, and Man quickly learned another thing about them: They loved food.

It didn't matter if it was burnt food, raw food, or somewhere in between. Where went these particular Beasts, there was one among the pack that would eat it if another did not. Often they would fight over even the smallest morsel; Food was just as scarce for some Beasts as it was Man, in ages past, floods and flash storms eradicating swathes of flora and fauna overnight frequently enough to almost be considered a regular occurrence instead of a natural disaster.

Without a single word being spoken or letter being written, Man and Beast had begun to bargain. Man would give the Beasts food, in exchange for safety and shelter. The Beasts would, in their dozens of sizes and shapes, help Man do things they could not. Whether it be catch smaller Beasts that Man could turn to food using fire and knives - things that Beast had no concept of, but nonetheless appreciated – or defend Man from the other Beasts that hunted and attacked them at any opportunity.

The first tribes that accomplished this experienced many difficulties and struggles as well as gains, but as the babes of Beast grew together with the babes of Man, they began to understand each other more and more – all without a single word being exchanged. The Beasts became more tame, and Man grew plentiful, strong, and civilized with their aid - and each new generation of Man and Beast cemented their familiarity with one another. The Pact between Man and Beast was sealed without ever needing to be spoken, and even today it carries on, the bond between Homo sapiens and Canis familiaris stronger than ever.