Eclipse

In the ages when the pyramids were being built the people worked in the hot sun. When the night came they went to wash themselves in the Nile. As the people finished, they were getting dressed in what they had when all of a sudden a light came from the sky. It shone down over the river before them and then rose up what looked like their goddess Bastet. She looked at the people then reached into the water and pulled something out. It was a large dark ball of fur. But it seemed to not be wet. She laid it down on the bank of the river. Then Bastet disappeared. The ball of fur unraveled into a small car sized cat. He stood up and shook his body sending winds towards the people so strong that it knocked them all over. The people sat up not daring to stand because the fear overwhelmed them, as well as their curiosity. They watched the beast as it drank from the river. Then another curious thing happened. A light figure appeared in front of the thirsty creature. A ray of light shot from the mysterious figure. Then onto the back of the cat, which formed wings. Suddenly the people understood who the glowing figure was. It was their other goddess Isis who has the power of magic. They then knew that the cat had to be special. They watched as he walked down to a spot near the river which was covered with grass. There was enough coverage so the people could barely see him. Then the cat went to sleep. The people then got up and went to their own huts. Leaving the creature to sleep in peace.

In the morning a few of the people that watched what happened last night returned. They wanted to see if the beast was still there. To their surprise he was. The only women among them the night before went to see if he was there. She saw him then stopped. She thought for a moment then went towards him. She put her hand up to show him she would not harm him. He stood there and stared at her for a minute. Then the women walked closer. The cat sat down and she began to pet him.

“Aww! You poor thing. Left all alone in this big world.” She brought him to her hut. “You’re going to stay with me. Now the only question is what your name should be. I know Hadrian. For how dark your fur is. Yes that will do.” She went to her cupboard and pulled out the largest bowls she had. She filled one with water and the other with some fish and pork. Hadrian eats, then drank then fell asleep in her house.

After weeks of watching this beast grow and mature. She was rewarded with great flourishing crops. Hadrian was about double the size that he was when the people watched him be raised out of the water. He was gentle but still quite young. He practiced flying when she was around. When he fell she would try her best to lift the half ton cat or even to help heal a scrape.

“Okay beautiful creature you seem to be ready to take me on a flight.” She climbs onto Hadrian. At first he hesitated. Then a few words of encouragement from the woman made him take off. He flew only five feet in the air. He flew for about a half hour then landed exhausted. He went to sleep for a very long time.

When he woke to the rising sun the woman was not there. Hadrian walked out of the house and went flying to try and find her. He did this every day until he could almost fly up to heaven. For weeks he saw no trace of her. He fished in the river as well as made sure he was never seen by others. One day Hadrian found a trace of the woman’s scent. He tried to follow it but it was so faint at some point he started in circles.

One night he thought he would give up and sleep for a few days.

“Maybe the rest will give me the strength to find her.”

He woke up a day later and went to search for her once more. This time he flew so high he slowly blocked the sun. This caused the first solar eclipse. And now when Hadrian goes to look for his friend a solar eclipse happens to let people know that the friendship is bigger than the sun itself.