THE WORLD REVOLVING / open, intro

[madster]

Months past. The red panda had lied dormant, eyes shut. Then, suddenly as a sign from some higher power, the boy awoke from his slumber. He slowly opened green eyes, meeting the unfamiliar terrain of Tanglewood. The land ruled by a gentle samoyed was his home now, even if he wasn't used to it. The boy blinked, stretching numb limbs, as he crossed into camp. The sunlight streamed through the canopy, dappling spots of light on his fur as he moved gracefully.

Compared to his acquaintances, he was smaller and therefore weaker. Still, a desire burned in him; the desire to see something fun happen. He couldn't stand boredom- why idle around like a statue when he could create interesting things? It was a slow, lazy morning, and the boy wanted to do something about it.

The child grinned, planting his paw firmly on the ground, digging his claws into the soil. A stream of heat jolted through his little body, starting from his chest and igniting along the way, through his veins and muscles. Then, the dry, cold grass ignited quickly. Leaping back, the boy couldn't contain his enjoyment and ignorance- he had set the territory on fire. Of course, it was small and contained, and could easily be put out by depriving it of oxygen with one's paw, but he watched it grow slowly.

The fire flickered in his green eyes. The child imagined what would happen if the fire got out of control- perhaps someone would get hurt or die. How fun, he thought- to be the guardian of this flame, to be the only thing protecting this clan from demise. His paw hovered over the slowly spreading flame, feeling its heat burn. The pain was fun.

His name was Beleth, and he was five months old. Old enough to realize mortality, to realize one shouldn't set things on fire for fun, yet he did it anyways. He was burned, and he merely smiled. He'd rather feel pain than boredom.