The Elephant Remembers

Grey Elephant raised his great trunk in tribute to all present, and said in his resonating voice, "Greetings, fellow creatures. Let me say first that in my efforts to report in full on the Meetings of this cycle, I will welcome any additions or corrections to my Rememberings.” Of course never before had Elephant faltered in his recollections, but, humble as he was huge, he did not flaunt that fact.

He cleared his great throat, a deep and reverberating sound that absorbed and smoothed away all noise in the audience. “Let me now recount to you the Moments of previous Meetings One and Two, wherein the Domesticate Ban was debated, accepted and recorded. Bird Nation was the first to speak: “KEEP! them aWAY....”

“Ahem,” came a polite growl from Madame Lion. “Mr. Storykeeper, let us move along. The Domesticate Ban distracted us from vital issues, so let us dispense with the Moments in favor of addressing the business at hand.”

“Why, of course, Madame President,” responded the startled elephant. Sadly cognizant of changes taking place, he thought back to past meetings that had been more like celebrations, permeated with the rich, nutty flavor of forever, with animals telling new tales and improving old ones until Sun and Moon, attracted by their mutual joy and delight, edged toward each other to finally meet...and merge...Moon, waxing full and taut, moving his cool silver body over his hot lover Sun...she in turn embracing him in a pulsing golden halo of light...the two sky-creatures mingling...joining together in a ritual of sky-mating effectively halting the Wild stories in a blaze of glory...creatures running home in a shadowy land, taking care not to look up at the two heavenly partners together in ecstatic union...

Elephant, jolting himself out of his reverie to face the demands of an ever-diminishing present, stated simply, “The Dolphin Pod has prepared an opening statement--all Wilds and Half-Wilds please direct your attention to the Seven Sisters.”