Spirit Dogs & Legend Dogs
Sept 29, 2013 13:16:51 GMT -6
Post by Granite on Sept 29, 2013 13:16:51 GMT -6
Spirit Dogs and Legend Dogs
The dogs of the Survivors series seem to have a set of origin myths, not yet completely explained within the books, that Mother Dogs tell to their pups and which are quite similar to some human origin myths. Characters in these stories are either Spirit Dogs or Legend Dogs. Please note that the Spirit Dogs are not gods, and beliefs about them more closely resemble animism than true religion.
Principal Spirit Dogs:
Sun Dog - Travels the sky during the daytime; the brightness of his eyes and the shine of his fur bring warmth and light to everything below. Sun Dog may send clouds and rain when Earth Dog is hot or thirsty, or to express his disapproval when Lightning and the Sky Dogs get into a fight.
Moon Dog - Follows the Sun Dog across the sky, sometimes running ahead of him or behind; her glow is that of her eyes reflecting the Sun Dog's brightness. Moon Dog is fond of all living dogs and regards them as her puppies; she shines down on them almost every night so that they will not be alone in the dark, and to help them find prey.
Earth Dog - The first and oldest Spirit Dog, who is both the source of life and claims the bodies of the dead. Usually referred to as female, this Spirit Dog can be either nurturing or dangerous. Earth Dog triggered the Storm of Dogs when she attempted to claim the Legend Dog Lightning, who refused to die and allow a new life to take his place.
Forest Dog - A wily and cunning hunter, friend to all Wild Dogs and Lone Dogs. Usually the first (if not only) Spirit Dog to come to a living dog's aid; this usually only happens if a dog or a Pack is in extreme danger.
River Dog, others - Various other spirits inhabiting the natural world.
Known Legend Dogs:
Lightning - The fastest of the Legend Dogs, who was so fast that he could outrun death. This made Earth Dog angry because Lightning would not accept the circle of life. When Earth Dog finally opened the ground itself to swallow him up, the Sky Dogs lifted him into the clouds to run with them. Despite this he and the Sky Dogs sometimes quarrel fiercely, and he creates lightning by jumping from cloud to cloud while the Sky Dogs roar and to snap at his heels. Sometimes he jumps down to the ground, as well, to escape them or to tease Earth Dog.
Wildfire - Also called Nuzzle, the grandpup of Lightning, who was nearly eaten by Wild Wolves. Lightning leapt to earth to save her, however, striking the Alpha Wolf Greatfang, and so she survived to be the most fierce of the Legend Dogs.
Wind - A Lone Dog who left her pack and its unjust leader, and buried food that she had caught in secret as a gift for Forest Dog. During the Storm of Dogs, Wind was ruthlessly chased by a dog much larger than she was. Because of her gift, though, Forest Dog was fond of her and taught her how to run up a tree trunk to escape the Storm. Wind and Forest Dog often howl together at night.
Sky Pack / Sky Dogs
These are ancestral dogs. They run with Lightning and the Spirit Dogs. Sky Pack will one day be the source of a Pack leader's ability to tirelessly protect his or her pack, sense approaching danger, and call for the aid of the Spirit Dogs.
Storm of Dogs
A terrible battle that took place in a time before dogs lived with longpaws, when the earth broke open and chaos reigned. Dogs fought ferociously for survival and for control of the world's best territories. Legend has it that the Storm of Dogs may one day return...
The dogs of the Survivors series seem to have a set of origin myths, not yet completely explained within the books, that Mother Dogs tell to their pups and which are quite similar to some human origin myths. Characters in these stories are either Spirit Dogs or Legend Dogs. Please note that the Spirit Dogs are not gods, and beliefs about them more closely resemble animism than true religion.
Principal Spirit Dogs:
Sun Dog - Travels the sky during the daytime; the brightness of his eyes and the shine of his fur bring warmth and light to everything below. Sun Dog may send clouds and rain when Earth Dog is hot or thirsty, or to express his disapproval when Lightning and the Sky Dogs get into a fight.
Moon Dog - Follows the Sun Dog across the sky, sometimes running ahead of him or behind; her glow is that of her eyes reflecting the Sun Dog's brightness. Moon Dog is fond of all living dogs and regards them as her puppies; she shines down on them almost every night so that they will not be alone in the dark, and to help them find prey.
Earth Dog - The first and oldest Spirit Dog, who is both the source of life and claims the bodies of the dead. Usually referred to as female, this Spirit Dog can be either nurturing or dangerous. Earth Dog triggered the Storm of Dogs when she attempted to claim the Legend Dog Lightning, who refused to die and allow a new life to take his place.
Forest Dog - A wily and cunning hunter, friend to all Wild Dogs and Lone Dogs. Usually the first (if not only) Spirit Dog to come to a living dog's aid; this usually only happens if a dog or a Pack is in extreme danger.
River Dog, others - Various other spirits inhabiting the natural world.
Known Legend Dogs:
Lightning - The fastest of the Legend Dogs, who was so fast that he could outrun death. This made Earth Dog angry because Lightning would not accept the circle of life. When Earth Dog finally opened the ground itself to swallow him up, the Sky Dogs lifted him into the clouds to run with them. Despite this he and the Sky Dogs sometimes quarrel fiercely, and he creates lightning by jumping from cloud to cloud while the Sky Dogs roar and to snap at his heels. Sometimes he jumps down to the ground, as well, to escape them or to tease Earth Dog.
Wildfire - Also called Nuzzle, the grandpup of Lightning, who was nearly eaten by Wild Wolves. Lightning leapt to earth to save her, however, striking the Alpha Wolf Greatfang, and so she survived to be the most fierce of the Legend Dogs.
Wind - A Lone Dog who left her pack and its unjust leader, and buried food that she had caught in secret as a gift for Forest Dog. During the Storm of Dogs, Wind was ruthlessly chased by a dog much larger than she was. Because of her gift, though, Forest Dog was fond of her and taught her how to run up a tree trunk to escape the Storm. Wind and Forest Dog often howl together at night.
Sky Pack / Sky Dogs
These are ancestral dogs. They run with Lightning and the Spirit Dogs. Sky Pack will one day be the source of a Pack leader's ability to tirelessly protect his or her pack, sense approaching danger, and call for the aid of the Spirit Dogs.
Storm of Dogs
A terrible battle that took place in a time before dogs lived with longpaws, when the earth broke open and chaos reigned. Dogs fought ferociously for survival and for control of the world's best territories. Legend has it that the Storm of Dogs may one day return...
