Rat and Cat Have a Contest

This, too, is a piece from the journal that Mianmo labeled "From the Cottar," and as such is likely another rural recitation that she saved for us. Here we have an example of the Just-So Story, a distinctly lesser myth that would likely only have been of interest to children and those few bold souls who walked the path of Yinkin.

Here we see the origin of one of the great rivalries of the granary and the storehouse: the alynx and the rat (whose patron deity eludes current mythographic practices, but was associated with both undermining Krarsht and troublesome Eurmal in the Orlanthi imagination). Here we also see a warning against underhanded dealings, theft from the community, and being unwilling to accept second place. All of these warnings would have been especially important among the ambitious and competitive masculine world of the Orlanthi; the unspoken lesson is that those who betray their clan in the pursuit of glory are cast out.

Given the uncertain divine place of Rat, and the rather childish suffixes given to both of the titular characters, the translator has chosen not to use either "alynx" or "Yinkin" to refer to Cat in the following story. If the reader prefers, "tabby" and "kitty-cat" also convey the meaning behind the Theyalan name given for the tale's protagonist.

Rat and Cat Have a Contest

This was, this was not...

    Once, my child, there was a mighty Chief, and this mighty Chief was very good, and it is said that he was of Vingkot's family. This Chief loved his people, he loved his partners and, of course, he loved his pets. His pets loved him just as much, but none loved him more than Rat and Cat. Often would Rat and Cat bicker over who the Chief loved more. Then one day, Rat says to Cat, “I will prove to the Chief that I am worthy of love by my own deeds!” Then Cat says to Rat, “Ha! Any deed you perform, I will perform a greater one! I will prove that the Chief loves me best!” And so did Rat and Cat have their contest.

    First, Rat performed the feat of speed. He darted about to and fro, little more than a blur to the eye. He rounded each house, scurried through every room, and was back where he started in naught but seven heartbeats. Then Cat performed the feat of agility. He bounded up from floor to chair, chair to table, table to rafters, rafters to roof, and roof to cloud. And when he chose to return to the ground, he dragged the cloud down with him. Then Rat performed the feat of dance. He whirled and twirled about for hours on end and brought everyone much merriment and joy. Then Cat performed the feat of song. He purred his low and sonorous song and brought comfort and relaxation to everyone. Then Rat performed the feat of daring. He snuck into the lands of his enemies and swiped the food as it cooked on their fires. Then Cat performed the feat of valor. He fought the enemy as they came to raid and caught one for a princely ransom.

    Unable to top such an amazing feat, Rat chose to cheat. He burrowed his way to the Chief’s treasure house and stole his jeweled torc. He boasted to Cat, holding his prize. “See what I have!” he taunted. “The Chief’s torc is worth far more than your measly ransom.” Without word nor hesitation, Cat seized the proud Rat in his mouth. He marched up to the Chief as he sat upon his chair and dropped the guilty Rat before him. “You wicked Rat!” the Chief rebuked. “You have stolen from he who you claimed to love in service of your own glory. You are no longer welcome within my house and must sleep outside in the cold and damp.” And so Rat was banished from the Chief’s warm house. He dug himself a new burrow, one to keep him warm and dry. And there he has stayed ever since. To Cat, the Chief heaped praise. “Honorable Cat, you have done well to bring me that thief. You will sit at my side always, and always will you be given scraps from my table. Continue to be as you are and I will love you always.” And so Cat was, and there he has been ever since. And whenever Cat finds Rat trying to sneak back into the house, he strikes him on the neck, and worries him with his teeth, and presents him as a battle trophy at the feet of his Chief.