1
Adonis spread his golden seed over Gaia. She nourished it. Nami the Wind spread it. Vrestra the Rain watered it.

2
The seed grew. Adonis showed the people how to gather it from the places Nami had taken it and how to plant it where Gaia's fertility ran deep. He asked Vrestra's daughters, the nymphs of the springs and wells, to give water to the people when Vrestra journeyed far away. That the seed might not die. The seed grew into tall and lithe Cerea who danced with Nami. The people joined them, frolicking and feasting in the fields.

3
Seth discovered Gaia lying with Adonis. He raged, belching out greed, jealousy and lies that fell on the people, covering them with sores and turning them one against another. Mordath the Warrior raped and trampled Cerea. Thick smoke surrounded Adonis. He stumbled blind, unable to find Gaia, lighting his rays to pierce the gloom. Cerea reached out to him. He bent to comfort her but his heat ignited her hair. Cerea screamed. As she died, her flames burnt Gaia who ran to the cold of Seth. He smiled to himself as he consoled her and soothed her burns with milk.

4
"Look what you've done!" shouted Seth at Adonis. "You've raped and hurt Gaia. Murdered Cerea. You've covered your beloved people with burns and sores and they hide from you."

5
Adonis knelt keening in the blackened fields, his sacred flame extinguished. Mordath goaded the people. They tore Adonis apart, flinging his body to the four corners of the world. Then the soldiers drew lots for his torn clothes. Seth threw the shade of Adonis into the Pit of Hell and set the demon dogs of Guilt and Despair upon him.

6
Healed, naked Gaia stepped from her bath onto the shell of the sea. She called out to Adonis. No answer came. Seth grabbed Gaia and trapped her in his cloak. She struggled against him and his seed formed the stars that dance on the cloth of the night.

7
"He's left you forever. Love me," shouted Seth.

8
Gaia refused to believe him. She traveled the world, crying out for her lost love. The milk dropping from her skin swirled into snow. The world turned dark and cold. Vrestra and her daughters shrouded themselves in ice. The fields wore black and mourned Cerea. Nami howled in loneliness. The trees dropped their leaves and the people began to die. Seth rejoiced. Soon Gaia would return to him.

9
A light glowed in the middle of the world. Gaia followed it to an abandoned city of steel and stone. The doorways led to emptiness and dust devils swirled litter in the silent streets. Gaia found the shining heart of Adonis hammered to the centre of a wooden cross . She wept at the foot of it then straightened her shoulders. She lovingly placed the heart in a basket and traveled the world, gathering the pieces of his body. Gaia opened the door to Hell.

10
The shades crowded around Gaia, anxious for a touch of the warmth and light flowing from the basket. They followed her through the tunnel maze of death. Their sad croaks broke her heart . After many dead ends and much back tracking, she came to the Pit of Hell. Adonis lay stretched out, chained to a rock. The dogs tore and fought over his heart and liver. He gazed up at her, his face agonized. Gaia burst into tears.

11"Why weep you, my lady, over one such as I?" lamented Adonis. The dogs ripped into his spirit.

12
"I love you and I have traveled the World and Hell to find you and tell you so," said Gaia.

13
At her words, the bonds of death burst from his limbs. The dogs stopped fighting and trotted up to Gaia's side. She petted their heads and they lay down at her feet. Gaia took the body of Adonis from the basket and put it together like a puzzle.

14
"We are the word and the light," she smiled.

15
Adonis lived again. Light gleamed through the passages of Hell. Bright flowers erupted from the cracks and fissures and the shades rejoiced. Gaia led Adonis up from Hell. Vrestra and the water nymphs laughed and bubbled over the land. The trees donned gowns of flowers. Gaia and Adonis lay together in the meadows. Cerea grew once again, stronger and taller than before. Nami danced over hill and dale and the people feasted in the fields.

16
Seth barred the gates of Hell and sorrowed, his tears flowing into great underground rivers. The light from above died and the flowers withered.

17
"Holy Gaia. Shining Adonis. Why have you forsaken the lost of your Word?" the shades cried out.

18
"Why do you hate the dark?" sobbed Seth. "Adonis shines brighter after the long night. Cerea grows stronger. The people are refreshed after sleep. Why have you abandoned me?"

19
Adonis grieved for the shades. Gaia took pity on Seth. Each year Adonis descends to the underworld and the light shines in the darkness. In the world above, Gaia lies with Seth under a blanket of snow.

20
Day and night, the grain sways beneath the sun and the stars drift by the moon.

Holy Gaia Blesses your return.