The Myth of Tau

Now Tau was the spirit of the trees. She loved the way the wind swept across her green leafy branches. But what Tau loved even more than that was looking at her green leafy branches. She was known to inhabit a cypress tree for three years, staring at her reflection in the pond that it sat in.
Gaea, mother Earth, was not too pleased that Tau was so vain about her leaves. Gaea decided to teach Tau a lesson. So Gaea went over to Tau's favorite cypress tree and sure enough there was Tau, peering into the depths of her own reflection.
"Tau!" Gaea called, "Don't you think you could be doing something more efficient with your time?"
Tau didn't answer. In fact she hadn't even noticed that Gaea was there. Gaea raised her rosy fingers of dawn and sent a cold wind towards Tau. Little by little Tau's leaves changed from dark green to red, orange and yellow. At first Tau was shocked to see her beautiful leaves changing colors. Then, after a little getting used to, Tau was elated.
"Thank you Gaea!" she exclaimed. "These colors are even better than my old one!"
"This was not supposed to happen." Gaea thought. So the exasperated Gaea sent an even colder wind at Tau.
This time Tau's leaves did not change color. This time they fell off all together. Tau yelled in fright. "What have you done? I am hideous!" she cried.
"Now you will have to live with your ugliness each year Tau, to remind you not to be vain." explained Gaea. Gaea wasn't heartless though, she let the trees that grew high up in the mountains retain their green color year round. So in the winter Tau would visit the trees in the mountains, but she could not see her reflection in any river, pond nor lake, because thy were all frozen over. She still visits her favorite cypress tree and sits, looking at her reflection, but not for too long.



Written for Mythology class, I'm pretty good at coming up with these if I do say so myself ^^