The goddess Gaia stirred in her deep slumber, a whisper of wind dancing in her ear. She opened her brilliant green eyes and surveyed the world of brown, lifeless earth that stretched away from her in all directions. As she stood, her dress of leaves, flowers, and blossoms flowed around her like fluid, moving as if she had not just slept for countless years. A green aura radiated from the goddess’ body, drawing the wind to her. The breezes pirouetted joyously around her, clung to her, like a child would to its mother.

The goddess, upon seeing the lifeless earth, pulled apart the leaves on her chest until she found a tiny seed, hanging delicately above her heart. She pulled the seed from its hiding place and touched it to her lips, gently kissing it with her soft lips. Stretching her hand forward, she held the seed out to the world. Gaia turned her hand so the little speck of life fell to the ground. The soil opened and then folded itself around the glowing seed, hiding it from view. A moment later, a green vine sprouted from the ground. A pure white flower bud sprouted at the end as the stem stopped growing. When its petals unfolded, butterflies in every color flew from the blossom and out into the air, helped along by the dancing breezes. As they fluttered, tiny specks of light, like dust sized stars, fell from their wings with each beat. Where the specks fell upon the ground, plants began to grow. Slowly, the butterflies faded beyond the horizon. They would not stop until the whole world was sprouting lush foliage.

While a smile, Gaia knelt before the small flower that this had all sprung from, now surrounded by tiny wildflowers. “Hello Eden,” she whispered to it. It swayed in a way that matched the rhythm of her voice. As she spoke, trees began to grow from the ground in a circle fifty yards away from Eden. At first they were mere saplings, but soon the trunks thickened and lengthened. Within moments they stood as strong and silent as if they had been alive for over one thousand years. Inside of the circle, the foliage became more radiant. Colors intensified. Flowers bloomed larger, and the sweet scent they gave off overpowered anything unpleasant.

“This will be your garden,” Gaia continued. “The trees will protect you from outside dangers. In here, you shall thrive. Rains shall always be plentiful, and the sun will shine bright. Now rest my child. Enjoy your eternity.”

As the words left her lips, the breezes picked up. Leaves swirled in a whirlwind around the goddess, until, suddenly, she was gone. The winds stopped and the leaves floated gently down to the floor of the Garden of Eden.