And it came to pass that Yuwan and Eliss journeyed long upon the waste places of the earth, where neither bread was broken nor water found.
And the days were many, and the sun smote them sore, and the strength of Yuwan withered as a leaf in drought.
Then Yuwan spake, saying,
"Eliss, my child, let us rest awhile; for my limbs are heavy, and my breath groweth faint within me."
And Eliss answered,
"As thou wilt, my goddess."
But her heart was troubled, for she beheld the weariness of her mistress, and the fear of want came upon her.
Then Yuwan said,
"Tell me, art thou hungry, my child?"
And Eliss, being ashamed to confess it before her who suffered more, answered,
"Nay, my goddess, I hunger not."
Then Yuwan smiled and said in gentle jest,
"Lie not, my child, for I have the power to discern the tongue that speaketh false."
And Eliss said, with all reverence,
"Is that also one of thy divine powers?"
Then Yuwan laughed softly and said,
"I spake in jest — yet verily, it is one of the few gifts that remain unto me."
And she girded her raiment, for her garments were light upon her body, and her skin was pale beneath the burning sky.
Then Yuwan lifted her eyes unto heaven and said,
"O All Mother, O Yuktha, blessed be Thy souls.
Take from me and give unto this child, that she may be strengthened."
And behold, her hands began to shine with holy brightness, and Eliss trembled.
Then Yuwan said,
"Come hither, my beloved. I shall bless thee for three days.
But thou shalt help me find a dwelling of men ere the blessing pass away."
And Eliss drew near with fear and obedience.
Then Yuwan laid her hand upon her head and said,
"May I take this child's hunger, for she hath not sinned."
And Eliss's hunger fled from her.
Then Yuwan spake again,
"May I take this child's thirst, for she hath not sinned."
And again she spake,
"May I take this child's weariness, for she hath not sinned."
And at once, Eliss was filled with strength and calm. But lo, Yuwan fell upon her knees, and her mouth was filled with blood, and her voice wavered.
Then she said,
"Blessed art thou, my beloved, for thou art pure.
Hunger and thirst are the fruit of sin, yet I have taken them from thy heart for three days, and the burden is mine."
And Eliss cried aloud, saying,
"Thou shouldst not have done this, my goddess; thy body is frail and may not bear so great a sorrow."
But Yuwan answered,
"Weep not, my child, for I am sent to bear the pain of my people.
Rise now; for there is a village near, and in it we shall find one most worthy."
And Eliss took her hand, and together they went forth, slowly, unto the village.
---
And behold, the place was full of men, yet they walked as the dead.
Their eyes were dim, and their bodies wasted with disease; the water was foul, yet the storehouses were full of bread.
Still, they received the strangers with kindness.
The elder of the village brought them into his humble dwelling, saying,
"Rest ye here, travelers; for ye look spent with toil."
But ere Yuwan could speak further, she fell upon the floor, though her eyes remained open; for goddesses sleep not as mortals do.
And the elder said,
"Thy companion is faint; give her meat and drink. And say, art thou not cold, lady, that thou goest clad so lightly?"
Then Yuwan smiled and said,
"Cold is no sorrow unto me."
And they brought bread and a little broth unto her, and she did eat.
The elder said,
"Truly, ye have not eaten in many days."
And Eliss replied,
"Thou speakest truth."
Then Yuwan said,
"I am come seeking one called Viladomousa Controry."
The elder marveled, saying,
"That is our scribe — but she lieth in sickness, near unto death."
Then Yuwan rose, though her limbs trembled, and said,
"Lead me unto her."
So they went forth to the dwelling of Viladomousa, whose door stood open. And lo, she lay upon the ground, her breath shallow as twilight.
Yuwan knelt beside her and began to pray, saying,
"In the depth of darkness, I am there.
In the need of light, thou shalt find me.
When sin devoureth, I come as mercy,
As light shining upon the shadow.
O Sister, O All Mother, let Thy glory fall upon this place,
That I may reflect Thy greatness."
And as she spake, a ray of light descended from the heavens and filled the village with brilliance.
The people cried aloud, for their sores were healed, and the waters became clear, and the crops sprang forth as in springtime.
Then the writer arose, whole again, and said,
"How hast thou done this thing?"
And Yuwan said,
"I prayed unto my Mother and my Sister, and they answered."
Then the writer spake in awe,
"Thou meanest the All Mother and Yuktha? But I knew not that they had a sister."
Yuwan said,
"I am not as they. I walk among men. I am Yuwan of the Moon, born from the Void, mirror of light in the night of the world."
And the writer said,
"Thy words are riddles, yet I believe; for I was near unto death, and now I live."
Then Yuwan said,
"Follow me, and write my words, that those who come after may know what I was when I am gone."
And so it was written that the Goddess walked among the lowly, and healed the stricken, and gave of herself unto her child.
And though men say she perished, her light abideth still;
For no goddess dieth, but returneth unto her own glory.