At the end of the last age the fiery essence of Ra was quelled in a massive ice-storm, leaving only darkness and dust in its terrible wake. Time stopped and silence deafened, and all thought was swallowed in the emptiness. Amidst this inert chaos, only the tiniest and most insignificant life-forms survived to crawl amidst the dust, choking on the acrid air that threatened to extinguish them.

Slowly and surely, they stirred the world again – and amongst the most determined came a new-born insect. Safe in its cocooned cream shell, it thrived in the darkest recesses and clawed its way through near-impenetrable darkness to find a charred branch on which to rest. Alone and afraid, the insect reluctantly shed its first skin to reveal its true form – the kihikihi – or cicada – and filling its tracheae with cold air it released a shrilling and exciting sound – its first song of awakening.

The melody was so sweet and beautiful it roused the boundless emptiness of space, and eventually reached the ears of the mighty Ra, who had slept bound behind dark clouds.

Ra stirred to the haunting tune and opened one sleepy eye, and a small fire leapt forth and descended from the heavens. This small energy radiated enough light to draw the attention of a giant moth. Quenched in this radiant light and lifted to the lilting song of the cicada, the moth became animated, flapping its wings wildly and churning the endless grey dust that surrounded it. This dust swirled and become inhaled by the nostrils of the awoken Ra, causing it to sneeze. The flames of life shot into the sky and solidified the dust to create all manner of life. TIHEI MAURI ORA! The sneeze of life.

And so began the current age in which we exist.