At the beginning, there was no world, at least not as we know it. The Great Gods lived in a vast meadow that spanned the universe, and though the meadow was very beautiful and they wanted for nothing, every day was the same. Mardun, their leader, saw the restlessness of his kin and issued them a challenge. He would create a ferocious beast, and if any one of them could subdue it, they would be anointed as the new leader of the Great Gods. Mardun’s wondrous kinfolk accepted his challenge with glee, and so, off he went to fashion his creature.
 He wandered the meadow, collecting sticks, tawny grass and supple vines until he had enough to lash together into a crude construct. Mardun gave this new being four strong legs capped with sharp hooves, so he would be swift. He granted him flashing red eyes, so he could know his foes, and two mighty curving horns so he could fight any that would oppose his will. This beast was the Golden Bull, and he bellowed as Mardun breathed life into him.
The Great Gods gave a whoop and a shout as they descended upon the Golden Bull, which began to swiftly run through the hills and valleys of the eternal meadow. His hide flashed and shone, spilling light upon his path as he charged, leading the divine chase. His hooves tore across the meadow and sent clods of soil spinning into the vast universe, seeding the sky with shimmering stars and twirling planets. The Gods, for their part, did not tire. They chased The Golden Bull across the meadow for an age, before eventually becoming bored of this task as well. One by one they split off from the pursuit before, eventually, the Golden Bull was left to graze contentedly upon the shining grass he had been created from. 
The only one of the Great Gods that did not forget the chase was Mardun’s wife, Thei. She had long lived under the authority of her husband, and it chafed against her baser will. She waited some distance from the Golden Bull until it grew accustomed to her presence, and then moved closer. She repeated this until she could reach out and lay a hand on the velvet muzzle of the Bull, and from that moment forward she spent all of her time in meadow with the now gentled creature, even riding upon its back. Once she was certain the Golden Bull had been tamed, she summoned her husband and kin. “Come!” Said Thei. “Behold! the Golden Bull is under my sway, and so too shall you all be led by me.” Mardun laughed, entertained by the high-headedness of his wife, and led the Great Gods out to where the Bull grazed so as to see for themselves. 
As they approached the Golden Bull it threw up its head and bellowed, beginning once again to run across the meadow in the face of The Great Gods that were his pursuers.
Thei dismayed, shouting “The Bull is gentle when not faced with an enemy, I swear it! Stand down and witness my triumph.” The other Gods roared with laughter, and her husband spoke. “Quiet, woman! If you wish to usurp me and lead your kin, my challenge must be answered in full. The Golden Bull must be subdued in the eyes of all.” And the Great Gods left Thei to weep.
With Thei once again alone, the Bull approached once more and took up his grazing, calm in the presence of the only being that had never chased him. He lowed at her, and she stroked his shining hide and caressed his mighty horns. The Golden Bull became aroused at the touch and scent of the beautiful goddess, and away from the eyes of the Great Gods they lay together in the meadow. He was kinder to her than Mardun had ever been, and she rejoiced in her sin, staying in the meadow undisturbed with her lover for an age.
After some time had passed, Thei birthed a son, a bull-headed boy she called Hadd. He sprung forth from her body fully-formed and fearsome, imbued with the strength of his father and the beauty of his mother. Happy at the sight of her glorious son, Thei more summoned her husband and kin to her. This time, the Bull stayed near, stomping his hooves and bellowing in defense of his mate and calf. “Behold!” Said Thei. “My son, the child of the Golden Bull, he is the testimony with which I press my claim. I have won your challenge, for with this miracle you cannot deny that the Golden Bull is subdued.” 
Mardun recoiled at the evidence of his wife’s sin, and his voice became thunder. “Woman!” He shouted. “You are a vile and base creature, and not fit to lead Gods. May you be cursed to the endless chase as your animal lover is.”
And with that, Mardun laid hands upon his scorned wife, transforming her into a silver cow. The Golden Bull snorted and bellowed, and took up the chase of his new bride. Hadd, dismayed at the plight of his mother, caught his father by the tail and grappled him. They wrestled fiercely, matched in strength, until one of the mighty horns of the Golden Bull pierced the side of his son. Hadd released his father, who resumed the chase of his mate, and Hadd began to bleed. His blood spread amongst the stars his sire’s hooves had scattered, and where it touched, it seeded life. 
Mardun and the Great Gods took interest in the new life amongst the stars, which is why they still intercede in mortal affairs today, their boredom with divinity finally sated. The Golden Bull, cursed to chase and never catch Thei, still stampedes across the sky in pursuit of his silver-hided mate. And Hadd still bleeds, raining down life upon us until such time that his body empties and he passes from this world.