The Maori creation story describes how Rangi and Papa (heaven and earth) were originally joined closely together in darkness. They had six sons - Tane-mahute created forests, Tawhiri-matea created winds and storms, Tangaroa created fish and reptiles, Tu Matauenga created fierce humans, and two others created cultivated and uncultivated food. After a long period of darkness, the sons separated Rangi and Papa, allowing light, but Tu Matauenga ate four of his brothers, sparing only Tawhiri-matea, explaining modern human fierceness, eating habits, and storms.