The Lioness Who Departed
After quarreling with her father Ra, Tefnut became a fierce lioness and left Egypt, ranging far into the deserts of Nubia to hunt at will. With her gone, moisture left too, and the land cracked with drought. Ra sent the wisdom god Thoth, who coaxed the furious lioness the whole way with stories, flattery, and reasoning, and drew her back to Egypt. The moment she crossed the border she became the blessing goddess again, and rain and green returned with her — drought and abundance, to the Egyptians, were one goddess's rage and joy.