Bob
2nd October 2013, 00:01
Long ago, when the World was young and human beings were brand-new to this Earth, Winter came just as it always had.
Everyone in the forest was prepared.
The Animals' coats grew thick, and they readied their nests and warrens and caves for the long months of cold; the Pines and Spruce and Fir trees offered shelter while the other trees slept quietly.
The Animals looked at the human beings and said,
"We must do something to help the humans," they are startled by the cold wind, shocked by the darkness. Their hair does not grow thick. Their homes were not warm. They are unprepared for such a change. The Animals feared the human beings would never survive.
"They need Fire," Coyote suggested and he smiled.
"Yes," the others said in unison, but then each one looked down at the ground. They felt afraid.
Way up in the mountains, nearly hidden from sight, there lived three giant and monstrous creatures known as the Fire Keepers. They had stolen a piece of the sun and guarded it fiercely.
"The Fire Keepers will never give away their treasure," Chipmunk chattered.
"Who-who-who can help the people?" Owl lamented.
"I will," said Coyote, and he stood up tall, and he smiled.
"You must go soon," the animals urged Coyote, for the cold had settled in, and they knew it would not be leaving for many months.
Coyote set off into the mountains. From a distance, he spotted the Fire Keepers circling their glowing flames - he saw them guard their treasure. He shivered at the sight of their sharp claws, like daggers, and at their eyes that glowed like tiny red suns.
A branch cracked beneath Coyote's paws..
One of the Fire Keepers turned in his direction. "Who's there?" he demanded, peering out into the dark. "Who dares to try to sneak up on us?"
But Coyote remained still and silent, and after a while the Fire Keeper stopped staring at the darkness and walked back toward his companions. "Time to sleep," he said. At that, the other Fire Keepers rose and walked toward their cave.
All, that is, but one.
For several days Coyote stayed at his post, keenly watching the Fire Keepers coming and going. Soon Coyote understood that there would always be one guarding the Fire.
Coyote knew he would need help. And so he slipped quietly away, then raced back to the gathering in the forest. He explained his plan to the Animals.
The Chipmunk, the Owl and the Frog agreed to go with Coyote up to the mountain to get Fire to help the human beings.
That very night Coyote stood and watched when one said "Time to sleep," and as two of the Fire Keepers went to their caves, one guard stayed behind.
After a few moments, when all was silent, Coyote said unto the night "Hooowwwwwlllll."
"Who's there?" the Fire Keeper snarled, leaping to his feet and again stared with those burning eyes into the night, but Coyote was safely hidden behind a rock.
"Hooowwwwwllll," he cried again, and now the Fire Keeper's eyes became glowing red. "Who are you?" he shrieked, taking a step toward the sound.
And at that very moment Chipmunk scampered in from behind. He reached into the fire, grabbed a flaming coal and, carrying it on his back, he started to run.
But as Chipmunk was racing downhill, the Fire Keeper saw him and gave chase. When he was almost upon Chipmunk, the Fire Keeper reached out his long, clawed arms.
But just before those awful claws reached the coal to take it back, Chipmunk tossed it to Frog, who was waiting to catch it. Three hot fingers streaked down Chipmunk's back, leaving three white scars that have never healed.
But now Frog had the coal, and he was leaping fast downhill.
"Stop!" the Fire Keeper shrieked and thunder rocked the mountainside, and he picked up speed. He reached out again, and he caught Frog by the tail. Frog, with all his strength, tossed the burning ember to Owl. Furious, the Fire Keeper yanked so hard, he pulled off Frog's tail, and Frog's tail never grew back.
But now Owl had the Fire in his wings and was racing home as fast as Owl could fly.
When he turned and saw the monster just about to grab him in his terrible arms, Owls eyes grew round as marbles. Owl knew that he would never blink again. But still, he tossed the Fire down into the Forest, and the tallest tree caught it and swallowed it whole.
The Fire Keeper shrieked and stopped and thunder rolled through the mountains. "You'll never get another," he howled and howled, and he turned and raced back to his keep at the top of the Mountain.
The animals cheered.
Then they all stood and stared at Tree. "What do we do now?" they asked, for the Fire was trapped inside Tree.
"I'll show you," Coyote said, and he smiled once again. Coyote was proud to be so clever. He reached up and took two branches from Tree, and these he rubbed together.
Fire came out of the branches.
That very night the Animals gave human beings fire. The Humans were always grateful to clever Coyote for this precious gift, and they at that moment understood that All the creatures on Earth depend on each other.
And Coyote winked.
adapted from a story by Ren Crowfeather
23044
image by weingartdesign.com
Everyone in the forest was prepared.
The Animals' coats grew thick, and they readied their nests and warrens and caves for the long months of cold; the Pines and Spruce and Fir trees offered shelter while the other trees slept quietly.
The Animals looked at the human beings and said,
"We must do something to help the humans," they are startled by the cold wind, shocked by the darkness. Their hair does not grow thick. Their homes were not warm. They are unprepared for such a change. The Animals feared the human beings would never survive.
"They need Fire," Coyote suggested and he smiled.
"Yes," the others said in unison, but then each one looked down at the ground. They felt afraid.
Way up in the mountains, nearly hidden from sight, there lived three giant and monstrous creatures known as the Fire Keepers. They had stolen a piece of the sun and guarded it fiercely.
"The Fire Keepers will never give away their treasure," Chipmunk chattered.
"Who-who-who can help the people?" Owl lamented.
"I will," said Coyote, and he stood up tall, and he smiled.
"You must go soon," the animals urged Coyote, for the cold had settled in, and they knew it would not be leaving for many months.
Coyote set off into the mountains. From a distance, he spotted the Fire Keepers circling their glowing flames - he saw them guard their treasure. He shivered at the sight of their sharp claws, like daggers, and at their eyes that glowed like tiny red suns.
A branch cracked beneath Coyote's paws..
One of the Fire Keepers turned in his direction. "Who's there?" he demanded, peering out into the dark. "Who dares to try to sneak up on us?"
But Coyote remained still and silent, and after a while the Fire Keeper stopped staring at the darkness and walked back toward his companions. "Time to sleep," he said. At that, the other Fire Keepers rose and walked toward their cave.
All, that is, but one.
For several days Coyote stayed at his post, keenly watching the Fire Keepers coming and going. Soon Coyote understood that there would always be one guarding the Fire.
Coyote knew he would need help. And so he slipped quietly away, then raced back to the gathering in the forest. He explained his plan to the Animals.
The Chipmunk, the Owl and the Frog agreed to go with Coyote up to the mountain to get Fire to help the human beings.
That very night Coyote stood and watched when one said "Time to sleep," and as two of the Fire Keepers went to their caves, one guard stayed behind.
After a few moments, when all was silent, Coyote said unto the night "Hooowwwwwlllll."
"Who's there?" the Fire Keeper snarled, leaping to his feet and again stared with those burning eyes into the night, but Coyote was safely hidden behind a rock.
"Hooowwwwwllll," he cried again, and now the Fire Keeper's eyes became glowing red. "Who are you?" he shrieked, taking a step toward the sound.
And at that very moment Chipmunk scampered in from behind. He reached into the fire, grabbed a flaming coal and, carrying it on his back, he started to run.
But as Chipmunk was racing downhill, the Fire Keeper saw him and gave chase. When he was almost upon Chipmunk, the Fire Keeper reached out his long, clawed arms.
But just before those awful claws reached the coal to take it back, Chipmunk tossed it to Frog, who was waiting to catch it. Three hot fingers streaked down Chipmunk's back, leaving three white scars that have never healed.
But now Frog had the coal, and he was leaping fast downhill.
"Stop!" the Fire Keeper shrieked and thunder rocked the mountainside, and he picked up speed. He reached out again, and he caught Frog by the tail. Frog, with all his strength, tossed the burning ember to Owl. Furious, the Fire Keeper yanked so hard, he pulled off Frog's tail, and Frog's tail never grew back.
But now Owl had the Fire in his wings and was racing home as fast as Owl could fly.
When he turned and saw the monster just about to grab him in his terrible arms, Owls eyes grew round as marbles. Owl knew that he would never blink again. But still, he tossed the Fire down into the Forest, and the tallest tree caught it and swallowed it whole.
The Fire Keeper shrieked and stopped and thunder rolled through the mountains. "You'll never get another," he howled and howled, and he turned and raced back to his keep at the top of the Mountain.
The animals cheered.
Then they all stood and stared at Tree. "What do we do now?" they asked, for the Fire was trapped inside Tree.
"I'll show you," Coyote said, and he smiled once again. Coyote was proud to be so clever. He reached up and took two branches from Tree, and these he rubbed together.
Fire came out of the branches.
That very night the Animals gave human beings fire. The Humans were always grateful to clever Coyote for this precious gift, and they at that moment understood that All the creatures on Earth depend on each other.
And Coyote winked.
adapted from a story by Ren Crowfeather
23044
image by weingartdesign.com