Act 77: Come with me...

With Timpoochee stopped dead in his tracks, the guards at the Yonega town gate slowly lowered their muskets.

“Who are you?” they called out.

Timpoochee did not understand but reasoned they were addressing him.

“My father is our leader, in the council house talking with your leader,” he said in words the guards did not understand.

From out of nowhere another man appeared with the guards. One of his own people Timpoochee thought at first but he did not recognize him and noticed a difference in the way he was dressed.

The man spoke to the guards and in a language they understood. Timpoochee watched the exchange, trying not to tremble.

The guards nodded their heads in agreement with whatever the man said to them.

“Timpoochee,” the man called out, to the boy’s surprise.

“Come with me. Follow me,” he said, in Timpoochee’s language. “I will take you to your father.”

Timpoochee sheepishly followed the man into the Yonega’s daunting town, surrounded as it was by those walls, closed in, like some kind of pen.

People, mostly men and one or two women, milled about. A cooking fire burned here and there. The structures in the town were closed in, too, like the town itself.

The man led Timpoochee to the council house and inside, where he was greatly relieved to find his father, standing in the center of the council circle, waiting for him - or maybe for the man who guided Timpoochee into the town.

Yufala cast a stern look in Timpoochee’s direction, nodded to his guide and began speaking.

“At the beginning of time an ulunsuti was given to the white man and a piece of silver was given to my people,” Yufala said to the council.

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Act 78: That is what you seek...

“The white man cared nothing for the ulunsuti,” Yufala continued his story to the council. “It meant nothing to him even though it was lustrous and of many colors.

“And just the same, the man of my people to whom was given the piece of silver cared nothing for it and he threw it away.

“As they both went about their days, the man of my people happened upon the ulunsuti cast away by the white man and like it very much and has kept it all these years.

“And as it would happen the white man came across the piece of silver thrown away by my people and liked it very much, perhaps even more than the man of people liked the gem, ” Yufala said.

“The white man liked the piece of silver so much it has become treasured by your people and sought after all these many generations. There is little that stops you from getting more and more silver.

“On the other hand, my people so treasured the ulunsuti that we buried it deep in our mountains and there it remains to this day, multiplying over the generations into many, many precious stones.”

Yufala stopped short in his story.

“You care little for our ulunsuti,” he said, turning to Capt. Wills and addressing him directly. “But you think hidden among our mountains we have vast quantities of your precious silver pieces and that is what you seek.”

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Act 79: What the future may hold...

Capt. Wills sat silently for a few moments.

“I assure you, Great Ugvwiyuhi,” said Capt Wills after a bit, stumbling awkwardly over the title as taught him by Attakullakulla.

“We are here to trade fairly, equitably.”

“The way you speak, eat and dress leads me to believe you are good, ordered people who hold great respect for the natural order of the world,” Yufala replied. “But they way you act toward your own people, the way in which you conduct your affairs leads me to believe something different.

“I see those dark men you have chained to your ship and wonder why such a good ordered people find it necessary to treat other people as though they are animals.”

“Don’t be mistaken, my friend,” Capt. Wills shot back. “Those creatures chained to our ship are not men, exactly. They are property and exist for labor, to be put to use for the advancement of the King’s cause around the world. Perhaps, they could be an object of trade between our people.”

Timpoochee sat in silence as he listened to his father, the Yonega leader and the strange man interpreting their words to each other.

“What kind of a king chains other men?” he thought to himself.

“I know in many lands your people have come to be admired, respected, even emulated in many ways by our cousins to the north and south,” Yufala said, motioning to Attakullakulla. “But my people do not see other people as objects of trade.

“It appears from the permanent appearance of this town you have erected you do not intend to leave our land any time soon. While we are a welcoming people we will talk among ourselves, consult our own counsel and medicine and discern what the future may hold.”

And with that, Yufala jumped to his feet, motioned the others to follow and marched resolutely from the Yonega council house.

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Act 80: People danced often in the old days...

The journey back up Long Man from the Yonega town seemed more tedious to Timpoochee.

Yufala and the others worked harder paddling upstream. Timpoochee wanted to take his turn but he sat silently in the middle of the boat, fearing if he said anything - particularly about the episode on the Yonega ship - he would unleash his father’s wrath.

After journeying for a while in a stretch of calm, smooth water Yufala finally began talking.

“In the old days people danced often and often danced all night,” he said. “There was once a dance at a very old town, near the origin of Chattahoochee, in the lower mountains.

“The dance had been going on for a while when in walked two young women, both with long, beautiful hair. No one knew them.

“They danced with one partner then another, charming them all.

“One of the young warriors fell in love with one of the women, because of her beautiful hair, and before the night passed asked her to marry him, through an old man as was the custom then.

“The woman told the old man in reply that she would marry the young warrior but she would first have to ask her brother, who was at home. The young woman promised to return to the next dance, seven days later, with a reply from her brother and in the meantime the young warrior would have to fast to prove his love.

“The women slipped away in the morning without anyone seeing them leave.

“The young, smitten warrior did as he was told and fasted, counting the seven days until the next dance.”

“He showed up early and anxious when it was time for the next dance and well into the evening the two women appeared again, just as suddenly as the first time.

“They told the young warrior their brother was willing but he would have to follow them home after the dance and warned him if he told anyone where he went or what he saw he would surely die.”

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Act 81: This is not water...

Timpoochee loved hearing his father tell stories of the ancient times.

But this time, as they slowly journeyed up Long Man, he noticed how old, tired and worn Yufala looked. He did not notice that as his father lectured the Yonega in their council house.

“The young warrior danced all night with both women,” Yufala resumed his story. “And the three slipped away together before the dance was over.

“The women led the way along a trail the young warrior had not seen before, did not know. They came to a small creek and, without hesitating, stepped right into the water.

“The young warrior stopped short and thought, ‘I don’t want to walk in the water.’ But the women knew his thoughts and said, ‘this is not water; this is the trail to our house.’

“Still unsure, the young warrior stepped into the water at the women’s insistence and discovered it wasn’t water at all but fine, soft grass and a smooth trail.

“They traveled on until they came to a large stream, which the young warrior knew as Tallulah.

“The women dove right into the stream but, again, the warrior hesitated.

“‘The water is deep and I will drown,’ he said to himself.

“The women knew his thoughts and said, ‘this is not water but the road to our house, which is near.’

“The young warrior stepped into the water and found himself enveloped by tall grass, over his head and he followed the women.”

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Act 82: Thunder comes nearer...

“The young warrior followed the women along the trail of tall grass only a short distance,’ Yufala said, appearing to Timpoochee more and more tired and old as he recounted story.

“They very soon arrived at a rock cave under Ugunyi, the falls. The women walked right in but the young warrior hesitated, again.

“‘Come,’ said the young women. ‘This is our home and our brother will be here soon.’

“The young warrior heard a low thunder off in the distance,” Yufala said.

“‘That is our brother,’ said the young women.

“And with that, both women took off their long beautiful black hair and hung it on a rock. Their heads were as smooth as a pumpkin.

“‘Come, sit next to me,’ said the younger woman, the one betrothed to the young warrior.

“But the young warrior grew frightened, both by the thunder and, especially, when he saw the bench on which the young woman sat was a turtle, which raised up in fear and anger when the young woman sat.

“Another loud roll of thunder, this time closer, swept through the cave.

“‘Our brother is almost here,’ said the women.

“Without warning another terrifying clap of thunder erupted right behind the young warrior. He turned to find the brother standing right here.

“The brother told the young warrior he was about to start a council and invited him to come along.

“Shaking in fear, the young warrior said he would accompany the brother if only he had a horse and the brother ordered the young women to fetch a horse.

“They went out and returned leading a giant Utkena, which curled and twisted along the entire length of the cave.

“The young warrior was frozen in fear.”

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Act 83: I cannot stay here...

Yufala grew suddenly silent, eyes closed.

Timpoochee wasn’t sure if his father had fallen asleep, was re-enacting the young warrior frozen in fear or was just very tired.

He seemed even older to Timpoochee, growing more tired and aged by the moment as his story unfolded.

Without opening his eyes, Yufala resumed his story.

“The women and the brother insisted the creature was not a Utkena but a horse,” Yufala said.

“‘Bring him a saddle,’ the brother insisted. “And the women brought out another turtle, fastened it to the back of the Uktena and brought shackles for the wrists of the young warrior, which turned into snakes.

“Almost dead with fear, the young warrior shouted, ‘I cannot stay here, in such horrible place!’

“The brother became very angry, called the young warrior a coward. Lightning flashed from the brother’s eyes, struck the young warrior and with the crash of thunder stretched him out senseless.

“When the young warrior came back to his senses he found himself standing, his feet in the water of a cool stream and his hand clasping a laurel which grew out from the bank.

“There was no cave, no beautiful women, no angry brother.

“He made his way back to his town to discover surprise among his people who were all much older than just last night at the dance. They were surprised to see the young warrior, too.

“‘You’ve been gone so long we thought you were dead,’ they told him.

“The young warrior’s friends questioned him and, forgetting the warning, the young warrior recounted the story of what happened to him.

“In seven days he was dead because no one can come back from the underworld, tell the story and live.”

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Act 84: I, too, must exit...

Yufala called to the others in the small flotilla moving upstream on Long Man.

“Let’s rest for a while,” he called out. “I’m tired.”

They found themselves at a particularly beautiful spot along the river. It was smooth, flowing gently, wide and warm.

Yufala motioned toward a relatively broad shoal on the south side of the river, a beach really, where long limbs of bountiful trees stretched out over the water and shade was only steps away.

The flotilla paddled to the shoal and edged the boats onto the sand and small, smooth river rocks.

“Let’s camp here,” Yufala said.

As he tried to raise himself from the boat he fell back into his seat.

“Father!” Timpoochee exclaimed and rushed to his side.

Together with another warrior, Timpoochee lifted Yufala from the boat to a comfortable spot on the shoal. Timpoochee was shocked by how frail his father seemed, suddenly, as if in a moment.

The coterie quickly built a fire as the sun started to set over the mountain peaks. A beautiful evening, one of those rare mountains evenings when the magic is overwhelming and inviting.

Timpoochee sat silently along with the others, pondering the story Yufala finished only a short time ago.

“My son,” Yufala broke the silence after a while. “You see, I have been to the underworld and now that I tell its story I, too, must exit.

“I hoped to see your mother one more time but I will have to see her from the beyond.”

Yufala turned to the others in the group.

“You know what I am to say next,” he said. “I want you all to be my witness. My son, Timpoochee, will lead us from here. He is the one I choose to follow me in leadership. I asked you, dear brothers, to embrace him, support him, gird him up for the times ahead. They will be difficult times and I know in my heart Timpoochee has the skills, soul, mind - and blood - to lead us through them.”

And with that, Yufala slumped and was gone.

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Act 85: The world changed so quickly

Timpoochee, Ugvwiyuhi, sat quiet and still in the thicket along the banks of Long Man, where he used to come often to think about his life and ponder the world.

It was here he brought Rising Fawn on those moon-filled glorious nights that seemed now like a gem in his memory.

He’d hardly spoken to Rising Fawn since he returned to the town. The events were just too overwhelming; no time to think about her.

But she was all he could think about for the past few nights since the end of the Poskiti, his ordination and the lighting of the new fire.

His favorite old hidden thicket provided much solace and pleasant reminders of the love-filled times he and Rising Fawn spent there together.

This night was still and muggy. The river flowed slowly from the lack of rain. Everything seemed hot, even the cool grass and bed of ferns upon which he rested.

His head swelled and spun when he thought of the events which had taken place in the short time since he was last here.

The world changed so quickly. He’d changed so much, not out of a desire to change but because the events forced him to assume first the role of a man, then a warrior, then Ugvwiyuhi charged with an overwhelming responsibility by Grandmother Ama.

But he could dwell on those thoughts too long. He must think about the future, both his own future and that of his people.

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Act 86: The nighthawk sang out her name...

Timpoochee was worried the party of elders sent to oversee Cornstalk’s journey to the Creek territory had not returned.

They were long overdue, should have been back by the end of the Poskita.

Watching Rising Fawn all through Poskita he could not discern her reactions to all that happened. He could not tell if she still held the same feelings for him.

Because of his father’s burial he could not talk to her when he returned. And because of the rules of Poskita he could not talk to her during the ceremony. She had curiously avoided him since, making sure to stay busy in the fields or with her chores - never coming near the square ground or the council house.

As  Ugvwiyuhi now, Timpoochee realized he could probably pick any young woman of the town, as long as she was not of the same clan, and keep her for as long as he wanted. But none would substitute.

Rising Fawn is easily the most beautiful and most capable of all the young women and Timpoochee truly wanted her to be a leader, too, as wife of Ugvwiyuhi.

But how to approach it now? How? With all that happened? She will not feel the same, he thought.

Stretched out on the grass in his thicket, Timpoochee realized how similar was this night to that first night he sat waiting for Rising Fawn.

The nighthawk sang out her name still and the frog barked excitedly. The locusts high in the trees ground out their buzz to the distraction of nearly every other creature in the forest.

Suddenly the trees grew silent. The frogs ceased their lugubrious utterances. The locusts fell deathly quiet.

A quick flutter of wings advanced a rustling noise in the bushes behind Timpoochee.

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Act 87: A dream stepped into reality...

Timpoochee turned and started, waiting for anything to enter the clearing, always ready for friend or foe, he stood with one hand on his tomahawk.

The bushes parted and a dream stepped into reality through the clearing and into full view under the bright moon’s light.

He could not believe the beauty standing before him. Her long, shiny black hair, hanging to her soft thighs, just as he remembered. Her hair and brown shoulders framed that sweet, forgiving face which haunted his dreams every night.

“Rising Fawn,” he said, softly, being the only words he could summon. “Rising Fawn.”

“Hello, Timpoochee,” replied in that soothing, velvet voice. “Oh, forgive me, I mean Timpoochee Ugvwiyuhi.”

She bowed ever so gently and slowly.

He stepped to her, raised her up gently by her shoulders. Their eyes met. The world stood still; no sounds, no stars, no wind, no moon. Only their eyes and their hearts pounding and their bodies embracing.

Timpoochee gently drew her down to the soft grass of the thicket.

He kissed her shoulders, working his way up her neck to her ears, behind her ears, to her check, to her soft quivering lips.

He slowly, gently kissed her neck and down her now writhing body; her breasts, her nipples, her delicious belly so soft and sweet nothing else on earth was like it.

She gasped and shook delicately as he reached her soft mound and tasted her nectar.

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Act 88: The first fire...

Timpoochee awoke with the first faint rays of sunlight beaming over the mountain top.

He was alone.

“Rising Fawn!” he called out and fell immediately into a dark heart fearing she had run away.

“My love,” came answer from the woods themselves.

“Rising Fawn,” he called again.

“I am here,” she answered stepping exquisitely back into the thicket, holding with both hands a clay bowl in which rested a smoldering ember.

“You were sleeping so peacefully I didn’t want to wake you,” she said, dropping to her knees and bending over to kiss Timpoochee on the cheek.

“I brought something to eat, some berries and softkee, and a piece of the council fire just for us,” she said.

“Tell me about the first fire,” Timpoochee said, sitting upright to meet her.

“Oh, Ugvwiyuhi, I can’t tell you the story,” she said. “You must tell me.”

“To you I am not Ugvwiyuhi,” she replied. “Quite the opposite. You are my revelation, my fire. I want only to be warmed by your glow, fed by your spirit.”

Rising Fawn smiled and stiffened her spine with authority and confidence.

“In the very beginning there was no fire,” she began. “Everything was cold and dark.

“That is, until one day the Thunders sent a lightning bolt from Galunlati to the bottom of a hollow sycamore tree which grew in the middle of an island.”

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Act 89: The fire before her...

As Rising Fawn began the story, Timpoochee started a fire from the embers she brought.

He carefully placed four short branches around the smoldering ember reaching out from its core, one to the east, one to the north, one to the west, one to the south.

“The animals discovered the fire on the far island when they saw its smoke, “ Rising Fawn continued the story. “They realized it could provide relief from the cold and dark and held a council to decide how best to go get some of that fire.

“All the animals who could fly or swim volunteered to fetch the fire and after some debate it was decided by the council to send the raven because he was big and strong.

“The raven set out and flew high across the water to the island, landing at the top of the burning sycamore tree. But as he sat motionless, pondering how he would retrieve the fire its flames leaped up and scorched his feathers, turning them black as the night. The raven was so frightened he flew off and returned without any fire, only his blackened feathers which remain to this day.”

As Rising Fawn continued, the fire before her began to glow brighter and Timpoochee drew from a pouch a pinch of quartz, a few kernels of new corn, a sprig of tobacco and finding a small stick from nearby threw into the fire each element as he said a prayer over each and encircled the fire with his steps, moving from the east to the north, to the west, to the south and back again to the east.

While watching, Rising Fawn continued her story.

“Wahuhu, the little screech owl, was the next to go,” she said. “And he flew high and strong and landed safely. But as he was looking down the trunk of the hollow tree a breath of hot air rose to meet him, burning his eyes and they remain red to this day. He managed to fly back but without any fire.”

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Act 90: No fire for the creatures...

Timpoochee continued to tend the softly growing fire as Rising Fawn continued her story as sacrament.

He noticed how the flames reached toward her despite the slight breeze blowing in the opposite direction.

“Of course,” he thought to himself. “All creatures are drawn to her.”

“Once Wahulu returned it was decided Uguku, the hooting owl, and Tskili, the horned owl, would try and off they flew,” Rising Fawn said. “But by the time they landed at the hollow tree the fire was so great the smoke nearly blinded them and ashes poured upward on the fire’s wind burning white rings around their eyes.

“They stumbled back home, rubbing their eyes and without any fire. The white rings persist to this day.

“After that, none of the birds would venture forth but Uksuhi, the little racer snake, said he would go and swam feverishly across the water to the island where he was able to crawl through the grass and find a tiny at the base of the hollow tree.

“The heat and smoke were thick and the fire burned his body black but he managed to slither back out the same hole and ever since has moved as though darting and doubling back on himself as if trying to escape from the fire.

“Gulegi, the great blacksnake, the climber, decided next to go and retrieve the fire.

“He swam across the water to the island and climbed the burning tree but the smoke blinded him and he fell into the tree and into the fire and to this day his body is as black as that of Uksuhi.

“And still there was no fire for the creatures,” Rising Fawn said, sadly.

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Act 91: All things are possible...

As the fire grew brighter and stronger, Timpoochee offered more prayers; asking for guidance and strength, which he felt growing within him as the fire built.

Was it the fire or was it Rising Fawn?

“Because several had tried and failed to bring back the fire, the creatures held another council,” Rising Fawn continued her story.

“The world was still dark and cold but the snakes, the birds and all the four-footed animals were afraid to cross the water to the burning sycamore after what they saw happened to the others.

“At last, the tiny Kananeski Amaiyehi, the water spider, said she would go.

“With black hair and stripes down her little, light, almost unnoticeable body, she can run across the top of water without even being seen unless one is paying attention. She can also dive to the bottom and escape danger.

“The other animals were thankful for the little water spider’s courage but asked, ‘how can you bring back fire, you are so small?’

“The water spider replied, without hesitation, ‘Leave that to me. I will find a way.’

“She spun from her body beautiful thread and fashioned it into a basket which we placed on her back.

“The water spider set off across the water toward the island and the burning sycamore.

“Once on the island she snuck through the grass to the tree. Because she was so tiny she could shield herself from the flames with any object that was not burning.

“With great care she reached a burning ember, placed it in the basket on her back and scurried quickly back across the water to the waiting creatures.

“We have had fire ever since and the water spider proudly carries the basket on her back to this day,” Rising Fawn said and took a seat next to Timpoochee at their own sacred fire.

“All things are possible,” she said. “Our strength is in our courage.”

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Act 92: I cannot see the future...

Timpoochee and Rising Fawn held each other in silence for a long time as the fire burned and warmed them.

“I am worried,” Timpoochee said after a while. “I cannot see the future.”

“No one can see the future,” Rising Fawn replied, with her calm, soothing voice Timpoochee loved.

“But I must,” he insisted. “I have been chosen to lead our people. I can’t lead them into danger - and I fear we face many dangers.

“I cannot lead without you,” he said, turning and looking into Rising Fawn’s eyes only inches away.

“I am going nowhere without you,” she said. “I am yours and you are mine and nothing was ever going to be - would ever be - any different.”

Timpoochee sighed, a long, lingering, freedom-giving sigh.

“You know in the old days the Sun lived on the other side of the sky,” he said. “But her daughter lived at the top of the sky, directly above us and each day as the Sun traveled along her arch to the west she would stop at her daughter’s house for mid-day meal.

“The sun came to hate the people below, on the ground, because they could never look straight at her without screwing up their faces in contortion.

“She told her brother, the moon, ‘my grandchildren are ugly. They look at me and grimace.’

“‘I think they are beautiful,’ said the moon. ‘They are handsome and smile at me when they look.’

“The sun became very jealous and planned to kill all the people,” Timpoochee continued. “Every day, as she neared her daughter’s house at the top of the sky she sent down scorching rays, withering the people and animals and plants below.”

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Act 93: I fear danger ahead...

“I fear danger ahead, as dangerous as the old, bright sun,” Timpoochee said.

“Just as in the old days when the old sun continued to shine blistering rays and they spread a fever and many people died.

“The people went to the Little Men for help who proposed killing the sun as the only remedy.

“The people agreed and the Little Men made medicine and changed two men into snakes, one a spreading adder and the other a copperhead, and sent them to wait for the sun to reach her daughter’s house.

“As the sun approached the next day the spreading adder leaped out at her but was so blinded by her light all he could do was spit out yellow slime, which he still does today.

“The copperhead was so frightened he ran away.

“The Little Men made more medicine and turned one man into a great Uktena and the other into a rattlesnake and sent them to wait for the sun.

“The rattlesnake was quick and eager and arrived at the sun’s daughter’s house way ahead of Uktena so that when the sun’s daughter opened the door to greet her mother he sprang up and bit her and the sun’s daughter fell dead.

“The rattlesnake was happy and returned immediately to brag to the people, forgetting completely to wait for the old sun.

“Since that time, we pray to the rattlesnake and do not kill him because he doesn’t attack us if we don’t disturb him.

“Discovering what happened Uktena grew very angry and also returned to the people with vengeance in his heart. He grew more angry by the day so that even if he looked at a man he would kill him.”

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Act 94: Is that why you fear?

“And that is why we run from Utkena today?,” asked Rising Fawn.

“Yes,” Timpoochee answered, feeling himself for the first time in full control of the medicine, with authority.

“Some people say Uktena was banished to Galunlati,” he said. “But I don’t know. Maybe he takes other forms now. I have seen evil like that.”

“Is that why you fear?” Rising Fawn asked.

“Partly,” Timpoochee replied. “But even more, listen as I tell you the rest of the story my father taught me as he taught me the medicine:

“The sun came to her daughter’s house and found her daughter dead. She went into the house, stopped sending her deadly heat and killing the people, but was overcome by grief and wept and wailed all day and all night.

“And while the people stopped dying the world was once again dark because the sun would not come out of her daughter's house.

“The people held another council and decided to, once more, seek the help of the Little Men who told them the only way to get the sun back out was to travel to Tsusginai, the ghost country, and bring back the sun’s daughter.

“The council selected seven men to and gave each a sourwood rod take on the journey.

“They also instructed the seven to take along a box because the Little Men said they would find when they reached Tsusginai all the ghosts at a dance.

“'Stand outside the dance circle,' said the Little Men. 'And when a young woman passes through the circle strike her with the rods and put her into the box and return to her mother, the sun.'

“The Little Men also told them to keep shut on the way home the box lid, never open it no matter what, no matter how much they felt compelled to do so."

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Act 95: She fell silent after a while...

Timpoochee stirred the fire. Rising Fawn snuggled closer, enrapt in his story of the medicine.

“The chosen seven took the box and armed with the rods traveled seven days to the ghost country and when they arrived they found many people and, just as foretold, the people were having a big dance.

“They spotted the young woman they sought dancing around an outer circle,” Timpoochee said.

“They argued among themselves about grabbing her as she moved toward them or waiting until she danced into the middle, as instructed.

“The argument was resolved when one of the men struck the young woman with a rod as she neared them.

“She immediately fell to the ground and the others quickly scooped her up and placed her gently into the box, closing the lid tightly. The other dancing ghosts never noticed what happened.

“The men started for home but it wasn’t long before the young woman regained her senses and started asking to be let out of the box. They ignored her, heeding the warning to never open the box until they delivered the daughter back to her mother, the sun.

“The young woman would not be quiet. She begged and begged, pleaded with the men to let her out. They would not.

“She fell silent after a while and after a while longer faintly cried out that she was smothering.

“This time, the men were afraid she might really be dying again and lifted the lid just a crack to let in some air.

“But as they did so a rush of wind and a flutter of wings engulfed them, flew over them and into the woods.

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Act 96: The world was dark and flooding...

Just as Timpoochee was recounting the story, a rush of wind and a flutter of wings captured Rising Fawn’s attention.

“Timpoochee, my love!” she exclaimed, pointing up the hillside. “A giant gugusta, the wood pecker!”

Skittish as they are, the woodpecker immediately launched off further into the woods and out of sight.

“That’s reassuring,” Timpoochee said. “Good medicine with those creatures. Do you think that was the flutter heard by the seven with the box containing the daughter of the sun?”

“I don’t know,” Rising Fawn said.

“The seven men didn’t know, either,” Timpoochee said. “But they continued their journey home and when the arrived and opened the box for the sun, her daughter was not in it.

“The sun had been happy when the men started their journey but when they returned without her daughter she was very upset and cried and cried for days and flooded the land with her tears, a great flood and people were afraid the world would be drowned.

“She would not come out of her daughter’s house and the world was dark and flooding so the people held another council and decided to send their most handsome young women and men to dance and amuse her.

“But nothing worked. No matter how handsome were the young people and how much they delighted in the dance the sun would not come out of her daughter’s house and the world became darker and even more flooded.”

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