Stars, Clouds, and Deer Antlers
by Lynn R.
Young Eagle awoke. The air was still,and only the birds sang a soft melody from the forest. The sun sparkled down through the smoke hole in the Longhouse roof. Thunder Wolf was sleeping soundly. Young Eagle got off his sleeping board and slipped into his new deerskin moccasins, the dear father had hunted while away on a hunting trip. Then, Mother sowed a lovely pattern with dyed beads. Young Eagle's father is wise man, almost as wise as Grandfather.
The boy slowly crept near his older brother, Thunder Wolf. He whispered into his brother's ear, not wanting Grandfather to wake, "Thunder Wolf, are you awake?"
Thunder Wolf leaned on his side and looked up at his younger brother with his deep brown eyes, "Are you ready to go hunting, Young Eagle?" His voice was low also, but you could tell he was eager.
"Oh Yes! I do, but I think we should have a contest," He suggested. How about we see who can get the most squirrels. Then, whoever has the most meat, may take all of their brother's meat, too."
Thunder Wolf liked this idea, since he was more of a skilled hunter.
So the two boys set off for the woods, slowly closing the skinned flat with the bear sign on it, symbolizing that they were the bear clan. The trail was quiet without the other men and children nearby. Only the leaves crunched with every step they took. It was dim without the full sun shining through the trees. Before the brothers reached the cleared lacrosse field, they heard a noise.
Both brother got out their arrows. But then they knew it wasn't an animal, for they heard, "Thunder Wolf, Young Eagle. Is that you? What are you doing?" It was Grandfather. The boys could tell from his strong, wise voice.
Young Eagle turned around and saw Grandfather standing right in front of him. "It was all Thunder Wolf's idea. He said we would see how many squirrels we could get. He said that whoever gets the most meat keeps all," explained Young Eagle.
Grandfather brushed his long midnight black hair away from his face, "That was foolish. Not only is it greedy of the two of you, but careless to Mother Earth."
The brothers looked at each other. Thunder Wolf exclaimed, "He begged me to take him hunting. You know how he begs Father. I don't understand, what is so horrible about hunting? Father does it all the time."
Grandfather smiled, "Yes, your father is the best hunter in the area. However, he shares his game with the whole village. Also, the hunters only kill what they must. If you and your brother killed all you saw, there would be no meat to share with your children, or your children's children."
"But how would you know if we did or didn't hunt whatever we saw? What if you didn't see us out here?" Young Eagle cried out like a very young child.
The boys still looked confused. "So we shouldn't hunt?" asked Thunder Wolf trying to understand what Grandfather wanted.
"No, you may hunt. Just only take what you must and please share with all who are near. Here, I will tell you a tale which my father told me. It is known well to the Mohawk tribe."
Grandfather paused trying to think of the story in his mind, "A long time ago, there were only animals on the land. The animals were very greedy and careless. The deer killed the squirrels, and the bear killed the chipmunk. Soon, all the animals were either in pain or fighting.
Soon all the animals were too selfish to think about what they were doing. Not only were the animals fighting with each other, thy were killing other animals and not eating them. The bigger animals bullied the smaller, weaker animals. There were very few animals that were small, such as the birds and squirrels.
The Creator lifted the sheet of blue sky. He looked down on his animals. Once the land was warm with the birds signing throughout the hills. Now the animals were arguing and fighting over silly things. There were carcasses scattered in the fields.
The Creator was not pleased. He called down, 'What have you all done?'
The raccoons looked up at the cloudy figure peering down over them. 'It wasn't our fault! The fox was picking on us, saying we were too different.'
The Creator sighed, 'I don't care who or what caused this. You have done wrong and were not thinking a head, or even respecting each other. I will give you a chance. I will appear and see if you listened to my words.' Then he vanished.
The animals listened at first. They shared all they had, only killing what was needed. But, by the third day, they were back to the way they were before. When the Creator saw them killing for fun and fighting he was furious.
'You did not listen to my words. Once I trusted you, but now I cannot for you have broken that trust. You should behave without someone watching you. But I see you can't.'
Mother deer called, 'We were wrong, The Creator is wise. He speaks only truth. We were not thinking, so now we must face a punishment.' Mother Deer was smart, and knew it was all the animals', not one's fault.
'Yes Mother Deer, the punishment will only be holes in the sky sheet. So I may watch you. The holes, I will call stars. They will be put together in the shapes of you, showing all the animals make this mistake. I will use Mother Deer's antlers to poke these stars.'
And so the Creator poked the stars in the black night sheet and then in the blue day sheet. He placed the antlers somewhere safe, above in his world. The female deer was upset with this, but she knew it was the right thing. And so, the Creator left, and went back to his world. However, this time, his two eyes were looking down through the holes.
The animals never would disobey the Creator when he was looking right at them. Whenever they doubted, a female deer pranced nearby, and they remembered why why the stars were poked. All the animals understood the life cycle, and how they should only kill if needed. They also understood that they should respect everyone, even other kinds of animals. The Creator watched the animals and thought for a while, until he came up with a splendid plan. He appeared in front of the animals, 'Come, and hear the words I speak to you.'
All the animals gather around the Creator. The chipmunk announced with her high pitched voice, 'We have displeased the the Creator. That must be why he comes.'
The Creator picked the chipmunk up with his large hands, 'Not at all, Chipmunk. I am pleased with your choice. I trust you. I will watch you only some of the time. When the black night sheet is in the sky I will be watching you, but when the blue day sheet is placed in the sky, I hope you will choose wisely without me watching you.'
All the animals nodded. A young, baby bear called cheerfully, 'What will you do to make the day stars go?'
The Creator opened his fist. There were puffs. They looked like fluffy, white rabbit tails. He rubbed the white puffs over every star.
All the animals stood still, looking at the new sky. It was beautiful with another color added. They cheered at the Creator's wisdom.
The animals learned from their mistakes. They passed this story down to their children. If ever a child forgot the lesson, he would see the female deer skipping off somewhere, without her antlers. The Creator kept the antlers somewhere safe, so if he needed, he could poke the star again."
"So", said Grandfather," do you understand now? Do you understand why I pass this story down to you?"
Both brothers nodded silently in awe. Then their heads turned, and looked up at the sky. There were the puffs of white rabbit tails. They remembered the crisp night sky, with the twinkling stars. They even remember Father talking to them one night, pointing out the shapes of animals they formed.
Grandfather led his grandsons down the path and into the village. Both brothers knew they would pass this story to their children, so they could understand why we only hunt what we must and why we respect each other.