Join us at the campfire for tales from around the world, told by storytellers of all backgrounds and creeds. From the heros and heroines of old, let us relearn and rediscover the wisdom of our ancestors. Shhh..the story begins..
It was a cave like a hundred others in the mountains, except all who had ever entered it said that it felt creepy. Not all who had entered that cave had emerged to tell of their misgivings, for deep in the darkness dwelt a creature born at the dawning of the world. She had crossed into the world from the darkness and hidden herself away in the depths until all was completed. Evil in a way that was only possible when all was black-and-white, the demoness chose her victims in darkness and hid from the light which could destroy her. Now she lay there, with her ever-present hunger gnawing at her, her mind ran back to an earlier time, to an encounter that happened when she was not yet wasted and withered.
In the peak of her power, there was one she remembered having failed to overcome, one who had brought about her ruin. A warrior of a people who lived off the land. When a child of them came near a cave she was hiding in, she crooned her death-song as sweetly as a bluebird. The People cherished life, when a child of them failed to come home at eventide the warriors all took up the hunt at once. They scattered to pick up the trail, then like a pack of over-intelligent wolves, they drew together again, working their way closer to the child. They lived because they were excellent hunters, they hunted for the livelihood of their people and for the continuation of their race. The trail of the child might as well have been as wide as a herd of bisons. But, when they stood at the mouth of the cave, there were none who would enter. The evil flowing from the cave was as palpable as the darkness that flowed from within.
Then Crouching Cougar came: he was among the bravest of the warriors of a brave people. When he came to the mouth of the cave and saw that the signs were clear, he followed them in. When he reached the place where the yellow-eyed demoness waited, he met her eyes with fear he could control for the sake of saving the child he saw cowering behind her. He knew the battle to be fought here would not be with spear and knife but a battle of Spirits. Cougar spoke, "In the name of the People, release the child".
The wraith replied in a voice like cold wind blowing across tall, dry, dead grass, "What am I offered?"
"I will come willingly into your lair and take the place of the child."
Spurred by her hunger for the power he represented, the hag agreed. The child stood as Cougar came up to him. Cougar had always been an idol for him, as he was to many of the boys of the tribe. Now, seeing him sacrifice himself to this creature of nightmares, he grasped him about the waist and clung to him tears burning his eyes. Cougar stroked his back, then sent him on toward the mouth of the cave.
Once the child was free, Cougar spoke again to the demoness, "Now bitch, see if you can claim your prize!" Cougar felt disorientation as the world shifted, he was in a clearing like he had dreamed of seeing one day. There was a clear brook running through the center of the meadow. There were deer drinking from the stream as an eagle circled overhead searching for prey. Cougar felt a deep peace, and love for this world. Suddenly, in his mind, he knew it was wrong! Something was screaming at him to beware, something of dreadful import was happening and he was not noticing it.
He snapped back from the clearing with its wonderful feelings, and happy thoughts to find it was a trap! He had knelt down on the floor of the cavern, and the Wraith was approaching for the last embrace he would feel in this world... He leapt to his feet, like his namesake might have, ducked between the demoness and the depth of the cave. Cougar reached into his pouch, and tossed the contents of the bag at his feet, trapping the wraith in the mouth of the cave with a line of defense he hoped the hell-beast could not cross.
She tried to attack, but a blue sheet of flame appeared in front of her, emanating from Cougar's totems. Her claws rang on it as if it were harder than slate and she made a noise that was like a thousand souls screaming their death-agony. Knowing she could not live if the sun touched her, Cougar knelt behind his totem devices, reaching his spirit toward his people and the Great Spirit they honored as a part of themselves... The hag screamed horrible curses that melted the stone on her side of the line like water, Cougar saw his totems beginning to waver like they were being consumed to support that wall of flame.
Could they withstand her, or was he to suffer the fate she planned for him? The battle was horrific, the warriors who had stayed outside after the child had come out were sure Cougar would never survive. It was then, knowing Cougar's plight, the oldest of them began a chant that was as old as their memories. It was the song of the People; it spoke of joy, and happiness at the return of Sun. One by one the other warriors added their voices to the celebration of the birth of another day.
When Cougar heard that song his resolve hardened, his fear wilted as he remembered what he should have never forgotten: Cougar could not defeat this Hell-beast, but she was no match for the People. He stood, and said "Beast, you will not have me. I command you, never to come forth from this cave again. Do you agree, or shall I leave the dawn make an end of you?"
The monster hung her head defeated. Betrayed by her own greed she was now to be a prisoner here forever. To Cougar she hissed, "Man, I will wait for the day when the People forget their strength, and I will be free!"
Dawn broke as Cougar came from the Cave, "Brothers, we must make a new song..."