Legendary Myths

Story 1 || 6 words: Fearing the Sun, the Moon pales. Story 2 || 50 words: Long ago, the Moon was made the wife of the Sun. Alas, the Sun was very angry when the Moon ran ahead of him, so the Moon grew small and pale. Now, the Moon grows larger for a while but soon fades away again, remembering the Sun's anger and temperament. Sun and Moon - Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Author's Note: For this set of microfictions, I chose to write my own versions of Why of the Moon is Pale. The original story tells of how Small Turtle made Sun out of Lightning and made Moon his wife. Now, Moon was smaller than Sun, but equally as bright. The animals bore a hold through the earth so that Sun and Moon could begin their journey again in the east. Alas, when Moon ran ahead, Sun grew very angry. Frightened at Sun's anger, Moon grew small and pale. Small Turtle tried to make her large again, so now she grows big, but she grows small and pale again when she remembers Sun's anger...

Story 1 || 6 words: Men who disobeyed turned into monkeys. Story 2 || 2 sentences: God told men to not fish on Sundays. Yet, the men fished, so they were turned into monkeys. Fishermen on a Lake - Courtesy of Phelps Law Office Author's Note: For this set of microfictions, I opted to write my own versions of The Origin of Monkeys. The original story tells of how a man of God came to men and told them not to fish on Sundays, for the fish needed a day to feed. The men obliged and went about home to rest. Then, a woman came and saw the many fish feeding in the water. She came home to the men at once and bid them to go fish, else they be loved no more. So, the men head out to fish again, but God turned them into monkeys for disobeying. For my first microfiction of 6 words, I tried to remain abstract in my word choice. Readers who know the original story will be able to make sense of the few words. Conversely, readers who are unfamiliar with the original story will be able ...

Story 1 || 50 words: Turkey didn't have such a great voice, so he asked Grouse to give him lessons. After several lessons, Turkey had gotten quite good, so Grouse thought it was time to try his voice. Grouse gave the signal, but Turkey was so excited that he could only muster up a gobble. Story 2 || 25 words: Turkey was very eager to sing after his lessons with Grouse. He was so excited that, upon hearing the signal to sing, could only gobble. Turkey - Courtesy of Britannica Author's Note: For this set of microfictions, I opted to write my own renditions of Why The Turkey Gobbles. The original story tells of how the Turkey did not have a good voice. So, he asked the Grouse for lessons in exchange for some feathers. Thus, Grouse how his collar of turkey feathers. After a few lessons, it was time to test Turkey's voice. So, Grouse tapped upon the log to signal Turkey to begin, but Turkey was so excited that he could only gobble. So now, Turkey gobbles whenever h...

Story 1 || 6 words: Always home, Tortoise never went out. Story 2 || 50 words: Jupiter threw a banquet with all the animals. All came except the Tortoise, for he never cared for going out and preferred to stay home. Annoyed, Jupiter decreed that the Tortoise shall carry his home upon his back, never being able to leave his home even if he so wished. Tortoise and its Shell - Courtesy of Wikipedia Author's Note: For this set of microfictions, I chose to write my own versions of How the Tortoise Got Its Shell. The original story tells of how Jupiter was about to marry a wife, and had a banquet for all the animals to come celebrate. Though, all came except the Tortoise, for he didn't care for going out and preferred to stay home. Jupiter was annoyed at this reply and decreed that the Tortoise shall carry his home upon his back, unable to leave away from his home even if he wished to. For my first microfiction of 6 words, much of the detail of Jupiter's banquet and...

Story 1 || 2 sentences: Wanting a meal, Buzzard tricked Rabbit into his home. Rabbit tried to escape through the open door, but Buzzard slammed the door on his own head and Rabbit's tail, turning his head bright red and cutting Rabbit's tail off. Story 2 || 50 words: Buzzard was very hungry. He sought make a make a meal of Rabbit. So he tricked Rabbit into his home and locked him in. When Buzzard opened the door to his home, Rabbit leaped out. Buzzard slammed the door, cutting off Rabbit's tail and turning his own head bright red. Turkey Buzzard - Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Author's Note: For this set of microfictions, I chose to create my own renditions of Why Turkey Buzzard Has a Red Head. The original story tells of there was once a very hungry Buzzard who sought to make a meal of Rabbit. So he lured Rabbit into his home and locked him in for three days. Coming back after another three days had passed, Buzzard heard no answer and opened the door. Rab...

Story 1 || 100 words: The Deer once had no horns, and his head was smooth. He could prance through the forest at such a fast pace that the animals were curious whether the great running Deer or the great jumping Rabbit could travel faster. So, a challenge was set between the two to go through a thicket and back, and a large pair of antlers was offered as the prize to the winner. However, the Rabbit was found to be cheating, as he had cleared a path through the forest. So, the antlers were given to the Deer and have been worn ever since. Story 2 || 6 words: Cheating Rabbit yields horns to Deer. White-Tailed Deer - Courtesy of Britannica Author's Note: For this set of microfictions, I opted to write my own renditions of the story of How The Deer Got His Horns. The original story tells of how the Deer with no horns was a great runner, and the Rabbit was a great jumper. The other animals wanted to see which of the two was faster so they issued forth a race through the thi...

Story 1 || 2 sentences: The Rabbit complained about his small and beady eyes to God. His eyes are now large and stretched after God has thrown him about his own home. Story 2 || 50 words: The Rabbit complained to God about his small eyes, who told him to bring back six blackbird. Upon his return, God told him to bring back rattlesnake teeth. Upon his return, God told him to stay. Then, God caught the Rabbit and threw his head around, stretching out his eyes. Rabbit - Courtesy of Wikipedia Author's Note: For this set of microfictions, I chose to write my own versions of Why the Rabbit's Eyes are Big. The original story tells of how a Rabbit was unhappy with his small eyes and complained to God. God sent him to return with six blackbird, and he did. Then, God sent him to return with rattlesnake teeth, and the Rabbit killed his neighbor, the rattlesnake, for his teeth. Upon his return to God, God catches him by his hind feet and throws him about the house, stretching...

Story 1 || 2 sentences: The elephant, massive as he was, barely noticed when he squashed the home of the rabbit, flattening his little children. Avenging the deaths of his children, the rabbit set ablaze the ears of the elephant, burning the hinges so the elephant couldn't lift them up anymore. Story 2 || 25 words: Avenging the deaths of his children who perished at the foot of the large elephant, the rabbit set fire to the ears of the elephant. Female African Bush Elephant - Courtesy of Wikipedia Author's Note: For this set of microfictions, I decided to write my own renditions of the story of Why the Elephant Has Floppy Ears. The original story tells of how the rabbit had children in a small den in the woods. However, the massive elephant unknowingly stepped upon his home, squashing the children of the rabbit. So, the rabbit desired to avenge their lives and set out planning his vengeance. He set the ears of the elephant on fire, destroying the hinges so that th...

Story 1 || 100 words: Mr. Owl fancied times where he could fly through the woods, singing with joy. One day, Miss Owl went out to pay a visit and bid Mr. Owl to watch the home and eggs. Yet, Mr. Owl yearned to sing, so he went off to teach at the singing school. Upon his absence, Miss Cuckoo, stubborn as she was, came and left her eggs in the nest. Upon this discovery, Miss Owl was not happy at all and sent Mr. Owl in search of the culprit. So, he still flies searching for who did it and forgot how to sing. Story 2 || 50 words: Mr. Owl loved to sing. While he was out realizing his passion at the singing school, someone left eggs in his nest. Now Miss Owl was quite angry. So, now he searches for who left her eggs. He sang 'Who' for so long, he forgot how to sing anything else. Boreal Owl - Courtesy of eBird Author's Note: For this week's set of microfictions, I opted to retell the story of Why Mr. Owl Can't Sing. The original story tells of an owl who l...

Story 1 || 50 words: Seven wolves once caught a groundhog. Tricky as he was, the groundhog taught the wolves seven dances, devising a way to get closer to his hole in the ground. As the last dance concluded, the seven wolves chased after the groundhog as he dashed into his hole, snatching his tail. Story 2 || 2 sentences: A groundhog taught seven wolves seven dances. After seven dances, the groundhog lost his tail as he retreated to his home. Groundhog Standing Up - Courtesy of KUT Author's Note: For this set of microfictions, I wanted to do my own renditions of How the Groundhog Lost His Tail. For the first story, I decided to write a story using only 50 words, struggling to capture some of the details of the plot. However, I managed to illustrate the trickster nature of the groundhog by him distracting the wolves with his dances to get closer to his hole in the ground. I also managed to describe how the groundhog lost his tale to a wolf as he retreated down his hole....

Story 1 || 25 words: To save his cubs, the Wolf Father sang. The man, fascinated by the creature, spared his cubs and took the Wolf Father's aid in war. Story 2 || 280 characters: Once upon a time, a man found a wolf den. He started digging in it to capture the cubs. Eventually, the Wolf Father appears and sings a beautiful song, begging the man to spare his precious cubs. The Wolf Father, grateful for the man sparing his cubs, promised to help in the man's pursuits of war. So, the wolf helped the man steal the horses. Wolf in the Wild - Courtesy of Duluth News Tribune Author's Note: For this set of microfictions, I opted to retell the story of Why the Wolves Help in War, a legend of the Dakota people on the Great Plains. For my first story of 25 words, I tried to capture the key aspects of the original story, such as how the Wolf Father sang to beg the man to spare his young cubs in his den and how he promised to assist the man when he chose to go to war ther...

Story 1 || 25 words: An Indian saved a young hawk, whose feathers provided flight. The arrow adorned with the feather of the hawk flies straight and meets its mark. Story 2 || 100 words: A baby hawk fell from his nest, too young and helpless to fly. The hawk would surely would have been eaten if it were not for a young Indian boy who found him. The young boy raised the hawk until he could fly, yet the hawk stayed with him. The young boy made arrows that could not steer straight and faltered in the breeze. The clever hawk drew his own feather and adorned it to the arrow, which now flew as straight as the hawk. The villagers gave a great shout, as now their arrows flew straight through the air. Red-Shouldered Hawk - Courtesy of eBird Author's Note: For this set of microfictions, I wanted to experiment with different levels of detail for my stories. I adopted a story that the Caddo people told of how a baby hawk was rescued by a little boy, and now gave his feather so th...

Story 1 || 2 sentences: The skunk whom was most formidable, yet never satisfied. The skunk, now bestowed with a horrendous stench, walks alone. Story 2 || 280 characters: The skunk was first given black and white fur to hide him from his enemies. Given his fur but still not satisfied, he asked for more. Given his new sharper teeth and longer claws but still not satisfied, he asked for more. More he got in the form of a horrible stench that he now must bear. Now he walks alone, disliked for his suffocating odor. Skunk in a Field - Courtesy of ScienceNews Author's Note: I chose to write two microfictions of why the skunk walks alone. For the first story of a length of 2 sentences, I chose to write about how the skunk felt, and how he now walks alone due to his new smell. I thought these two sentences captured the very essence of the original story without any of the finer details. My story captures the feelings of greed and remorse felt by the skunk that are present in ...