Photo by Ant Rozetsky on Unsplash
Story source: American Indian Fairy Tales by W.T. Larned, with illustrations by John Rae (1921).
A long long time ago, the winds where chaos. They had no dominion over certain land and they roamed free as they pleased. Children feared the North Wind as it was cold and brought snow and ice to their lands. The North Wind was loud and fast, and children ran and hid from it. The South Wind, however, was quite the opposite. He was just a nice guy honestly. The South Wind would walk around enjoying the sun, smelling flowers, and napping on hills. Whenever the South Wind came to town the children rejoiced.
Wherever the South Wind was traveling at that time, it was summer. The North and South balanced each other well, but the North Wind had a plan. He wanted to become more powerful than his nemesis the South Wind. The North Wind knew the South Wind's routine very well. Every night the South Wind would lay down on a hilltop, drink a beer and take a nap while basking in the sunlight. This was the perfect time for the North Wind to strike.
That day that the North Wind decided enough was enough. He saw several villagers fishing and sitting around a fire having a good time. He hated that they would laugh and smile and enjoy their time outdoors. Outdoors is where the gods would roam at night, and the North Wind wanted more chaos on earth. So, when he knew the South Wind had fallen asleep, the North Wind descended upon the villagers scaring all but one. One stayed there laughing and eating fish.
This enraged the North Wind, how dare someone laugh at an entity such as the wind. He challenged the man to a duel. The man agreed, what else would he do to entertain himself now that his friends had run away. So the man decided to duel the North Wind. The North Wind blew snow and ice at the man's tent. He sat inside, letting the North Wind create him an igloo to keep him warm through the night. The North Wind did not understand why the man was not running or trying to move the snow. He continued to send more and more, packing the snow in tight.
"Well, don't strain yourself. Come have a seat by the fire. Take a load off." The man said giggling at the tired Wind. The wind was shocked, why was this human treating him with kindness. He refused and said, "No mortal, you will fight me!"
The man shrugged, got up and fought the North Wind. He knew that he would win because he had been warm next to the fire and could defrost the icy wind. As the North Wind grew weaker and weaker, the man started breathing hot air onto the wind.
"What are you doing human? Why... are you doing that?" The Wind looked at disgust. The man just smiled and chuckled under his breath, walking away from the fight back into his tent. The Wind knew it had no more fight left within. The North Wind retreated as the South Wind woke up from his nap. He knew he could not win with the South Wind awake.
The best way to survive a freeze is cheerfulness and courage. (and also a warm fire)
________
Author's Note:
I liked this story a lot when I read it and decided to make it a bit more of a sort of villain story! I think the idea of the wind being an entity in itself that could just travel around and talk to people is really interesting, and I like the concept a lot. I did not change too much of the plot, but I tried to change some perspective and characterization as well!
Hi Savannah!
ReplyDeleteI really liked your retelling of the story! The idea of making the wind sentient by giving it the ability to talk to people is so cool! Reminds me a lot of Avatar the Last Airbender, they did a lot of that on that show and it always added another layer and made things more interesting, which your story very much does!
I also like the idea of villainizing the North wind. Stories are always so much more intriguing when you have someone to root for (the opposition to the villain of course). Overall, great story!!
Hey Savannah,
ReplyDeleteI loved the story and enjoyed every moment of the conflict! One question I do have right from the get-go is from what tribe or region this story came from? I didn't see it in your Author's note and am really curious. I loved the set-up you made with the dichotomy of South and North and how they played so well into the final battle between the North and the old fisherman. I'm also really impressed by how you managed to bring modern vernacular into the story also! Excited to see what else you have to write this semester!
Hi Savannah!
ReplyDeleteI actually had also read this story in the American Indian Fairy Tales section. I liked your version a lot more because it was easier to understand and read, I felt myself getting lost in the original. I love how your personified the North and South wind. Their personalities are exactly how I see the winter vs. the summer! The little details made this story so cute and entertaining. How did that man know that he could defeat the North Wind? And why didn't his friends know? I would love to see a battle between the North and South wind where the South absolutely destroys the North because I hate winter. Good job on this story!