<>U GU GU<>
The True Story of Owl
Warrior Of Darkness
Told By: ShaunaSay Whitefeather
Faintly above the howling of the wind, the hooting of an owl and the crackling of a fire were the only sounds in the lodge as the grandfather lit his pipe. One of the children turned in their sleep, as the icy blast from the opening of the lodge door passed over the sleepers scattered around the walls of the wooden log lodge. The pallets of furs that were so warm were drawn tighter around them even in their sleep, as if like a natural muscle reaction against the cold, one not thought of just done.
As the woman carrying the firewood closed the door she said quietly, as though to herself. �I wish those owls would go somewhere else.�
She stacked the wood near the fireplace, and turned around to hear the grandfather smiling and chuckling to himself.
�What makes you laugh grandfather?� she said warming her hands.
�Your words about owl�, he replied puffing on his hand carved pipe.
�Well I do not like them, they are evil! Sitting out there in the dark making that sound of evil! They only bring bad medicine and messages of death to our people!�
�Come granddaughter, sit beside me,� He said as she seated herself. �You just do not know who owl is, and why we as Tsalagi were once called the �owl people�. �Only the new generations now, have forgotten the �older ways� of our Ancestors who walked on Earth Mother before us�. They like you, hate the owl and call him evil in the darkness, when really he is just the opposite.�
�Long ago,� the grandfather continued, �The Great Spirit that made us all things gave birth to our world and Earth Mother and placed upon it all manner of animals.� �Man and Woman were created afterwards to be the caretakers of Earth Mother and the Great Spirit�s animals and to learn how to live in harmony together for all time.� Evil came into being also, to try to keep all from balance.�
�Yes, yes,� She interrupted, I know the children story about the beginning.�
�I am sure you do!� He said. �But you must not know the whole story of �u gu gu� else you would not fear and hate him so!�
�Please just listen granddaughter, so that the wisdom of your Ancestors can speak to your heart about the truth long forgotten.�
Moving and repositioning herself, she prepared to listen to a story she felt she had already heard as a child. But out of respect to her grandfather, she would hear the story again as before, she thought�
�In those younger days of Earth Mother, animals and the people, the sun was with us always, so the Great Spirit that made all things said to the people, I will give you �u wo hi li� the Eagle. A very mighty warrior to watch and protect your souls from the evil one, and all evil beings.�
�After many years the Eagle said to the Great Spirit that made all things, �Please Great Spirit, I am tired after these many years and need rest. � �
�So the Great Spirit said, �Very well, you may rest a half of a day, and I will have a darkness fall upon the Earth so that all may also rest from the sun. � �
�When the first darkness came upon Mother Earth, a great cry of fear and anguish from the people reached the Great Spirit�s ears.�
�The people prayed to the Great Spirit asking him, �Great Spirit, you gave us the mighty warrior �u wo hi li� brother Eagle to protect us in the light, and gave rest to him and us, when the sun shines no more. Though his eyes see all during the time of light from the sun, he sees not well in the darkness and he sleeps as we do. How can we be protected from the evil ones when they lurk in all shadows?� �
� �O my children, a father does not leave his young unprotected at anytime.� � I have already given much thought to this; I have created a new brother and protector just for the time of darkness.� �U gu gu� Owl, warrior of darkness! I will give him wings of silence to fly upon, not like brother �u wo hi li� Eagle.� � His call will fill evil itself and all evil beings, with fear and cause them to run and hide. �From this day, when you hear his call, do not fear him, know that you and your family is protected, and no evil can come near!� �
� � As well as brother Eagle, he will do my bidding when I wish to send a message, be it good or one of sadness. They both are very close to my heart as well as you. �This does not make them one of evil doings, when they only obey my wishes and give me respect and honor to me as their Father� �
� �Because the brother �u gu gu� Owl, was created from your prayers, I will give another gift of my love for you and the new brother, both your people and he shall have round eyes that can see in the darkness� a circle around the eyes shall mark �u gu gu� Owl, as a the remembrance of this day.
�Granddaughter, do you still feel fear and hatred of �u gu gu�?�
�Oh, grandfather, I feel so foolish and ashamed for not knowing, and how I could have even believed an animal that was made by the Great Spirit could be evil.� �Man is the only living being that chooses to be or do evil, not an animal.�
�How wrong so many are, just like I have been.� �It is time to re-teach the young and older ones alike isn�t it?
The grandfather just packed his pipe, lit it once again, and puffed a few puffs, smiled and chuckled lightly as before, and replied to the question asked, �It has already begun�.
<>THE END<>
