Story Week 10: Tejas Legends

Rainbow

(Image by Werner22brigitte)

How the Rainbow Got its Colors

There was a little Native American girl who loved to paint. She would paint anything, people, animals, nature, she did not leave anything out. She painted through her teen years and as she approached adulthood her paintings became more and more in demand. She became quite famous in her tribe and other Natives from other lands would come to purchase her paintings. Some for gifts for loved ones, the deceased, wedding gifts, whatever the reason they had to be her paintings.

One day, a rattlesnake heard of her gift. He was intrigued by her. He was a poor rattlesnake. He did not have many friends. He slithered up to the girl slowly, she did not scream or run.

“Are you not afraid of me?”

“My paintings have taught me that there is so much more out there than to judge others. I’ve learned to find the beauty in things.”

The girl and the snake became friends. She began to teach the snake how to paint and he became quite good.

Word got out that the girl had a helper that was a rattlesnake and it was something people had to see to believe. People would travel from all over to watch her and the snake work together. His paintings became more and more successful as well.  

The girl did not every become bitter or envious. Instead she encouraged him and she taught him everything she knew. He taught her anything he could. They became the best of friends and went on to paint for years.

One day, the rattlesnake came to her wigwam, as he did every morning, to find her still in bed.

“You’ve never slept later than dawn, my friend, is something wrong?”

She coughed violently. “I have become ill.”

“We must do something.”

“It is too late. I’ve been sick for a very long time now.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?” The snake panicked.

“I did not want you to worry. I wanted you to enjoy the art while I was still here, and I wanted you to pass this one to those that come so they never forget what these works can bring them.

The snake then transformed into a god. The girl’s eyes widen as she watched.

“What is going on?”

I am the Great Spirit, my dear. I have been watching over you for some time now. “

“Why me?” The girl asked.

“I heard of your talent and I heard of your kind heart and I wanted to see if it was true. It’s not often those who are born gifted are also kind.”

“Can you save me?”

“I’m sorry, my dear, but I cannot get in the way of what is planned for you. I cannot save you now, but I can save you after you die.”

“What do you mean?” The girl asks.

“I can assure you, that you will be admired and appreciated even after you leave this ear.”

“That sounds wonderful,” the girl says slowly. She coughs and closes her eyes.

“Rest, my dear.”

The Great Spirit then casted a spell that sent beams of colors from the girl’s body into the sky. I storm approached and the people returned to their wigwams. Wonderful colors lit the scene – some the tribe have never seen before.

One the storm calmed the people climbed out of their wigwams and looked across the distance. They saw a beautiful, colorful arch just across the way. The people called it “Rainbow,” named after the girl who brought joy and art to their tribe.

Author’s note: The Tejas Legends are basically stories of how things came to be and why. I kept it simple because the stories were meant to be simple and meant for children to be able to understand. While this isn’t exactly an adaptation of any of the stories, there is one story about a rainbow and cactus flowers. I wanted to write the “prequel” about how the rainbow came to be before that story. Tejas Legends typically have animals present as well so I thought I’d play with the idea of a good rattlesnake, since snakes are often portrayed in stories as evil. Hope you enjoy! (:

Bibliography. Florence Straton. "When the Storm God Rides: Tejas and Other Indian Legends. Web source.