Rebecca+L.

by Rebecca L.

Long ago, when man wandered about the world's wonders, he saw nothing. There was no night and day, and man moved at a sluggish pace for his feet could not leave the ground. The sky was blank and gray, granting very few things to the creatures Uni-tsi had created to wander the earth. In this gray time, there existed a beautiful realm within the earth called Ha'win'ad'it'lu Elohi, or “Beneath the earth.” It held Uni-tsi's children, the Di-dan-vu-do, the divine spirits of the earth, and gave them all that they wished. Uni-tsi held all the spirit children close, but there were two she loved more than any others.

Nvu'do iga-ehi and Svu-no-yi ehi nvu'do were Uni-tsi's most treasured daughters. Both were wondrous, but very impatient and angry that they were trapped in Ha'win'ad'it'lu Elohi. They were well known all across the realms for their radiant shine. One was praised as Iosolia, the other as Elunoniana.

One fateful day, Elunoniana grew angry. She began to screech and wail, dispelling horrors untold of in the realm of Ha'win'ad'it'lu Elohi. Uni-tsi's rage grew toward her daughter. Elunoniana begged to be let out of the realm and into the outside world. Fed up and angered with her daughter, Uni-tsi told Elunoniana to leave. Iosolia came to Elunoniana as she ran towards the passage that led to the earth's surface. Elunoniana told her sister of her success, convincing Uni-tsi of the need to leave Ha'win'ad'it'lu Elohi. Iosolia was very excited and left with Elunoniana for the surface of the earth.

When the sisters arrived at the surface of the earth, Elunoniana and Iosolia were shocked. Uni-tsi had not told the sisters of the gray horrors that existed on Earth. Horrified, the sisters tried to return home, but Uni-tsi would not take them. She told them, “You have been tainted by the Gadaha, the unclean ones. No more can you live in Ha'win'ad'it'lu Elohi, my daughters, for Gadaha poisons the earth and must not poison me. For the Gadaha Us'onvi you have gained, you must face Igo-hida, eternity in punishment. Elunoniana, you are forever banished from the light that is Uda'nvu-galvu'da. The purity of that light is not for you. You will shine your Noq-u-isi Ad'an-vudo for half the day. The moon you will become shall be remembered and exist always, and its lights become legendary, my daughter. This new time will be called //Night//. Elunoniana, you must be vigilant and guard the Naq-u-isi that shine with you, for not all are pure and good. You will be the divine light that shines in the sky, for you are bright and youthful.”

“Iosolia, you have not angered me as much, but your impertinence comes at a price. You will shine in the day, making all things bright and illuminated. You must reignite the spirit of Ul-i-heli'sdi, a happiness unknown, so the children may wander the surface in happiness. Remember my daughters, you serve the spirits, and may never return to Ha'win'ad'it'lu Elohi.”

At these words the sisters began to cry, their V'dad-il'vquo-tanvu Diga-sa'wos'di pure tears falling onto the earth, summoning growth and life from below the surface. As their tears fell, the nomads, once rooted to the ground grew into life, gaining spirits and souls of their own. Flora and Fauna grew from the ground and the steam of the tears when they hit hot desert ground created birds and other winged things to grace the sky.

When the sisters could cry no more, they looked at the pool of tears beneath them. Perhaps Uni-tsi could trap them on the earth, but they did not have to be alone. They created spirits to help them, such as Aga'sgvu, the bringer of rain, and Un-o-le, the wind spirit. There were even guards for evil spirits such as Ugit'sis-gvu and Udalul-vu Ula'si-gi, who allowed Elunoniana to enter the world slowly, allowing her sister to fade. These were very few out of many who helped the earth.

After some time passed, Elunoniana began to explore her new home. One night, as Elunoniana explored the night sky, she happened to look down into a field on the surface. Yanasa At'sut-sa, a young man was lying in the field, guarding over the herds of buffalo. Elunoniana gazed at the boy with rapt attention, wandering closer and closer each night. Finally, one night, Elunoniana could bear it no longer. She left her post to go to him. Yanasa At'sut-sa took one look at Elunoniana in all her divine glory and was overcome with affection for the beauteous goddess. She took him to Noktiya, the place she lived when her sister shone and covered him with silver kisses.

Three days after Elunoniana left her post as guardian of the night skies, Uni-tsi noticed the mortals' fright. Darkness had covered the sky for three days leaving the humans without guidance during the night. Angry, Uni-tsi went to Ada-do-da, the great father and protested her disappearance. Enraged, he put Yanasa At'sut-sa in an eternal sleep to punish Elunoniana. Filled with grief, Elunoniana returned to the sky, but for three days every month, she returned to her sleeping lover in the hope that he might wake up. In return for her devotion Yanasa At'sut-sa gave her many daughters to protect the world and grace the sky.

Many years later, an evil spirit by the name of Nida-do-lag'vuna escaped from the sky. Elunoniana and her sister watched in horror as he plummeted the world into horror. Determined to end the horrors, the sisters of the sky invoked the spells of Danat-lihvu Uno-yvu'gvu nida-yut'svu-da to banish the evil once and for all. The humans below looked to the sky as the sun and moon conjoined, stopping Nida-do-lag'vuna from destroying the world. The sisters bound Nida-do-lag'vuna to the shadows, keeping him locked deep within the walls of the prison high above Uyo-husvu Gal'vu-quo'di ada-nvudo. The spirit could not be swayed. It's human followers spread and grew, draining the Udu-gi gvu'di, hope from all they encountered. All the followers, unknown to the humans they walked among had no disadvantage, no one to stop them. Finally, Elunoniana could bear it no more. She shone with divine light and declared, “For the three nights I am here at my fullest light, your eyes shall glow, foul ones, so that none may be deceived by your outward appearance. My daughters shall be born into the earth so that they may fight you and defend Uni-tsi's creations from your evil ways.” And so it was done.

Not much later, Iosolia found herself burdened with death. Horribly angered at herself for not acting sooner against the evil ones, she hurled bolts of light through the rain, allowing the power she did not feel she deserved. “I shall call these things Ana-ga-lis'gvu and Ay'vuda-qua-los'gvu, for they will light the sky and protect the world from evil while I cannot shine in the sky!” Iosolia screamed, laughing as she threw energy about. Thus was the creation of the sky and all that comes from it.

This myth is entirely from my own mind and not based on any culture singularly or historically. The words used by me are Cherokee and some of the stories go along the lines of Greek mythology. Here is my name source:

http://www.yvwiiusdinvnohii.net/Cherokee/CherokeeWordLists/index.shtml

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