Long, long ago there was a magical
plant that hid in the South American Rain Forest. The plant was said to
be magical because it broke language barriers between people and animals.
Every day, each tribe of natives who knew about the plant and each animal of the
rain forest would take a whiff of the plant’s beautiful scent and could talk to
the other species for the next 24 hours.
Because the plant allowed for
humans and animals to communicate, the rain forest was in
perfect unity. Both humans and animals helped each other and provided for each
other’s needs. They were happy and thankful for the plant’s magical power.
On one late night, a tribe from
outside the rain forest swept through the rain forest and discovered the
magical plant. They decided the plant was too peculiar to just pass by, so they
dug it up and took it with them. Little did the tribe know that they had taken
the single piece of the rain forest holding the entire community in unison. The
tribe carried the magical plant with them back to the their home and displayed the
plant for all to see.
Early the next morning, the early
risers of the rain forest and noticed the plant was missing when they went
for their morning whiff of magical powers. Terror arose throughout the community and
the humans and animals went into a panic. The people plotted their
revenge in stealing the plant back. They received a tip from the guy on night
watch. He had noticed a large group of men traveling through the forest. He gave the general direction he believed he saw these men going.
The animals also began a separate
plan to repossess the magical plant. The night owl had noticed a large group of men
leaving to the West the night before. The next morning the animals and the men went to find the plant. Soon after reaching the edge of the forest, they noticed a
small village filled with people and animals all speaking to one another. The
tribe knew they had stolen the plant because they now had the powers the tribe
once possessed. The animals sent in their slyest fox and the people sent in the
quietest man in the tribe. The two watched each other’s back without speaking
and retook the magical plant. The tribe all received a whiff of the plant and
rejoiced that they could finally communicate with each other once again.
Once the tribe returned to their
home, all the people and animals were overjoyed to have their powers back from
the magical plant. They threw a massive party to commemorate their victory. The
plant was safe in the forest among the animals and the tribe forever. To this
day, an animal and a member from the tribe will watch over this plant day and
night to make sure it is never taken away from them again. Through the plant’s magical
powers, the tribe and animals will live peacefully together, forever.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story is based on an old Cherokee myth called How They Brought Back Tobacco. In the story, animals and humans love the single tobacco plant and use it to smoke. When geese take the plant away, the animals and humans can no longer enjoy its use and an older woman almost dies without it. Finally, a hummingbird steals the plant back and allows the woman to gain her health back.
I wanted to change the story up, but keep the same overall plot. I took a few semesters of Cherokee so I had a lot of fun reading this unit and writing this story. In the original story, an old lady almost dies because she can't receive the magical powers from the plant. That is so crazy! That is why I love reading these Cherokee myths, because they are so unusual. Each story provides something new and fun for the reader.
I think the coolest part of the stories in this unit is the fact that they each bring a background for something. Like this story shares the origin of the tobacco plant. Other stories talk about way animals are the way they are or other similar examples. I had fun writing this story and I hope you enjoy it!
I wanted to change the story up, but keep the same overall plot. I took a few semesters of Cherokee so I had a lot of fun reading this unit and writing this story. In the original story, an old lady almost dies because she can't receive the magical powers from the plant. That is so crazy! That is why I love reading these Cherokee myths, because they are so unusual. Each story provides something new and fun for the reader.
I think the coolest part of the stories in this unit is the fact that they each bring a background for something. Like this story shares the origin of the tobacco plant. Other stories talk about way animals are the way they are or other similar examples. I had fun writing this story and I hope you enjoy it!
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Title: Myths of the Cherokee
Author: James Mooney
Year: 1900
Hey Landon! I really enjoyed your story and the creativity that went into it! You managed to maintain the basic plot line of the original tale, but you put your own spin on it with what the plant could do, how this affected the characters, and what characters acted in each part--all changes that left your own mark on this tale! Besides, who wouldn't want a plant that allowed people to speak to animals and vice versa? Haha. Great job!
ReplyDeleteI would love to have a magical plant like this one! Maybe than I can get my brother's cat to stop pooping in the bathtub lol. You did a great job on this story! I thought it was very creative and to the point! I liked how both the tribe and the animals worked together to get the plant back. I liked how you made it into a magical plant instead of tobacco, it makes for a much better story.
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