Thunderbird
Legacy Name: Thunderbird

The Bringer of Storms

The lightning, it was a dance.
The thunder, it was a song.
And those who believed gave praise.
For their Thunderbird had come again.
~Faune~

Story

It was dry.
But not just dry.
It was dust of the bone dry.
Brittle yellow-brown grass dry.
Crushed stone and crackling wood dry.
The kind of dry that leaves the person parched and burnt.
It was the nearly unlivable, yet necessary dry that was hated by many but accepted in measure
by those who believe.
For it was the level of dry the world must reach to awaken him.
The world must first turn nearly to fire, only then can the wings of the sky’s sea come.

Yes, this was the dry that reaches into his ancient, cool cave and burns his feathers with its touch.
That disturbs his season-long slumber with its brazen harshness.

His eye opened first, sudden and blazing like an ember in the dark.
He blinked several times, remoisturizing his eyes against the oppressive dryness.
Then, he stood. His great size, even with wings tucked in, dominated the deep cave.
There was a slow, steady stretching required after such long, deep slumber. To awaken the muscles,
ease the joints, prepare for what was to come.

Up the dark pathway that reached towards bright, clear light he padded, his long talons clicking
softly against the dirt-brushed stone.
Up, up, until he stood in open air and could extend his great wings, showing his full glory.
The breeze ruffled his fur pleasurably.
A deep rumble in his chest, he purred at what he saw before him.
Yes, his time had come indeed.
The world was parched.
He was needed.

He flapped his great, storm-grey wings. Each snap sending a rumble of thunder across the plains,
a promise of what was to come.
Electricity – the atoms between his feathers as they rubbed together – snapped and crackled, eager
to spring forth in display of his might.
He closed his eyes, then dove internally into the deep well.

Down, down he blazed his trail, into the core of his magic.
Down until he had grasped the very heart of his wild storms and endless rains.
Until he clasped it tightly in his legendary claws and pulled it up with him in a sudden dash for the surface.

With a mighty kick, he leapt from his mountain home.
The heavy, cold droplets poured from him.
The winds from his wings carrying them down and across the vast homelands of those who believed.

It was wet.
But not just wet.
Puddling and streaming wet.
Soaked to your bones wet.
The kind of wet that runs the rivers to their banks and breathes into the plants new life.

The lightning, it was a dance.
The thunder, it was a song.
And those who believed gave praise.
For their Thunderbird had come again.

Information:

The Thunderbird is a powerful supernatural bird in Native American mythology that symbolizes natural power, strength, and protection. It is believed to create thunder by flapping its wings and lightning from its beak, and plays a significant role in controlling the weather and maintaining balance in nature. The symbol is prevalent in various tribes' art, jewelry, and stories, where its meaning can vary from a divine protector against evil to a symbol of leadership or a creator of the first humans.

Symbolism and Meaning:

Natural and supernatural power: The Thunderbird is a symbol of both the raw power of nature, specifically storms, and a supernatural force capable of influencing the environment.

Protection: It is often seen as a protector, shielding people from malevolent spirits, dangerous monsters, or other harms, and is a common symbol on totem poles and art for protection.

Connection to the divine: In some traditions, it is considered a divine being, a ruler of the upper world, or a powerful messenger from the Creator.

Balance and harmony: The Thunderbird's role in controlling storms reflects the importance of maintaining balance with nature and the interconnectedness of all living things.

Cultural variations:

Algonquian peoples: In Algonquian mythology, the Thunderbird is a god-like figure that battles underworld creatures like the great horned serpent, using its thunder and lightning.

Pacific Northwest tribes: For tribes like the Nuu-chah-nulth, Salish, and Kwakwaka’wakw, the Thunderbird is often depicted with a crooked beak and horns, preys on killer whales, and its wings create the sound of thunder.

Navajo: The Navajo view the Thunderbird as a generous spirit that can guide souls and protect them on their journey through the underworld.

Sioux: The Sioux believe the Thunderbird acts as a protector against dangerous creatures known as the Unktehila.

Southwestern tribes: In Southwestern art, the Thunderbird can represent protection, power, and leadership, and its image is often found on pottery, textiles, and jewelry.

~Credits~

Profile by: Ringo
Extra Code by: Yuzu
Edited by: Chrysariel
Story by: Faune
Recolor & Edit Overlay by: Necolasa
Background by: Felix-Mittermeier Pixabay
Background Ledge by: PublicCo Pixabay
Lightning Effect by: Lunapic
Name and Tag Art by: Chrysariel
Information by: Google

(Legacy name: Thunderbird)