The Mighty Spirit (Story) Poem by Cheylee Miller

Not just a single person, but combined as we are, we make up something greater, the aspects of a leader.
The one who hunts for us, is a warrior named Trevis. He is a big brother to us all, a protector and a friend. The one who builds our homes is a creator named Zack. He builds our fishing poles, spears, knives, and traps. He is a vital part of our team. The one who holds the magic is a sorceress named Marlayna. She protects our homes with her spells and skills, she enchants the weapons to make them more effective, and she gives us enough of her own magic for emergencies. Last is a wicken named Kanani. She cures people when they are sick, collects berries and fruits, she gathers herbs and plants, and she makes medicines and heals us when we are sick. Together we are a branch of Spirit, the Spirit Tribe.
We inhabited the Earth first and we set the basis for what it is today. One day, during our daily gathering, the story was being told of how we came to be where we are today. This is the story as told by Marlayna.
In a world that is not our own, a time that no longer exists, there was once a large and mighty tribe. It started out a small and happy gathering of people. Soon, however, it began to grow larger and larger until the group split into sub-tribes all holding the same name, Spirit. In this happy tribe there were many different professions, including: Sorcery, Hunting, Building, and Healing. Just like in our own tribe, all of the abilities combined made it strong. However, their downfall was that the tribe thought it was invincible. One day, a strange disease swept through the main tribe and all of the sub-tribes. There were no fatalities, but the trouble that came from it was that everyone lost their abilities. There was no magic, no healing, no building, and no hunting. It was as if everyone had forgotten their trade. This caused the tribe to soon begin to crumble and fall. People began to die.
The people continued to die until there were only four people left. These four people were from the various sub-tribes that used to exist. They soon discovered that their only chance of survival was to join together and move to a different area, away from the disease ridden town. What these four did not know, but soon discovered, was that every village had been struck with this strange and knew illness. People were dead everywhere they went. It seemed as if they were the only ones left on the planet. Just as they discovered before, they knew they had to move. This time, however, it was not villages they had to move, it was planets.
The four practiced and trained until their gifts came back to them. They continued to practice hard and long, but this time it was in conjoining their gifts to make a stronger attack and also defense. They succeeded in their mission and soon were helping the builder build the weapons and items that they would need for their journey. The group soon put their plan into action. With bags filled with food and tools with weapons on their backs, they began to combine their gifts for a last time. The warrior stood tall and strong as the sorceress hit him with all of the magic she had built up. She concentrated it on his muscles and his bones, making them stronger. The wicken had made him a mixture earlier that would allow his body to withstand the pressure from the sorceress’s magic. The builder had a spear at the ready as the warrior reached his hands into the air and pulled. A rip was formed. The builder stuck his spear into the gap and pushed to help widen it. With the rip there, they all stepped into the space two at a time, and set foot on Earth for the very first time.
As they completely exited the gap, it closed, leaving them trapped in this strange new land. At all of their feet was a small necklace with an animal on the end. The Warrior put his necklace on and looked at the Grizzly Bear which dangled from the end. The Grizzly Bear stood for strength for the warrior was the hunter who had the strength to kill. The builder was next to put on his pendent. His was of the mighty Eagle. The Eagle for the builder for the Eagle builds large nests with his claws just as the Builder does with his hands. The Wicken put on her own necklace to find a White Wolf hanging from the end. The Wolf stands for having the knowledge of its surroundings and knowing the land and plants around just as the Wicken must know. Last is the Sorceress with a Tiger with white and black stripes. The Majestic tiger with its smooth movements that flow just as the Sorceress’s own magic flows.
The animals of which these four were granted soon became their companions. The group discovered that they could communicate with the animals of which they wore the smaller version of around their necks’. The animals helped the humans learn their new environment and helped them to learn the new plants and foods that they had access to as well as ensuring the group that they were the first and only ones of their kind there on that strange land. To this day, the animals still help the group with protection from other animals and from any threats that may be posed. New animals have also joined the group to help the humans to survive.
“It really does make you think, you know, of how all of this came to be, ” said Marlayna while holding the hand of her betrothed, Zack.
“It does, it does. It really was not that long ago that all of that happened, a few years maybe, ” said Zack as he held the hand of Marlayna.
“If not for that disease then none of this would have happened. We most likely would not know one another and we would not have learned the value of friendship and the strength of teamwork, ” Kanani said with a tone that had a hint of gratefulness in it.
“That’s true. The skills that come out of teamwork are many times greater than that of any tribal leader back there, ” said Trevis.
“So, if that disease had not come, then I might not be here, Mommy? ” said a curious Leela who is sitting in Kanani’s lap.
“That’s right. You would not be here, and neither would little Kilala, ” answered Marlayna.
With wide eyes Leela said, “Kilala? My Tigon friend would not be here? ”
“Nope, but speaking of your animal, we still do not know who left us all the necklaces…I suppose we will never know…” answered Kanani.
The group laughed and continued on with the night as a group of animals sat a little way away from the group talking amongst themselves, telling the story from their own point of view.