Spirit of the Storm Bear
In the ancient times, when the sky and earth spoke to those who listened, there roamed a great bear named Tawa, the Storm Bear. His fur was as dark as thunderclouds, his eyes glowed with the wisdom of a thousand winters, and with every step, the ground trembled like the drumbeats of the Great Spirit.
Tawa was not just a guardian of the forest — he was the bridge between the people and the sky gods. When storms brewed and lightning danced across the mountains, the tribes knew that Tawa was on the move, walking between worlds to protect the balance of nature.
One winter, the storms came earlier and fiercer than ever before. Rivers swelled, winds howled through the pine forests, and the people of the valley feared for their homes. The elders gathered beneath the sacred tree and called upon Tawa. Through swirling snow and mist, he came — a towering figure, his breath turning the air to frost.
The bear climbed to the peak where sky met earth, and roared into the storm. His voice echoed across the land, calming the winds and parting the clouds. The storm spirits, recognizing the ancient power within Tawa, retreated beyond the horizon.
From that day on, the people carved Tawa’s image into stone and wood, honoring him as the Storm Bear who saved them. And in the quiet after every storm, they listened for the soft padding of his feet, reminding them that the spirit of the land still walked among them.
