Story: The Moon and the Sun: Who Rises First?

Long ago, on a lonely winters night, the moon was high in the sky. He sat up there in the sky and looked around him at the stars.  There were thousands of stars in the sky that night. The moon watched as those shinning stars shot across the sky to talk to their other friends. All around him conversations were going on, yet no one talked to him. The stars were much younger than he was and they saw him as an older brother. No one wanted to tell secrets to an older brother. He thought he might find a friend on earth, someone to talk to him during those long lonely nights. But alas, all of the people and creatures were fast asleep in their beds. The moon grew tired and wary without a friend.  Night after night the moon sat in the sky and wished for someone to talk to.

As the moon began to leave the sky each night he was welcomed with the warm glow of the sun. The sun was such a cheery being.  He would take over the moons shift during the day and would bask the earth in a warm yellow glow. The people on the earth loved the sun. Every day when the sun was shining and the moon and starts were sleeping, the moon could hear the children and people laugh as they played out in the warm sun. The sun always had people around him. They laughed and played with him until he began to set. During those times, as the moon was about to rise, he could hear the children crying, not wanting to go inside. People loved the sun, but dreaded the night.

This same cycle happened again and again until one night the moon had had enough. When it was time for the sun to rise, the moon refused to budge. The sun saw this and asked the moon why he refused to set. He pleaded with the moon to not break the cycle, that it would have dire consequences. However, the moon remained in the sky.

This went on for several weeks. The moon watched as the people who were at first confused, became disoriented by the constant night. With no sunshine to wake them up, they slept all day. The moon didn’t understand this, they were supposed to be up, playing and talking with him. He watched as the plants began to wither and the cows began to die because they had nothing to eat. The moon in his frenzy ran to the sun for help.

After telling the sun all of his problems, the sun gave the moon a sad smile.

“My friend, I tried to warn you. We all have our part to play in this world. I bring light, which helps the plants grow to feed the cows that feed the humans. You bring the night to cool the earth and pull the tides. Without you the water would never flow and the humans would never sleep,” said the sun as he laid a hand on the moons shoulder.

“But, why does it have to be like that? “ Cried the moon. “Why do I have to be alone?”

The sun regarded him silently. Just as the moon was about to plead again the sun vanished. The sun was gone minuets before he popped back up and with him was the Old Man. The Old Man was the creator of the sun and moon. He created the earth and its people.

“My son, I hear that you have become sad at your job and that you have no one to talk to. I had hoped that you would be content with your duties to protect the people while they sleep, but I understand why you are lonely.” The old man said, as he pulled a creature from behind his back.

“This is an owl. He shall be your nocturnal friend and keep you company while the others sleep. He will hunt by your moonlight and sleep while the suns out.” The old man said as hundreds of owls flew to the earth.

From that moment on, both the moon and the sun had friends to make their duties easier.

Author's Note: I wanted this story to mimic the structure of other Blackfoot stories. Every Blackfoot story contains information for how something was created. When I read the story of the Theft of the Sun, and how someone tried to steal fire from the sun. I knew the sun would be a great character in my story. I originally wanted the moon and sun to fight, but as I began writing this story unfolded. It was important to me to show why the moon might be upset and how that could affect the earth. The Old Man character is often mentioned throughout Blackfoot stories as a god-like figure.

 The Moon and the Owl are close companions. Source 

Bibliography: The Blackfeet Indian Stories by George Bird Grinnell (1915).