In ancient times, a youth in Zuni was deeply devoted to his pet Eagle, neglecting his familial responsibilities. His brothers, frustrated by his obsession, plotted to kill the bird to sever their bond. The Eagle, aware of their intentions, expressed its sadness over the potential separation, revealing that it must return to the skies. The youth, unable to bear the thought of losing the Eagle, insisted on accompanying it. The Eagle warned him of the dangers of the sky world but ultimately agreed to take him along. They journeyed to the sky-world, where the Eagle transformed into a beautiful maiden. The youth married her and learned to fly among the Eagle people. However, he was warned never to venture southward, where a dangerous world lay. Despite his wife's warnings and the advice of his grandparents, the Storks, curiosity led him to explore this forbidden region. There, he encountered a vibrant city filled with life and was invited to a dance. Ignoring his wife's plea to remain stoic, he laughed at the dancers, who were, unbeknownst to him, manifestations of death. His laughter broke the spell, causing his wife to abandon him. Awakening in a decaying room filled with bones, he realized the grave mistake he had made. Fleeing from the city of the dead, he was rescued by Badgers, who chastised him for his foolishness. They warned him that he had forfeited his love and would struggle to regain it. The youth returned to the Eagle people, but his wife rejected him, unable to accept his betrayal. Eventually, she relented and offered him a tattered Eagle dress, allowing him to fly once more. As they descended back to the mortal realm, the youth faltered, and in a moment of despair, his wife abandoned him, leading to his tragic fall and demise. The tale serves as a cautionary reminder of the consequences of forsaking love and the inevitability of death.
By Frank Hamilton Cushing · First published 1889 · Genre: Fantasy, Mythology, Adventure