The Thunder Beings & The Paisake



The Paisake flying through the village at night.

Long ago, the Paisake, magical little fairies of the forest, appeared regularly in the Illini people’s village to play innocent tricks on the villagers.  The Paisake were known for putting out fires while the villagers weren’t looking and hiding villagers’ moccasins in places throughout the village – among other benign acts.  They performed most of their tricks at night when the people were sleeping, and their paths could be lit by light of a bright moon.

 


One summer, the Thunder Beings and the clouds produced more rain than usual to please the villagers with a plentiful harvest.  The Paisake could not play tricks on the villagers when the clouds covered the moon, and the noise from the thunder shook their small frames.  The Paisake became angry with the Thunder Beings.  Instead of talking to them, they hid in a knot of a tree for many days and many nights.


The tiny Paisake hid in the knot of the tree from the villagers.


The Thunder Beings show their sadness.

The villagers missed the Paisake.  There was no more laughter or joy in the village.  As the days grew on, the villagers were convinced that something awful happened to the Paisake.  On the 30th day of the Paisake’s disappearance, the people held a meeting in the center of the village to mourn the loss of their whimsical friends.   Many of the Illini people cried, and the Thunder Beings created a righteous storm to match the villagers’ somber moods.

The very next day, the Paisake, tired of their isolation, reappeared in the village singing and dancing and stealing berries from the villagers.  The villagers were happy to welcome back the Paisake, but the Thunder Beings were angry.  They scolded the Paisake for tricking the villagers in such a cruel way.  The Paisake explained that their trick was really directed to the Thunder Beings.  They explained that all the rain and thunder disrupted their lives.  The Thunder Beings listened to the Paisake and then retreated into the sky.


Like the Paisake, the Thunder Beings disappeared – for days, weeks, and months.  There was no thunder, no lightning, and no rain.  The earth grew dry and the crops wilted under the sun.  The people did not understand why the Thunder Beings and clouds were ignoring their village.  The leader of the tribe called a meeting – including the Paisake.

The leader suggested that the clouds and the Thunder Beings have gone missing to teach the Paisake a lesson.  However, the Thunder Beings did not realize that they were, in turn, hurting the Illini people.  In order to remedy the situation, the leader suggested the Paisake to apologize to the Thunder Beings.  He ordered them to return to the forest and talk to the Thunder Beings that night.


The villagers' crops wilted without regular rain.


Life was well again for the village.

The Paisake apologized to the Thunder Beings, and the Thunder Beings accepted.  The next day, the rain clouds rolled in and thunder boomed.  The Illini people cheered, and the Paisake danced in the rain.  All was well again for the crops, the people, the Paisake, and the Thunder Beings in the Illini village.