Week 11 Story: Sun and Star

Once long ago there were a pair of siblings named Sun and Star. They watched over their friends and family from the sky to ensure that love was always flourishing through villages and everyone was able to find a partner to spend their life with. As you would suspect, sometimes the duo ran into trouble with picky bachelors/bachelorettes or a judgmental parent. They would always fix this by descending onto earth in the form of an animal or in a human disguise. One time they disguised themselves as a dirty, sick boy and his grandmother to see if the women up for marriage were kind at heart.

Their current target is an Eagle Princess who's father is so strict and does not believe any man is good enough for his little girl.

"She wants to find a husband so badly but her father never lets her out of his sight to meet people. We have to go help her." said Star.

"How should we go about this case?" asked Sun. "The father has already turned down a brave lion and a wise elephant. What is he possible looking for?"

"We can disguise ourselves as hummingbirds so we can sneak around her father and speak to the princess. Once she trusts us maybe we can convince her to leave the palace and come with us to find a suitor." suggested Star. 

"Let's go tomorrow because her father should be out hunting." said Sun.

The siblings were up all night gathering the ingredients to make a drink that allows them to take any form their heart desires. Before dawn arrived they took the potion and made their way to the Eagle Princess.

She was in her room sobbing when the two hummingbirds entered.

"I will never find a man to spend my life with as long as my father is around." cried the Princess.

"Maybe we can help you with that!" exclaimed Star.

The Princess spun around startled. "Who are you?!" she questioned.

Star and Sun had recognizable tattoos that remained on their body no matter what form they took. They both spread out their small wings to show a tiny crescent moon. The Princess knew who they were immediately after seeing these marks.

"We want to sneak you out of the palace so you can meet potential partners and tell your father who you want to marry!" exclaimed Sun.

"I already know who I want to meet! The loyal wolf seems like a great catch. Will you take me to him?" asked the Princess.

Sun and Star guided the Princess through the kingdom, carefully to not be seen, until they reached the wolf's place. The Eagle Princess introduced herself, but the wolf knew exactly who she was. They talked for hours before the siblings reminded her that they had to leave soon before the father returned.

The Princess knew what she had to do. She found her father in the woods still hunting and he was appalled to see her out of the palace.

"Sweetheart what are you doing here? This is no place for you. Go back to the palace where it is safe." demanded the King.

"Father, I am not a child anymore. I have been out all day and no harm has come to me. I want to marry the wolf and I will follow through with or without your blessing." said the Princess confidently.

The Eagle King thought this over for what seemed like eternity. "I just want you to be happy. I know the wolf will be good to you. You have my blessing."

The wedding ceremony was planned the next day with Sun and Star's assistance and the wolf and Eagle Princess lived happily together for the rest of their life.

Author's Note: The Dirty-Boy is about two daughters who do not want to marry anyone their father shows them. A brother and sister, Sun and Star, come down from the sky and disguise themselves as a sick boy who can't take care of himself and a grandmother. The sick boy wins the father's challenges and is promised both of his daughter for marriage. Only one daughter follows through with the arrangement and takes care of the boy. I thought Sun and Star had the potential for more stories, so I took the characters from the original tale and created another time where they helped two people get married.
Image Information: Two Hummingbirds Flying, Web Source: Max Pixel
Bibliography: Dirty-Boy from Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson. Web Source: Native American Hero Tales Unit