Blacktail Deer Plateau The sunsets on us all.

Sun Spark knew the girl had finally realized that he was dying, and it broke the old man's heart to have her have to go through it. However, it would be a learning experience for the girl, and she could learn to grieve properly and that was just fine with him. Teaching even as he died, he was fine with this.

Ok Chile, 'ow 'bout a story of da stars. He grew quiet contemplative and then began to speak.

The Cherokee tell of a time when dere was no Sun in da sky, a time when it was always dark. It was a problem fir all da animals an' dey called a meetin' to decide what could be done 'bout it. He drew a circle in the ground making dots for the animals that would hold the meeting.

Woodpecker said dat he 'ad 'eard dat wolves on da other side of da world 'ad light, an' perhaps dey would give da animals some. Fox said dat such wolves must be greedy people, to have all the light, and dat the animals would 'ave to just take some. He made a chirping sound like a woodpecker and growled like a small fox.

Possum offered to be the one to go. He said he could hide the bit of light in his bushy tail, and so he set out. Possum traveled for a long time until finally he saw light in the sky. The closer he got to the light, the brighter it was and the more it hurt his eyes and possum began to squint, and that is why even today a possum squints and only comes out at night. But possum kept going until he reached the Sun, and snatched a piece of it and hid it in his tail. The bit of Sun was very hot however, and it burned off all the fur on Possum's tail and the light went out. When possum got home, all he had was a tail with no fur, just like today! He made a face of pain, and squinted his eyes and then blew gently on his tail as if it was on fire.

Next, buzzard offered to go, he said he would balance the piece of Sun on his fine head feathers. Quickly buzzard flew off and when he reached the Sun, he dove down and grabbed a bit in his feet and placed it on his head. But the Sun was so hot it burned off his head feathers, and that is why buzzard is bald today! He acted like he was flying and then shook his head as if he was a buzzard whose head on fire.

Now the animals were ready to give up. Just then Grandmother Spider spoke up in a voice so small she was hard to notice. But she offered to go, and the animals, though they did not have much hope, wished her luck. Grandmother spider spun a bit of web the whole way to the west, and when she reached the Sun, she spun a tiny web and placed a bit of the Sun on the web. Then she began the journey back home. Imagine the surprise and delight of the animals when they saw that first light spreading across the sky! He acted tiny and spoke in a small voice, and acted like he was spinning a web with his paws.

The animals thanked Grandmother and promised to always honor her. And that is why today, the web of the spider is shaped like the disk and rays of the Sun!