Written By: Tepin Circling Wind
Long ago, before the breech between twin worlds, there were two princesses, Standing Cliff and Tumbling River-Water. Though they were sisters, and both loved their parents, they did not live well with each other. Standing Cliff was the eldest princess and often found herself having to catch all of Tumbling River-Water's upheavals, as the younger princess often sought out trouble.
Standing Cliff found she had enough of her younger sister's discord, and so she went to their wise father and king, the great Sachem Winding Oak. "Wise Sachem-father, I beseech you. What can be done with Tumbling River-Water? Her lack for order cannot be contained and sets our people in mockery before the world!" Never before had Winding Oak seen his eldest daughter so passionate that he contemplated her request at length.
What Standing Cliff did not know is that her younger sister had already come to their father, complaining of how her older sister did not understand and could not let go of her ways enough to enjoy what life has to offer. And with such knowledge at hand, Winding Oak spent much time and thought into how to see his daughters to live in harmony. He sought out the wisdom of his ancestors and that of the Great Mother, and in the morning, he called forth both daughters.
"My daughters," began the Great Sachem, "For you I have a task to complete. You will need each other to fulfill my command." The daughters both seemed shocked, for as their father had requested many things of them before, never had he given them orders with such a steadfast will. "You will go to the Mountain's top and bring back to me the antler of the White Buck shaman who lives in the Mountain's cave." Fear gripped the two princesses, for upon such mountain was great peril as such no women as they should see. For Winding Oak, his eyes showed his sorrow, for he knew that he might lose both his daughters, but he could not deny the vision sent to him by his ancestors. And so they went to the mountain.
Standing Cliff and Tumbling River-Water found themselves upon the rocky side. They each bore cuts and scrapes their noble skin had never had to endure before, and soon they found they were dependant on each other, in climbing the rough terrain. Tumbling River-Water would urge her older sister to continue on, and Standing Cliff found herself consoling her younger sister when fear was overwhelming.
Before they realized, the two sisters had made it to the top of the mountainside. Greeting them there was White Buck. He would not part with his antler, unless to trade for it. His price was to take one of the daughters as his bride. Though he had been handsome in youth, White Buck was now quite old, and his life as a hermit had not been kind to his appearance. Before, the two princesses would have pushed each other forward to avoid such a fate, but now, they were as they should be. Sisters, and both offered herself to take up the task of being the hermit's wife. The old shaman cackled with glee, taking both offers to have the daughters as his wives. Though they were distressed over the issue, neither daughter complained for it, asking only to take the antler back to their father.
"Oh, but I cannot have you both go. How else will I know you will not stay in the valley below?" Since Standing Cliff was the better speaker and would be able to ease her father's spirit with the news, it was Tumbling River-Water who stayed with the hermit. However, upon hearing the news of his daughters' marriage arrangement with the shaman, the Sachem was greatly disturbed. He would not allow Standing Cliff to return to her sister and husband." However, Standing Cliff was wise and gifted her father insight.
"I will go be with White Buck and let Tumbling River-Water come to you in the Springtime, my father, and when Autumn arrives, I will return. We both offered ourselves, so it is only fair and right we both spend time with the hermit." Winding Oak could only agree, for else he would never see his youngest daughter again. And so the arrangement continued, but either princess would not see each other, thoughout the years, and such weariness did not go unseen by the Great Mother.
Though the years went by, White Buck did not die, despite his age. The
Great Mother saw the despair of her little children of the valley, and so
she gifted Standing Cliff and Tumbling River-Water to be together, at
last, the sisters formed as a beautiful waterfall upon this very river.
This is a story of our people, to show that even the most different of
sisters within a family can balance each other and give benefit to their
family and honor our world.
