Week 11 Story: How Flower Stole Sunlight

Long ago, when only plants lived on earth, Redwoods were the only ones who had sunlight. All the other plants wanted sunlight too, but Redwoods were taller than everyone else. They stole the sunlight before it could reached any of the other plants. The other plants lived in darkness and fear but Redwoods refused to share sunlight with anyone else. 

The other plants decided to hold a council to discuss the growing worry they had about living in darkness. Meanwhile, Redwoods held their own council in the light. They set up guards to protect themselves from having other plants try to come take sunlight from them. 

But Flower had taken root near where the Redwoods were having their meeting before the guards set up. While the Redwoods had their meeting, a small bit of sunlight crept towards Flower. Flower hid a little bit of sunlight in its petals and slowly started moving back towards the other plants' meeting. 

Before Flower could escape, however, the Redwoods noticed it trying to leave and started chasing after it. Flower ran and ran, leaving seeds in its path. This is why there are so many flowers near where the Redwoods had their meeting. Redwoods chased after Flower but quickly grew tired. Many stopped during their chase and this is why there is a thick forest of redwoods near the flower field. 

Flower kept running and running until it reached the other plants. Flower shared the sunlight with the other plants, making them all rejoice. Sunlight caused them to grow bigger and bigger and they too were able to live in the light, just as Redwoods had all these years. 

Because Flower was the one to bring sunlight and happiness to the other plants, it became brighter and brighter until it turned yellow. Flower from then on was known as Sunflower. 

Sunflowers by Wenchieh Yang

Author's Note: I chose to base my story on "How Beaver Stole Fire," in which a beaver steals fire from Pine Trees to bring it to the other animals and other types of trees. I chose to use only plants in my story rather than plants and animals like in the original, because I have seen several stories about animals but not many about plants. I wanted to keep the writing style the same as the original story, so I chose to write in short sentences. I also used reasons for why things are the way they are, like Sunflower and why so many flowers and trees line the forest, because the original story did the same thing with other explanations.
Story source: Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon, by Katharine Berry Judson (1910)