Week 15 Story: How the Skunk Gained its Stripes

Skunk wandered the forest floor, searching for food to  soften the rumbling of her empty stomach. But she could barely focus on this task because she was afraid - afraid of what lies in the dark patches under bushes, afraid of the noises the forest animals make, and afraid to make a sound.

Wanting to be rid of this crippling fear, she journeyed to the top of a snow capped mountain to convene with the Great Spirit. The Great Spirit appeared in the form of a swirling wind, carrying leaves and snow, towering over the shaking body of fearful Skunk.

The Great Spirit spoke, "Little one, what brings you to the top of the world?"

Skunk felt the caress of the breeze as the words reached her ears. "I am afraid, Great One. I'm afraid of my own footsteps. Will you grant me the might of the big cat that walks the forest?"

The Great Spirit thought about the request before replying, "That might belongs to the powerful Lynx, but I can grant you sharper teeth and claws so you can defend yourself against your enemies. Don't abuse this gift; never use it to make others afraid like you were once afraid."

The solid black Skunk was happy with her new claws and teeth. As she walked back to her forest, she tested them out, swiping her paws and gnashing her jaws at the leaves and twigs she passed. The birds in the trees saw her cutting the bark of trees into ribbons. The creatures of the forest floor watched in terror as she cut a devastating path through the underbrush of the forest. The insects cried out as her powerful claws cut through the Earth they walked on. But they became even more afraid as day turned to night because they could no longer see where the sounds of destruction came from. They had no defense for this new threat to the forest.

The following day after a sleepless night for the small creatures of the forest, they met in a clearing to discuss what could be done about the new hunter that walked among them. Each member of the meeting cried out, "What is to be done? How can we ever feel safe again after hearing those terrifying sounds from the new claws and teeth of Skunk?"

They came up with a plan to plea with the Great Spirit to make it easier to spot the menace of the underbrush.

The Ant, Sparrow, and Squirrel traveled to the mountaintop where the Great Spirit dwelled as delegates from their meeting.

Once they arrived, they called, "Oh Great Spirit, hear our call! A new threat has entered our forest, and we come to you pleading for help."

Winded whipped around their bodies as the Great Spirit took shape in front of their group. "I can help you, Little Ones. Who is this new hunter? I shall give them bright white stripes, so you can spot them during day and night."

The small creatures of the forest cried out in triumph as they told the Great Spirit who they should gift the stripes to. "It is Skunk that terrorizes our home now. She walks along the floor scratching and biting her way through the underbrush. We are all afraid to make the slightest noise in case we call her attention to us."

The Great Spirit was saddened by this news as they were the one to grant these abilities to Skunk. "This was my doing. I gave Skunk sharper claws and teeth to cure her of the fear she felt, but it seems she has abused those gifts. I must right this mistake. I will also give Skunk the stench of two rotting tomatoes and a flank of deer meat. You will be able smell her from 70 strides away even if you can't see her."

The animals thanked the Great Spirit for the gifts and their sense.

Skunk suddenly felt a tingling on her back and began to smell a harsh sent coming from herself. From that moment on, she walked alone, scattering the animals of the forest when she came near.

Author's Note: This is a retelling of a Hasinai legend. The Hasinai are a Caddo-speaking Native American tribe from what is now eastern Texas. In the original, the Skunk has spots so it can blend in with its surroundings, but it is still afraid. The Great Spirit grants it sharper teeth and claws. The skunk is greedy and wants more, so, as a punishment for greed, the Great Spirit gifts skunk a strong smell. This is the reason the skunk walks alone. I wanted to incorporate something about why skunk has stripes in my retelling. Therefore, it isn't skunk who asked for more abilities, but it is the animals of the forest that ask the Great Spirit to give them the ability of knowing when skunk is coming.

Bibliography: Why the Skunk Walks Alone; from When the Storm God Rides: Tejas and Other Indian Legends by Florence Stratton, 1936.

Image information: Striped Skunk by Tom Murray