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Photography / Animal related (non-anthro)
Species Snake / Serpent
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Now that I'm posting it, I'm reminded of the Indians' story for the origin of the rattle snake:
___________________________________________________________
Long ago, God created the whole universe and everything in it. when he made the Earth and all the animals on it, he gave all of them a certain way to defend themselves; that is, all except for the serpent, whose name was (and still is) Soft-child.
Soft-child had his rattle, though little good it did him when he had no real way to defend himself. He was left to himself often, and strove to look and sound as frightening as he could, usually to no avail. The Old Ones often warned their children to let Soft-child alone and to let him live his life in peace.
At evening time, the Old Ones would gather the whole village around the fire and tell the stories, but some of the animals, especially Rabbit, would have trouble sitting still and would leave to go make some mischief; Rabbit often took his friend Skunk with him. Because Soft-child had no way to defend himself, he was mocked by all, especially the proud rabbit, who would often tease Soft-child and use him in his ball games by wrapping him into one and playing catch with his other friends. Soft child would rattle, but no one would pay attention.
Soft-child eventually began to pity his existence and lamented saying, "God, all the other animals tease me. Why did you give them a way to defend against this sort of humiliation and abuse by others and not me?"
God said, "Don't worry about a thing, just go to the Devil's Claw bush and take two thorns from it and put them in your mouth. Then, the next time rabbit comes around you must sound a warning--the rattle on your tail--but if he doesn't listen, you may bite him."
"Thank you!" said Soft-child, and he took himself to the Devil's Claw bush and did as God had told him. The next time that he was basking on the rocks, Rabbit came along with skunk and Soft-child sounded his warning. When rabbit took no heed and made fun of Soft-child's puny rattle and proceeded to take him, Soft-child bit him.
To this day, Soft-child prefers to be alone and doesn't like to draw attention to himself by sounding his rattle; he'd much rather watch the others pass by before he strike; thus, his name remains Soft-child.
___________________________________________________________
Long ago, God created the whole universe and everything in it. when he made the Earth and all the animals on it, he gave all of them a certain way to defend themselves; that is, all except for the serpent, whose name was (and still is) Soft-child.
Soft-child had his rattle, though little good it did him when he had no real way to defend himself. He was left to himself often, and strove to look and sound as frightening as he could, usually to no avail. The Old Ones often warned their children to let Soft-child alone and to let him live his life in peace.
At evening time, the Old Ones would gather the whole village around the fire and tell the stories, but some of the animals, especially Rabbit, would have trouble sitting still and would leave to go make some mischief; Rabbit often took his friend Skunk with him. Because Soft-child had no way to defend himself, he was mocked by all, especially the proud rabbit, who would often tease Soft-child and use him in his ball games by wrapping him into one and playing catch with his other friends. Soft child would rattle, but no one would pay attention.
Soft-child eventually began to pity his existence and lamented saying, "God, all the other animals tease me. Why did you give them a way to defend against this sort of humiliation and abuse by others and not me?"
God said, "Don't worry about a thing, just go to the Devil's Claw bush and take two thorns from it and put them in your mouth. Then, the next time rabbit comes around you must sound a warning--the rattle on your tail--but if he doesn't listen, you may bite him."
"Thank you!" said Soft-child, and he took himself to the Devil's Claw bush and did as God had told him. The next time that he was basking on the rocks, Rabbit came along with skunk and Soft-child sounded his warning. When rabbit took no heed and made fun of Soft-child's puny rattle and proceeded to take him, Soft-child bit him.
To this day, Soft-child prefers to be alone and doesn't like to draw attention to himself by sounding his rattle; he'd much rather watch the others pass by before he strike; thus, his name remains Soft-child.
Category Photography / Animal related (non-anthro)
Species Snake / Serpent
Size 800 x 536px
File Size 134.8 kB
Thanks for letting me know! I was just pounding this out as quickly as I could, trying to recall my mother's words as best as I could and was really more focused on that than correct grammar, unfortunately. Still, though, I'm glad you like it. The credit for the story goes, of course, the the Southwestern dessert area Native Americans.
I know it might almost be considered a betrayal of my furry kind to say this, but I always liked this story because it was about the mean furry animals playing soccer with Soft Child and how he finally was given a level playing field at "got one over" on the other animals for the way he was treated.
I think F5 should do the trick on the correction I made. Let me know if you see anything else!
I know it might almost be considered a betrayal of my furry kind to say this, but I always liked this story because it was about the mean furry animals playing soccer with Soft Child and how he finally was given a level playing field at "got one over" on the other animals for the way he was treated.
I think F5 should do the trick on the correction I made. Let me know if you see anything else!
Yeah, I figured you might appreciate them! Also, I'm not sure if you're familiar with the flora out her in the Southwest, so here's a picture of the Devil's Claw thorns: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:P.....ora_fruit1.jpg
Yeah, it seems to fit right in and really does look like a rattlesnake's fangs.
On another note, if you like this kind of stuff, I would try looking up Native American stories. Different tribes will have different stories with the animals, so the tribes are important. There are lots of tribes here in the Southwest and they all have different stories of Snake.
There was one I was reading where Snake was a magician who could shapeshift and took on the form of a man in order to marry a human. He ended up trying to kill her, so I guess that one didn't really work out . . .
The story that I applied to this picture, however, I think belongs to the Hopi's. Snake in their stories always seems to be some kind of smart-ass. He's either that or really wise. In another story, Snake asks a man to help him get off a tall mesa. The man says "I won't! You'll just bite me!"
Snake says, "I promise I won't."
So the man takes Snake off the mesa, and as soon as he sets him down, Snake bites him. The man cried out and said, "Why did yo do that? You told me you wouldn't!"
Snake turned to the man and said, "I'm Snake! It's in my nature to bite!"
XD Snake isn't evil in these stories, but he can sometimes just be an asshole. He's just really clever.
On another note, if you like this kind of stuff, I would try looking up Native American stories. Different tribes will have different stories with the animals, so the tribes are important. There are lots of tribes here in the Southwest and they all have different stories of Snake.
There was one I was reading where Snake was a magician who could shapeshift and took on the form of a man in order to marry a human. He ended up trying to kill her, so I guess that one didn't really work out . . .
The story that I applied to this picture, however, I think belongs to the Hopi's. Snake in their stories always seems to be some kind of smart-ass. He's either that or really wise. In another story, Snake asks a man to help him get off a tall mesa. The man says "I won't! You'll just bite me!"
Snake says, "I promise I won't."
So the man takes Snake off the mesa, and as soon as he sets him down, Snake bites him. The man cried out and said, "Why did yo do that? You told me you wouldn't!"
Snake turned to the man and said, "I'm Snake! It's in my nature to bite!"
XD Snake isn't evil in these stories, but he can sometimes just be an asshole. He's just really clever.
Ah, I see! Still, that might be something worth investigating. Though I don't know what tribes are native to that region. The Pimas (who originated this story) share a native religion here with another tribe, but I forget which one. I always liked listening to their stories and the way that they portray the animals. It's something that I find rather inspiring as a writer.
As I would listen to my mother's stories I'd begin to see the animals as being part of some cosmic play. I'm not Native American, myself, and neither is my mother, but she spent a lot of time working on the local reservations so she was steeped in the local culture.
Snake in the Pima stories was always one of my favourites, but there was also a Polonesian story that caught my fancy about a young woman who'd go down to a river to bathe while Watersnake would watch from the shore.
After some time, Watersnake gained some courage and swam between her legs--always, when she'd go down by the river he'd swim between her legs. One day while doing this, Watersnake suddenly took the form of a man, and he and the girl would make love on the shore of the lake. (You'll have to forgive me here, but I can't remember anymore of the story, it was really that much that caught my attention.)
My point (and I do have one) is that the stories you hear in little pockets really are a treasuretrove.
As I would listen to my mother's stories I'd begin to see the animals as being part of some cosmic play. I'm not Native American, myself, and neither is my mother, but she spent a lot of time working on the local reservations so she was steeped in the local culture.
Snake in the Pima stories was always one of my favourites, but there was also a Polonesian story that caught my fancy about a young woman who'd go down to a river to bathe while Watersnake would watch from the shore.
After some time, Watersnake gained some courage and swam between her legs--always, when she'd go down by the river he'd swim between her legs. One day while doing this, Watersnake suddenly took the form of a man, and he and the girl would make love on the shore of the lake. (You'll have to forgive me here, but I can't remember anymore of the story, it was really that much that caught my attention.)
My point (and I do have one) is that the stories you hear in little pockets really are a treasuretrove.
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