Mitos y Leyendas: The Legend of the Trial of Courage

• Mitos y Leyendas shares a legend about a trial of courage.
• It involves a tribe in which two brothers undergo a test to become warriors.
• Both are sent, but only one returns with proof of successfully completing this rite.

Genny de Bernardo shares a legend about a tribe that trial its young ones to show that they can now be treated as men.

A long time ago, in a tribe, there were two brothers who were completely opposite in nature. The elder was reckless, brave, with a willpower that defied any challenge.

The younger one was the opposite. Calm, serene, focused on other kinds of tasks. He spent time with his mother and also enjoyed walks in the surroundings.

When they reached a certain age, they were given a trial so that the tribe would consider them men and no longer treat them like children, something that was considered important in society.

The tribe’s trial of courage

The trial was simple but also required skill. They had to go in search of an eagle and return with its feathers.

Many returned quite injured due to this trial, as the animal, with its talons, was able to easily cut the skin.

The brothers went to fulfill this task. They delved into the majesty of nature to go after the feathers of this animal.

The time limit to complete the trial was 4 moons; otherwise, they were considered to have failed the task, even if they returned with feathers.

Brothers’ strategies to get the feathers

The brothers set off for the forest. The first one went at a hurried pace, while the younger one went slowly. When they reached a certain area, they both focused on different activities.

The elder explored the surroundings for branches to start a fire and also to create a bow and arrows needed for hunting.

The younger also sought branches, but to build a shelter that would serve him to rest. He also searched for food.

When both had settled on the terrain and completed these first steps, they took different routes in search of the animal.

An eagle appears

It took some time before one of these animals appeared. The elder, meanwhile, devised a strategy to hunt the eagle.

He hunted a rabbit and used it as bait so that when the bird wanted to grab it, he could take action to get its feathers.

Time passed and one appeared. It was huge and had noticed the bait. Hungry, it descended for the food that the elder brother had hunted.

At that moment, the young man tried to surprise the eagle, but it noticed him.

Injured by the bird

The eagle had noticed the young man’s intentions and would not allow him to harm it.

The boy tried to grip the eagle’s feathers with his teeth while holding its powerful talons with his hands.

This did not go as he expected, and he had to come out wounded. He hid between two crevices. Injured in body and pride, when the eagle came back to attack him, he was able to fight it.

When he got close, he pierced its wing, stepped on its neck, and plucked the necessary feathers to pass the tribe’s courage trial. «This is so you learn!» he exclaimed.

The younger brother and the eagle

The younger watched everything his brother had done to get the eagle feathers.

He approached after the encounter that these two warriors had had. He wanted to see if the eagle was still alive. Fortunately, the animal was still alive.

The brother set out to care for the animal to help it recover, but the bird was scared and attacked him. However, the brother did not give up on his mission to help it.

When he tried to bandage its wounds, the bird became agitated. Finally, he managed to do it. The animal pecked at the young man, but he kept wanting to feed it. Little by little, he gained the trust of this being.

The young man returns from the trial of courage without feathers

He dedicated all the remaining moon time to heal the eagle, which fully recovered, but had not flown again. The young man wanted to see it fly to be at peace.

«It’s time for you to fly,» he said. He took it to a kind of cliff, and there, he released the bird. It fell… but then soared impressively high. «See you soon, my friend!» Subsequently, the young man returned to his village.

When he arrived, the elders gathered to discuss the situation. His brother had arrived days before. «Where are your eagle feathers?» they asked him. He did not answer, but suddenly, the sound of an eagle was heard.

The boy knew it was his friend. He placed a blanket on his right arm. The bird perched on it. Now the young man said, «Here are my eagle feathers.» They recognized him as a warrior, and he demonstrated that there are different kinds of courage and ways to prove it. We hope you enjoy this Mitos y Leyendas story. Until next time!