Death of the Mountain Spirit

Life, Death

in which the ancestors of the mountain people have Had Enough

Why the western mountain range? The land was foreign to the rebel tribe, sure. But the Sun Spirit wanted to punish them more than just forcing them to adapt to trees. And he needed to give the Mountain Spirit something to play with before he caused more trouble for the High Spirits.   The Mountain Spirit gleefully accepted his role of punishing the rebel tribe. And punish them he did.   In order to stop the extinction of their people, the rebel tribe struck a deal with the Coyote and other tricksters. The Coyote set the trap. The tribe led the Mountain Spirit into it. And the tribe's chieftess threw her own spear into the Mountain Spirit's heart. And the mountains lost its ruler, the tribe its torturer.   However, the death of the Mountain Spirit left certain after effects. The way the rebel tribe and Coyote killed him not only killed the Mountain Spirit's body, but damaged his very power. This in turn affected all of the little spirits that served beneath him. Either their heartbeat or power were damaged, creating the deykah.