Folklore Themes: Scarcity

Fluctuations in resources are a fact of life for a culture that practices limited agriculture. The possibility that something vital to their living might run out entirely is always lurking in the back of the mind. Fading resources in stories create a sense of urgency, forcing characters into action.

From Finding Old Ancestor:
The day came when the stream became smaller, smaller, and smaller still, fading until no water ran. The stream was gone. Its channel was wet, and by digging holes we could gather a little water, but none flowed.