The heart of the brave antelope

Navajo Legend

A long time ago, a man was happy. The newlyweds experienced the happiness of having a child. The Council of Elders named him the leader of the tribe for his reputation, courage and honor. He ruled the tribe fairly. The tribe was filled with happiness, peace and harmony. One morning, however, his wife was not awake, so he went to get the shaman of the tribe. He determined that the woman had consumed an unknown venomous plant, which had led her to a constant sleep. The shaman did not answer Antilope's question about the antidote.

Since he was unwilling to accept the situation, he approached the oldest leader of the community, who informed him of the presence of a magician who lived in a very hidden cave and cultivated a healing plant that was effective against all kinds of poisons. However, they had in mind that he would not give the plant to anyone because he believed that nobody deserved it. Although he warned him of the dangers he would face on the steep road, Antilope only worried about finding the wizard and his beautiful plant.

On an exhausting journey of several days, he lost consciousness. After recovering it, he had to face a big bear, climb to the top of a waterfall while a wolf seized him, and evade an eagle who was attacking him. Finally, he reached a cave, which was reached by crossing the thin layer of water from the waterfall. In that place, he stumbled upon the wizard and requested the plant to wake his wife. The sorcerer replied, "I have no secrets for you, I know all that you have suffered in your way, and I know that the gods stood by you and gave you the speed of the guepard to escape the bear that was chasing you; then, they gave you a coyote's ability to defeat the eagle; and finally, gave you an eagle's sight." "Even though the gods are by your side, don't you think it would be better for them to give you the plant, since you are about to die after your harsh odyssey?" Antilope opposed this. Antilope, so admired by the gods that they helped him get there, offered his heart to the wizard in exchange for the miraculous powers of his cultivation. The sorcerer replied that only he had managed to earn his powers so far because he had a pure and honest heart.

He offered to accompany him to his place of residence to treat his wife. The wizard leads the leader of his tribe through a hidden path that only he knew. By giving the woman of Antilope the aroma of the miracle plant, she awoke from her deep sleep as the magic wizard disappeared on the horizon.