Three Eyed Cąȶ played with Death for many years in the World of the People.  No one noticed their presence, believing the tricks Three Eyed Cąȶ played on them was just bad luck.  Then one day a strange thing happened.  An elderly woman did not wake from her sleep.  Confused, her family carried her body outside and sang to her.  They danced around her and made offerings to Deity.  For three days and four nights, the family did all they could think of to wake her. 

Finally, Three Eyed Cąȶ arrived, disguised as a medicine man.  Three Eyed Cąȶ had heard of the elderly woman’s condition and had come see for their self.  Upon finding the family, Three Eyed Cąȶ said that they were a medicine man and that they may be able to help the elderly woman.  Grateful, the family led Three Eyed Cąȶ to her.  The elderly woman appeared to be sleeping peacefully.  A smile even decorated her mouth.

Studying her for many hours, Three Eyed Cąȶ tried all the magic that they knew.  Nothing worked.  Intrigued, Three Eyed Cąȶ decided to send its spirit up to see Deity.  Entering a trance, Three Eyed Cąȶ traveled up to see their creator.  Deity, who was traveling through the ends of the universe, did not seem surprised to see Three Eyed Cąȶ, one of its favorite creations.

“Three Eyed Cąȶ, why have you found me?  Are you bored of playing with Death already?” Deity asked

“No, my Deity,” Three Eyed Cąȶ replied. “I am in the World of the People and an elderly woman has fallen asleep and will not wake up.  I have never seen such a thing.  My powers do nothing.  I can see nothing.  Her family has danced, chanted, and prayed, but still nothing.  Please tell me what to do.”

“There is nothing you can do.”

Deity became very somber.

“Do you not remember, Three Eyed Cąȶ, that I told you Death could not leave Nӕse?”

“No, I forgot, Deity.  It has been many years since then.”

“Yes, it has, but it was very important.  Now that Death has left Nӕse, Death cannot return.  And since Death cannot return to Nӕse, the people’s souls must go to Nӕse instead.”

Confused, Three Eyed Cąȶ did not understand.  With a heavy sigh, the Deity continued.

“With Death in the World of the People, the people now can die.  Their souls will leave their bodies and go to Nӕse.  The worlds must always be in balance, Three Eyed Cąȶ.”

Not wishing to talk more, Deity sent Three Eyed Cąȶ back to their body.  Waking from their trance, Three Eyed Cąȶ recounted Deity’s words to the people.  The elderly woman’s family wailed in grief for they thought they would not see her again. 

“Do not cry,” Three Eyed Cąȶ said. “For when you die, you too will go to Nӕse and then you will see her again.”

Filled with joy, anger, and sadness, the family asked Three Eyed Cąȶ what they were to do now.  Three Eyed Cąȶ did not know, so they thought for a long time.  Eventually, Three Eyed Cąȶ instructed the family to burn the elderly woman’s body and then spread her ashes in their planting fields.

“The world must always be in balance,” Three Eyed Cąȶ told them.

So, they did as they were told.  And now all people do the same when their families die.  They mourn for three days and four nights, then pray to Deity for another day before burning the body and spreading it over fertile land. 

Once the elderly woman’s body was given back to the earth in the name of Deity, the family turned on Three Eyed Cąȶ.  The people had always been on earth.  While they aged, no one had ever died.  They had all been together for thousands of years, but Three Eyed Cąȶ had brought Death.  Shunned, Three Eyed Cąȶ left.  As they left, Three Eyed Cąȶ passed by the elderly woman’s daughter.  They had been the first two women ever placed on earth by Deity.  Three Eyed Cąȶ’s future seeing and present seeing eyes fell on the woman and Three Eyed Cąȶ smiled. 

“The worlds must always be in balance,” Three Eyed Cąȶ said as goodbye. 

The family watched Three Eyed Cąȶ leave, not knowing that Three Eyed Cąȶ had seen growing in the woman a child.  The first child to ever be born in the World of the People.