First Place- Judy Vars "How the Raven Steals the Light"...Second Place- Amber Johnson "Abstract Raven" and Third Place and also People's Choice - Dena Tanquay "Kutqli, A Raven Reborn"
How the Raven Steals the Light
by
Judy Vars
In the beginning the world was in darkness. The raven who had existed from the beginning was tired of groping about and bumping into things.
The raven knew of an old man who lived with his granddaughter. He had a great treasure, a box that concealed all the light in the universe. The raven vowed to steal the light. Raven changed himself into a pine needle and dropped himself into the river just as the girl was dipping water from the river. The raven slithered down her warm belly and grew into an odd looking human baby.
Despite his odd appearance grandfather loved him anyway But the old man promised dire punishment if raven baby ever touched the precious treasure box. Nonetheless the raven child begged and begged to be allowed to hold the light just a moment. In time the old man yielded, and lifted from the box a warm golden sphere, which he threw to his grandson.
As the light was moving toward him the human child transformed himself back into his raven self with his beak open in anticipation. As the beautiful ball of light reached him raven captured it in his beak. Moving powerful wings, raven burst through the smoke hole in the roof of the house, and escaped into the darkness with his stolen treasure
And that is how light came into the universe
