Storytelling for week 9: The Ultimate Marksman

Arjuna raced through the forest, dodging branches and giant plants. He held up his bow and an arrow sliced the air, hitting the middle of his target.  A log came crashing towards him and Arjuna narrowly side stepped to avoid it. He continued on his training path through difficult terrain with seemingly impossible targets for any marksman. He completed this course with ease regardless of the level of difficulty. His weapons trainer Drona watched in awe as he completed a course no other student had before. He knew his student would be great.

Drona walked over to Arjuna with a blank look on his face. “No other student has ever shown more promise.” Arjuna thanked the Guru and went on with his training late into the night.

One month later, Arjuna had just finished his training for the day. He stayed late to clean his weapons while Drona left to go bathe in the river. Arjuna walked home for the evening when he crossed a bridge over the river. Arjuna heard a loud cry for help that he could not easily recognize. With bow in hand, he bolted towards the voice he heard down the river. As he passed a bend in the river, he caught sight of a massive crocodile with his jaws around a man. It appeared as though the man was holding the beast’s jaws open just enough to keep from being torn to shreds. Arjuna was a great distance away when he heard his name. The voice sounded familiar.

“Arjuna!” the man shouted. “Do not come any closer for I fear you too will become devoured by this great monster.”

Arjuna then realized it was Drona who was trapped in the jaws of this beast. He replied, “I will not come any closer but I will slay him from here.”

While the crocodile was thrashing around, Arjuna had to be very careful not to hit Drona with his arrow by mistake. There was very little room for error. He recalled his training where he was hitting difficult targets while dodging obstacles. This could not be any different from his training. He drew his arrow and visualized his target. In between his breaths at his natural pause, he let loose his first arrow. He hit his mark and severed the crocodile’s tail completely. Drona watched it float down the river in excitement but the crocodile howled in agony. Arjuna quickly pulled four more arrows from his quiver and fired them all in unison. Each arrow struck the reptile on each of its limbs, pinning the creature to the bank of the river. However, he would not release Drona from within his jaws.

 Drona called out to Arjuna, “Finish him quickly for my strength is dwindling.” 

Arjuna fired one last arrow that pierced the neck of the once mighty crocodile. The jaws of the beast finally relaxed and Drona fell onto the sandy beach. The guru ripped the fatal arrow from the flesh of the slain creature. Drona crawled off the shore and gave Arjuna the last arrow that defeated the predator. Arjuna kept the arrow so he would never forget the day he defeated the great river beast.

Arjuna

Author’s note-  I wanted to focus more on detail and action than dialogue. There is a lot of opportunity for detailed action in this story. I liked having the opportunity to make the story my own through detail and action. I made up the introduction to show instead of tell how great Arjuna was. I got a lot of my inspiration from the show Arrow. It is a show based on a DC comic book character the Green Arrow. The scene in the introduction is similar to a scene in the show. I also had in mind scenes from Ninja Assassin when Drona was telling Arjuna that no one has ever shown more promise. I was imagining the ninja master saying that to his pupil just like the movie.

 I chose to write about Arjuna and this story because I love stories with archery and action. It was really neat that Arjuna actually saved his master in the story. I would think it would be the other way around.I thought I could incorporate both into my story. I tried to stick to the story but it was fairly easy due to the lack of detail in the original version. This is definitely one of my favorite stories yet and I had a lot of fun writing it.

Bibliography- “Enter the Players” Narayan, R.K. (1978) the Mahabharata. 13

Storytelling for Week 3: To the Sky

This is a tale most old, of two brothers young and bold. They were eagles, but that wasn’t all they were. They were also sons of Aruna, the charioteer of the sun god. One bright sunny day, Jatayu and his older brother Sampathi were joyously flying about. While Jatayu sped past his brother, he teased him saying, “Either I am getting faster or you are becoming slower with age.” Sampathi laughed and soared through the air past Jatayu. They began to race one another for friendly competition, as brothers often do. They flew as fast and as hard as they could, but neither could gain any distance from the other.
Sampathi asked his brother, “I can see you are fast my brother, but tell me, what can you do with your speed?”
Jatayu told his brother, “I will swoop down like a bolt of lightning and catch a fish with each of my talons.” Jatayu accomplished this task with ease to the astonishment of his older brother. Sampathi followed suit to avoid being outdone, and he too dove down effortlessly and caught a fish in each talon.
Jatayu was desperate to prove that he could best his older brother in some form or fashion. He challenged his brother to one final task, one that would prove who is superior. Jatayu told his brother the plan, “We will see which of us rules the sky. We will fly as high as the Heavens where the gods themselves reside. May the highest eagle win!”
Sampathi had always been curious to view the Heavens and he loved to compete against Jatayu. So without further ado, the two brothers soared high into the sky to begin the journey upward. They flew higher every minute, but this journey was not quick. Jatayu playfully asked, “Are we there yet?” every minute or two just to pester his older brother.  Sampathi was about to kick his brother in the tail feathers, but they were quickly approaching the Heavens. Sampathi became distracted and quickly forgot about his pesky brother.

Off in the distance they caught a glimpse of the sun god. They called out and flew toward him. The sun god was not pleased to see two eagles here in his domain. He warned them to return down to earth or suffer the consequences. Sampathi realized the severity of the situation and told his brother, “It is time we leave this place and return home.” However, Jatayu was determined to prove he was superior, no matter the cost. The sun god was displeased with this defiance and began to channel his energy and send forth a solar flare of great magnitude to destroy the trespassers. Sampathi saw what was about to strike them both. He took off with tremendous speed towards his brother with the hope he might save his life. Just as the solar flare was about to strike Jatayu, Sampathi came between his brother and his imminent destruction. He spread his wings as far as they would stretch to shield his younger brother. Sampathi created a great shadow for his brother to hide in. Jatayu left unscathed but his brother Sampathi barely survived the encounter. His feathers were burnt off his body and his flesh was black as night. Without his feathers he fell from the Heavens at such a great speed that his brother could not see where his body had landed. Jatayu searched for his brother for the rest of his life, but could never repay the sacrifice Sampathi had made for him.


Bald Eagle
link

Author’s Note:
I chose to tell the story of Jatayu and Sampathi. It was meant to resemble a bedtime story you might tell to two little boys who are brothers. I do not have a brother, but I have a younger sister very close in age and I know how competitive siblings can be.

I wanted to keep the main plot points. Since the original story did not have many details, it was easy to create a more interesting tale. I like having the freedom to add more to a story without rewriting the main parts. I really liked this story because Sampathi protected his brother. I would do the same for my younger sister. Siblings can drive you crazy, but you will still do everything in your power to save them from themselves.

I added dialogue to show the camaraderie and competition between Sampathi and Jatayu. Reading the interaction between the two brothers makes the story more believable and helps the reader understand why Jatayu would not back down from reaching the Heavens. I considered having Jatayu find Sampathi, but the original ending makes it more of a cautionary tale.

I chose a picture of a bald eagle because they are regal and strong creatures.

Bibliography- "When the rains cease"Narayan, R. K. (1972) The Ramayana