The first time an animal died
Great Spirit came from all directions
S/he looked around waiting
Waiting for someone to offer to clean up.
All the animals looked nervously about
Trying really hard not to be noticed
The smell of the first dead animal was quite bad,
None of the animals had smelled such horrible smell before
So none of the animals wanted to get close to it
Great Spirit, in Her/his infinite wisdom, asked them,
"Who among you will take on the responsibility of eating the dead?"
Great Spirit waited for a long time, a long long time
It was almost night time
Everyone was getting cold, and anxious (quite possibly the first time they felt anxiety)
They all wanted to go home
Vulture, seeing the tiredness and sensing the anxiety in everyone
Valiantly stepped forth
And offered to eat the dead
Great Spirit rejoiced, and smiled
The rest of the animals also rejoiced, and smiled
This made vulture happy, but still she felt her stomach turn at the thought of eating the dead
Great Spirit, sensing this said to vulture,
"You are brave and compassionate, for these virtues i shall bless you"
And bless the vulture Great Spirit did
Vulture then was awarded the biggest wings
The sharpest mind
The strongest stomach
Every meal for vulture
would now be
the greatest tasting of them all
Vulture then rejoiced too
And all the animals
Now looked forward to becoming part of Great Spirit
For they knew
That Vulture would enjoy them
And carry them back to Great Spirit
