Another Choctaw tale about the Kwanokasha, or Little People, who lived in the forests. Normally, this story is told generally about what the Kwanokasha do, but I created some characters to give it a more story-like feel.

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Long ago, in the ancient times, the Chahta okla lived among the great woods of Mississippi.  Many spirits lived in these woods, including the powerful Kwanokasha, small forest dwellers who kept a watchful eye on the Chahta.

One day, Chula humma, a small boy from a village that sat right on the edge of the forest, set to work going about his chores. Chula humma was a good boy who loved helping his family. But he also loved animals – especially the red fox, for which he was named – and sometimes became distracted when a forest creature crossed his path.  And soon enough, a stirring in the grass caught Chula humma’s eye. He stopped doing his chores and crept closer to see what troubled the grass. Out hopped a small, brown rabbit!

“Ah chukfi!” cried the boy, “Wait, so that I may pet your soft brown fur!’

But the rabbit had no time for little boys and darted off. Chula humma forgot his chores and gave chase. Soon enough, he found himself in the forest and the eyes of the Kwanokasha fell upon him. The Kwanokasha seized Chula humma and before the boy could make even a single sound, the Kwanokasha carried him off into the woods.

The forest spirit and the boy travelled for a very long time, climbing many hills and crossing many creeks and rivers.

“Kwanokasha,” Chula humma would ask, “Where are you taking me?’

But the spirit would not answer.

Finally, the Kwanokasha and Chula humma arrived at a small cave, barely visible through the moss and vines that covered it.

Inside the cave sat three other spirits. They were very small – smaller than Chula humma himself, who was just a boy! But the spirits were also very old. They each had long, white hair that fell down their backs and wrinkled, knobby fingers, like the thin branches of a tree.  The Kwanokasha told Chula humma to sit before the other three spirits and so the boy did.

“Now,” said the Kwanokasha, “You must choose.”

The first spirit extended his arms toward Chula humma, and in his hands laid a long, beautifully carved knife.  The second spirit then did the same, only his hands held an assortment of aromatic herbs. And then, the third spirit offered Chula humma more herbs, but these were plainer and did not smell as nice.

Chula humma looked over the three offerings, thinking carefully. Finally, he turned to the Kwanokasha and said, “I must respectfully decline the knife, for while it is beautifully carved, it is meant for spilling blood, and I do not wish to spill blood. I must also decline the herbs offered by the second spirit. While they smell delicious, I see that some are poisonous herbs my father has warned me about. So I will choose the third offering of the plainer herbs, because while they are plain, none of them are poisonous and some may used to heal wounds which have spilled blood.”

The Kwanokasha nodded. “You have chosen wisely, Chula humma. Had you chosen the knife, you would have become a man who loves to use a knife against others, even your own friends. Had you chosen the poisonous herbs, you would have become a man who was never able to help his own people. But you have chosen the good herbs, so you are destined to become a great and powerful doctor for your people.”

Chula humma spent the next three days in the cave of the Kwanokasha, learning how to make medicines from herbs, how to cure diseases and fevers, and how to treat wounds.  When he returned home to his village, he did not speak of the Kwanokasha or what they had taught him. He went back to being a good boy who helped his family and elders.

When Chula humma grew into a man, he fulfilled the destiny set forth for him by the Kwanokasha and became a great Medicine Man, helping to keep his people healthy and safe.