One autumn evening when the Sun descended from the sky, rather than going to his rest he decided he would inspect the world more closely. He chose to land on the edge of a wooded valley. As his feet touched the ground the grass burst into flames and the dozy grazing animals ran in fright. The noise caused him to look down and he saw the destruction spreading around him. He clenched his right hand and the spreading fires went out. He smiled and his light shone forth and lit the valley like morning. The confused birds came out of their roosts and sang to greet him. So, pleased to be welcomed in such a manner the Sun walked into the valley. He strode down through the wood, the trees barely coming to his knees. As he passed by the green firs he was greeted by the broad oaks and maples, dressed splendidly in orange and gold as he was. The Sun was pleased at the beauty of the Valley and how it honoured him.
Then Clouds gathered and a cold came up from the bottom of the valley. The creatures that had come out to bask in the Sun’s warmth scurried back to their burrows. The birds were silenced and the trees began whispering of a newcomer. Lightning ran before him and announced his arrival with voices of thunder. Striding up the valley, no less in stature than the Sun, came the North Wind and the trees fell under his advance. The Sun’s smile soured and he blocked the North Wind’s path. “Why do you disrupt the peace of this valley?” The Sun asked. The North Wind stopped and looked around at the destruction he had wrought before turning to his accuser. “Get out of my way. I will do as I please. See how all falls before my might. My strength gives me the right.” He replied. The Sun was amused by this and laughed heartily. “Well if you respect strength then begone for I am much the stronger of the two of us.” This angered the North Wind and the two argued back and forth about which was the stronger.
As they fought the Sun noticed a figure in a warm cloak at the bottom of the valley. A man had come out for fire wood. The Sun smiled and issued a challenge to the Wind. The first to make the man remove his cloak would be considered the stronger and the weaker would leave the valley. The North Wind scoffed and boasted of how quickly he would remove the cloak and readily agreed. He began to blow forth great gusts. He blew harder and harder till the trees creaked and a frost formed in the quivering grass, but the more he blew the closer the man pulled his cloak around him. The man eventually hid behind the stump of a fallen tree for shelter. The Sun told the North Wind his turn was up and the Wind grudgingly let the Sun make his attempt. The Sun shone forth with light and warmth until the frost melted and it was like summer returned. The man hidden behind his tree stepped out, confused at the sudden drop in wind, and was bathed in warmth. He soon began to sweat and took off his cloak. The North Wind held to the agreement as is proper and left, but as he departed in his spite he left a scar of felled trees in his wake. The Sun dimmed himself and watched the man gather his firewood. He kept watch in the valley till morning then returned to the sky.