There are many Native American legends among the different tribes of North America. Part of my ancestry is within the Choctaw tribe of the Southeastern United States or Chatah as they referred to themselves before European influence. This legend detailing a search for knowledge and power of the world surrounding us is one which I was told.

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	Tashka and Walo were brothers who lived long ago. Each morning they saw the sun rise above the horizon, pass over their heads, and die in the West late in the day. When the boys were four years old they conceived the idea to follow the sun and see where he died. So, the next day, when he was overhead, they followed him. That night when he died they were still in their own country where they knew the hills and rivers. They slept, and in the morning they set out to follow the sun once more. They continued this for many years walking across the land trying to discover the sun's course through the heavens and solve this great mystery.
	When the boys had grown into men they reached a great expanse of water and the only land they could see was the shore on which they stood. Late that same day when the sun died, they saw him sink into the water. Then they passed over the water and entered the sun's home with him. All around them they saw women. The stars were women and the moon was Sun's wife. The sun told his wife to boil water. Into this he put the boys which caused them to turn red and shed their skin. Sun asked them why they had followed him, as it was not time for them to reach heaven. They replied that the only reason was their desire to see where he died. Sun then told them he would send them home, but for four days they must not speak a word to any person or they would die. If they were silent for the four days they would live and prosper. A large Buzzard was called by Sun. The boys were placed on Buzzard's back and they started toward Earth. The wind never blows above the clouds so the boys could easily keep their hold. After reaching the clouds the wind blew the Buzzard in many directions. Despite the winds all arrived safely on the earth and the boys recognized the old trees near their home.
	The boys rested beneath the trees as an old man who had known them passed by. The old man continued on without speaking to them, but soon met the boy's mother and told her of their return. She ran to see them. When she saw the she demanded they answer her. Then they told her that, as they had spoken during the first four days of their return, they would surely die. Their mother was very worried knowing she had forced them to speak. Then they all went to the mother's house where the boys told of all they had seen and how they had followed Sun for many years. After the boys told all and the tribe had learned the answer to the question of where Sun died, the boys died and went up to heaven to remain forever with the sun, the moon and the stars.

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