The Legend of the Wendigo – Algonquian folklore (Original Version)

In the vast and frozen forests of the North, where the winds howl through the trees and the snow blankets the ground, the Algonquian people tell tales of a fearsome spirit known as the Wendigo. This creature, they say, is born of the cold and the darkness, a manifestation of insatiable hunger and greed.

Long ago, in a small village nestled among the pines, winter came early and with a ferocity that the people had not seen before. The supplies of food dwindled quickly, and the villagers found themselves facing the harsh reality of starvation.

Among them was a hunter, known for his skill and bravery. Desperate to provide for his family, he ventured deep into the forest in search of game. But the land was barren, and the animals had gone into hiding from the relentless winter.

Days turned into weeks, and the hunter’s despair grew. Alone in the wilderness, with the icy winds biting at his skin and the gnawing hunger consuming him, he felt his spirit weaken. It was then, the stories say, that the Wendigo found him.

The Wendigo was a creature of nightmarish appearance, towering over the hunter with its gaunt, emaciated frame. Its eyes burned with a malevolent hunger, and its mouth was filled with sharp, jagged teeth. The Wendigo was once human, the legends say, but it had been transformed by its own greed and cannibalism, cursed to wander the forest eternally in search of human flesh.

The Wendigo whispered to the hunter, promising him relief from his hunger if only he would surrender to his darkest desires. As the days passed, the hunter’s resolve weakened, and he succumbed to the spirit’s influence. In doing so, he was transformed into a Wendigo himself, becoming a vessel of insatiable hunger.

Back in the village, as the snows began to melt and the days grew longer, the people noticed the absence of the hunter. Search parties ventured into the forest, but they found no trace of him. The elders warned of the Wendigo, speaking of the dangers of greed and the importance of maintaining one’s humanity even in the face of desperation.

The legend of the Wendigo became a cautionary tale, passed down through generations. It served as a reminder of the fine line between survival and savagery, and the importance of community and compassion in times of hardship.

To this day, the winds carry whispers of the Wendigo through the northern forests. Those who venture too far into the woods are warned to heed the tales and remember the lessons of the past, lest they fall victim to the Wendigo’s eternal hunger.

The End.