Storytelling for Week 2: Deer Hunting at its Finest

Once upon a time, in a far away forest there was a deer. He was just an ordinary deer trying to survive in this harsh world. One day, the deer crossed a small pond deep in the forest, that looked as if it were sparkling. The deer was so overjoyed to see water, that he drank and bathed in it for days. After leaving the pond, the deer realized he had a coat of gold around him that shined so bright it was almost blinding, and that he felt as if he had supernatural powers. As time went on, he became stronger and stronger until he was eventually invincible. His speed was increasing by the day, his strength was astronomical, and his precision and power was higher than ever seen before. This creature was godly even to the gods, and was given the name "golden deer".

It has been known for hundreds of years that if you catch the golden deer, you will be granted the powers that the deer had possessed, and will live an immortal life full of love, happiness, and fulfillment. It would take a very special person, with very special, unique talents unlike anyone else to capture this deer and reap the profits. The catch is that the deer is nearly impossible to capture, because of his strength and speed, and therefore hasn't been seen in hundreds of years. Some even question the truthfulness of this story that has been passed down for generations.

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Deep in the forest there was a man named Rama, who lived in a picture perfect log cabin with his beautiful wife, Sita. Rama and Sita lived what most would call, a perfect life. One day, while sitting in their long cabin, Sita asked Rama to go fetch some food as they were running low. Of course Rama did so, and willingly went out the door in search of some food. As the afternoon went by, Rama had no luck so far. Time went on and Rama was still on the hunt, until he halted immediately. He spotted something that was shining through the bushes.

So many thoughts were racing through his mind... "Is that what I think it is?" he thought to himself. "No.. It can't be!" he questioned himself.  "But, what if it was? I would be a hero and would live an everlasting life full of love and power...I'm going for it!"

Rama capturing the deer. Wikimedia

Rama slowly drew closer to the deer to get a better look, but he still wasn't sure of its authenticity. He didn't want to get too close in fear that the deer would notice him and his opportunity would have passed. As he begins to point his bow he thinks to himself, "Man, Sita is going to be so impressed if I am the godly man that catches the golden deer!" and without any further preparation he goes in for the kill, striking his arrow right at the golden deer! He begins jumping with joy and runs over to the deer expecting to be gaining his powers at any minute. As Rama walks up to deer he is immediately filled with disappointment. The deer was a fraud. He had been covered with gold glitter to fool him into thinking he was the golden deer! "Impossible! I am a fool for falling for that", Rama exclaims with furry.

He storms back to his log cabin, full of distraught and humiliation. As he approaches his cabin, he hears a cry for help. He says out loud, "Oh no, something has gone terribly wrong!", and then he sees a terrifying scene. His beloved Sita is being taken away on a schooner with great speed. Rama catched on to what has happened today, "I have been tricked! Someone covered a deer in glitter knowing I would find him and think it was the golden deer, and in the meantime captured my wife!" He then gathers his things in a scurry and heads after his wife, with a look of revenge in his eyes.

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Author's Note: I chose to tell the story of Sita being captured because I wanted to add light and simplicity to this intense part of The Ramayana. I changed the background of the story quite a bit and added in some of the inner thoughts I would think Rama might have had in this situation. In the actual story, Ravana and Maricha make a plan to abduct Sita, so Maricha disguises himself as a golden deer to capture the attention of Sita, who then begs Rama to catch it for her. While doing so, Maricha calls out for help using Rama's voice, so that Sita would think he was in trouble. She forces Rama's brother, Lakshmana to go save him, leaving her unguarded. She then gets taken away by Ravana. 

Narayan, R. K. (1972) The Ramayana.