Kotharian Lightning

From Ojibwa Folklore

In olden times people used to believe that if a person fasted for a period of about ten or twelve days he would learn something about bears or lions, or something very strong, and if he dreamed of any of these animals he would be just as strong.

One time a man had a dream that he could fight with the Wendigoes any time. He could be just as big and just as strong, and during one winter time he knew that the Wendigo was coming to eat them (i.e. his family). He said to his wife “The Wendigo is coming to-night, and is going to eat us, and if my dream fails we shall be eaten by the Wendigo.” The night came and the man went out of meet the Wendigo a little way off. The wife listened for a little while, then she heard trees flying all over and she saw two great, big men biting each other and hitting each other with great, big trees, and also with their hands. This kept on for a long time, till all at once it went past, and she watched if her man would come home. After a whole he came out of the woods just as small as he was when he went out to fight. He said, “I won the battle for the first time since I had my dream. You come over with me and I will show you where I finished the Wendigo.” They both went out till they came to the place where they saw, as if somebody had been underbrushing, so fierce was the battle that all the underbrush and small trees were knocked or trampled down. At the far end of this place they saw a great big man lying down dead, with his big kettle and a great big knife, for the Wendigo was going to kill and eat these people. So the man and wife went to work and gathered up wood and made a big fire and burned the Wendigo to ashes.

Source:

Ojibwa Myths and Tales, G.E. Laidlaw, 1915