Perun - Slavic

High, high up in the sky, lived a strong man named Perun. He lived on the highest branch of a giant oak tree that touched the fluffy white clouds. From his tall home, Perun watched over the green world below. It was his job to make the big clouds rumble and the soft rain fall. He loved to see the flowers grow big and bright. But sometimes, a mischievous dragon tried to spoil the fun. This is the story people told long ago, the myth of Perun. It is a story about thunder and rain.

One sunny day, the world below was very quiet and very, very dry. The little red flowers were droopy and sad. The long blue rivers were sleepy and slow. Where did all the rain go? Perun looked down and saw a slithery dragon named Veles. The silly dragon had hidden all the fluffy rain clouds behind a big mountain. "Oh no!" said Perun in his big voice. "I have to get those clouds back for the thirsty flowers!". Perun climbed into his big chariot. His chariot rumbled like a big, loud drum. He grabbed his shiny axe. His axe flashed like a camera light, blink, blink! He raced across the sky, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, looking for that mischievous dragon.

Perun found Veles the dragon hiding behind the mountain. With a final, friendly BOOM, Perun did not fight. He tickled the dragon's slithery tail with his shiny axe. The dragon giggled and wiggled and let go of the clouds. The fluffy clouds floated back into the sky. Soon, pitter-patter, pitter-patter, the rain began to fall. The thirsty world got a big, cool drink. The flowers woke up and smiled at the sky. The rivers started to dance and sing again. Perun smiled. This is what happens during a thunderstorm. It is Perun making sure the world stays green and happy. This old story helps us remember that even a noisy storm is helping our beautiful world grow.