Entry III: Thunderbird

The storm arrives without warning. Dark clouds gather overhead. Lightning tears across the sky. Thunder rolls through the mountains and forests below. For generations, many believed these storms were not merely weather, but evidence of something far greater moving through the heavens.The Thunderbird appears throughout indigenous traditions across North America as a powerful being capable of controlling thunder, lightning, and the forces of nature itself. Revered by some and feared by others, its legend has survived for centuries.In this entry of the Book of Lore, we trace the history of the Thunderbird, explore the stories that surround it, and examine why one of North America’s oldest legends continues to endure. When the thunder echoes across the sky, some still wonder what might be flying above the clouds.