Fire

Long ago the largest of all hawks lived on the earth. He was so big that his wings darkened two lodges when he flew over the village. This Great Hawk was kind and good, but also powerful, with a supernatural gift of song. When the Thunder Beings gave him a special song, the Great Hawk became self-important and ignored the prescribed preparations. When he sang his song, a bolt of lightning shot out of the sky and burst into flame as it touched the Hawk's wing. The Great Spirit chastised him for his arrogance and made him the servant of the Thunder Beings — the bird of fire, the Thunderbird.