• Long ago, before the age of man, our unified world was split into three separate lands. First, there was the Earthland, where the insects, buffalo, bears, and all other creatures of the land dwelled. Next, there was the Skyland, where all airborne creatures held dominion. Finally, far above the Skyland, there was the Spiritland. It was here that the great spirits who controlled all things below them made their home.

    Among the spirits, there were two chief spirits who held the highest power. One was the Sun Spirit, who ruled the day and shined brighter than any fire. The other was the Moon Spirit, who ruled the night and sparkled with a beauty unlike any other. Along with the Moon Spirit were spirits called Wolves. They were the Moon Spirit's protectors, and she cared for them like a mother cares for her child in return. The Wolves' great leader was Kino, whose fur shined like blinding snow, and his eyes sparkled like crystals in the light.

    The Sun Spirit loved the Moon Spirit, but He could never be with her. They stood on opposite sides of the world, always chasing each other, never allowed to be together. But the Wolves were always with the Moon Spirit. The Sun Spirit was deeply jealous of the wolves, often wishing that He could be them. The Sun Spirit decided that if He couldn't be with the Moon Spirit, then neither could the Wolves. He would find a way to separate them, one way or another.

    One day, just before the crack of dawn, Kino was wandering on the edge of the night. Suddenly, the Sun Spirit called out to him.
    “You there, Wolf! I wish to speak with you.”
    Kino hesitated at first, but reluctantly replied,
    “What is it that you want of me?”
    “Have you ever heard of the Midnight Blossom?”, the Sun Spirit asked, “It is a glorious flower that only blooms under the light of the moon. As you can imagine, the Moon Spirit loves them. I feel that She would be very grateful if you and your Wolves went down to the Earthland and found one for her.”
    Kino was unsure of the Sun Spirit's intentions, but since He was a chief spirit, there was no reason not to trust Him.
    “Very well.”, said Kino, “I will tell this to my Wolves and we will decide what to do.”

    After relaying the Sun Spirit's message, Kino and his Wolves decided that it was a good idea. And so the Wolves flew down through the Skyland and into the Earthland. The Wolves searched throughout the Earthland for the Midnight Blossom. While they found many beautiful flowers, none of them looked like what the Sun Spirit had described. Finally, just as they were about to lose hope, Kino spotted the faintest glow atop a frozen mountain. Kino climbed to the summit, where he found the Midnight Blossom, which shined with a radiant azure bloom. Kino picked the flower and raced back to his Wolves at the foot of the mountain.

    It was dusk when Kino reached the bottom of the mountain. As he and the Wolves beheld the Midnight Blossom, the Sun Spirit called out to them.
    “You foolish Wolves! If a spirit leaves out land, they may never come back! Now you are cursed to forever roam throughout the Earthland, never to return to your precious Moon Spirit!”
    When the Moon Spirit learned of her Wolves' fate, she cried so sorrowfully that her tears stained the Skyland and became the stars.

    One night, Kino led the Wolves to the mountain's summit. There, they let out a great cry to the starlit sky. From that day onward, whenever the moon shined brightly in the sky, the Wolves would howl to let the Moon Spirit know they were alive and well.