The Invisible Warrior: A Native American Tale (Adapted for English Learners)

Chapter 1: Waiting to Be Seen

Near the big ocean, where tall trees meet the sandy beach, lives a warrior named Strong Wind. 

He has an amazing power that makes him different from everyone else – he can make himself invisible whenever he wants! 

He lives in a hut, together with his sister Halona, who helps take care of their home and welcome visitors.

People love to talk about what Strong Wind looks like, even though no one has ever seen him.

The old people in the village say he is tall and strong, with long black hair and bright eyes. 

Some people say he moves without making any sound, while others say he is as strong as ten men together. 

His sister Halona tells visitors that he walks proudly like an eagle and stands as straight as a tree. These stories make everyone want to meet him even more.

There are small signs that show when Strong Wind is nearby. 

His shoes, decorated with beautiful patterns, hang by the door when he is home. The animal skin that covers their doorway moves when he goes in or out. In the early morning, people can see his footprints in the sand. Sometimes, lucky people hear his deep, friendly voice carried by the wind as he sings old songs.

Strong Wind keeps the villages near the ocean safe. Because he is invisible, he can walk right into enemy camps. He listens to their secret plans and finds out about their attacks before they happen. 

He moves through the forest quietly, warning his people about danger. No enemy can catch him – how can they fight someone they cannot see? Because of Strong Wind, his people live safely and happily.

He is also the best hunter anyone has ever known. Animals don't run away from him because they can't see him, which makes him very good at hunting. Children sit around fires at night and tell stories about how Strong Wind can catch the fastest animals and how he helps feed the villages, especially during hard winters.

News about Strong Wind's powers and kindness spreads far across the land. 

Beautiful women from many different places travel long distances to meet him, hoping for a chance to capture his heart. 

Women from many tribes come to visit Strong Wind. Some have long, shiny black hair decorated with colorful feathers. 

Others wear dresses covered in tiny shells that make soft sounds when they walk. 

Rich princesses arrive wearing necklaces made of precious stones, and their clothes shine with thousands of tiny beads. Each woman hopes Strong Wind will choose her as his wife.

They bring special gifts from their homes. Some bring soft animal furs, others bring beautiful shells from far-away beaches, and some even bring special jewelry from their families.

Day after day, more women come to visit. They arrive in small boats, on horses, and on foot. Some travel for many days just to meet Strong Wind. But Strong Wind doesn't care about looks or expensive gifts.

When these women arrive, Strong Wind’s sister Halona tells them something important: 

"My brother will only marry someone who can see him when he is invisible. This will show that she has a good and honest heart." 

This seems like a simple request, but it is very hard to do. The women try many tricks to pretend they can see him. 

One day, a princess from a distant mountain tribe arrives wearing a dress covered in golden beads. When Halona asks if she can see Strong Wind, the princess points to an empty space near the beach and says confidently, "Yes! I see him there, wearing a red feather in his hair and carrying a silver bow." 

Strong Wind, who is actually standing quietly next to her, holding a delicate flute, can tell she is lying.

Another time, sisters from the river lands came together. They had carefully planned their story. The first sister said, "Oh yes, I see your brother walking near the trees. His hair is long and shiny." 

The second sister quickly adds, "And he wears a necklace made of bear claws!" They smiled proudly, convinced their lie is good enough. But Strong Wind is actually sitting cross-legged on a woven mat nearby, playing with his sister's cat…

Some women try to guess where he might be by watching for moving branches or listening for footsteps. 

Others watch Halona's eyes, hoping she might look in her brother's direction. 

A few even claim they have special magic that lets them see invisible things. 

But Strong Wind can always tell when someone is pretending. He notices how they hesitate before speaking, how their eyes move around uncertainly, and how they describe things that simply aren't true.

Each false claim makes Strong Wind a little sad, but also more determined to wait for someone who will see him with an honest heart, not just with clever words or desperate wishes.

Every evening, Strong Wind sits alone where the trees meet the ocean. He watches the sun go down, spreading beautiful colors in the sky and on the water. 

During these quiet times, he feels both special and alone. Being invisible helps him protect his people, but it also keeps him apart from them. 

Still, he stays hopeful, believing that somewhere there is a special person who will be able to notice him when others cannot. Until then, he keeps protecting his people and waiting for someone to truly see him.

The next part of his story awaits – to be continued…

Comprehension Questions

1. Where does Strong Wind live and who does he live with?
2. What special power does Strong Wind have?
3. How does Strong Wind keep the villages near the ocean safe?
4. What makes Strong Wind an excellent hunter?
5. What important message does Halona give to the women who come to meet her brother?
6. What happens when the princess from the mountain tribe claims to see Strong Wind?
7. What does Strong Wind do during the quiet evenings by the ocean?

For a limited time, when you purchase our Tenses Package or Full Package, you’ll get a bonus booklet to make teaching and learning even more fun! 

It includes an engaging multi-part story + additional exercises.