Ktú the undying
There is a certain place, far from here and a long time ago, where this happened.
In this place and time, there was a kana'ōnah called Ktú. When she was young, Ktú's feathers shimmered grey and soft like sea mist and everyone agreed she was beautiful and her song was sweet and clear. When Ktú moulted, he became even more beautiful and his song became so pure that the tides stopped in place to listen and the rain was charmed from the sky.
So it happened, in this place and time, that the Moa 'Dnúktses wanted to take Ktú for a husband, but Ktú knew all about 'Dnúktses' deeds and found them distasteful. Ktú would not to sing the wife-song to 'Dnúktses, choosing a mortal wife instead. 'Dnúktses refused to accept Ktú's rejection and sent Xir servant, Hikat Kekent, to Ktú's home on the second night after they were wed, taking the shape of the mother of Sudve - this was the name of Ktú's wife - and called out to her as she slept, as if crying in pain.
Sudve woke immediately and ran to her mother's aid, but Hikat Kekent became a great serpent and coiled around her body, intending to crush her so that 'Dnúktses could take her place as Ktú's wife. But Sudve called out an alarm, and Ktú roused from sleep and sprung to her rescue. Hikat Kekent bit Ktú before taking the shape of a great bat and kidnapping Sudve.
As Ktú lay dying, he sang a song of his grief for Sudve so heart-rending that, when the Moa 'Ktunwiny - Xe who comforts the dying - came to his side, Xe was so overcome with grief that Xe took pity on Ktú and Sudve and granted him a chance to save her, though it meant he would never be able to cross the sky and go to the river of light. Ktú knew that Hikat Kekent had taken Sudve to Žitvemotath and that, in that place, she would never die and their family and flock would lose her forever.
So 'Ktunwiny turned Xir back to Ktú and, neither dead nor alive, he left the village and followed Hikat Kekent and Sudve. Ktú travelled for three days and three nights, following the wail of the winds, the slow song of the earth, and the chorus of the streams. Each day, he feared he will never see Sudve again and each day, the north wind brings him a Moa feather and tells him he is close. Eventually, he came to a hillside surrounded by the silver water of Žitvemotath, and in that place were Sudve and Hikat Kekent, locked in combat. Hikat Kekent wore Sudve's shape and, as Ktú crossed the river, both Sudve and Hikat Kekent turned to him to beg him to help, both professing to be his true wife.
But Ktú could see the bald patches on Hikat Kekent's belly, where clever Sudve had plucked Xem during their flight, sending the north wind to give them to Ktú so he would know where to follow. Ktú battled Hikat Kekent and Hikat Kekent battled Ktú. The Moa became a great serpent, striking at Ktú with fangs dripping with venom, but Ktú's heart no longer beat and he could not be harmed by poison. The Moa encircled Ktú and tried to crush him, but Ktú's lungs did not swell and he no longer needed breath. The Moa flew into the sky to drop Ktú and smash him to the ground, but Ktú's strength was that of the dead and he held on, fighting with such ferocity that he tore Hikat Kekent in half.
Hikat Kekent died there, on the silver shores of Žitvemotath the undying land, and from Xir body sprang a a red river that no fishes could live in, nor any mortal drink from, for it was tainted by the cruelty and deceit which Hikat Kekent bore in Xir heart.
Sudve and Ktú returned home, where Sudve laid three perfect eggs which hatched into three perfect children. Neither dead nor alive, Ktú was no longer beautiful and no longer sang and was no longer desired by 'Dnúktses, but he was loved by Sudve and their children nonetheless. Sudve lived long and well, though she laid no more eggs; she moulted and took a wife and fathered many children before dying old and happy and was reunited with family and flock at the river of light. Then, at last, Ktú left the village and began to walk towards Žitvemotath, where he will fight 'Dnúktses at the end of the world.
That was then and this is now; though Ktú is gone, his story lives on.
Historical Basis
There is a remote tributary of the Dobrid, the waters of which are a deep red colour and poisonous to the touch. The tributary runs down from the mountains north of Pokuulale but the sheer slopes and severe weather conditions in this region means the origin of the tributary is currently undiscovered.
Cultural Reception
Several historical figures have claimed descent from Ktú and Sudve. In some retellings, Ktú and Sudve's children are named as legendary heroes Chotu, Mekì, and Na, though this appears to be a later addition popularised by Nuchyìkì's Ohoulian Myths and Legends, which attempted to connect disparate stories into a cohesive narrative.
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Great story! I really like the tone you used to write it, this suit the myth very well :D