Tangaroa & the fish catcher

A tiny narrative of fish catchers, and Gods.

Once there was an old fish catcher who was lost at sea,
floating on the water with just a plank of wood,
the rest of the boat smashed up by the rocks when they wrecked.

The old fish catcher cries out to the god of the ocean, Tangaroa,
"Tangaroa will you spare my small and humble life,
and return me safely to a beach?".

Tangaroa appears and answers, "I can help you, but the
journey is not an easy one. The way will test your every will
to live, for you must first be devoured entirely by sharks".

The fish catcher thinks for a moment, and
answers hastily, "Oh? *gasp* Isn't there an easier way?".

Tangaroa, annoyed, grumbles quickly in return, "No! This is the ONLY way.
Be eaten by the sharks and you will have your solution. You will live!".

The fish catcher felt overcome with urgency, but answered
even quicker this time, "OK, I will agree to your conditions. I will face any fear,
and die as you say, so that I might live".

Before the fish catcher could utter another word,
hordes of sharks of all shapes and sizes begin gnawing and
ripping the fish catcher to chunks until there is nothing but scraps.

And for a moment it looks as though all of the fish catchers fears
are realized, and all of those voices of doom were right, after all.
But the fish catcher soon finds that they are safe, alive, lying on a beach.

Grateful for this second chance, and for the help of Tangaroa,
the fish catcher would return the first live fish of every catch,
as an offering to Tangaroa.

And the fish catcher would go on to teach every one
of their sons and daughters, and everyone in their village
to do the same forever, and ever and always.