NATCHEZ &045;&045; Tales of Indians, alligators and a couple of rabbits visited the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians Saturday afternoon through the imaginations of storytellers and all that came to listen.

At the 19th annual Eleventh Moon Storytelling, six people came to tell their stories of nature and Indians to an eager bunch that filled the small auditorium.

Children crouched in and parents listened as stories came from the lips of the storytellers and challenged the imaginations of the audience.

&uot;It was better than watching TV because you get to imagine for yourself what it’s like,&uot; said Spencer Blalock of Decatur who came down with his wife and son.

Donna Bowman, a veteran of the Eleventh Moon storytelling, brought a prop with her for her story. El Gato, the young alligator, accompanied Bowman from Monroe for her story.

Bowman, who works with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, first answered questions about alligators from the inquisitive audience.

Not only was the alligator something the children will remember, but also her story to go with it.

The rabbit cherished his beautiful tail. In fact, he was down right vain about it, even taunting his friends about how his tail far surpassed theirs.

Then, he mistakenly jumped onto the back of an alligator floating like a long in the river. He jumped to shore to escape but not all of him made it as his tail was sacrificed for his life.

&uot;He said it (his tail) wasn’t too bad,&uot; said 5-year-old Forrest Muse-Blalock of Decatur, reciting the ending of his favorite tale of the day.

Whether it was seeing the alligator in person or Bowman’s storytelling ability, Forrest was not the only one who loved the story. &uot;My favorite part was when the alligator bit off the rabbit’s tail,&uot; said 5-year-old Amelia King of Summit.

Bowman was joined by fellow storytellers Sam Jones, Joan McLemore,

Natchez High librarian Sandra Peoples and Natchez High students Megan Roberts and Ashleigh Irving.