In long ago days when all Apalachee were non-Christian there were two chiefs who lived in neighboring villages. One was named Ochuna Nicoguadca, signifying the lightning bolt. The other was Ytonanslac, a wise and elderly man identified with another of the Apalachee’s gods. Ytonanslac had an orphaned granddaughter, Nicotaijulo, whose name meant “woman of the sun.” The village leaders sent her to fetch water every day. In the course of this employment, she became pregnant in some extraordinary way and gave birth to a son who she hid among some bushes. There, the panther, the bear, and the blue jay found him. They brought the child to his grandfather, Ytonanslac, telling him how his granddaughter, Nicotaijulo, had given birth to the child. Ytonanslac ordered them not to tell anyone else about the child, whom he called Chita.

Eslafiayupi’s grandfather, Ytonanslac, aware of those predictions, told his grandson that before he accepted and acted on any orders or challenges, he should tell him about them. Accordingly, Eslafiayupi did so when Ochuna gave him the first order, which was that he should go to a certain large and very deep sinkhole to obtain raw flint for arrowheads. On being told of this, the grandfather said to him “Son, this spring is very deep. You cannot obtain flint from it without risking your life.” He then gave Eslafiayupi some special beads made of shell and told him to give the beads to a little bird he would find diving there and ask the bird to get the flint for him. The grandson did so and thus received the flint and brought it to Ochuna Nicoguadca.

On the day appointed for the game, Ytonanslac’s team entered the plaza of Ochuna Nicoguadca’s village. On being asked if their team was at full strength, Ytonanslac’s team replied no, that they were short so many people. Their rivals told them to choose those needed from some young men from Ytonanslac’s village who were present there. Among them was Eslafiayupi, who gave the appearance of being ill, leaning up against a post, wrapped in a cloak made of feathers. Upon Eslafiayupi entering the game, the battle had begun and when those of Ytonanslac had reached seven, Eslafiayupi let out a thunder-like roar and all were terrified. Eslafiayupi was recognized to be Nicoguadca, the lightning-flash born of the sun whose name is Nico, and of Nicotaijulo or woman of the sun.

The story of the ball game’s origin ended thus. When Eslafiayupi-Nicoguadca wished to die, he called together all his leaders to inform them that he was going to die and told them that whoever wished to becom Nicoguadca and remain in his place had to kill seven tascaias (ordinary warriors) and three hitas tascaias (warriors of a higher category). He then instructed his subjects that as soon as he died, they should put his body in some big pots along with squash, melon, and watermelon, and fill them with water so that he might be converted into steam. In this way, he might remember them and return to give them water when they had planted their fields. He said to them “When you hear it thunder, it is a sign that I am coming.”