L1C — Fugitives turn into stars.

Those fleeing from the monstrous bear ascend to the sky and turn into stars.

Berezkin category: Adventures: Monsters and evil spirits

This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part of group 2, Moon spots, stars, constellations.

L1a.  A young woman turns into a bear (in Asia, a tigress) and attacks her close relatives or husband.
L1b.  A young woman turns into a monstrous bear and kills most people except her younger sister (Ojibwa: the younger sister of her former husband). Their brothers (or one brother) return from hunting and kill the bear, or she dies while chasing them. Cf. motif L65D.
L1b1.  A woman comes into conflict with her brothers and turns into a dangerous demon.
L1c.  Those fleeing from the monstrous bear ascend to the sky and turn into stars.
L1c1.  Fleeing from demonic characters, a group of men – relatives of a girl – ascend to the sky and remain there. See motif L1C.
L1c2.  Fleeing from a demonic creature, the characters hide their children (younger brother or sister) in a camouflaged pit, usually under the hearth. See motif L1C.
L1d.  The jaguar-werewolf kills most people and is killed by the woman who survives.
L1e.  A monstrous bird is created from a small amount of human or animal flesh (usually from the heart) or from lumps of manioc starch.
L1f.  The sister, using magic or transforming herself into a monster, kills her brothers in revenge for the death of her lover or husband.

This motif has been recorded in 12 traditions: Shan, Ahom, Khampti, Blackfoot, Sarsee (Tsuu T'ina), Arapaho, Arikara, Pawnee, Wichita; Spiro Mound iconography, Kiowa, Gros Ventre, Assiniboine, Crow, Jicarilla