Thunderbird

Thunderbird

Thunderbird - A form that Grandmother occasionally takes.

History

The Thunderbird is an enormous, formidable bird, with a second face in its stomach. Grandmother shape-shifted into the Thunderbird during Goliath and his companions’ visit to Queen Florence Island in the hopes of using that form to convince Natsilane that creatures of magic exist; unfortunately, Goliath and Angela mistook her intentions, and fought her ("assisted" by Raven).

Real World Background

The Thunderbird appears in Native American mythology as a bird of prodigious size and power, more a spiritual being than a mere bird. Despite its great size and strength, it is benevolent, does not harm or kill anyone, and has often blessed humans; for example, it taught the Kwakiutl how to build houses. This ties in rather nicely with its being an alias of Grandmother in the animated series.