Question

who is the central character introduced in the beginning of the myth?
the father of the maasai
what major conflict is introduced in the beginning?
a volcano erupts, sending the cows flying into the sky.
how is the major conflict developed in the middle?
the three sons must figure out how to control the weather.
the cows are starving, so they must be returned to the earth.
children become stuck after climbing a tree to see the cows.

Explanation:

The core initial conflict is cows being sent to the sky by a volcano. The middle conflict builds on this: without the cows on earth, they are starving, so the urgent need to return them develops the original conflict.

Answer:

The cows are starving, so they must be returned to the earth.