by Alan Nafzger & Lilly Tabbytite (Comanche)
There was a location where prairie dogs and rabbits could be found. Coyote was aware of the location, but he had no idea how to obtain the animals. There was a stream nearby. He imagined he could change the course of the stream and drown them all.
Skunks lived close to the stream. When Coyote met Skunk, he was walking along there, trying to figure out how to get those animals. He told Skunk everything he knew about the rabbits and prairie dogs. "Let's make a plan to catch them," Coyote suggested.
"All right," Skunk said.
Coyote stated that he was going upstream a short distance and that Skunk should go get some slime grass. The water level in the stream would drop, said Coyote, and Skunk would find him lying in some driftwood. He should stuff the slime grass, which looked like maggots, into Coyote's ears and mouth, as well as all around him, under his tail, and in his nose. Skunk was supposed to go over and inform all of the prairie dogs and rabbits that Coyote had died.
It was a hot day, and Coyote wished for a cloud as he walked. A cloud descended on him. Then he wished for rain to allow him to run on cool ground. It started to rain. Coyote wished for heavy rain so that the water would rise to his knees, and it did. He wished the water would get deep enough to reach his stomach, and the water did. Then he wished the water would come up so far that only his ears would be visible, and the water did. Coyote then wished to be carried downstream by the water, and he was. Then he wished he was caught in a driftwood pile, and he was.
After the water receded, Skunk went in search of Coyote. When he found him, he put grass in his ears, mouth, under his tail, and nose. Then he went over to the rabbits and prairie dogs and told them that the person they despised had died.
Jack Rabbit and White Rabbit came over to see if Skunk was telling the truth. When the animals arrived, Coyote told Skunk to take a stick and hit him in the stomach so they could see he was dead.
Skunk kicked Coyote in the stomach, and the two rabbits assumed he died. They returned to inform the others that Skunk was telling the truth. The others did not trust Skunk, so they sent Furry Rabbit and Gray Rabbit to see if Coyote was still alive. Skunk went over and repeatedly hit Coyote in the belly with his stick. The two rabbits returned to inform the other animals that Coyote had died. But some of them were still skeptical, so they dispatched two prairie dogs to investigate. The skunk struck Coyote in the stomach with the stick once more. The prairie dogs then stood up to examine the maggots in Coyote's ears, nose, mouth, and anus. They returned to inform the others. Everyone assumed Coyote had died.
Skunk told the animals that they had to dance because their enemy had died. Some of the rabbits were put off by this and stayed back. The prairie dogs, on the other hand, were eager to dance and jumped right in. They formed a circle around Coyote. The rabbits eventually came over and began dancing. Everyone was soon dancing. Skunk was singing along with them and making a lot of noise when he abruptly said, "Look up there!" Look at that lovely bird! " After they all stopped dancing and looked up, Skunk turned around and sprayed everyone. They couldn't see anything because the liquid had gotten into their eyes. The coyote was hiding two sticks beneath him. He jumped to his feet and began clubbing rabbits and prairie dogs. Only a few escaped.
Coyote started a fire and then instructed Skunk to bring the rabbits and prairie dogs over. Skunk delivered four large loads to the fire. He then cleaned all of the animals and burned off all of their hair. He was doing everything. Coyote instructed him to dig a pit and surround the animals with saltbush. He buried them with only their tails protruding from the ground and built another fire on top of the pit.
The Coyote and Skunk sat in the shade of some large rocks while the meat cooked. Coyote was contemplating something. "Let's run a race, cousin," he suggested. The winner gets to eat all the rabbits and prairie dogs. So hurry up and get over there and back. "
"No, I'm not a fast runner. That's too far to go in any case. "
But Coyote persisted in his inquiries. Skunk eventually caved in. "OK," he said, "but you have to let me start first because I can't run very fast."
Coyote initially refused, but eventually agreed. Skunk instructed him to wait until he reached the top of the first hill.
When he reached the first hill, Skunk looked around for a badger hole. He discovered one and dragged a tumbleweed behind him. The Coyote raced by like he was on fire. Skunk emerged from the hole and returned to the rabbits and prairie dogs he was cooking. They were perfectly cooked, tender and dripping with juices. He took them all out of the pit, cut off the prairie dogs' tails and buried them so they looked like they were still cooking, and then sat on a high rock and began eating.
Coyote returned just as Skunk was finishing his meal. He was drenched in sweat and out of breath. He was clutching his knee. He dug up some wet sand from the stream bed to cool himself with. "I wonder where Skunk is?" he wondered. "With such short legs, he's got to be way back there."
The Coyote approached the prairie dog pit and noticed the tails sticking up. "They must be finished by now," he reasoned. He reached for the tails and pulled. "They have to be nice and tender." Their tails simply fall off." He dug around in the ashes with a stick, but he couldn't find any prairie dogs. He dug some more, but there was nothing there. He became enraged and began searching for tracks. "Skunk did it," he reasoned. "I'll kill him when I find him."
'Skunk' threw down a piece of bone while Coyote was running around looking for the right set of tracks to follow. Skunk was noticed by Coyote, who raised his head. "Could you please give me some of that meat?" Skunk, on the other hand, remained silent. He finished his meal and laid down for a nap.