by Alan Nafzger & Lilly Tabbytite (Comanche)
Coyote was traveling along when he met Wren. Wren had a small bow and arrows, which made Coyote laugh.
"What are you up to? My brother, you can't shoot anything with those. Those arrows aren't going to get very far. Your bow is too short. "
"Yes, I can shoot far with these," Wren replied. "I'll shoot you if you go out to that ridge over there."
Coyote laughed slightly as he looked out over the ridge. "You can't do it with those insignificant things." That ridge is simply too far away. I can't even shoot all the way over there. You're just being stupid. You're too young to be speaking like this. " He laughed and continued.
A short time later, he was walking along that ridge with Fox close behind. Coyote had completely forgotten about his conversation with Wren. Then he heard a strange noise and turned to see what it was. Wren's arrow struck him square in the chest. He took two leaps and collapsed, dead. Fox drew the arrow and jumped four times over him.
"I must have slept for a long time," Coyote said as he stood up.
"You weren't sleeping; you died." Wren's arrow pierced your heart. Why are you playing with Wren? You know he can outshoot everyone."
"I will get even with him," Coyote said as he took Fox's arrow.
When this Coyote met Wren, he proposed a gambling contest. I've got your arrow here. Now you have a chance to reclaim it. " They engaged in an arrow-throwing contest. Coyote always beat Wren and won all of his arrows. Then he won his bow and all of his lovely clothes. Wren had almost nothing left. "I have won everything from that silly Wren," Coyote said as he walked away.
Wren started following Coyote from a distance.
Coyote visited Willow Grouse's lodge, which had ten young children. Their parents had gone hunting. "Who is your father?" Coyote inquired.
"Flying-past-head."
"No way, that can't be his name." "What is your mother's name?"
"Flying-past-between-the-legs."
"No way is that her name."
He entered the lodge and dug a small hole close to the fire. "Put some red bearberries in this hole and watch me cook them for you," he told the kids. They did this while crowding around him to watch him cook. He pushed the Willow Grouse kids into the hole and buried them in dirt and hot ashes. He continued when they were cooked.
When the parents returned home and discovered the grouse children had died, they began to cry. Wren approached and inquired as to why they were crying. They informed him that they believed Coyote was responsible.
"I have a grudge against Coyote as well," Wren admitted. "I want him to return my belongings to me." "If you can get them back to me, I'll bring all of your children back to life."
The parents of the grouse flew out after the coyote.
A coyote was then seen walking down a steep mountain trail. The two grouse took a detour and passed in front of him. When Coyote charged them, one grouse flew at his head, causing Coyote to bend over the cliff to avoid him. The other one then flew between his legs. Coyote became disoriented and fell off the cliff. The grouse rushed over and plucked him as he was falling. They took his arrows, bow, quiver, and clothing and returned them to Wren. Wren resurrected all of the Grouse children.
That fall claimed Coyote's life. Fox found him and jumped four times over him to bring him back to life.