by Alan Nafzger & Lilly Tabbytite (Comanche)
He was riding along with his brother Fox one day, and he was in a good mood. It was a pleasant, warm day. He approached a large rock.
"I'm going to give you my fine blanket here, Grandfather Rock," he said. It's far too hot for me. You could have it."
He and Fox walked away, spreading the blanket over the rock. It was a huge blanket of bright beads and porcupine quills, with many small bird feathers fluttering in the breeze.
Coyote noticed a storm approaching after they had gone a long way. "I'll need my blanket," he reasoned. So he dispatched Fox to retrieve it.
"Rock, Old Man "Coyote wants his blanket," Fox returned to the rock.
"No," the Rock replied, "he gave it to me as a gift." I'll keep it. You inform him that he cannot have it. "
So Fox returned to Coyote and told him what Rock had said.
"My little brother, you go back and tell him again," Coyote said. Tell him I need that blanket."
"Rock, Old Man sent me for his blanket," Fox said as he returned to the Rock.
"No! no!" exclaimed Rock. Rocks never return gifts. You can't take anything you give to a rock back. "
Fox then went back to Coyote and told him what Rock had said.
Coyote was furious now. "That rock has been there for years and years with nothing over him, but now he won't let me have my robe," he explained. So he dashed up to Rock and snatched the blanket from him, declaring, "I need this for myself."
The fox was upset and went to hide in the bushes. Coyote continued on his journey.
Coyote had only gone a short distance when he heard a rumbling noise behind him. When he turned around, he noticed Rock following him.
The Coyote ran until he came to a bear den. He stated that someone was pursuing him and requested assistance. They stated that they would assist and that they were not afraid of anything. Then they asked him what the thing chasing him was, and he said it was a rock.
"You'd better go," the Bears said. "There is nothing we can do about it."
When Coyote arrived at Mountain Lion's home, the rock became even closer. The mountain lion saw what was going on and told Coyote to go; he couldn't help him. Coyote eventually came across an old buffalo bull. When Buffalo realized it was Rock chasing Coyote, he told him to go.
Coyote eventually arrives at the Nighthawks' location.
"My grandchildren," Coyote explained. "There is someone following me."
"Hide inside," the Nighthawks advised. "We'll take care of it."
When the rock appeared, it asked, "Where is Coyote?"
The Nighthawks did not respond, which enraged Rock.
The Nighthawks then revealed that Coyote was in their lodge and that they were guarding him. Before Rock could react, the Nighthawks flew up into the air and dove down on him, chipping away at him until he was nothing more than a pile of rubble.
When Rock was completely disassembled, they told Coyote to come out and that he could now go on his way.
Coyote walked over to the next hill, turned around, and called out to the Nighthawks, "Hey, you big-nosed, funny-faced things!" You should be embarrassed about how you treated Rock. "
The Nighthawks pretended not to hear him.
Coyote continued to yell and mock them. "I duped you. I was having fun with Rock until you lazy creatures became scared and ruined my game. Your heads are odd-looking, and your mouths are too small. "
The Nighthawks became enraged and reassembled Rock, who then pursued Coyote. Coyote attempted to flee but was unable to do so. He finally gave up. He leapt across a ditch, but Rock was right behind him. A rock landed on him and crushed him.