Storytelling for Week 9: Coyote's Mistake

Silver-Fox and Coyote never really got along in the beginning. They had been living with just each other in the sky for some time now. Coyote was always jealous of Silver-Fox because he was able to make marvelous things that Coyote couldn’t. Silver-Fox was always experimenting here and there, taking trips to the land below the sky, and creating new things in the place that came to be known as the earth. Coyote always tried to make things himself, but he was never able to. He was envious and angry at the fact that he was not as talented. Each day the anger grew. 

Eventually, Coyote had enough. One day when Silver-Fox was preparing to make his trip down to earth to add another new creation, Coyote sneakily followed him down. However, Coyote had never been down to earth-he often just admired it from afar, too ashamed to actually step foot on the land where he couldn’t contribute anything. Silver-Fox didn’t notice he was followed until he reached his destination. Here, he had planned to create beautiful trees.

“Coyote, what are you doing here? You never come down here” exclaimed Silver-Fox.

“Yes, well, today I decided to come and see up close what you were up to,” said Coyote.

“That is fine, but I think that you should go back, you don’t belong here. You couldn’t possibly understand how important what I do is and I need to do it alone.”

“You think you are so special don’t you? Just because you can wave your arms around, do this and that, and create things. Well you’re not that special! I bet I could do your job a hundred times better if I had the ability to. You are just lucky, that’s all.”

“Maybe I am lucky, but I am also intelligent and creative. I get that you are jealous but now is not the time. And since you are already here, just stay back and be silent while I finish this up and then we can discuss this when we return to the sky.”

Coyote huffed and took a couple steps back. This was not over. He knew he had talent too, he just had to take an opportunity when he saw it. Today, this moment, was his opportunity. 

Coyote watched as Silver-Fox began to concentrate and prepare. Coyote began to do the same. Once Silver-Fox began to move his hands, there was a shift in the atmosphere. Gorgeous tall trees began to sprout from the ground, reaching towards the two animals’ home in the sky. Coyote knew this was his chance. He jumped in front of Silver-Fox, pushing him down, and began to move his hands like he watched his companion do. However, when he broke Silver-Fox’s concentration, a loud noise rippled throughout the sky and the trees caught on fire. Coyote gasped and jumped back, realizing what he had done. 

Silver-Fox immediately got up and began whispering and shuffling his hands around. By the time he had finished, the fire was gone, but so was he creation. 

“I apologize,” said Coyote, “I didn’t mean for that to happen.”

Silver-Fox was obviously angered but did not have the energy to argue at this point. 

“I know, I know. It’s okay,” Silver-Fox sighed, “I’ll just try again tomorrow. Let’s go home.”

"Silver Fox"
Source: MythFolklore UnTextbook

Author's Note: This week, I retold, and took my inspiration from, the story "How Silver-Fox Created the World." from the Pacific Northwest unit. In the original story, the author tells of a Silver-Fox and Coyote who live in the sky together during the beginning of time. The Coyote did not approve of Silver-Fox making things and Silver Fox, tired of Coyote, escaped to an island below. After apologizing, Silver-Fox let Coyote come down to the island and stay with him. Silver-Fox made the island larger and continued to create things. Eventually, he had created the entire world. In my story, the main setting and creation theme is the same as the original story. However, I took the fact that Coyote did not like Silver-Fox making things and turned it more personal. I based it off of the idea that Coyote was jealous of Silver-Fox. This jealousy he bore eventually led to Coyote following Silver-Fox to earth, starting up an argument, and soon enough essentially ruining Silver-Fox's tree creation. I thought the story was really interesting to read and I decided to take a certain part of it (Coyote disliking Silver-Fox's job), expand upon it, and add a small twist to it as well.

Bibliography: "How Silver-Fox Created the World" by Katharine Berry Judson from Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon (1910).

Web Source: Mythology and Folklore UnTextbook