Coyote and the Star

In the days when the world was new, Coyote was a cousin to humans and they lived and talked together. Coyote loved the night. He sat and gazed at the stars every chance he got. Before long, he began to notice one particularly bright, beautiful star. Coyote watched this star each night and talked to her for hours at a time. Over time, Coyote, realized he was in love with her.

The more he talked to the lovely bright star, the more he loved her, and the more he wanted her to answer him. But she was silent night after night. She watched him far below as she slid across the black velvet of the sky on her nightly journey. He kept talking to her, but she remained silent.

This began to drive poor Coyote crazy! Every night he noticed that as she passed through the night sky she almost touched a nearby mountain. That gave Coyote an idea.

Coyote decided to travel to that mountaintop. It was a long way, and he was extremely tired by the time he reached the place where she passed each night. He needed to rest but he was afraid to close his eyes-afraid he would miss his wonderful star. Coyote sat and waited for the sky to darken.

When she finally appeared, he realized his journey was worth it all. He almost fainted with joy when he saw his star close by. She was even more beautiful than he could ever have imagined as she danced across the sky. Still Coyote waited. His heart was nearly leaping out his throat, but he said nothing.

Beautiful Star danced closer and closer to the very spot where he stood. He reached up with his paw to grab her hand but he could not quite touch her.

"Please reach down and take my hand so I can dance with you," he begged her.

Beautiful Star lowered her lovely hand gently catching Coyote's paw drawing him ever upward. Slowly, they danced away from the mountaintop. It turned cold and quiet. None of the star people spoke. They just danced in starry silence. They danced higher and higher until Coyote got very dizzy and grew afraid. Out of panic and fright Coyote let slip the hand of Beautiful Star. Coyote plummeted towards Earth far below. His heart racing faster and faster as the Earth suddenly grew near.

When Coyote hit the earth, he made a large hole and his blood, turned to water by the cold, filled the hole and created Crater Lake.

The next time you hear a coyote howling at the stars at night, you will remember this story and know that he is scolding Beautiful Star for letting go of him so suddenly.