In The Beginning

A long time ago, there was only darkness.
Sky Mother and Earth Father floated through the silence.
They sang songs no one had ever heard before.

“I’m tired of the quiet,” said Sky Mother.
She opened her hand and threw four magic seeds into the dark:
Turquoise, Obsidian, White Shell, and Corn.

                The First Life

From the seeds came the world — land, water, stars...
And Wind.

Wind was the first to move.
It flew fast and free.
It carved valleys and mountains,
danced through rivers and trees,
and told stories as it shaped the Earth.

             Making the World

Wind took its time.
“Everything must learn to live together,” it whispered.

It made the mountains to hold up the sky,
rivers to cool the land,
and clouds to water the soil.

Wind called animals from the dust:
A clever fox,
a watchful hawk,
and a patient turtle.

           The Coming of People

Last came the people.

Wind made them from cornmeal and morning dew.
It spun around them, giving them breath — a part of its own spirit.

“Now you can speak,” Wind said, “and learn and dream.”

The people lived near the mountains.
They watched the animals and learned from them.

             Trouble Comes

But far away, a jealous spirit watched.
His name was Drought.

“Wind has too much power,” Drought growled.
He trapped Wind deep in a canyon.

The rivers dried up.
Plants wilted.
People became weak.

                   The Trickster Coyote

Coyote saw what happened.
He was brave, but also very silly.

He tiptoed into the canyon and began to howl.
“Awooooo!”
His echoes bounced around, confusing Drought.

Wind heard Coyote’s howls and escaped!
It rushed out stronger than ever.