Coyote

Also known as: Mai · Role: child of the sky · First appears: Origin Legend I: The Story of the Emergence · Part 4

In Origin Legend I: The Story of the Emergence · Part 4, Coyote emerged from the earth where the sky and earth met alongside Badger, whom the text calls his younger brother. In Part 5, he secretly stole the two children of Tiéholtsodi and carried them under his robe. On the fourth day of the emergence in Origin Legend II: Early Events in the Fifth World · Part 1, First Man accused him of hiding stolen property; when the people tore off his robe, the children fell out and were thrown into the hole, causing the waters to subside. Earlier, Coyote had thrown a stone into the water, angering the people when it sank. He also proposed laying one of the twin hermaphrodites, who had died, among the rocks, and took the tip of a corn ear from the woman who owned it.

In Origin Legend II · Part 5, Coyote married a Navaho woman at To`i'ndotsos. Dasáni served him a roasted bark-and-blood meal, which Coyote tried and failed to imitate two days later. Maítso gave him cooked arrow-point puddings; when Coyote tried to prepare the same meal for Maítso’s visit, he found only charred wood. In Part 6, Coyote claimed, “I am the God of Tsisnadzi'ni Mountain,” and said he could will an animal’s death. He drove antelope toward the hunters by setting fire to the grass with a burning fagot tied to his tail. At nightfall, Tsiké Nazi'li returned to the lodge to serve him. Coyote later went to seek the bad neighbors, and Tsi'di Sási pulled out his eyes, leaving them caught on a tree branch.

In Part 7, Coyote was reported to have lost his eyes while playing with Tsi'di Sási. Chicken-hawk lured him to a canyon edge, and Coyote fell and was dashed to pieces; he came to life again after a while. The birds ordered him away from their camp. He offered to serve Yélapahi, then tricked him into cutting off his own thigh and shot him with arrows. In Part 8, Coyote took the slain victim’s scalp, quiver, and weapons to Tsiké Sas Nátlehi, demanding that she marry him. She repeatedly beat or pounded him to pieces, but he revived and returned each time; after he fulfilled her conditions, she agreed to become his wife. Her brothers ordered them out of the lodge, and the two left to build a shelter. In Part 9, Coyote joined the hunting party after Léyaneyani persuaded his brothers to take him along. He later opened a bundle against the brothers’ instructions, making its meat expand beyond his ability to carry, and on the birds’ fourth stone descent he lost his footing and tumbled down the slope. In Part 11, Tsiké Sas Nátlehi returned wounded after fighting the slayers of Coyote in the fatal canyon.