How Coyote Brought Fire to the World

A Jicarilla-Apache tale

A pair of geese were cropping grass beside a lake, and chatting comfortably with each other as they ate. A bunch of sparrows were looking for worms close by. 

“Hello,” said the sparrows. “Nice to see you back. It must be getting very cold up north.”

“Yes,” replied the geese. “We love this lake, and love coming back to it every fall.”

“It’s been here since …