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A Trickster’s Solstice BanWynn Oakshadow Coyote strolled down the bank of a small creek, eating winter-dried blackberries still clinging to their brambles as he found them, and pondering if it was worth the effort to cut a sapling to make a gig and spear one of the large, lazy brown trout he saw in the brook. But then he would have to make a fire and a spit to hang the fish on, and sit and turn it to cook the trout evenly before he could eat. It was too much work, so he continued to stroll, as lazily as the trout swam. When his paws ached, he sat down and cooled them in the icy waters coming down from the mountains where the snow let down trickles from under the ice formed this close to the longest night of the year. He sighed. The Winter Solstice was going to be a very long night. Not a good night to spend alone. He had wanted to sleep with Porcupine’s wife and came up with the idea of challenging Porcupine to a contest to see who could kill enough rabbits in time for dinner. The winner got to sleep with the other’s wife. Coyote had already mapped out the warrens and placed his snares. All he would need to do to win was wander his circle and set them. Porcupine was not well-known as a hunter. Unfortunately, Porcupine was a fine digger and unearthed a small den of young rabbits and collected seven, to the three that Coyote snared that day. In accordance with their agreement, Coyote opened his home to Porcupine and informed his wife about the bet. After the screaming was over, she and Porcupine retreated to the bedroom. She began to yip and whine, and Coyote had yelled for Porcupine to stop, his sharp quills obviously hurting Coyote’s wife. She had yelled for him to shut up, that Porcupine’s “quill” was doing a fine job and said that Coyote could learn much from his friend. So, Coyote did not want to spend that long night alone with his smug wife or even smugger friend. Instead, he moped about his bad luck. When his paws were nearly numb, he pulled them from the stream and saw a