It was a beautiful end to a perfect day.
The animals of the forest, mountains and deserts all settled into their dens for the night.
A small child wandered through the forest, to the edge of the lagoon, and curled up under her favorite palm tree and fell fast asleep.
She dreamed of flowers and butterflies… soft clouds and warm sunshine…
In the morning she woke to the silent lapping of the waves on the shoreline, but something was missing.
The child looked around in darkness.
Where is the sun? Why is it not rising from the lagoon?
The animals of the forest were just as confused.
All the flowers stayed tightly closed, waiting for the sun to rise so they could show off their beautiful colors.
The animals ran around in circles, bumping into trees, and tripping on rocks.
The sky stayed dark.
The small child knew something was terribly wrong.
She sat at the edge of the forest and lagoon, unable to see in the inky blackness.
She called out for anyone who could see to help her.
She peered into the blackness but she heard nothing.
She felt a slight brush against her arm and turned to see the bright eyes of the wise old owl.
“My child,” he said, “how can I help?”
“Wise owl… something has happened to the sun,” she exclaimed. “My friends are unable to see and we must do something!”
“Let me see what I can do,” said the wise old owl and he flew off.
He flew to the den of the mountain lion.
The mountain lion had already seen the situation and the confusion of his family in the forest.
“We need your help to bring back the light to the forest,” the owl said.
The mountain lion had dreamed of this day and told the owl of his dream.
“It is the coyote,” the mountain lion explained.
“I have seen his game in my dream. He is up to being a trickster again. We must find a way to distract him. He has taken the moon and covered the sun. This was my dream,” the Mountain lion confided.
The owl and the lion used their extraordinary sight in the dark and went to the highest point in the forest.
All the animals listened carefully to the mountain lion.
When he was done speaking the coyote laughed out loud, giving away his hiding place, the trickster was had!
The birds, having special powers to fly in the darkness, honed in on the laughter and flew after the coyote.
The coyote, hearing the birds coming ran away in fear. His power fading as he ran.
All at once the moon began to slide away from the sun and the animals of the forest, streams, oceans and sky rejoiced.
The child was happy her friends could see again.
The owl, mountain lion and child made a plan… everyday the birds would find the coyote, surround him and sing loudly, confusing the coyote so he never again could steal the sun.
Two Travelin' Chicas... A Grand Adventure 
A very beautiful story.
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