__
coyote made the world and all the animals and *rds that lived in it.
when he had finished he said to himself "now i will wander around and ad*e my good work."
he was amazed at the beautiful things he had *d.
the shimmering1 lakes, high mountains shrouded2 in mist and broad sweeping3 plains covered in lush grass.
he saw the eagle gliding4 gracefully5, high in the sky.
he watched the powerful grizzly6 bear lumbering7 through the forest and laughed at the playful antics of the otters9 as they splashed about in their river home.
after a few months coyote decide that one * thing was needed.
"hey baldy!" he shouted to eagle as he glided10 by. "call all the animals and other *rds to a meeting. i have something *g to announce!"
"ok chief, consider it done!" replied eagle. and flapping his broad wings he soared away across the sky, shouting the news.
__the animals and *rds gathered in a semicircle around coyote.
he waited until all the murmuring, scratching of fur and rustling11 of feathers had stopped.
"i've decided12 to * another creature - called human people" he announced.
"and i want suggestions from all of you on what they should look like and the special skills they should have."
the animals and *rds started chattering13, growling14 and screeching15 all at once.
"they should have fur"
"no, they need feathers"
"you're wrong! they need..."
"hold on!" yelled coyote. "i can't understand you when you all talk at once. now, one at a time."
mountain lion growled16. "people should have a loud roar like mine to frighten other creatures - and strong teeth and claws."
"huh!" snorted grizzly bear. "if people go around roaring like you do, they'll scare *rything off and not catch anything to eat. i agree about the teeth and claws - and they should have fur to keep warm!"
otter8 shouted "they should be able to swim and hold their breath when they spane under water!"
"they don't need to swim! they need to fly and have *g claws" screeched17 eagle. "then they can swoop18 down on things from the sky and carry them off!"
"no! they don't need to fly" shouted beaver19. "otter is right. they do need to swim - but they need a large flat tail like mine to * them build their home."
"antlers! they need antlers" snorted stag, proudly showing off his huge set.
"oh great! give them *g antlers that will get caught in trees and bushes" squeaked20 little grey mouse. *ryone started talking at once again.
"fur..."
"teeth..."
"wings..."
"*g tail..."
"four feet..."
"stop!" growled coyote loudly. *ryone stopped yelling and looked at him.
