Coyote hoped to spy a rabbit, or even a mouse, since he hadn't eaten in two days.

The Coyote trotted silently up the canyon to try his luck once more.

The rabbit streaked through the saltbush, with Coyote snapping at its heels.

Suddenly a kangaroo rat, fleeing from Badger, hopped from a tunnel.

Badger felt a tingle as lightning split the sky.

Wind rippled through the dry grass, and Coyote caught the scent of rain.

Each cactus, once swollen with water, shrank as it waited for the rains to begin.

The drought grew worse as summer arrived.

In the evening, Badger emerged from her den and she left her two pups safely underground.

Badger was a night hunter, too, but she seldom chased rabbits.

The wind blew, and in a wink she was far away running from the predator.

Few animals ever messed with Badger, for she was a fierce fighter.

In the nights that followed, Coyote and Badger became a fearsome team.

Coyote, the swift runner, led the way to a prairie dogs' den as Badger shuffled behind.

In the clear morning air, an eagle watched them closely, at last they reached one of Badger's other burrows by an old pueblo.

The Coyote stole closer to the Badger when he heard the sound of her digging.

And as they circled one another, the ancient and mysterious bond between coyotes and badgers took hold.

A quick pounce and Coyote had food.

When Badger scrambled back to the surface, she found Coyote waiting.