Tali Nohkati, The Great Crossing by Koza Belleli follows a boy as he embarks on an epic journey across the Americas—guided and protected by animal companions—in search of a new tribe, weaving together the rich traditions of Native American lore and timeless elements of mythic storytelling. Below is an excerpt from the coming-of-age novel:

1 At the Beginning

It happened a long time ago.

In those days, the Moon was alone in the sky, and Coyote was alone on Earth. In total darkness, they wandered around like lost souls.

When he could no longer hold back, Coyote said to the Moon:

“Sweet friend, we cannot keep on living like this forever.”

“You are right, things need to be different,” the Moon answered.

Without further ado and incessantly, they started to work; doing, undoing and redoing. Was it the fruit of their labor, fate or just luck? Days and nights slipped by in an instant.

For companionship in the sky, the Moon scattered the Stars and the Sun.

On Earth, the big ocean appeared. Mountains emerged. Soon, Coyote was traveling through the plains, discovering trees, animals, and all the flowers of Creation.

Seeing all this beauty around them, the Moon and Coyote felt deeply happy.

As Coyote wandered along the banks of a river, the soft clay, stuck under his paws, took the shape of a human being. A man and a woman stood before him.

It was the beginning of a new age.

Shortly thereafter, a child was born from the union of these two beings. His mother, his father, the Moon and Coyote looked at him with much love and announced the news far and wide.

Day after day, they marveled at his eyes, his nose, at the delicate folds of his ears. But, to them, the most charming thing of all were his small feet. They would not stop tickling them, nibbling them. And the child shrieked with laughter.

This is why they named him “Tali Nohkati”, which means ‘two feet’. And that is how this nickname became his name.

Life went on, peacefully.

But, alas, it happened… It happened that a blazing wind swept up everything in its path.

Nothing could stop the deadly strikes of lightning and the frantic procession of flames. Everything was burned away: the trees, the animals, the flowers, as well as the man and the woman.

Several days passed, and only a few twigs and smoldering carcasses laid strewn on the ground. Having survived this disaster, Coyote and Tali Nohkati huddled up against each other at the very end of the cave, trembling with terror.

The Moon, who had searched for them for a long time, finally found them. Once Tali Nohkati, exhausted, had fallen asleep, the Moon said to Coyote:

“What a great tragedy! What will become of that child, now that his parents are gone?”

“I do not know. But, for now, do you have any food for him?” Coyote asked.

“Only enough for a few days,” the Moon answered. “Afterwards, I will have nothing.”

“In that case, the child will have to leave,” Coyote said. “Far, far away from here.”

The Moon looked at the ashes-covered landscape and said, with a reassuring tone:

“I have seen some lands, beyond the horizon, which have been spared. Tali Nohkati should be on his way, with these leather hides and these provisions.”

When Tali Nohkati woke up, Coyote was standing by his side. Faced with the despair and the surprise of the child as he looked at what the Moon had left him, Coyote explained:

“There is no more life here. There is nothing but desolation. You will have to leave.”

“Leave! But to go where?” Tali Nohkati asked, with a sob.

“Beyond the horizon,” Coyote answered. “There, some lands have been spared.”

“Will you come with me?” Tali Nohkati asked.

“How could I? I am not and will never be one of your kind. My paths are not and will never be yours. For all that, I will not abandon you. When our paths cross again, I will know how to find you, and when you need help, call my name. I will surely hear you.”

Tali Nohkati had no choice but to comply. As Coyote, who had given him a few embers and a handful of dried herbs, watched him with saddened eyes, he put his hides on, took the provisions and
walked away.

Soon enough, his frail silhouette disappeared and Coyote, struck by great distress, howled into the night as it wrapped up the world.

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