In the Wyld World, there are many religions, just as there is in this world. However, in the Wyld World, there is one thing that practically all religions have in common: They are the final word in terms of what is, and what isn't, acceptable.

Enter young Nate Redbone, Native American of the Navajo tribe. He has almost turned 20, and still hasn't gone Wyld. However, once Nate becomes Natalie, how will he be treated amongst his own people? And in return, can he accept them as well?

The legend of the birth of the Changing Woman, Asdzą́ą́ Ná¡dleehé, was quite similar to the ritual that took place with me. Of course times change and the materials used might have been different, but the process was indeed the same. The Shaman was right- I was at the time an awful lot like the turquoise doll that held the Changing Woman’s spirit. And as they threw the tanned leather hide over me much like when First Man threw the buckskin over the doll, my true form was released, and I became Natalie.

It was kind of funny the similarities with our names as well: Ná¡dleehé, Natalie. Seems like the modern day equivalent. But to be her reincarnation seemed a little absurd. The similarities ended at my transformation. For what I know, at least for the few weeks I’ve been Wyld, was I didn’t change age when I traveled, or change seasons abruptly for that matter.

And honestly I believed the whole ritual meant nothing. I’ve seen many rituals in my day by my cousins and other family members. My oldest sister, Salia, also had a late change, and also had it preformed under the same ritual. Her change wasn’t so dramatic; physically she remained quite the same. Her change enabled her control over the ebb and flow of water. Of course because of us living in a desert, that gift was taken advantage of by so many of our people, treating her like a human dowsing rod. As a result she got fed up and left. Now she is a high ranking official at the Nation’s capitol building in Phoenix, and one of the most prominent activists in the fight to modernize the culture of the Dinétah state.

Looking back at her now, I can see why she left. At first I thought I was going to be harassed by mobs of mobs of people. I know kids my age, and even the slightest sign of weakness would be pounced upon and rubbed into your face until you’ve finally broken down and defeated.

No this was the exact opposite. They were bowing to me, groveling even. I could hear the people, particularly the elderly who still held our traditions close to heart, pleading, “Help us!” and “Free us from our humanly bonds!” You may think this was a fantastic twist of fate, but to me, these feelings were just as uncomfortable as the ones of hate and bullying I was initially preparing for.

I went along with it however. I didn’t know what else to do at the moment. Perhaps the Shaman knew more about me; about I’ve become. Or maybe it was the voice I heard, coming from that strange Coyote. Perhaps they are dangerous, and perhaps, even if it was for the safety of my friends, I needed to go with it…at least for now.

I was led by the Shaman into his Beedezah Hogan, the same building in which my ceremony was performed. That was where I was separated from my friends, who were almost restrained forcefully by the escorts behind us.

I watched as I saw Haylie and Shawna both struggle to break free. I wanted to run over and help them, but my own escort had a firm grip on my wrist, and I found it impossible to let go. Obviously my lack of physical strength was another disadvantage I had to get used to.

I yelled at my friends, hoping to give them some reassurance. “Don’t worry!” I cried, “I’ll be okay!” With those last words I was dragged inside, and the door was closed behind me. With my escort standing outside, blocking my way out, I knew I was in deep trouble.

It was just me and the Shaman.

“Oh great Goddess,” he began, “You don’t know how long I’ve searched trying to find you! So many rituals I have performed; some had succeeded, some had failed. And with each success I prayed that the next diné we would uncover would be you. And now…”

I really couldn’t understand it. Yes, I turned into a girl. But was that really all that was needed for him to claim I’m some reincarnation of a long lost Goddess? I mean, what made me different from all the other poor women who went Wyld?

“What makes you think I’m her?” I asked in a blunt manner. “What makes me Asdzą́ą́ Ná¡dleehé?”

“Why, it’s the smell,” I heard to the right of me as a rather suave, elegant man stood right at the end of the hallway. He slowly began to look me over, and for some peculiar reason, began to sniff me, really making me feel uneasy.

“Oh yes, Hatalii,” He refered to the old Shaman, “There is no doubt in my mind. This creature is too perfect to be anything short of a Goddess.”

If that was supposed to be a compliment, I didn’t receive any of the good vibrations from it. It only made me feel more uneasy as his repugnant aura only sent chills up my spine.

He continued to walk around me slowly, almost like a serpent coiling around its prey before strikes it for the kill. Without any pauses he began to recite a passage of the Diné Bahane’. “I am male and you are female. I am of the sky and you are of the earth. I am constant in your brightness, but you must change with the seasons. I remember how you willingly let me enter you and how you gave birth to your sons, enduring pain to bring them into the world. Do you remember, child? Those words you spoke many moons ago?”

He was reciting the story of the reunion of the Changing Woman and Sun, Já³honaaʼéá­, word for word, the only difference was from the recital’s point of view. Did he think he was Já³honaaʼéá­? Did he really believe he was reincarnated as well?

“As different as we are,” he continued, “we are of one spirit. As dissimilar as we are, you and I, we are of equal worth. As different as we are, there must be solidarity between us. There can be no harmony in the universe unless there is harmony between us. If there is to be harmony, my request must matter to you. There is to be no more coming from me to you than there is from you to me.”

He came to a stop and placed his cold, pale white hand upon my shoulder. The unnerving feeling I got from him finally peaked, and instinctively I leaped up and fell forward, looking at him as I saw the nothingness that reflected from his eyes.

All he would do is laugh coldly as he saw the fear build in me. “Don’t be afraid, my dear!” he exclaimed. “This was predestined! It was fate that brought us back together! What is the sun without its seasons? Can you not see it is I, Já³honaaʼéá­?”

Okay, I thought to myself, I’m surrounded by a bunch of loonies. I mean, religion is great and all, but let’s be serious! I’m not his woman, and this shit is really messing with his concept of reality.

“It was indeed your fate,” the Shaman interrupted. “We are nothing if we aren’t weak, simple humans, needing to be guided. The Earth is going through another metamorphosis, much like the changes we witness from our own. There is too much confusion; we go on, fighting among ourselves without any concept of ‘good’ or ‘evil’.”

Sure, people have become very messed up over the years, but when haven’t they? My tribe was just as persecuted as the Wyld were today, all because of people’s misconceived notions. Hell, every country, every culture, every people, has been both oppressed and oppressors. Yet people do grow. We even got a state to call our own, even though our neighbors find some of our culture’s workings backward, even to this day. What would they gain by doing this?

“We Diné need your guidance, Asdzą́ą́ Ná¡dleehé,” the Shaman pleaded. “With you, and Já³honaaʼéá­, together once more, we can guide our people into our new lives. We can finally enter the Fifth World.”

“…And,” the man who thinks he’s Já³honaaʼéá­ added. He kneeled before me and gently put his hand on my stomach. He didn’t need to say anything as his body language was a dead giveaway.

“You’re fuckin’ crazy!” I yelled as I jumped to my feet. There’s one thing about being some cult for the mentally insane. It’s another for wanting to get some helpless maiden- me, pregnant!

“This too, is fate, my dear,” the Shaman continued. “Much like times old the world is also infected with monsters. Such vile creatures. Ones who cannot be defeated alone.”

Já³honaaʼéá­ spoke softly, “Do not fight it, my love. It is our duty. The twins you shall bear will be as strong as they were when we first settled on this world.”

I ran as far as I could down the hallway. I was hoping somewhere there might be a window or back door I could perhaps escape from. There was nothing.

It didn’t take long for Já³honaaʼéá­ to catch up with me. I wanted to evade him, but he was unbelievably fast. He swiftly scooped me up and carried me over to the bedroom. I feared I was about to live out a woman’s worst nightmare.

I struggled hoping to break free, but it only made him angry as he smacked my face. The force was stronger than any ordinary strike. The blow was enough to cause a concussion, and I was struggling trying to keep myself awake.

But there wasn’t much I could do. I was defenseless, I didn’t know anything about my Wyld powers, and worst of all no one would save me. I couldn’t even so much as brace for the inevitable.

“Stop!” I heard screaming from beyond the door. Suddenly Já³honaaʼéá­ released me from his grasp, putting me temporarily at ease.

“What is the meaning of this, Hatalii?” he demanded, obviously not thrilled at the Shaman’s interference.

“The vows must be reaffirmed before one can procreate,” he explained. “The children of this woman must be pure. We must hold a ceremony and reestablish your roles as God and Goddess to our people.”

“This is getting frustrating,” he snorted. “Very well, old man. Have it your way. One more day is but pittance from the length of time I had to wait.”

Then he glanced at me, his eyes enraged like fire, and lowly said, “And you. You won’t deny me my birthright!”

He stormed out of the bedroom, with the Shaman following behind him. Closing the door behind me, I tried, desperately to stand up and run out of the room. My equilibrium imbalanced I stumbled to the door, only to find that they successfully locked me out from the other side.

I was trapped, alone, and worried about what lied ahead for me. My eyes kept getting heavier and heavier as the darkness kept creeping in. I couldn’t fight it any longer as my conscious drifted from me, and I passed out.

I found myself in an open field, surrounded by tall amber strands of wheat and grass. Sitting up I didn’t take me long to realize I was completely naked. Yet the prospect didn’t frighten me. As in fact I felt wonderful, as if I was being cuddled by the warm graze of Mother Nature’s loving arms.

The true worry was the complete silence. There wasn’t any sight of life; no wild animals or humans within my eye’s distance. It was more awkward than being in my birthday suit, with no idea how I got here.

“Hello?” I shouted, as the echoes seemed to carry throughout the area. Was I dreaming?

Something within me told me to look up to the sky. At its highest point was a glimmering, shining star, sparkling like a flawless diamond. At first I thought my eyes were deceiving me, but upon further observation, I could see that star was getting closer, like an elevator. And if my premonitions were correct, it was bound to come to a stop on my level.

As it got closer I realized that this wasn’t just any shiny star. Within in its bright luminescence was a young Native American girl, around my age and just as naked as me. Looking at her further I couldn’t help but realize this girl looks similar to me!

She remained levitating in front of me. Who was this lady?

“You do look quite a lot like me,” she began. “Perhaps in another life we could pass as sisters.”

“Who are you?” I asked her, feeling like I was in presence of a Goddess.

“I am Asdzą́ą́ Ná¡dleehé,” she answered me. “We have much to discuss.”