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?

Reunited at last.

I looked over at my sister, who seemed terribly pale for some reason. I assumed that maybe it was because of the long journey out to here, so I didn’t let it bother me. I figured a quick change of clothes is what the doctor ordered.

I let her borrow one of my dresses which the spider weaver Deidre made for me. I asked her what had happened and how her clothes were torn up and in such awful shape. She gave me blank stare, not really knowing. I didn’t want to press her; she had such a long day.

Meanwhile Shawna plotted on our next course of action. We knew we couldn’t stay here forever, even if we never were evicted. I was a pretty big target after all, and although I really couldn’t stand Matron’s attitude towards me, she did have a point.

“Hey there, babe,” I greeted her as I began to rub her back. Let it be known, if you’re lovers with a winged Wyld nothing makes them more relaxed than a rub up and down their sensitive spine.

“Oh, God,” Shawna moaned as I suddenly surprised her. She obviously proved my point.

“You seemed a little pensive,” I said as I nibbled on her ear. “Figured you could use the company.”

She gave a kiss on my cheek and then replied, “I’m just having a hard time wondering where to go next. This is desert country, and while I know the area like the back of my hand, I think we’re just a little too close to all those cultists.”

“Yeah,” I agreed, “Still we can’t run forever.”

“Why not?” she couldn’t help but ask.

“Look at them, Shawna,” I began. These are our people, and here they are taking orders from some false prophet. Segregating us and forcing us to choose sides where there shouldn’t be any sides to choose! I want our tribe to come to their senses, because even though they’re so backward, they’re still our family, and I want to do my best to help them.”

She grinned at me and stated, “You sound almost like a certain older sister of yours.”

“Yeah,” I answered. “I wonder if she’ll help us.”

“I don’t think it’s a matter of if,” she stated. “It’s more about actually getting down there. Phoenix is a long ways away from here, and there’s no vehicles in sight. And I’m sorry, Natalie, although you’re quite the featherweight, I doubt I could carry you 200 miles south to her!”

“Then I’m clueless as to where to go then,” I replied.

“Don’t worry,” she assured me, “we’ll figure it out. I know it.”

I gave her one final kiss. “I oughta go check up on Haylie,” I told her.

Letting go I turned to make my way to her room. I didn’t see Coyote come in, but there he was, standing outside her door, whimpering.

Looking over to him, I asked. “What’s the matter?”

He looked over to me, and replied, Worry…smell…strange.

Sometimes it was real vague trying to understand just exactly what it was he’s saying. Perhaps my communication skills were still weak, being rather new at this “elementalist” thing. Kneeling down at him I patted him on the head and gave him my reassurance.

“There’s no need to worry, Coyote,” I told him. “Haylie will be fine.”

Slowly I stood up and opened the door. “Haylie, are you-?”

She wasn’t there. The window hung open and the curtains moved to the flow of the midnight breeze.

I was worried sick. Where could she have gone?

Suddenly I could hear the sound of a wolf’s howl from a great distance. This was good. If those wolves are on the hunt tonight, that would mean trouble for Haylie. Immediately Coyote shared my concern as he leaped out from the window and motioned me to follow. Together, along with Shawna at my side, we began our search for my missing sister, using Coyote’s nose as our guide.

It was amazing how far she got. I swear she was in our room just five minutes ago. Could she have seriously climbed up this cliff? I was beginning to question whether or not he knew where she was. But talking to him he seem insistent that she indeed headed that way, and that he could tell from the strange odor he smelled from earlier. What truly worried me was the howling was getting closer. If she truly did climb up this cliff then she definitely was in trouble. Signaling Shawna over, she carried me up the cliff face, while I assisted her in controlling the flow of air. It was a high climb, and I didn’t want her to get tired when we’re only half way up.

We made it to the top in record time. However there wasn’t a sign of any wolf, let alone Haylie, just us and the shine of the full moon overhead. I couldn’t help but worry. Did the wolves get her? Don’t think such thoughts, I told myself. She’s fine!

“Nattie!” Shawna cried as she flew overhead. “I think I see her!”

Thank the goddess for her eagle eye perception. I followed her to a secluded area where indeed, Haylie was located. I still had no idea how she gotten this far.

“Haylie!” I cried. “What are you doing out here?”

“Oh,” she said, “Natalie. How did you get up here?”

“I had Shawna help me. What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know, Nat,” she answered. “I’ve been so hungry…all night. All night my craving for food got stronger and stronger. I tried to placate myself with some of the food you had in the house, but it didn’t help. I still was famished.”

“We can get you something,” I told her. “Please come down from here.”

“Oh Nat,” she continued, “Why did you come here? My hunger was so strong…I didn’t know what to do. I was imagining such impure…thoughts! It’s that smell. That smell you give off! It’s so euphoric!”

“What do you mean?” I asked actually fearing what was happening to her.

“That’s the smell that makes me the…most hungry!” She stressed. “Why do you smell so…delicious? Why do I want to feast on your flesh so?”

“Haylie?” I questioned, slowly backing off. Something truly wasn’t right.

“I wanted to run, keep myself from fulfilling my desires!” she exclaimed. “But you had to find me! God damnit, Natalie! Run away! Before it’s too late!”

I was speechless. All of a sudden I saw Haylie drop to her knees, writhing in pain.

“Run!” She yelled in a deep toned voice. “Or else I will EAT you!”

I was looking in horror as I saw my own sister’s body contorting in ways I never thought imaginable. I was lucky- all I had was a flashed a light and I was a woman. Seeing her muscle bulge out as she tore through the dress I loaned her. She fell onto all four as her fangs protruded from her gum line. She got bigger and bigger, about the size of a bull, and a lot more menacing. I realized now that that wasn’t a wolf howling at the full moon night. It was my sister; no longer the beautiful 17 year old girl, but now a violent werewolf beast.

“Haylie!” I screamed. It was too late, however. Whatever was left of her was trapped deep inside the husk of that giant behemoth. Now it only knew one thing- hunger.

“Natalie!” I heard Shawna scream. “Come on!” Quickly she clutched my shoulders with her talons and we flew away as fast as we could. However, even with my air altering abilities Haylie was easily keeping up with us. With a giant leap she was able to easily catch Shawna and drag us down to the ground below. I could now see how she so easily got up the cliff face like that.

Haylie’s paws were crushing my Shawna’s poor wings. I had to get her off her before she became her first meal. Using my skills I summoned a fireball directly towards my canine sister. It hit with enough force that it pulled her off my lover. Apparently my powers were stronger when in desperation.

“Shawna!” I yelled as I ran to her aid.

“My wings,” she gasped as she writhed in pain.

“Come on!” I told her as I helped her up to her feet.

It wasn’t easy. Having to lug my injured lover with me only hindered my escape, but there was no way I’d leave her out there to die. Hopefully my fireball did enough damage to keep her down for a little bit. We needed to get a little distance if we were going to make the long climb back down.

No such luck however, as I sat Shawna down near the cliff edge there was Haylie, badly burned and very upset. Her fangs were pointed right at me, snarling in an intense rage. I was trapped. Please Haylie, it’s me…don’t do this!

Not even my praying could keep her from charging at me. I was a sitting duck. I close my eyes, hoping it would be over with quick. Suddenly from out of nowhere Coyote came and with all his strength intercepted my dear sister, veering her off her target and down the cliff face below.

“Haylie!” I cried. Oh Goddess, nothing could survive that fall, so I thought. Panicking I somehow was able to carve a slope out of the cliff and immediately made my way down to the cliff base. My lack of insight actually did a lot more damage to the city than I imagined, causing the houses to be buried by the rubble. Luckily no one actually lives in them.

On the ground below lied Haylie and Coyote, both in a world of hurt. I rushed over their aid, not noticing that Haylie was nowhere being finished. Looking over Coyote, she rose from what seemed to be fatal wounds. She couldn’t be stopped. And once again I foolishly ran into her line of fire. What was I going to do now?

Suddenly I saw it: an arrow with a silver tip connected with her shoulder. All of a sudden she let out a painful yowl as she fell to the floor. Matron came to the rescue, yet she didn’t seem like she was done. She readied her next shot; this one going straight for her heart. As she fired I instinctively changed its wind direction, missing her.

“Stop!” I yelled. Slowly I saw the beast metamorphosed back into my little sister, the silver almost burning her arm clear off. I made my way to her and with all my strength ripped the silver arrow out from her damaged appendage, her blood gushing out everywhere.

I couldn’t help but cry as I held my sister in my arms. “Oh, Haylie!” I sobbed. “What have they done to you? Haylie!”

“Natalie!” I could hear my love call from afar. Shawna joined me, and yet, meanwhile, all Matron seemed focused on is telling Shawna just how right she was.

“You see?” She began. “This is what happens when you let Diné into the village! Look at it…ruined! Was it worth it?”

“Matron!” Shawna yelled, obviously upset at her. This seriously was not the time for this.

“No, Shawna,” she interrupted. “I have granted leeway long enough. If you wish to follow these beings to your grave that is your decision, but I won’t allow you to harm us any further. You will leave this place!”

Shawna stood there, mouth agape at what she heard. She thought here she was at home, with like-minded people who understood her form. But now she was being shunned here too. It left a big blow in her heart. I never saw her as sullen as she was now.

“She was a beast,” Shawna added. “You saw her. She couldn’t help it, but that damage done wasn’t from a human. It was just like us.”

She paused for minute, but Matron decided not to respond. Perhaps she was sorry she had to carry out such judgment. So was I.

One of her servants slowly came up to us as we tended to my little sister’s wounds. I didn’t know what he wanted, but it really wasn’t the time.

“Please understand that the Matron is only trying to protect her people,” he explained. “These are not decisions that she makes easily.”

“Please,” I told him with tears still in my eyes, “Just leave us alone.”

“Wait!” he insisted. “I wish to tell you something.”

“What?” Shawna asked, who like me, wasn’t in any mood for idle chatter.

“You know that not all who were branded “monsters” would put up with this kind of life. They still cling onto human tradition and values.”

“What’s your point?” I asked.

“Usually Matron would just cast them aside,” he continued. “But a lot of us did not find that to be a very smart thing to do. Regardless of what they want, to the eyes of Diné, they were monsters much like us. So many of us had a plan.”

“What type of plan?” I asked.

“Some of us reached out to the Prime Minister’s office in Phoenix for assistance,” he told us. “Most of the officials there didn’t want to be involved in our affairs, but there was this one girl who took note of our plight. Her name was Salia.”

“Salia,” I restated. “That’s my sister.”

“Ah,” he realized, “only now do I see the resemblance.”

“So what did she do?” Shawna asked.

“She set up a secret transport that takes those Wyld from Flagstaff to Phoenix,” he explained. “It was based on the Underground Wyldroad. Once there you should be free from any harm.”

“And what about Haylie,” I asked, also concerned about her well being.

“She was infected by the Dark curse,” he stated. “At her age, she is unable to control the beast within.”

“I can’t just leave her!” I cried, holding onto her.

“I may be able to get her aboard,” he explained. “It won’t be the most humane way of doing it, however.”

“What do you mean?” I said.

“As I said,” he wouldn’t comment any further. “I will see to it she is not hurt. But we haven’t much time, and I’m afraid this is only offer. Matron’s word is law and she will not allow you much time to gather yourselves. So what will it be?”

I looked at my sister. I didn’t know what it would imply, but I couldn’t just leave her. I let go of her and decided to let the buffalo man handle her. “Please, take care of her.” I told him.

He nodded as he threw her over his shoulder. “Gather your things, tend to your wounds,” he declared. “We leave shortly.”