Growing up in the shadow of Spider Rock on the edge of Canyon de Chelly National Park, my grandfather would often chide my older sister and I with "The top of Spider Rock is white from the sun-bleached bones of Dine children who did not behave themselves!" when I had not done what I was asked. Despite this "warning" I spent my days scouring the canyon for a way up to the top of the Rock or exploring the old cave dwellings built by my people high on the canyon walls.
Late one afternoon while exploring these dwelling caves, I made my way up to a stepped ledge, high above the canyon floor and for a moment looking in awe at the vista below me. As I gazed around something glimmering behind me caught my eye. Moving towards it I was shocked to see a silken cord hanging down from the top of the rock tower.
Pulling on the cord with all my strength convinced me it would bear my weight and so tying it around me I used it to climb higher up the tower. Reaching the top after a suprisingly short time I discovered not sun bleached bones but a secluded oasis. In the centre of the oasis stood a roughly hewn obelisk covered with strange symbols.
I reached out to touch the stone as the sun finally dipped below the edge of the plateau and a fiery glow erupted from within the obelisk. The last thing i saw was the outline of my outstretched hand against glowing rock as unconsciousness took me.
A voice like the wind whispered to me "You are the first of my children to seek me in an age. I see in your heart you are bold and fair. I shall teach you the ways of the Spider that you may lead and protect my children." As i lay there my mind filled with strange visions of ancient Dine heroes and silken threads seemed to spin around me and through me and I knew my life would never be the same.
