Changing Woman conceived Monster Slayer and Born for Water when Sun Father's rays fell upon her and water from a waterfall entered her, the twins growing with supernatural speed before journeying to Sun Father's sky home to obtain weapons against the monsters.
Bat aided Monster Slayer and Born for Water during the Anaye campaign, lending a disguise that allowed the Hero Twins to approach their quarry undetected.
Big Fly perched on Monster Slayer's ear during the Hero Twins' journey to the Sun's house, whispering the correct answers to the Sun Father's tests that would have destroyed Monster Slayer and Born for Water.
Nilch'i whispered unseen guidance to Monster Slayer and Born for Water throughout their quest, the Holy Wind's breath carrying warnings and counsel that saved the Hero Twins in their trials at the Sun's house and battles against the Anaye.
Horned Toad lent the Hero Twins his armored protection during their campaign against the Anaye, his tough hide shielding Monster Slayer and Born for Water from harm.
Spider Woman sheltered Monster Slayer and Born for Water at Spider Rock and gave the Hero Twins life feathers and sacred charms to protect them on the perilous road to the Sun Father's house.
Monster Slayer and Born for Water, the Hero Twins born of Changing Woman, journeyed together to the Sun Father's house and waged war on the Anaye — Monster Slayer wielding the lightning arrows while Born for Water watched the sacred sticks and purified his brother after every kill.
Monster Slayer stands as guardian of Dibé Nitsaa, the Sacred Mountain of the North, assigned to protect the jet-adorned peak and the northern boundary of Dinétah after his destruction of the Anaye.
Monster Slayer and Born for Water waged war against the Anaye, the alien monsters born from improper behavior during the separation of the sexes — Monster Slayer striking the killing blows while Born for Water watched the sacred sticks and purified his brother after every kill.
Monster Slayer slew the Binaye-Ahani, twin monsters who killed with their terrible gaze, by approaching them with a magical shield of darkness and cutting them apart before their eyes could find him.
Monster Slayer slew Déélgééd the Horned Monster, whose massive body crashed into the earth and became the lava formations near the Zuni Mountains.
Monster Slayer tracked and slew Suss-Na-Alk, the monstrous Tracking Bear who hunted the Diné with relentless cunning across the Glittering World.
Monster Slayer climbed to the nest of Tse-Nin-Ahal atop a great rock spire, slew the Monster Eagle who had carried people aloft to feed her young, and transformed the surviving eaglets into the eagles and owls of today.
Monster Slayer destroyed Tsetahotsiltali, the monster who lurked on narrow cliff trails and kicked travelers to their deaths on the rocks below.
Monster Slayer struck down Yéʼiitsoh near Tsoodzil with four lightning arrows given by Sun Father, and the Big Giantʼs blood cooled into the black lava flows still visible across the valley.
The Diyin Dine'é (Holy People) are the supernatural beings of Navajo tradition who created the world, guided the people through the underworlds to the Glittering World, and taught the ceremonial ways that maintain hózhó (harmony).
The Monster Slaying tells how Monster Slayer and Born for Water journeyed to Sun Father for lightning bolts and flint armor, guided by Spider Woman, then destroyed the Anaye terrorizing the people in the newly emerged world.
The Blessingway recounts the birth of Monster Slayer and Born for Water to Changing Woman, their journey to the Sun, and the sacred knowledge they brought back — the Hero Twins' story woven into the ceremony's core narrative.
Monster Slayer and Born for Water confronted Sleep after slaying the great monsters, but spared her when she argued that without rest, people could not heal or receive dream guidance from the Holy People.
Monster Slayer and Born for Water confronted Poverty after destroying the Anaye, but spared her when she argued that without want, people would have no reason to work or strive.
Monster Slayer and Born for Water confronted Old Age after destroying the Anaye, but spared her when she argued that without aging, people would never make room for new generations.
Monster Slayer and Born for Water confronted Hunger after destroying the Anaye, but spared him when he argued that without hunger, food would have no value and people would grow lazy.
Monster Slayer and Born for Water confronted Cold-Woman after destroying the Anaye, but spared her when she argued that without winter's cold, there could be no spring and the earth would wither.
Sun Father tested Monster Slayer and Born for Water with deadly trials at his turquoise house in the sky, and when the Hero Twins survived, he accepted them as his sons and gave them lightning arrows and flint armor to destroy the Anaye.
Monster Slayer and Born for Water confronted Changing Woman, demanding she reveal the identity of their father, and though she refused at first to protect them from the perilous journey to the Sun's house, she relented and set the Hero Twins' quest in motion.
Yéʼiitsoh, mightiest of the Anaye, made his lair at Tsoodzil before Monster Slayer struck him down with lightning bolts from the Sun. The giant's blood poured down the slopes and hardened into the black lava flows of El Malpais that ring the mountain to this day.
After Monster Slayer killed Tse-Nin-Ahal atop Tsé Bitʼaʼí, he found Atsá's nestlings and spared them, transforming them into the eagles that would carry prayers between the people and the Holy People.
Monster Slayer destroyed the Anaye but could not eliminate death itself — Old-Age, Poverty, Cold, and Hunger persuaded him to spare them, and so the chindi continue to arise from every death, an evil beyond even the great hero's power to vanquish.
Monster Slayer and Born for Water stopped at Spider Rock on their journey to the Sun Father's house, where Spider Woman met them at the base of the great spire and gave them the life feathers and warnings that would carry them through the trials ahead.
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