100 Word Challenge: Adah Aho’doo’nili - The Place Where Two Fell Off

This was written for Velvet Verbosity's 100-Word Challenge, where the prompt this week is "companions." The challenge is hosted by LouCeel here. Thank you, Lou, for your continued efforts to keep the challenge going.


Adah Aho’doo’nili - The Place Where Two Fell Off

In 1805 they came, doing to us what they had done to so many before us. Those who could fight could not, gone to seek the roaming buffalo. We were those left, we women, children, and old men of the tribe.  We huddled in that place that would soon be called Adah Aho’doo’nili by those who would survive us.

Suddenly like a fearful apparition, one was upon me. I spread open my arms, and welcomed him into an eternal embrace. Stepping off into my Fate, I took him with me. Enemies in life, we would forever be companions in death. 

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This is a magnificent canyon in Chinle, Arizona called Canyon de Chelly (pronounced canyon da shay).  With the exception of a few years in the 1800s when they were forced off the land, the canyon has been home to the Navajo people.  In 1805, the Navajos were attacked here by Spanish troops.  The Navajos women, children and old men not out on a hunt took refuge in a cave high up in the 1000 ft canyon wall, which was inaccessible from the surface above. The Spaniards rained bullets upon them, and 115 Navajos were killed. A few Spaniards managed to find a way to climb down to reach the natives.  Legend has it that at "Massacre Cave," which the natives call "Adah Aho’doo’nili" or The Place Where Two Fell Off, a Navajo woman grappled with a Spanish soldier. Ultimately she took him over the edge with her, and they fell to meet their deaths.