Author's note: Going on with a small trip to the past, before checking "Manolo's home hunting". I want to thank u all for joining me in so far. Gracias! Also I've been doing some trivia research in the Book of Life and I wasn't disappointed to notice a few details. Is one of the features I love from Jorge Gutierrez the most (apart from his presentation of the Mesoamerican culture). All the little things have a sense, they are not random. For example, Maya's favorite song: Bolom Chon, can be heard when Manolo and his family enter La Muerte's castle in the Land of the Remembered; Jorge Sanchez's missing eye, arm and leg might be inspired in the famous Blas de Lezo, famous Spanish commander known among many battles for defending Cartagena de Indias; and, of course, the fact that Xibalba's staff is a two-headed snake to name a few.

Let's go!

7. Yoalticitl

As soon as Lady Micte put Maya under the Teca's care, the existence of the little girl seemed to slip Mitclan's mind for a while as well as the other god's, but Camazotz was no fool. The Bat God could tell that the Deity of Death was sad. He knew that expression too well, but there was no point in asking her. Unless you wanted to arose the anger of her husband. So things kept on going as they were, or so it seemed. Little Zatz had not forgotten the baby and wasn't aware of the risks of asking his elders. Of course, he was afraid of Mitclan for taking his eye, but Lady Micte was different. She was nice to him, after all.

"Are you sad?" the little boy asked one afternoon.

"Just a little bit, mi amor. Are you bored? I wish there were more children for you to play with" the goddess took him somewhere quieter and far from her husband's spies.

"Where's the baby? I can play with her" requested Zatz and Micte sighed sadly.

"She's not here, mijo. I'm sorry. You could be such good friends. Maybe one day" the deity held her tears.

"Is she with my Mamá?"

"No, baby. She's with her father" explained the deity.

"Why?" the prince was too young to understand. "I can be big brother"

"I know, Zatz. And you could be a marvelous one, too" Micte kissed his forehead. "But I can't have her here. This is no place for a baby"

"Is not?" the boy blinked.

"No, mi amor. I'm sorry" the goddess displayed a caring expression. Zatz sighed sadly and sat down. "But that doesn't mean you are not going to have friends. I'm sure you are going to have plenty and your Papa will always be there for you. So fear not"

"I miss Mama" whispered the prince and she tapped his nose.

"She is always here, mijo. Trust me" Micte pointed at the bracelet and Zatz smiled. "I can't tell you where the baby is right now, but I know that your mother is happy and watching over you all you ever need advice, ask her. She'll listen"

"Zatz?" Camazotz easily found them and the boy happily ran to his father. "Milady"

"General" she nodded and got up. There were things that couldn't be discussed in the Underworld. Not even with someone like the Bat God.

"Papa?" asked the boy.

"Yes, mi niño?" answered his father.

"Why is she sad?" requested Zatz.

"Because she lost her baby, mijo. That's why. Well, c'mon! Come along! It's past your bed time" Camazotz took them to their quarters.

"I want to see her again. We can play together" the prince ran through the corridors and his father stopped him before he could run into one of the other gods.

"Epa! Slow down, vampirito. All in good time. But now, you must get some sleep. You might find her there" the god put him in bed and began one of his stories about Zyanya, hoping that his son would one day indeed meet someone he could relate to.

XXXX

As he floated away, watching Maya getting deeper into Luna Island, Zatz knew that he couldn't return to the Underworld. He wasn't sure if Acat was going to betray his position or not, but the best thing he could do was clear: keep an eye on the Teca Princess and convince her to join their mission. During the next day, he stayed hidden to be sure that the coast was clear before leaving his hiding spot along with Colmillo to head for the Jungle Kingdom. Keeping a certain distance from Maya was easy, since she didn't seem to notice him hiding in plain sight. A small flock of bats hanging from the nearby trees is nothing too remarkable, after all. Camazotz kept contact with his son using the vampire bats of his house of the Underworld. It was his father who warned him about the arrival of Hura and Can, but that wasn't the only news Camazotz had that day. Something had happened back in Mitclan's palace. Something Zatz was going to deeply regret.

"Do you know where those two are or when will they get here? ¿Algo?" asked the prince.

"We don't know. We're just the messengers, not the lookouts" replied the bat leader in anger. "Your father told us to warn you. If they find you, they'll kill you, One-Eye"

"As if I didn't know that" Zatz was getting Colmillo saddled.

"They have already killed that girl, you could be next" the bats replied and the prince dropped the saddle in shock. It couldn't be, could it?

"What girl? Who are you talking about? Speak! ¡Hablad!" ordered Zatz.

"You know who! The tattoo girl. Mitclan took out her heart because she wouldn't say where you were" the alpha answered and the boy's heart plummeted. Acat was dead? And because of him? H-how? W-when did that happen? Did Acat really kept his secret even after their breaking up? Zatz felt the world falling apart around him. True she was bloodthirsty and possessive, but Acat was his first friend in the Underworld. Their relationship was in tatters when Maya showed up, but the pain was too real. The flock flew again, leaving the prince to mourn in the dark. Colmillo felt his distress and leaned in to let him cry. It was already daybreak when Zatz realized it was time to move on.

"I'm not going to lose them both to that monstruo, Colmillo. This I swear" the prince finally found his courage and they scouted the jungle until Maya's group came to view. All he had to do was wait until she was alone.

"First, you want to kill me and then you send your girlfriend after me" the princess was not delighted to see him. Zatz had somehow been able to hide his pain but Maya had just hit a nerve.

"E-e-ex-girlfriend. We broke up" it was best for both to not elaborate. After all, they were on the same boat now, sort of. And Acat had to be avenged, even if it was the girl who had taken away her prince from her. Zatz looked at Maya. The baby he had met so many years before was now again with him and he was going to protect her no matter what.

When Lady Micte sends Acat and Zatz to fetch Maya, she is very gentle with the prince but not with the Goddess of Tattoos. That got me thinking. Also, yes. Jorge G confirmed that Zatz got to know of his friend's death.

We will get more real soon!

Hasta pronto!