Author's note: And we're here! All I can say is Gracias! And Merry Xmas to you all!

9. Teotihuacan

Following Maya around the kingdoms wasn't hard. In fact, it was becoming far too easy for his liking. The princess seemed to have no sense of direction, something Zatz found hilarious. He had always thought that Tecas and such were excellent navigators. Well, or at least he used to. Maya was becoming more interesting as they went across the different lands. Zatz knew he couldn't get spotted by the other gods, but that didn't seemed to be a problem. The deities of the Underworld paid little attention to bats. They were too busy devising ways to sacrifice Maya for their own purposes.

Colmillo was happy to be outside the Underworld. There was plenty of game and open spaces to run, while his master watched the Teca princess from afar. They had just arrived at the Jungle Kingdom when he noticed that Maya had put convinced the so called "Monstruo Blanco" to join her team. The archer was far more sensitive than the other two and distrustful of her surroundings. As Colmillo and Zatz watched them beat the hides of Hura and Can, the prince began to wonder about Maya's motives.

"Do you think I'm getting ahead of myself, Colmillo? I want her to join us, to fight beside her and defeat Mitclan once and for all, but she doesn't seem to understand. I know Maya wants revenge but what if? I can't bear losing anyone else. Sobre todo a ella" they walked across the battlefield. The Golden Mountains weren't far. The jungle became forest and the peaks appeared before their eyes, but this time Zatz didn't follow Maya into the village. He had watched her in Luna Island and the Jungle Kingdom, but not here. Not in his mother's old home. Colmillo understood why and didn't press him. The memory was too painful for the young god. "I'm sorry, Mama" Zatz sat down and decided to wait for the princess to come out on her own. The puma yawn and decided to chase down the few Monarch butterflies that were flying about in the area. The boy smiled, pleased that at least one of them was having fun. Ah Puch watched them from a certain distance, unsure if they could trust Zatz. Was he still loyal to Mitclan or to his father? The prince wasn't like Maya. Having Camazotz as his father, the boy was more a god than the Teca girl, and less easy to read. Hence why the three twins kept their distance. Still, it was nice to see the puma playing like a kitten until it began to growl. There was someone in the bushes. Zatz disappeared in a mist of swarming bats while his loyal friend kept on snarling to reveal the jaguar Chiapa. The black companion of Maya seemed to be looking for its missing friends. Upon seeing each other, Colmillo yowled in anger, startling the jaguar before jumping him. Zatz didn't have to think twice before holding his friend back. They didn't want Maya to lose her old friend. "He means no harm. Deja que se vaya" insisted Zatz. The puma snorted and released the jaguar with a snarl after a few minutes. Chiapa stared at the prince for a few seconds before continuing his search. Colmillo looked at his owner, unsure if it was a good idea. "He's a good friend. Don't worry" Zatz climbed again on the puma's back and they hid too among the shadows of the forest. Apparently, Maya had found the third warrior: the Barbarian Pichu and Chiapas's tale was dismissed as one of his tall tales to hide that he was scared. Their cover was intact.

That night, after battling Maya among the tall rocks, Zatz knew that if was too risky to follow her into Teca again. Her friends were crossed with her and he was still an enemy to her people and the three warriors. Yet, as they stared at the magnificent city from the distance, the prince wondered. If only they had met before, if only he wasn't in the wrong side of the board, if only… Could she had loved him in the end? Sadly glancing around the remaining residents, Zatz decided to walk back towards the Divine Portal. There was nowhere else they could go. The princess would go there next so they could only wait for her. The prince knew that his father had insisted him into not returning to Mitclan, but what else could they do? Zatz looked at the city once more.

"Rooar?" Colmillo seemed to not understand his master's wishes. They could always obey Camazotz and avoid the Underworld for a few more days. After all, their little scheme to overthrow Mitclan was still in tatters.

"I wish we could, but Maya will soon need help. We can't just sit here, I'm afraid" the young god began to walk towards the jungle, when they heard a familiar noise. Mitclan was sending someone else their way. "And we can't be spotted, remember?" they headed for the darkest part of the forest. Colmillo knew that Zatz was as lost as Maya, so he yowled softly. "You are mucho loco, my friend" the boy smiled. The puma was his best friend in the world, his loyal mount and defender. Coming from a family of Barbarians, Colmillo was quite used to the head-strong personality of Zatz but these days he was acting differently. As if he wasn't sure of who he was or what he was meant to do. The puma whined softly and rubbed against his friend. "You have noticed, verdad? How am I supposed to be a god if I no longer feel like one?" Zatz looked down and Colmillo let out a roar. The moon was shining over their heads. All alone in the sky and yet powerful on the dark sky. There were no deities like the moon and sun. Or was there? A twig snapped. The puma growled before calming down a little, as they saw that it was Vucub, the God of the Jungle Animals. Zatz was ready to fight for his life.

"I mean you no harm, child of the bats. Whatever you were doing here is your business alone" the bird man was a good friend of Camazotz

"How do I know that you won't give me away to Mitclan?" the prince branded his sword with a fierce glow. "If you even think of…"

"I'm not. I've already seen too much pain tonight" Vucub put down his bow and Zatz slowly relaxed, but didn't let his guard down. "I saw Acat's fate with my own eyes. I'm sorry"

"Was it quick?" asked the prince after a few seconds.

"She did put up a fight. She stayed loyal to you even in her darkest hour" the bird god spoke slowly and Zatz's heart eased a little. "Your father hasn't given up his revenge, I see. He has assured Lord Mitclan that you are hunting down the Teca Princess but I don't see any anger or hate in those eyes. You are not like Camazotz, muchacho. You are in other league"

"Is that bad?" whispered the boy.

"That depends. Is the Prince of the Bats human or an animal?" smiled Vucub.

"No lo sé. I thought I knew but not anymore" Zatz confessed and the bird nodded softly.

"Be honest with yourself, child. Let an eye be for your brethren and the other for your heart. We have all suffered enough darkness. We deserve some light to ease our souls. Enjoy the night, Son of Camazotz. You need it more than us" the jungle god vanished into the dark and Colmillo rubbed against his friend, making him smile.

"Maybe we are getting this wrong, mano. Maybe Maya does need us in her quest, after all" the prince got on Colmillo's back again and they headed towards the portal, surrounded by the Monarch butterflies. The moon shone proudly over them, showing the way into the darkness.

Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad!