Gargoyles Timedancer:

Bloodstone

11. 16. 0. 8. 6

I darted swiftly through the underbrush. I knew my way through the Green better than most of the hatchlings of my generation, but even I had never been out this far.

A jaguar looked surprised as I whipped past her nose. She made me a little nervous. They didn't usually go for gargoyles, but I was alone and away from the rest of the clan. I might be a tempting target. The jaguar didn't actually think so however, and ignored me.

I darted up a tree, scattering a few striped mantises as I climbed. I leapt from branch to branch like a Howler.

I traveled east though I wasn't really going anywhere in particular. Then I saw it, rising up half-buried by the jungle. It was massive onyx pyramid; CamazotzKukulkan. I hadn't even realized that I'd traveled that far. I moved towards it when suddenly I felt a talon clamp down on my shoulder.

Oh no, I thought as I spun around to face my rookery parent. My cold mother.

That was what the hatchlings called her. "The Cold Mother". She had a reputation among the rookery mothers. Green-Mother was a pushover. Yellow-Mother had a temper, and we avoided her. Chubby mother loved to feed us extra helpings of wasp-larva paste. But Cold-Mother was the disciplinarian. She wasn't unloving, not at all. But her punishments for the hatchlings being unruly were…Creative.

She was dark grey with long black hair. She wore an unusual green dress of a strange material. She wasn't actually Mayan. Though the ChacIxchel Clan had adopted her. She claimed to be the only survivor from a clan far to the south. She came to us, having heard about our clan from another gargoyle who passed through her former protectorate.

She had instantly become smitten with a red-skinned blue-winged gargoyle who single-handedly saved the clan from a raid by Aztecs from the north. They, along with Box and so many others were among my rookery parents.

"What are you doing child?" Cold-Mother demanded. "The whole clan is looking for you."

I refused to look her in the eyes.

"Box thinks you went north to KawillAhPukuh. Most of them are looking up that way."

"I was just…Exploring," I said.

Cold-Mother glanced over at the Onyx pyramid.

"Box has forbidden anyone to trespass on the CamazotzKukulkan pyramid. And I know from experience, that when Box forbids such things, he's usually right."

"He doesn't know everything," I countered, still not looking her in the eyes.

"Oh most definitely, my defiant daughter," Cold-Mother said. "And I'm sure that one day, you'll be the one to prove him wrong. After all…He was wrong about which direction you fled."

I bit my lip.

"It was my blue-skinned rookery brother," I said, biting back tears. "He was making fun of my legs."

"That's a silly thing to mock," Cold-Mother said, surprising me with the amusement in her voice. "Box has legs. The purple one has legs. The scarlet-warrior from the generation before yours has legs. Even I have legs."

"But I am the only hatchling from my clutch with legs," I said. "And he says that that makes me weird. He says that means that I will never have a mate because none of my rookery brothers will like my legs."

"Well that's silly," Cold-Mother said. "My red-skinned mate is serpentine, and has never once complained about my legs.'

"And I'll let you in on a little secret, child," Cold-Mother bent down. "Your future-mate, whomever he or she might be, will not care about your appearance. They will care about you. Your ferocity. Your kindness. Your head for numbers. Those are the things that they will prize. Not your legs or lack thereof."

She glanced around, as if the Green itself was listening. "If you can't find a mate who doesn't prize those qualities, then they aren't worth mating with. I went a very long time before taking a mate. Because I'm not willing to settle for anything less. Don't you settle either."

"I won't," I said, shaking my head.

"How does it make you feel, when your blue-skinned brother mocks you?" She asked, curiously.

"Awful," I said. "Like a centipede crawling down my back."

I shuddered.

"Well then we must balance it out, child," Cold-Mother said. "You find the centipede, and I'll put it down his back."

My eyes widened in surprise.

"Balance is important, young one," Cold-Mother said. "If I teach my rookery daughters only one thing in their lives, it is that balance is important."

She might have been Cold-Mother to my siblings…But from that night on, to me at least, she was my Balanced-Mother.

11. 1. 16. 8. 6

I bent down, and handed two unwrapped tamales to Fu-Dog and Kebechet. The two beasts eagerly gobbled the treats up.

"Does something about this place seem…off…To you, Zee?" Brooklyn asked.

"How so?" I asked.

"We've got a village of both humans and gargoyles," Brooklyn said, picking some food off of the table and placing them in a tortilla shell. "But both seem utterly terrified. "They're all avoiding us."

I nodded. It was definitely true. The humans seemed to be clustering by the fire or hiding in their huts. The gargoyles seemed to be gathering food from the table and then scampering away as quickly as possible.

Neither species seemed particularly eager to chat with us.

"This is good," Brooklyn said, popping something small and brown and crispy into his beak. "Tastes kind of like apples. What is it?"

I glanced at the fare on his tortilla. "Fried cockroach," I said absently. Brooklyn's eyes widened and his face turned green.

"We should ask around," I said. "See if we can get any of them to talk to us…"

"Excuse me little one," I said trotting over to a small turquoise colored male. He was quite young, 22 years at most. The same as an 11 year old human. Coincidentally—or perhaps not so coincidentally, he seemed to be having a conversation with an 11 year old human girl. Their apparent friendliness with each other is what drew my attention to them.

"Can I ask you some questions?"

He glanced over at his human friend. She shook her head.

"You should not be here," she said.

"It's not safe," the turquoise hatchling agreed.

"Go back to your own clan while you still can," the human said. "Before he decides that he wants-."

She froze. Then the pair of kids bolted. Darting away from me and the table full of food, and into the cornfield.

"Curious," I said

"Weird," Brooklyn said at the same time.

"What is happening?" Benuthet asked, sliding up behind us, wrapping his arms around me instinctively.

I sighed in frustration.

"I was just trying to get those hatchlings to open up to me. Something must have spooked them," I said, nuzzling his mane with my forehead crest.

"They're just playing a game, I'm certain," Obsidian said slithering up next to us.

I wasn't convinced however. This village was scared. These people were terrified. And I couldn't help but think that somehow Obsidian was responsible.

"My love," I said, pulling Benuthet to my side. "You must try the proper cacao."

"I would be delighted," my mate said, taking the small cup. He took a sip. His eyes then widened, and he began coughing.

"I did not quite expect it to be so spicy," he commented, coughing still.

"You were expecting something like the sweets of the Germani, am I right?" I said smirking.

He nodded sheepishly.

"Silly Sak Chakmool," I said shaking my head.

"Only for you, my Meryt Nefer," he replied.

"As cute as you guys are…" Brooklyn said.

"He is right," I turned towards Benuthet. "It is time to deal with the threat of the Huay Chivo."

He nodded in agreement.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Zee…Are you LOST?" Brooklyn asked me incredulously.

Frustrated I slashed at a nearby bush with my obsidian blade. A low growl gurgled up from my throat. My eyes flickered red.

"Sorry I asked?" Brooklyn said backing away. I sighed in frustration.

"Three hundred Haab," I sighed, releasing a deep breath. "Is in fact, a very long time. The Green is…completely different from my time. None of the trees or trails is the same. I'm not even certain where this cave Benuthet spoke of is. It might have collapsed or filled with water and become a cenote by my time."

"I can attempt to reconstruct the path from memory, if you would like, my Meryt," Benuthet said quietly.

"I feel so useless," I muttered under my breath.

"Let me look around and see if I can get my bearings," Benuthet said. "Things often look different during the day."

"I'll go with you," Brooklyn commented. "I need to talk to you about something anyway. It's magic related."

I sat down on a stone as Benuthet and Brooklyn stepped out of my sight, Fu-dog and Kebechet following on their heels. I curled my tail around the stone and closed my eyes, focusing my mind.

"You have become a monster, Brother," I said. "And you must be destroyed."

My eyes snapped open and I sucked in more air.

"I can do this," I murmured. Obsidiano and my balanced-mother, my wise-mother, my hunter-father, my teacher-father…All of my parents taught me to be strong, and I refused to be weak. To give into my fears, my insecurities was the ultimate weakness. I had to—

My thoughts were interrupted by the Chakmool that attacked me from behind. The cat was clawing at my back and had me pinned down before I even realized what was happening.

It was very unusual for a jaguar to attack a coatl, they much prefer to hunt Howlers or peccaries. We are usually too tough or dangerous for them to take on. But this one had attacked from behind, taking me completely off guard. I was pinned and the beast was clawing at my back.

"ARRRRGH!" I roared, my vision blurring slightly with the surge of red-tint that indicated my eyes were glowing.

Suddenly I heard the sound of a beast barking, and the weight of the Chakmool on my back was gone. I was on my feet in a flash as I saw Fu-dog grappling with the jaguar. I also noticed something unique about this jaguar. A bloodstone pendant dangled from its neck. I recognized that pendant.

"Good boy, Fu-dog," I said, surging forward and snapping the pendant off of the jaguar's neck. It suddenly looked panic-stricken, confirming my suspicions. It barreled past Fu-dog, and lunged at me. I clutched the pendant tightly but allowed the bloodstone to come in contact with the jaguar's flesh. A soft red glow surrounded the animal, and a moment later a young mayan girl stood in the jaguar's place. I pulled the pendant back, and tucked it into the belt of my loincloth.

"Please," she said, as Fu-dog growled at her. "Please…He'll kill me."

"Who will..." I started to ask when I heard a sharp whistle from the Green. Fu-dog was off like a shot into the underbrush. When I glanced back, the girl had taken off too. In the opposite direction.

"Zee!" Brooklyn exclaimed as he and Benuthet rushed out of the brush to my side. "Jesus! What happened to you?"

"I was attacked by a Chakmool," I said.

Benuthet cocked an eyebrow ridge at me as he fished an Orichalcum Crystal from his satchel.

"Not you, my love," I said. "An actual jaguar…Or not an actual Jaguar. I believe you recognize this?"

I held up the bloodstone pendant carved into the shape of jaguar head.

"I do indeed," Benuthet said, pressing the cold Orichalum up against the claw marks on my back. I could feel the surges of energy as he healed each wound. "The talisman that allowed Six-Jaguar to shapeshift."

"It was a woman. She ran off before I could question why she assaulted me," I said. "Though I have some suspicions. If not for Fu-dog however, I suspect that this might have been time for my Wind Ceremony."

"What?" Brooklyn asked.

"Fu-dog rescued me from the Were-Jaguar," I repeated.

"Fu-dog and Kebechet were with us the entire time," Brooklyn said. "They never left our sight."

"My love," Benuthet said, before I could ponder this, as he healed the last scratch. "Why did you not tell me about what happened at this pyramid when you were a hatchling?"

I felt my eyes flicker red again, and I turned and snarled at Brooklyn. "You TOLD him?"

"Sorry Zee," Brooklyn said, stepping back. "I'm pulling rank. You guys elected me leader. So I made a judgment call."

"The Phoenix made you leader," Benuthet said, turning me around so that I could look him in the eyes. "The fact that we chose to follow you on the journey makes us your followers, Brooklyn. And I…Love you more than words can ever express, my Zafira. My evening star. I do not wish to see you in pain."

"I do not wish for my weaknesses to-," I started to say.

"My love," Benuthet interrupted. "Pain is not weakness. On the contrary, it is the Creator's way of reminding us that we are still alive. And that pain is NOT a burden to be shouldered alone. We are mates. You and I will be one forever. Your pain is my pain, and my pain is yours. You know my burden."

He tapped his satchel.

"I was a slave of Apophis, tricked by a gargoyle I thought I loved," Benuthet said. "After Isfet…I never dreamed I'd ever find love. Never even looked for it. But Fate and the Phoenix had other plans, and saw fit to bring me to you. You took on my burdens and my pain, and stood by my side in my darkest hour. Will you not allow me to the same?"

"Oh I am such a fool," I said. I lunged forward and embraced Benuthet. "Can you ever forgive me, my love?"

"There is nothing to forgive," Benuthet said. "So long as going forward, we face everything together."

"And you say, 'Brooklyn was Right'," Brooklyn said, grinning mischievously. "Anytime."

"I will kiss a Howler before I say such a thing," I said, grabbing a clump of moss and flinging it at Brooklyn.

'Lucky monkey," Benuthet said chuckling.

"Yeah, she's back," Brooklyn said rolling his eyes. "Now let's show her the thing."

"What thing?" I demanded, eyeing the boys suspiciously.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"There should not be a temple here," I said staring at the small grey pyramid.

"That's what Benny said," Brooklyn commented.

"There is where I saw the cave in my Ba dream," Benuthet said quietly.

"But now it's a pyramid," I said. "Could your vision have been wrong?"

"Ba dreams are not visions," Benuthet said. "My spirit physically occupies the location where it wanders to. I'm there, literally, in spirit, tethered to my body by my Ka."

"You're saying that this pyramid…" I murmured. "Was built in the time between your dream and now?"

"It is the only explanation." Benuthet said.

"It doesn't make sense," I said. "Mayans build pyramids in fives. One in the center, and four satellite pyramids for each cardinal direction. ChacIzchel is the center. CamazotzKukulcan is the easternmost pyramid. K'waiilAhPukuh is the northernmost. IxtabGukumatz is westernmost, and CipactliTzultacaj lies to the south. There shouldn't be a pyramid here. It flies in defiance of the Mayan religion."

"Yeah we think that it's a trap too," Brooklyn commented dryly.

"It must be," I said. "And the entrance is at the base, not the top. This is not how Mayan Pyramids are designed."

"So we gonna go spring the trap, or what?" Brooklyn wondered.

"We must," Benuthet said. "Those goat-creatures must be dealt with."

"Zee," Brooklyn said. "I know that you're not exactly having a fun time here, but…"

"You need me to take point," I said drawing my obsidian blade. "Because I am likely to know what lies beyond.

Benuthet picked up a sturdy looking branch and wrapped several linens from his satchel around the end of it. He took his curved ivory wand and tapped the tip of the stick. "A'max"

It ignited into a torch.

I approached the entrance to the cave. A bat attempted to fly out of the entrance to the pyramid, only to be snatched out of the air by a centipede as thick as my arm dangling from the entrance.

"Jesus!" Brooklyn yelped in surprise.

"Yeshua?" Benuthet wondered.

"I would advise not getting stung by those centipedes," I said. "They are not deadly—well not to us—but their sting is extremely painful and will last until dawn."

"Sound advice," Benuthet said quietly as we ducked under the dangling centipedes. I shuddered at the memory of this same centipede crawling down my rookery brother's back.

The interior of the pyramid appeared to be hollow. It was just a large open space. I saw no sign of the Huay Chivo.

"Perhaps," Benuthet started to say, when a loud scrabbling sound interrupted his thoughts. He held his torch aloft and recoiled in horror, we all did, at the sight before us.

It was a massive centipede. As thick as a crocodile, its many legs scrabbling along the ground before us. Fu-dog and Kebechet growled at it. It was at least 40 arm-lengths long.

"Holy shit!" Brooklyn exclaimed.

"The chinks in the armor look vulnerable!" Benuthet said. With a lunge, he took his sword and struck at the creature. Brooklyn and I instinctively followed suit. We each struck at a segment of centipede approximately 10 arm-lengths apart. The creature shrieked in pain and collapsed. We had cut into quarters.

"That was easier than I thought," Brooklyn said.

11. 16. 0. 8. 6

"If you would be so kind," Obsidiano—or as I knew him, Box, said, handing the tapir-skin drums to my gray-skinned balanced rookery mother. She gently placed the drums in her lap and began beating in a soothing rhythm.

"Now," Obsidiano said. "Where did we leave off last night?"

"The Hero Twins had just slipped past the Nine Death Lords!" My green-skinned bat-faced rookery brother yelled.

"Ah yes," Obsidiano said. "Of course."

He words fell into rhythm with my rookery mother's drumbeats, and he began to recount the story from memory, exactly as he had been told it when he was a hatchling.

"The twins dove deeper into Xibalba," Obsidiano continued. "Only to find their path blocked by a centipede as thick as a coatl. Fearing nothing the twins struck the centipede in two places, cutting into thirds. But this was no ordinary centipede. Oh no. This was Eek' Chapaat! The Demon Centipede. When cut along his body, Eek' Chapaat would regenerate, and each piece would become a new centipede. Suddenly the Twins faced not one, but now three giant Centipedes, each with their own venomous pincers."

11. 1. 16. 8. 6

"Eek' Chapaat!" I realized suddenly and far too late. I lunged forward and rammed my obsidian blade into the first segment of the centipede that I had cut. But I was too late. Because the three other sections of the giant centipede had begun moving, the first segment of each having transformed into a new head.

"Oh crap," Brooklyn muttered. At that moment a gust of wind passed through the entrance to the cave, and Benuthet's torchlight blew out.

"Crap indeed," Benuthet said dryly. A giant centipede lunged out of the darkness at my face.

"Crap!" I yelped. It was an understatement.

To Be Continued…