New Chapter!

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Xochiquetzal was dying. She had known it was coming, felt it in the way her bones would ache and creek more and more everyday over the past few years when she awoke, but she had not realized how quickly it was coming. If the pain that was running through her body was any sort of indication, her end would be much sooner than she could ever hope for. As a nation built on and through warrior's blood, she had never really expected to live long, and so was not afraid of the end, welcomed it even, but she didn't think it would be so slow and painful... her very hair was on fire with pain and felt as if it weighed a ton, she could feel each strand pulling her closer and closer to the underworld. It was almost as if her very body was fighting to kill itself before anyone else was given the chance to end her suffering.

But it wasn't as if she had the luxury of showing such weakness to her family let alone the court, or the warriors gathered around her and Namictli (spouse) in the large hall in front of them as they sat above the inhabitance of the room in two large thrones as they waited for her children… her two wonderful little Mocentlalia Ahuiliztli (joy gatherers), so full of the Tlanequiliztli (will power) and Tletl (fire) of the very sun running through their vanes; but how would they fair without her and her Namictli? For she knew they would survive long after her death, both of them, regardless of the troubles that came their way, for they were anything but quitters and of all of the Gods that preceded them they had the will to continue on in this new world consuming them. Even this close to death she had no trouble believing they would continue on and make her proud.

She allowed a small smile to slip past the stiff mask of a Goddess she was wearing as the thought crossed her mind. Those two will survive simply to spite the Caxtiltecatl that come to kill us… beside her, Namictli caught her eye and flashed a quick grin, flashing strait pear white teeth at her before turning his attention back to their audience, hardening his features again but she could still see that childish glint in his eyes she had fallen in love with so long ago from across the battle field… Tenochtitlan and Cihuacóatl had both inherited that trait… She chuckled softly and shook her head abandoning her Goddess persona completely as her dark hair moved freely under her ornate headdress, glistening and jingling in the silent sun lit room, startling some of her followers, but relaxing more than a few warriors. They knew if their Teotl (God/Awesome) was laughing, they had nothing to fear…at least not yet.

Beside her, Namictli cracked another small smile as he basked in the sound of his wife's beautiful laugh, something he hadn't had the pleasure of doing in far too long for his tastes. He knew she hid her pain from him, and cursed himself every day for not being able to ease her pain. He turned his head slightly as she continued to smile staring out over the people that had gathered around them, her dark skin shining in the heat and sun that flooded into the room from its open walls. He gave a small inaudible sigh as he felt his heart simultaneously swell and brake at her beauty all over again. They had met many years ago on the battel field and it's a moment he would never forget and always cherish. Locking his crimson eyes with her beautiful brown and gold rimed pools of passion and lust had been the best thing to ever happen to him, and even though he was beaten that day, he still counts it as the best day of his life, seconded only by the days that he found his little warriors and their family become complete.

Xochiquetzal met his eyes as her smile warmed into a soft lift on her lips, almost invisible, but he loved to catch sight of it because it was a smile meant only for him, something that no other would notice but that made him fall in love with her more every time he saw it. He was forever teased by his children about being such a sap for their mother, but he didn't mind. She was more than worth it. She reached out to take his's hand, squeezing it before they turned to face the open air hall in front of them again, Godly mask back in place.

The long ornate Hall was filled with not only the royal army's commanders, but also representatives of both her children's regiments, as well as the messenger from Yucatan, who was standing in the middle of the hall, looking more than a little nervous in the presents of two Gods and all their might, which although meager in size, to him looked fierce enough to conquer any enemy. The poor boy looked as if he was going to soil himself when she laughed, and had flinched away from them on his knees his long dark hair covering his face as he bent his head down more. It wasn't that the sound was unpleasant, it had in fact sent shivers of pleasure down the boy's back, it was just that he had never heard a God laugh, heck he had never even seen a God before today.

It was more than humbling having to be in their presence dressed in only a loincloth, and not even his best one! When he had been choses it had been for his speed, not his status as the elders where far more concerned in the village's safety than formalities. He cursed his luck again at his appearance, his sandals were beaten from work in the fields and he was sure he had at least a few leaves in his hair from running through the woods so quickly. It was usually a four-day trip from Yucatan to the capitol, and that's if you have a raft to get you closer, which he did, but with his speed, he had made it in three and a half. He was sea worn, covered in dirt from the woods and he was existed from the trip alone, this nerve racking experience was not helping that, nor was the fact that he hadn't eaten since landing ashore over 15 hours ago, having run through the night to get here as fast as he could. Over all he was just ready to find a nice place to take a nap before heading home again and for this whole ordeal to be over with.

Xochiquetzal took pity on the boy as he slowly raised his head to bravely meet her eyes with his dark brown ones, his courage and the exhaustion flowing off of him in waves brought a soft reassuring smile to her lips as she returned his stare. The boy was in his late teens/early twenties, and was a fisherman by trade from what he had already told them. As such he was slim and tall for his age, but lacked a warrior's built and bulk of muscles, as was common in villages around the coast, not that he lacked strength. Her quick warriors mind saw potential in his body, he had strong shoulders from living off the land and when he walked in, she had noted the strength in his legs before he kneeled. The boy had to be quick on flat ground and likely be able to clime and maneuver through trees and woods as he was familiar with the terrain having grown up so close to it. And if he was to be believed, he had cut a six-day trip down to nearly half the time with both his quick mind and speed. Not many dare use the sea as a sort cut to the capitol as it is fraught with danger but this boy didn't seem to have had any problem with it.

He would make a wonderful friend for Icniuhtli and Miztan…She smiled again at the thought, him making the boy's heart jump at the attention before he again bowed his head to hide his growing blush at her attention. Namictli raised an eyebrow at the boy's blush smirking a little at his wife, squeezing her hand again. Can't blame the kid… gets me every time too. The boy took another deep breath trying to calm himself again.

He had not expected so much attention when he actually got to the capital and inform the Emperor that strange ships had appeared on the coast, and in fact he hadn't. Moctezuma's court had almost not even listed to the message, deeming it not worth their time, making him more than a little annoyed with the whole trip but he had thought that to be the end of it. It wasn't until he had almost been out of the city in search for a place to nap that the guards of the Temple had informed him that he would be coming with them to speak to the Gods.

He had thought it was all a big mistake. Who was he to speak to Gods!? The court was one thing; he was only to address a man of Moctezuma's court not the man himself! But this! He was just an orphan fisherman, the occasional trader, he had no right to look upon the very soul of his land! Imagen his shock and fear as he was nearly picked up and presented to the very Gods he worshiped, Xochiquetzal and Mictlantecuhtli, goddess of love and god of death. Both as terribly awesome as he had ever dreamed and more. The smile sent his way by Xochiquetzal was returned shyly after he calmed down and he relaxed a little as he felt the peace that was rumored to engulf one when in the presence of one of the few Gods still left in the land. The Achtontli (Great-grandfather, ancestor) in the village he grew up in passed down stories about how other Gods once roamed the land, but how that over time they would ascend to heaven to watch over the land, making those Gods they had left on land all the more precious to the people, they to them.

There was a sudden noise at the entrance of the temple, pulling peoples attention from their own thoughts to the two young Gods who came racing into the room as if demons where at their backs, sweeping past the started messenger to kneel before their parents, leaving him to marvel at their speed as they came to an abrupt stop in front of him to kneel themselves. "You...called..." the younger of the two gasped as he and his sister tried to catch their breaths listening to them echo in the silent hall around them their heads bowed waiting to be addressed.

"Yes we did…it would seem you got the message" their Tahtli said with a raised eyebrow as he watched his children begin to breath normally again. His wife chuckled silently beside him at their antics and the look on the poor boy's face behind them. We'll be lucky if the boy lives long enough to finish his mission. From the look on his face, he may die of shock first.

"We did Tahtli….and I think… I know why… you have called us…." Miztan said as she lifted her head to meet her Father's deep red and gold rimed eyes with her own still fighting to get her breath under control as her brother stiffened beside her. As the God of death, Mictlantecuhtli was feared and respected, however, had he been born a normal warrior, it would have been the same. For his appearance was strikingly different from all of those around him. His hair was the color of the Cetl (ice/snow) that fell high in the mountains, but one could hardly see it for although he wore it as long if not longer than other warriors, it was so fair it was almost lost behind the gold chains and feathers adorning his headdress. His skill was as pail as bones without flesh, darkened only by the tattoos that described his rise to power as a warrior that adorned most of his body. Most striking however where his eyes. The color that seemed to reflect his surroundings on the battle field, the deep red surrounded by the gold adorning those he slain. He was a sight to behold when covered in the blood of the vanquished, and hard to miss on the battle field, something he relished and encouraged in his earlier days as the God of Death.

Now however he withheld a heavy sigh feeling the centuries of his age weighing him down as he stared into the eyes of his daughter, eyes fart too wise for her appearance, something that never failed to sadden him. Although neither of his children shared any real physical traits with him, both being of much darker skin, though Miztan was far lighter than her brother, and both had very unique eyes of their own; like any father he still wished to guard them from the harm and death that surrounded them every day. Turning his head slightly to catch his wives eye, he saw the understanding and fear for their daughter he felt reflected in her own dark eyes. They both new what this meant.

As a young girl Miztan was often pledged with visions whenever something of importance was to happen, usually proceeding a major war and seemingly endless death. Over the past century they were almost nonexistent, the fact that they had come back did not sit well with either of her parents. Next to her, her brother tensed as he watched emotions fly between his parents. He had always been very in tuned to the emotions of those around him, and could even see the emotions of those closest to his own if he tried hard enough or if the emotions where strong enough. Not many knew of his gift, really only his sister did, as he didn't feel comfortable enough to tell his parents, afraid of what they might do with the information. Miztan squeezed the hand still in her own as she felt him tense, giving silent comfort as her eyes stayed glued to their mother waiting to meet her eye.

Xochiquetzal returned her gaze after a moment, eyes now those of a harden warrior and God as she nodded her understanding and motioned for her children to stand and take their places between their father and herself, squeezing her Namictli hand one last time before releasing it and turning her eyes to the messenger still shaking and kneeling before them, more nervous now that the gaze of more Gods had turned towards him again.

"Ilhuia motenehua conetl (Tell me your name, child)" she asked with a warm smile to reassure the poor boy, her voice like liquid gold carried through the hall even as she kept her tone quite. It seemed to work to calm the boy as his shoulders relaxed a bit and he met her smile with a shy one of his own.

"Yolotl Aztecatl (heart of the Aztecs)" he said quietly as a blush covered his face finding the irony of the situation more than a bit embarrassing, yet again cursing his luck and whatever god was making a fool of him this day. Xochiquetzal simply smiled wider, seeming to shine in her seat as she quietly chuckled to herself, she felt more than saw her family have a similar reaction. Icniuhtli and Miztan glanced at each other and grinned as their Tahtli stifled a very un-warrior like giggle, this relaxed their messenger a bit more observing such high beings act so human was more than a bit comforting.

"What is your message that our dear Emperor felt the need to ignore?" Mictlantecuhtli asked quietly, humor suddenly gone as he fought the constant annoyance he felt towards the current ruler of the land, a man that in his opinion was far too focused on legends than reality. Who was he to say that the gods needed to be satisfied with blood? Was he a God? No! But still the man refused to listen to those Gods he had at his disposal and continued to try an appease ones long since gone, with the savage act of sacrifice. Icniuhtli placed a hand on his father's shoulder to help center him in the present moment and bring his attention back to the matter at hand before he frightened the boy in front of them needlessly. He knew his father sometimes forgot just how menacing he could be when simply thinking.

Yolotl bowed his head at the look in his God's eyes, taking a deep breath to calm himself before addressing the Gods in front of him, fighting the overwhelming energy that seemed to radiate off of the family. "I come from my humble village on the coast to inform the court that we have spotted strange ships off of shore, much larger than any that have come before to trade, by now those ships may very well have docked, bringing with them we do not know what, we ask our co-… our Gods what we should do with these developments." Having given his message, Yolotl bent his head down waiting for a response, but the voice he heard was not the one he had expected, nor did it give the answer he would have thought her to give.

"We will gather a force and meet these ships, drive them from this land and assure that they do not return." Miztan said in a fiercely, her eyes shining and back strait as she addressed not only Yolotl, but the entire room, demanding that they listen. She made quite the sight to Yolotl, and he could not have imagined the amount of power and respect that resided inside the small purple eyed girl that allowed her to command such a large room filled with so many warriors. Standing just taller than the two older Gods sitting on either side of her, she should have looked frail and small but as he gazed up the idles to her, he felt an overwhelming need to do just as she said, and to see it done quickly to bring a smile to her young face rather than that look of resigned determination that now covered it. Her eyes where hard and narrowed as she met the eye of the warriors in front of her, standing tall and slightly forward, like a cat ready to pounce.

On either side of her, her parents stiffened but said nothing, silently dreading what they new would come. Next to her, Icniuhtli sighed quietly but showed no other emotion. He would back his sister up, regardless of her rash decision, and pray to the Sun that nothing would go too horribly. Around them, the room seemed to radiate with energy and that morbid excitement that proceeded any battle, feeding off of itself and spreading outward making the small number of warriors exude the power and menace of a full army.

After what seemed like years of tense silence, the heads of the Ocelotl (Jaguar) and Cuicuizcati (Swallow) regiment stepped forward and kneeled to their commanders. "We are ready at your command my Lady." Miztan' commander said as he bowed his head. She nodded and began to address both commanders, soon messengers were being sent to different parts of the city to start gathering warriors and supplies. Icniuhtli sighed at his sisters antics and shook her head before stepping down to stand before the messenger to help the boy stand, shocking not only the boy but many of those watching. His parents simply smiled as his sister ignored the action, she knew he would care for the boy wail she dealt with the rest of their departure planning.

"Come on Yolotl, let's get you something to eat, you look like you could use it, and I'm a little hungry myself." The young god said before taking his hand and leading him further into the temple towards the kitchens. Yolotl' eyes widened as he was led away, being touched by a GOD! He looked towards the idles still seated and was shocked yet again to see the God laughing in his seat and the Goddess playfully smacking his shoulder and nodding to him to go on and fallow her son, not that he had much of a choice in the matter as he was being basically dragged by the surprisingly strong boy.

"OH, grab me something too Icniuhtli!" Miztan yelled over her shoulder at her brother as she continued to make plans, reading some of them men already present to leave immediately, it would take the full force at least five days to reach the intruders if they stayed on the beach, so they needed a quick and small group to move on ahead and slow the enemy down. Icniuhtli waved her off, having known she would ask for something. These Gods are nothing like I imagined… Yolotl thought as he was dragged and then forced to sit in the kitchen as servants began to place food in front of him and the young God, other having been sent to deliver food to those left behind in the grand hall.

After a clam and relaxing meal with the young God ("Just call me Icniuhtli, everyone else here does, it's no big deal anymore" he had been told) he was lead back to the main hall where a flurry of preparations was taking place and sooner than seemed possible, they were ready to head towards his village, a regiment of almost 700 behind them, some hundred having already left in front of them. The speed of it all left Yolotl' head spinning as he was again ushered towards the front of the group by Icniuhtli, seemingly to lead the way back to his small village with the young gods where at that moment Spain was leading his 300 some men inland, casually swinging his large ax back and forth in front of him to knock down the trees and other foliage in his way.

"Do you think we'll find anything worth keeping on the way to this 'floating capital'?" Francisco asked as he walked casually, almost arrogantly next to his nation, as if on a nice stroll down a busy street of Barcelona rather than a jungle, an effect that was somewhat lessened as he stumbled over a fallen branch. Spain laughed as he helped him keep his balance but otherwise didn't comment as he responded.

"Oh I am sure we will find many things worth keeping here….and many more worth not…" with a bright smile he continued on his way, ignoring the yell of pain given off by the man who had been hiding in the bushes he had just cut into before the man's blood landed on his exposed arm. "Oh sorry Amigo! You really shouldn't be hiding in bushes though, it could be dangerous." He said as he swung his ax down again, chopping the man in half diagonal from his left shoulder to his right hip. Blood splattered onto the trees around them and seeped into the land as Antonio shook his head and wiped what had landed on his cheek off with a handkerchief handed to him by a slightly shocked Francisco behind him. He had heard of the nation's strength and brutality from others but seeing it first hand was a bit shocking. Antonio caught the look in his man's eye and smiled kindly as he finished wiping the blood off of his face and handed back the handkerchief, letting what had landed on his armor roll off and into the dirt itself. "I don't like to see them suffer…unless I want them to of course."

"O-of course…" Francisco muttered as he watched blood drip down the plants and trees around them it had landed on, almost as if it were tears being shed by the land itself. He had a distinct feeling at that moment that this was the beginning of something that no one would be able to stop or control…and that although they may have spilled the first drops of blood on this land, it would demand twice as much from them… the very thought sent cold shivers down his spine as they continued moving towards the city rumored to be ahead. Antonio smiled and whistled a little as he stepped over the man he had killed, leaving his body to be taking care of by his men, his mind on reaching the capitol as fast as he could in order to capture that cute little girl he had seen in his vision.

The other men scatter in hiding around the path these strangers where forcing through the jungle watched in horror as the man who had just killed one of their own simply walk over the body and continue to destroy their bountiful jungle, smiling absently and whistling… they felt rage take over what fear may have been in their hearts. These strangers would pay for what they had done and continued to do the land…

It would take these men at least a day to reach the town, maybe less if they continued through the night, but by then it would be deserted. All of the women and children would be gone to the caves nearer the shore and the men would be waiting to fight them in the jungle that separated them from the next town, for there they would make their stand and wait for the troops from the city to arrive hopefully before the strangers pushed too far ahead, or they would be able to gather more men from different villages soon for they were hopelessly out numbered with only about 150 able men in their small village to defend it, but defend it they would, for no man in the Empire would fall to these pail skinned demons without a fight.