THE GLORY OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION

Gabrielle could feel her mind getting hazy she could also feel her body begging for sleep she'd been on the horse for what felt like hours. Her gaze drifted across the dark open ocean again, she could see the moon which was now high in the sky. Maybe she had got this all wrong and they were going in the wrong direction. She breathed in deeply she really needed to sleep. Her gaze shifted sharply as she caught sight of a huge land mass raising out of the ocean its mountain ranges towering over the sea. "There it is!" She pulled on the reigns hard watching as Xena came up behind her, her lover looked just as tired and worn down as she did. "That's one the Canaria islands! We can set up for the night on the beach."

Xena breathed in deeply as she brought Argo around slightly as they moved towards the island mass which she could only just make out in the darkness. It was filled with forests and grassy mountains. She eyed Itzli who had been quite the whole time though he had started to shuffle around in saddle which meant he needed to find a bush to relive himself. Gabrielle sighed aloud as she guided her horse down towards the beach bellow. They had passed by so many ships that she and Xena had started to play a little game about which country they were from by ether looking at their sails or masts. She eased up on the reigns as she landed on the sandy beach which stretched out for miles along the coast.

She turned watching as Xena landed behind her bringing Argo to a stop, her lover slowly eased herself of the winged mare who snorted. She breathed in easing herself of her own horse. Her gaze drifted slightly as she leaned against the saddle stretched her legs trying to get rid of the numbness. Xena turned pulling Itzli off the horse he grunted aloud as he fidgeted slightly. "Well this place doesn't look so bad." She moved forward only to feel her foot hit something hard which caused her stumble. Gabrielle smiled as she looked down catching the sight of a large sea turtle at her lover's feet. "You should be careful of the sea turtles they like to crawl up on the beaches during the night to lay their eggs." Xena looked down eyeing the large turtle whose huge fins moved in a flowing motion as it pushed sand aside pulling itself further up the beach.

She moved her foot aside gently watching as it carried on moving. "I'll keep that in mind." Gabrielle pulled the Aztec bag out of her horses pack swinging it over her shoulder. Her gaze moved to Itzli who was fidgeting. "What's wrong with you?" Itzli snorted in disgust. "What do you thinks wrong with me! I've been stuck on a flying horse all day and now I need to find a bush to relive myself!" Xena looked up sharply not understanding the language again. "What did he say?" Gabrielle slowly took hold of the Mexican warrior's ropes. "He needs to use the nearest bush." She pulled him forward sharply. "I'll take him." Xena raised an eyebrow. "I'll set up the camp…and start a fire." She watched as the un-dead horse sat down on the beach spreading its wings on the sand as it relaxed it's self.

Itzli turned slightly watching as the warrior woman started freeing the saddle from her golden horse who was now sitting on the sand spreading its wings. He turned back eyeing the Blood Jaguar. "You know I'd like to relive myself in peace!" Gabrielle eyed him as she unravelled the cord on the rope lengthening it as they came close to a tree she turned slightly. "Get on with it." She breathed in annoyance ignoring the sounds behind her, she just wanted to sleep. Itzli grunted aloud as he turned. "I've finished." Gabrielle turned watching as he smoothed down his highly decorated hanging cloth. Gabrielle pulled the rope forward harshly. "Good." Itzli turned slightly. "May I ask you a question?"

Gabrielle sneered slightly. "No." Itzli grunted aloud pulling on his ropes. "What is it about that tall strapping warrior woman that gets you so turned on?" Gabrielle pulled him forward harshly. "Shut up!" Itzli laughed slightly. "Can't you just answer me for once in your miserable life?" Gabrielle stopped sharply her gaze slowly meeting his. "I'm not with her because she turns me on I'm with her because I love her." She turned yanking him forward. "She loves me back and that's all that matters." Itzli laughed slightly enjoying the sounds of his own mocking laugh as it filled the night air. "Oh I see its love… so it has nothing to do with the fact that she probably makes you scream in the bedro…." Gabrielle didn't think as she slammed her boot in to his ankle causing him to cry out in pain.

"Is everything okay?"

Gabrielle turned sharply seeing her lover who looked up slightly from her position on her knees where she was trying to light the fire. "It's great." Itzli snorted in disgust feeling the pain. "Bitch…." Gabrielle narrowed her gaze turning to him she raised her hand to say something but stopped as she noticed her lovers eyes meet her own. "I'll just tie him to my horse so he doesn't try to escape again." She pulled Itzli over quickly tying his ropes to her un-dead horse's reins before shoving him in to a sitting position. She eyed the horse whose red eyes moved slightly. "If he tries to run away please bite him." The horse screeched showing off all its razor sharp teeth causing Itzli to pull back. Itzli eyed the open mouth. "Can we talk about this!?"

Gabrielle slowly sat down next to fire watching as her lover carried on striking the hard steel against the flint with its char cloth. "No we can't." Xena raised an eyebrow. "I should have the fire up in a moment." Gabrielle slowly eased of the pendent. "Xena you don't need to do that." She pulled her sai blade up slicing it harshly across the pendent which caused sparks to fly. She lowered the pendent striking it again over the wood shavings which began to smoulder. She dropped both items quickly picking up the wood buddle and breathing on to it. She pulled back sharply as the flames burst outwards violently. She quickly put it on the fire wood watching as it started to burn. "You see no need for char cloth."

Xena eyed the pendent as her lover put it back on, it didn't have a scratch on it. "That's useful." She slowly turned pulling all there food free from the pack. "What do you feel like eating?" Gabrielle eyed the food. "Did my mother pack any nut bread?" Xena slowly pulled out a wrapped the bundle. "Yes she did." She slowly passed the cut loaf to her lover. Her eyes wandered as she looked at the food she eased up the plain bread and goat's cheese somehow the dried meat really didn't take her fancy. She eyed Itzli. "What does he want?" Gabrielle eyed Itzli as she laid out both blankets. "Are you hungry?" Itzli kept his eye on the dead horse who just snorted lowering its head. "I don't want any of your disgusting Greek food!"

Gabrielle sighed aloud as she lay back on the blanket watching as the sea turtle close by began to create a hole in the sand. "No he's not hungry." Xena breathed in deeply as she lay back looking out at the open ocean for a moment. "Where do we go from here?" Gabrielle looked up slightly she followed her lovers gaze. "The next island stop is called Cuba its going to be another whole day's travel." Xena look a slow bite enjoying the taste of the goat's cheese. "What's in Cuba?" Gabrielle looked up slightly. "Merchant ships, lots of them…it's a stop of for some of most foul traders you'll ever come across." Xena sat up slightly. "Sounds thrilling…." Gabrielle narrowed her gaze. "That is assuming that time has changed there if it has they'll be no ships there."

Gabrielle took a bite from the nut bread feeling her mouth almost explode due to the taste sensation. She had missed this so much it felt ages since she'd eaten her mother's recipe. "I need to see one of those foul traders if he's there." Xena raised an eyebrow. "Why?" Gabrielle looked down slightly. "He owes me money." Xena blinked for a moment. "Some one owes you money…Gabrielle no ones ever owed you money?" Gabrielle finished the slice of bread she slowly put the rest of loaf back in the pack. "Well he does, he owes me a lot of money in fact." Xena slowly finished her meal she laid back slightly. "We'll make sure that you get your money back."

Gabrielle breathed in deeply trying not to think back to her money issues after her lover's death. Her income had dropped substantially because she wasn't considered the hero and no one wanted to give her the money that they'd given Xena. Despite her scrolls being so popular her heroic deeds in the past meant little to most people. She'd found herself feeling empty when she'd told stories from her scrolls in taverns and academy's. The words hurt her heart as she spoke them and she'd found it difficult to focus. She could still see herself on the stage in Athens and feeling her voice break and the words leave her as he hands began to shake as her painful emotions surfaced.

She'd found that most her income had come from doing jobs in places and helping farmers who needed help with bandits or loose beasts who were terrorising people. Towards the end of her travels almost all this income had been drunk away in taverns and bars in Greece. She hadn't slept with anyone else after Xena's death. She had no interest in anything they offered her or their low forms of flattery they weren't Xena and as far as she was concerned they didn't compare on any level and they were an annoyance which just caused her violent temper to flare up. It also meant that she'd been thrown out of the taverns constantly because she'd lashed out in anger wanting to be left alone.

She lay back again slowly shaking the memories off as she felt the tiredness finally kick in she found her eyes slowly closing as the feeling swept through her body. The waves crashing against the shore only made her feel drowsier. The world slowly faded in to darkness as her dreams slowly took over. Xena turned slightly. "Who is this person who owes you…?" She breathed in hearing the gentle shoring as it hit the air, her lover was fast asleep. She sighed aloud slowly putting the cover over the younger woman it was hardly surprising. They'd been flying all through the day and they'd left quite early in the morning not wanting to wait for the afternoon. She looked out slowly across the sea she was sure that tomorrow wouldn't be much better.

Her gaze drifted back to Itzli who was seated calmly now, the un-dead horse wings slowly rose up as the first gusts of winds blew across the beach. She watched as Argo slowly did the same which stopped the wind from coming through behind her and Gabrielle. She eased out some dried meat slowly passing it to Itzli who said nothing as he took it. She watched as he began to bite down on it he obviously was hungry after all. She leaned against Argo who snorted slightly shuffling in sand where she was sitting down. "So much for long conversations ha girl?" Argo snorted again only to look up as the other horse turned screeching. Xena raised her eyebrow. "I guess your agreeing to." She turned to Itzli who was giving her an odd look. "I'm guessing you don't understand a word I'm saying, do you?"

Itzli said nothing as he finished the dried meat the un-dead horse shuffled getting more comfortable in its sitting position on the sand. He'd never understood why people talked to their animals and he wasn't even going to try to understand it animals were there to serve not to be pets in his view. Xena eased her blanket across so she next to her lover who was shielded by Argo side. She threw the spare blanket over to the Mexican warrior who quickly took it wrapping it around himself. She slowly moved closer putting her arm around the younger woman ignoring Itzli who shuffled to the dead horse's side so he was closer to the fire and shielded from the wind before lying himself down as best he could so he could sleep. She turned back gently running her hand through the long blonde hair feeling her lover's arm turn over and wrap her arm around her waist. She smiled slightly before lying down fully. They'd be in Mexica in less than a day and she had no idea what she was in for. She breathed in letting her thoughts go as she pulled her blanket up further closing her eyes.

In The Lands Of Mexica

Lila could feel herself shivering as she was pulled back up the temples steps which led to the feathers serpents keep. It was getting dark now and she could see the blackness spreading slowly across the sky. Amoxtli was walking beside her she was carrying the objects in baskets which had been left at the foot of the temple as tribute by the strange animals which were called llamas. For the first time the woman wasn't holding her by the arm and nether was the bigger man, a large number of dead warriors were bringing up baskets full of food and clothing and weapons. She'd only seen a small part of the city so far and most of the time the two dead warriors had just spoken to others warriors asking about tribute and how much there was.

She watched as Amoxtli laid down the basket with the others Tlaloc slowly laid down his basket he turned grabbing her arm. "Hey!" Tlaloc grunted in annoyance. "Come on move it! You don't want to be out here when its dark sometimes it's not very nice." Lila looked up sharply. "What do you mean it's not very nice?" Tlaloc growled moving her forward. "The feathered serpent sleeps during most of the day in his pool. At night he wakes up and goes in to the city it's not always nice when he does." He moved her forward. "People die when he's in an unhappy mood." Amoxtli pushed a few of the woven baskets back in to place so they were in a neat line. "Just because he doesn't eat people alive anymore doesn't mean he can't tear people to bits in his jaws."

She smirked. "Which is probably how you'll die, come to think off it." Lila stopped in mid motion as her gaze caught sight of an empty room close by which she hadn't noticed before. It was the only room along the long corridor which led downwards in to the keep "What's that?" Amoxtli stopped sharply watching as Tlaloc did the same. "It's nothing you should worry about." Lila blinked. "I want to know I didn't see it before." Tlaloc laughed slightly. "Of course you didn't see it, it only opens up at night and disappears just after dawn." He stopped in mid motion. "Safe to say it's a bad place where bad things once happened. It was once the room of a number of top elite warriors the feathered serpent's best and all of them were living like you."

He lowered his gaze. "The Blood Jaguar cut them all down in a violent attack which would make even your skin crawl." He leaned closer. "She gutted some of them like fish and beheaded others. There was so much blood all over the walls and so much screaming that day. No one who begged for mercy was given it ether all they were given was death. He looked in to the room he could see the dried blood still staining the walls. "The feathered serpent has kept that room like this awaiting the day of her return. When he will resurrect the twelve great warriors she slew and sends them after her." He looked up slightly. "Frankly I wish I was one of them I'd like to kill her myself…."

Lila pulled her arm free of his grip her gaze shifting to the room. "What did she do to you?" Tlaloc sneered slightly. "Wouldn't you like to know?" Lila moved closer to the room he couldn't be talking about her sister it had to be another Blood Jaguar. The feather serpent had to be lying to her as well her sister wasn't like that she wasn't cruel or evil! She moved closer to the room catching sight of a skeleton hand which was lying on the ground. She moved closer watching in horror as twelve full skeletons came to view their clothing tattered. Some were missing there heads which lay close by their mouths open in a silent scream. Dried blood was spattered on the walls and she could see weapons lying on the floor.

Some of the skeletons were missing arms and other didn't have legs. She could see the missing limbs lying on the ground around them, broken ribs bones and pelvis bones were notable as well as was a large Aztec axe which was sticking out of one of the skeletons chests. Tlaloc laughed slightly as he walked in to the room to where she was standing in the centre. "Makes you feel sorry for them doesn't it?" He raised a hand. "Even as the best they were cut down and nothing they did could stop it. She truly lived up to her name that day they say that there was so much blood on her that you couldn't tell her red clothes and red feathered Eagle warrior mask from her skin and that you the hated in her eyes could freeze your very soul." He folded his arms. "Her claws saw blood that day and it was dripping from them by the end."

Lila swallowed feeling her stomach twist she tried to ignore the feeling of sickness as her eyes caught sight of a blonde piece of hair hanging from one of the statues blades where it obviously gotten caught and been ripped off. She slowly walked up to the blonde hair running her finger down it she looked down as fear clutched her heart. "This Blood Jaguar…what does she look like?" Tlaloc folded his arm. "She's about your height with medium length sun coloured hair that just touches her shoulders." He raised his hand. "Fair skin like yours but the thing that sets her apart is her green eyes, their like looking in to a forest." Lila pulled back feeling her stomach twist even more. "Does she have any scars that define her?"

Tlaloc turned slightly. "Yes a wound on her upper chest which was small and round and looked like the skin had been burnt it was on her back as well." He sneered slightly he had only seen that wound because one of her straps had slipped while him and brother had put her on the sacrificial altar. He'd put it back up quickly as he didn't believe that sacrificial gifts should be unclothed. He turned back to young girl seeing how pale she was. "Why do you ask these questions?" Lila swallowed she quickly smiled but she knew it was a nervous smile. "I was just curious…I never knew that the Blood Jaguar was so violent." Tlaloc raised an eyebrow. "You wouldn't happen to know the Blood Jaguar personally would you?"

Lila raised both hands. "No!" Tlaloc grunted aloud he didn't believe her words for a second, he could the nervousness in her eyes. "You see if you knew her or were even related to her. Lets just say there would so many people out there including others gods who'd want your head." He grinned seeing the fear as it lit up in her eyes. "The price on your head would be almost as high as hers." He raised his hand keeping his gaze fixed on hers. "Do you know what the price is on the Blood Jaguars head?" Lila shook her head. "No…." Amoxtli stepped forward. "Quetzalcoatl will make any one who captures her alive in to a top elite warrior with living flesh and he'll give them back their soul. Tezcatlipoca his rival will create a set of godly weapons and armour if she's brought in alive."

She breathed in slightly. "Itzpapalotl the underworld goddess will free souls from any of the hells of the warriors choosing again only if she's brought in alive. Huitzilopochtli the sun and war god will make the warrior who brings her in alive in to a King who will rule over his city of Tenochtitlan." She folded her arms. "Believe me when I say that all of these gods don't give out gifts in general." She eased up her hand. "Also you really don't want me to go through her punishment list it's just as long. Safe to say I would not like to be her or someone related to her…my death would be very unpleasant." Lila shifted nervously. "I'm fine…I don't need to hear it." Tlaloc grabbed her arm. "Good because we don't have time to tell you…Quetzalcoatl is waking up and we aren't supposed to be in this room."

He pulled her forward and out of the room watching as Amoxtli quickly followed. She was led quickly down the stairs of the inner keep and in to the huge room with it huge pool in the centre which was bubbling and churning. She felt Tlaloc let go as he kneeled down instantly followed by Amoxtli both said nothing as they kept their eyes low to the ground. She swallowed as the huge serpent gods head burst up through the water his huge purple mane catching the fire light as the water hit the ground around her. He shook his head slightly as he yawned showing of his razor sharp curved teeth. His mane shook slightly as the last of the water came off it. His red eyes slowly narrowed as he lowered his head looking at them.

Quetzalcoatl eyed his followers. "You pathetic grovelling head elite warriors, speak before I make your after lives even more miserable than they already are!" Tlaloc shivered slightly. "Your tribute has been brought to you mighty feathered serpent." Amoxtli lowered her gaze further. "The people have brought a lot of gifts and food for you…they show their loyalty to you great one." The feathered serpent sneered slightly easing his huge clawed wing free of the water. "Have there been any attacks on my borders?" Tlaloc shook his head. "No great one we have heard a rumour that Huitzilopochtli is moving his forces west to attack Itzpapalotl's borders. It seems the war god is unhappy that she has tried to build temples on his regions soil."

Quetzalcoatl flicked his tongue out. "Move some of my forces to the west I want to crush his troops when they attack her regions border." Amoxtli swallowed slightly. "It shall be done great one." She looked down trying not to shivers her body my not have felt the fear but her mind still knew how to feel it and her body seemed to follow it. "What should we do with any one we capture?" The snake god turned slightly easing his other wing out of the water. "Sacrifice them all and eat their bodies, I'll keep their souls when you're finished and resurrect them so they become un-dead warriors like you." Tlaloc watched as the huge tail pulled itself out of the water. "As you wish." Lila shivered slightly as his gaze feel upon her.

Quetzalcoatl laughed slightly breathing in her fear. "How are you enjoying your stay here girl?" Lila put her hands together. "It's…nice." Quetzalcoatl sneered slightly. "The word nice disgusts me…your sister was just as decorative with her words when she was here." He twisted slightly pulling his upper half fully out of the water and on to the stone. "Unlike you though, she had cursing down to a fine art." Lila stood still ignoring the confused looks as they crossed the other warrior's faces. "You said my sister was evil…is she?" Quetzalcoatl laughed slightly oh how he enjoyed confusion and misplaced judgement. "Loosing faith already girl?" He stopped his smile widening even more. "Or did you see the room above where the twelve screaming dead lie?"

Lila breathed in sharply. "What room with the screaming dead?" She ignored the surprised look on both warriors faces. "I never saw any room with dead people." The feathered serpent's gaze narrowed as he flicked out his tongue. "Do not think me a fool! Unlike your pathetic Greek gods I know every inch of my temple and I know who goes in and out of every room even when I'm sleeping!" He turned a cruel smile spreading slowly across his face. "But no matter your denial will not help you…because soon I will show you the truth of your past and the life you had before this one. You will see the Blood Jaguars evil for what it truly is." Tlaloc turned sharply. "I knew it! I knew you were her sister! You even carry the same angry facial expression as her!"

"Be quite before I make you suffer!"

Tlaloc looked down slightly ignoring Amoxtli's utter shock. "I'm sorry great feathered serpent." Quetzalcoatl snarled aloud. "Speak out of turn again and I will make you feel so much pain that you'll beg for your fake flesh back!" Tlaloc swallowed slightly. "Yes great feathered serpent." He couldn't stop himself shivering as the jaws came with inches of his face. Quetzalcoatl eyed the Greek in disgust as he slammed his tail end around full force knocking her off her feet ignoring her painfully cry as she hit the hard floor. "You should learn that in my presence you grovel like them! Your sister only stood in my presence because she was a defendant fool who had no fear of death. You on the other hand do, and you have every right to fear death!"

He pulled the rest off his body free from the water. "When I return, I don't expect to see you standing before me again!" Lila watched as he moved past her pulling himself up the steps disappearing from sight. Tlaloc grabbed the Greek girl by her arm pulling her to her feet savagely. He snarled as he eyed her. "You are the Blood Jaguars sisters! Why did you lie to me?" Amoxtli stood up staring at him. "Are you insane? We don't have time for this." Tlaloc flinched as a roar of anger hit the air he watched as number of baskets tumbled down the stairs there contents spilling all over the floor. He felt himself shiver. "Oh no…he's not happy." Amoxtli yanked his hand free from the girls arm. "We have to get to the lower room now!"

She grabbed Lila pulling her out of the room as the roar boomed out again getting louder. Lila watched as they ran down another set of steps which went lower. She could already see the huge dark stone room bellow which was filling with servant girls and other dead and un-dead warriors who had come down using the opposite set of stairs on the other side. There was a small window which looked out over the city. Lila could see the fear in everyone's faces already as they all packed themselves in not caring whether the person next to them was living or un-dead. She looked around her in confusion. "What's going on?" Amoxtli pulled her head around to the open window. "Be quite and watch!"

She looked out watching as the feathered serpent moved down the steps using his huge wings claws to grasp the temples stone. His red eyes stood out in the darkness as he came to a stop he was only three meters away from the window. She felt herself shiver as he roared again causing screams and cries of terror to echo from the city bellow. The feathered serpents huge head leaned back as his mouth opened fully showing all his curved teeth. The snake like pupils disappeared and his eyes began to glow red. She swallowed watching as a red and white fire formed in side the god's mouth. His head slowly came forward as white light blasted out of his throat, with immense force.

A massive stream of red and white fire blasted upwards it looked like any dragons flames only ten times the size. She watched in horror as he aimed it on the city bellow. Her heart stopped for a horrible moment as it tour though one of the cities streets bellow ripping it apart in a mass of fire and molten rock which followed the full length of the street and in to the jungle behind it. She watched as the fire stream died away and the god's eyes returned to normal only to feel the horror over take her. The air was filled with screaming and terrified voices some were crying while others were begged for mercy. The whole of the third street of the enormous city was on fire its buildings were red with heat, the smell of hundreds of burning bodies were drifting through the air. She felt nauseous all of a sudden and she couldn't stop herself throwing up, she groaned painfully as she looked up. She wasn't the only one to loose control of a bodily function a number of the servants had lost control of their bladders.

She looked up watching in terror as the feathered serpent roared again before turning and heading back in side his keep leaving the burning street bellow. Amoxtli turned slightly looking at her. "Even if you're an un-dead warrior that godly fire will burn the fake skin from your body and you'll spend a days in agony waiting for it to grow back fully. If you were alive then your destiny is going to be joining the un-dead army." She looked out of the window watching as a crack of thunder sounded in the sky above. The heavens seemed to open up all at once bringing the pouring rain down it wasn't the feathered serpents doing. It was the thunder gods who hardly ever took human form. His rain wouldn't put out all the fire it would take all of tonight and longer until it burnt out completely and by that time the feathered serpent would be ready to resurrect the dead bodies.

End of part 16

Silvermoonlight.

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