THE TIDE OF ALL THINGS AS THEY COME TO THE SHORE

Gabrielle slowly looked up meeting Huitzilopochtli's gaze as she stood up from the bed. She put a hand on her chin, before looking up. "Would be angry My Lord if I said that I enjoyed your kiss, but I still don't remember you?" Huitzilopochtli smiled slightly. "No I would not it will take time for you to remember these things." He slowly eased out his hand taking hers. "Do you remember being in my heavenly paradise, do you remember flying through it?" Gabrielle looked up sharply. "Yes, My Lord, I remember that very clearly I was a hummingbird in a huge meadow which was never ending." She looked down slightly, feeling a nervousness which caused her body to twitch before she could stop it.

The feeling was fear and she remembered it all to well. "I was afraid, My Lord, afraid because I couldn't remember my name or who I was or why I saw in your heavenly fields." Huitzilopochtli pulled himself off the bed he slowly put both hands on her shoulders as he leaned down gently meeting her lips enjoying the gentle kiss before he pulled away to meet her glowing green gaze. "Are you afraid now?" Gabrielle turned slightly, she wasn't willing to lie about this, she was still afraid. "I am afraid My Lord but not of you or this place. I'm afraid of what I can't remember. I don't know if I was a good person or if I was cruel so much is lost to me." Huitzilopochtli looked up slightly. "You are one of the greatest warriors I've ever know and I no you are a good person."

He leaned closer running his hand down her cheek catching sight of the small smile that she gave him, which was sweet and innocent. "Does that make you feel any better?" Gabrielle nodded slightly. "Yes it does My Lord." Huitzilopochtli looked at her for a long moment. "Why do you call me My Lord?" Gabrielle lowered her gaze slightly. "Because you are the king of all warriors and I serve you." Huitzilopochtli felt his smile widen he had no idea that this behaviour was such a deep part of her personality. It had never surfaced to this extent when she'd been alive. Not that, that mattered it was glorious to be around, she was all about honour and nobility. May be this part of her had never had the chance to surface because of the Warrior Princess, being attached to her soul which had no doubt been a drain.

He eased up his hand running it through her hair. "You speak very beautiful words, Gabrielle." He stepped back slightly. "Did you know that you can fly?" He grinned he wanted to see this, now that her soul was free. He pulled back the curtain watching as she followed him walking slightly behind her eyes showing their confusion. Gabrielle ignored the other dark haired man as they came to stop close to him. "Fly?" Huitzilopochtli turned sharply ignoring the Greek god's cold stare. "Coaxoch!" He watched as small white, green and gold humming bird appeared flying in to the room. Its body blasted in to white light as his head warrior took on his human form.

He smiled raising his hand. "This is Coaxoch, he's going to teach you how to become a hummingbird again and fly." Coaxoch looked up slightly feeling his feathered head dress sway. He moved closer to the Blood Jaguar. "Welcome back Blood Jaguar it is a pleasure to see you here once again." He watched as her glowing green eyes showed confusion. Gabrielle eyed the tall man who had blazing white light streaming out of his eyes like smoke. "I'm so sorry but I don't remember you." Coaxoch looked up slightly feeling everything hit home all at once, she had no memories of anything. He had watched her resurrection and had assumed that her odd behaviour was just because she had been brought back and was disoriented, which was very normal for hummingbird warriors.

He could sense through the light of her soul which was moving through eyes that she had been changed somehow. He'd felt her soul when she'd held his wrist when they'd last met, but this time it felt different and he couldn't really explain how. He had never know his god to change peoples souls and it seemed so surprising that he'd do this to the Blood Jaguar of all people. He stood up slightly right now though was not the time to question what his god had done. He was here for the simple reason that he would be by her side as her second in command for the rest of his eternal existence. She was a brilliant tactician, her assault on the Jaguar gods city proved that with out a doubt and these skills would be priceless to the armies of the hummingbird heaven and the living armies in the city.

He could learn so much from her, she was also rumoured to be a bard and he was very curious about that side of her personality. He slowly leaned over taking her arm. "Don't worry Blood Jaguar, I'll teach you how to fly." Huitzilopochtli watched as her green eyes turned to meet his he leaned over squeezing her shoulder. "Don't fear Gabrielle he's head my heavenly armies and he'll take very good care of you." Gabrielle looked down slightly only to feel his lips meet hers very gently, she looked up giving him a smile. "Yes My Lord." Huitzilopochtli ignored the god of wars grunt of disgust as he looked up. He had a lot still to do the head of Tezcatlipoca's army Amimitl was being brought to him tonight and needed time to consider his fate he smiled as he stepped back. "I'll see you soon Gabrielle."

Coaxoch watched as the Blood Jaguar looked down then slowly followed him. He couldn't help but notice that she moved her hand up gripping his arm. She was obviously scared, but that was natural It was odd though how her behaviour resembled that of a small innocent child. He stopped turning to the sun god. "When should I bring her back great sun god?" Huitzilopochtli raised his hand slightly. "Bring her back tonight, and show her as much of the city as possible." Coaxoch nodded slightly. "As you wish, great sun god." He watched as his god turned away ignoring the Greek war god who was still being watched by four of his hummingbird warriors. His god had much to do and it was better that he made sure that the Blood Jaguar knew her way around the great city and knew how to fly.

8

Lila looked up slightly watching as Amoxtli put the chain around her neck. Would any one be coming to her rescue? Was her life worth anything at all? Deep down she hoped that Lector was making his way here not that she really knew where here was. She'd never heard of Mexica until she'd found herself trapped here. No one she'd ever met had ever heard of this place, Xena had never mentioned and she always seemed so well travelled. Only her impostor sister knew anything about it, since she liked to kill people here. She looked up slightly eyeing both the warriors, as a thought suddenly sprung to her mind. Why didn't people just leave this city?

If somewhere is bad you can move on or so she'd always heard, there had to be ways to leave this place. There was always a way out from what she'd heard. So she could understand everyone's fear here, if they couldn't run then why was it that they didn't stand up against the feathered serpent and over throw him? She breathed in deeply as she turned to both the un-dead warriors. "You both hate it here don't you?" Tlaloc turned eyeing the young girl for a long moment that seemed like an odd question more because it was an obvious answer. He took a step forward meeting her sad gaze. "Yes we both hate it here why do you ask?"

Amoxtli looked up slightly. "We can't stop hating this place, its just the way things are. This was the hand we were given and we have to live with it." Lila looked down slightly. "Your god isn't here now why it that you don't just run away?" Tlaloc signed aloud. "It's not that simple." Lila folded her arms as she eyed him. "It seems simple to me, you hate a place you move on." Amoxtli raised her hand slightly. "You don't understand and that's not your fault, you are not a warrior so you don't see." She took a step closer. "To run is dishonourable to fight our way out is noble." Tlaloc lowered his gaze. "We both know that we can't fight our way out this hell hole and we accept it, which is the reason we stay."

He shook his head. "If we were to run and even if we made it past these walls we would be hunted until we die we'd have no life to speak off in Mexica. Warriors who flee are often killed by other gods if they are caught." Amoxtli sighed aloud. "We'd rather live this half life than that kind of life because it would be no life at all." Tlaloc breathed in sharply. "There is a hell beyond hells which is called the seventh hell. Those who betray are forced to endure an eternity inside its living walls. They say that it is a fate worse than death and any suffering in any other hell is mild in compared. The Aztec demons inside of it will give torture beyond anything imaginable to any one who's tossed in to it."

He eased up both hands. "This place may be bad but that hell does not compare to this and that is why we haven't run away." Lila looked down sadly there seemed to be no end to the horrors of this place. There was no such thing as freedom, no such thing as living. There wasn't even a heaven there was only hell. How did people live here? How did they survive knowing this? She looked down feeling the tears as they started to run down her face. If warriors were afraid to run then what hope was there for her? It meant that this whole land was a prison in itself and freedom was unattainable on every level and that in its self was a tragedy.

What is life if you can't dream or even live? What is it if you can't find happiness? She was never going to get out this place! She was going to die a horrible death and no one would be there to save her. She lowered her head feeling the tears as they started to run down her face. Amoxtli turned slightly seeing the sad look as it slowly moved across Tlaloc's face they both knew why the Greek girl had asked this. Frankly she hadn't wanted to answer it seemed so unfair to tell this truth to someone who was already deeply depressed. She slowly moved forward sitting herself next to the young woman who was began to cry harder. Her gaze turned as she watched Tlaloc sit himself on her other side. She leaned over putting her arm around her shoulder. "I'm sorry."

She looked down slightly. "We make it sound so bad, but for you it'll be okay. I'm sure someone will come to rescue soon." Tlaloc rolled his eyes he couldn't believe he was going to say this but it seemed like the only thing he could think of to say, that would help. "I'm sure your sister will come to your rescue." Lila turned sharply eyeing him. "I don't want her to come to my rescue! She's the reason I'm stuck here in the first place! She not my real sister anyway she's not even from my time!" She ignored his look of surprise. "I want Lector." Amoxtli moved closer that outburst was bad but not unsurprising. At this moment it had to feel like this young girl's whole world was just falling down around her. She gave her a tight squeeze trying to calm her down. "Who is Lector?" Lila turned eyeing her sharply as she wiped away her tears. "He my boyfriend, we were going to get married next spring."

Tlaloc looked up slightly he wasn't really very good with women and their emotions but he found that sad. He knew from when he had been alive that marriage meant a lot to young women. He grunted aloud watching as she turned to look at him her sea blue eyes full of hurt. "I'm sure you will still be married." He turned slightly trying to word his next question carefully. "Is your sister married?" Lila narrowed her gaze slightly. "No she's not married! Even if she was I doubt she'd tell me about it." Amoxtli turned slightly okay this was an odd topic they were trailing off on to. "Well I've heard that." She paused looking at the dark haired young woman. "Wait your sister likes women doesn't she?" Tlaloc looked around sharply. "Yes she does…I thought everyone knew that." Amoxtli breathed in slightly. "I wasn't sure…I don't really buy in to rumour plus I've heard so many things when it comes to Blood Jaguar. It's hard to know what the truth is and what isn't." Lila breathed in painfully. "Well she's not married." Tlaloc breathed in deeply putting a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure you'll be married though, I think a nice young girl like you deserves to be."

8

Coaxoch came to a stop as he eased himself on to the ledge which over looked the city. He eased her up only to watch as she stepped back from the edge the fear showing as she held his arm even tighter. "Don't worry, I won't let you fall." Gabrielle looked down slightly before swallowing. "It's a long way down." Coaxoch eyed her for a long moment. "You're a mighty warrior this drop should not frighten you. When you were alive you had no fear of death." Gabrielle looked up sharply. "You say I'm dead but I don't feel dead, why is that?" Coaxoch took hold of her hand. "Your body has been brought back in a manner that's so alive that no one can tell that you are dead."

He eased up his hand watching as the smoke drifted out of her glowing eyes. "Your soul which is breaching your eyes is the only thing that makes you different." He let go off her hand. "As well as the fact that you can do this…." Gabrielle watched in surprise as he jumped off the ledge his body blasted in to white light. The light faded away revealing a tiny hummingbird which flew around her a white light trailing in it wake. Coaxoch flapped his wings as he flew around her waist then he moved upwards so he was close to her face. "Don't be afraid just jump and imagine that you look like this and you shall." He moved flying around her arm. He could already see three of his living warriors moving forward with a priest to watch.

They couldn't hear what he was saying in the hummingbird form but she could, he flew away from her arm again. "Come with me Blood Jaguar." Gabrielle took a step closer to the edge. "If I fall will I die?" Coaxoch moved closer to her. "You won't die but it will hurt, but I don't believe you will fall." Gabrielle looked over the edge again she took a deep breath. She looked up realizing that more warriors were no watching from the steps near by she turned away ignoring them as she closed her eyes. She could do this she was already dead so she wouldn't die if she messed this up. She breathed in deeply it was such a long way down she could see the huge beautiful city spreading out bellow.

There was so much wonder and so much she couldn't remember she wanted to see it all again in this wonderfully waking moment. Coaxoch flew back watching as she suddenly jumped with out warning. He found himself flying back further as her body blasted in to green light as she fell downwards towards the city. The green light faded away as a green and red hummingbird appeared flying upwards with ribbons of green light following in her bodies wake. He slowly moved downwards so he was next her. "Very good, you are very quick to pick up Blood Jaguar." Gabrielle turned her feathered head as she moved to fly next to him. "Thank you."

Coaxoch flapped faster as he moved away from the temple he turned seeing her follow. "Would you like a race? It'll give you a chance to test your wings." Gabrielle turned in mid flight. "If you'd like…." Coaxoch smiled slightly. "I would like that very much." He didn't think as he flew towards the city, he turned watching as she followed following the steam of white light at his tail. He turned sharply mid air watching as she turned with him in an instant. He moved faster as they came towards the city streets, he ignored the people who looked up from there celebration drinks and dances as they flew over them. To them they both looked like beautiful comets of light whose tails of light stretched out far behind them.

They both turned moving through the streets and dodging statues and fountains as they carried on flying, he turned again shooting past the market stalls. She was closer by the second he turned again watching as she followed keeping pace. It was so nice to have someone who liked to be challenged he'd missed that so much in all his long years. He could just let go and have fun for a change, he swerved again watching as she followed. It was such a shame that she couldn't remember anything he so much wanted to ask her what it was like to stand at the very top of the Jaguar gods keep and take him on in glorious battle. He had been the one who had almost made it over a hundred years ago.

He had come so close the last step had been with in his reach and then it had all come to an end. Axe bows had smashed his body to bits as he'd been surrounded by elite warriors. He had died with one hand on the main keep platform in the breaking of the mornings first light. Despite ascending he had not been strong enough to open all the heavenly hummingbird doorways his will had just not been strong enough. He had never understood what he had done wrong and it had confused him for years because everything he had done had been as the myth had said. He had fought the battle and died the honourable death. Only two doorways had been opened and those hummingbird warriors on that day had, had to retreat because their numbers just weren't strong enough.

The Blood Jaguar on the other hand had opened all the doorways all once and that intrigued him. He turned another street watching as she got closer. He hoped that all her memories would return he so much wanted to know the answer to this mystery. He stopped sharply in one the open squares which was close to a fountain he turned watching as she did the same. "You race well." He turned ignoring the children who stopped playing their game as they turned to watch them. "Now change back with me the same way you did before just think the reverse." He watching as the green light blasted outwards and her form appeared he didn't think as he did the same. He looked up slightly. "I want to show you the training grounds."

Gabrielle stood up watching as the green light faded from her body. "The training ground? Is that where people fight?" Coaxoch laughed slightly. "Of course, I want you to meet Ahexotl. Like me you'll see him a lot during your time here as he is leader of the living armies in this city and a very brave warrior" Gabrielle looked up slightly. "My god told me that I'm a warrior is that true?" Coaxoch walked forward taking hold of her arm ignoring her surprised look. "Yes you are a warrior a very brave one in fact." Gabrielle blinked as she pulled back slightly. "If I'm a warrior, does that mean I fight?" Coaxoch looked up slightly. "Yes you do."

Gabrielle looked down slightly. "Isn't fighting wrong? Because when you fight, don't people get hurt?" Coaxoch turned eyeing her that was such an innocent remark he'd heard that same line from children. May be the truth was that this behaviour came from the fact that when she wasn't in a living her soul was truly innocent. He breathed in deeply as he tapped his headdress with his finger. "Fighting is right when it's to protect others, who can't defend themselves. That is the way of the honourable and noble warrior." Gabrielle turned seeing that the children close by were watching hanging on their every word. "Is that what I did when I was alive defend others in this land?"

Coaxoch turned slightly he moved his hand patting her shoulder. "Not exactly…." Gabrielle eyed him for a long moment. "I don't understand." Coaxoch sighed aloud how was he supposed to explain to her the difference between violent actions that awe struck others and the noble acts that made warriors proud with in themselves? He breathed in deeply. "Maybe in time when your memories return you will come to understand everything." He turned taking her arm again. "You just have to trust me up until then I'm here to guide you." Gabrielle looked at him before nodding why did nothing make any sense? Shouldn't she have remembered something by now? Despite this city's beauty and how many streets she'd flown though she still couldn't remember anything about it or even being here at any point when she had been alive. Maybe he was right maybe it was best that she just follow his guidance he seemed like a nice person. He also knew this place which meant he could help her fill in these missing gaps in her memory.

End of part 55

Silvermoonlight

Here you go everyone, I'm sorry that this wasn't up last week, just got caught up in the rush. I hope you all had a great time at Christmas :)