EMBRACE THE STARS IN ALL THEIR JOY

On the shores of Mexica three months later

Itzli turned the corner watching as the young girl followed him adjusting her green coyote head dress nervously. He turned stopping still watching as she stopped the uncertainty in her light brown eyes. He shook his head putting both hands on her shoulders. "Ichtaca you don't need to worry, these people are my family." Ichtaca shifted her feet nervously she had never had a family, her mother had died when she was six seasons old during a raid by Quetzalcoatl armies, one which Xochiquetzal's had ended very quickly but not before many people had died. After that she had been put in the temple with the priests and priestess who looked after orphans

The loss of her mother had made her want revenge and she had joined the army at sixteen, during this time she'd found out that her real father who was a priest of Itzpapalotl had died. She had assumed that it had been the Blood Jaguar and threatened her when she'd been in Xochiquetzal's city truth was that she would have killed her if her lover had not intervened. She had never been able to shake that tall dark haired woman image from her mind to this day. She was loyal to the Blood Jaguar and would fight for her. Three months ago to this day after the Blood Jaguar or Gabrielle as she was called had left, this man in front of her had turned up in the warrior quarters asking about her to the head warrior who looked after the quarters.

They had met in her personal quarters a few hours later and he had said that he was the Blood Jaguar's servant and that he had wanted to see her. She had been so confused at this point and had to ask why, then the painfully truth had come out and looking back on this she could see the pain in his eyes though her anger had blinded her to it at the time. He told her that it had not been Gabrielle who had killed her father but him, this had caused her to loose it and attack him. Only to have her weapon stopped by his hand as he held her gently and firmly. He had said that under the laws of war he had perform the last request of a dieing men or he was truly with out honour and unworthy of his position.

Then he'd told her that it had been her real fathers dieing request that he become her father and take care of her. At the time she'd hated him and hated the thought of him being her father but she knew she had no choice she knew that a dieing request could not be broken. Being trained as a warrior had taught her that. Yes the first month had been hard as he asked her to come with him and she hadn't wanted to, but somewhere down the line things had started to change she wasn't really sure when it just happened. May be she had seen that he was kind man and truly hated himself for his past actions and his doing this for her was some way to make up for those actions.

No it was more than that and she knew it, the truth was that he genuinely cared about her and wanted to help her. He was first person to give her compassion in a long time. As kind as the warriors in the training quarters had been they had never taken the time to give her personal attention in the way he had. He was also humble despite that he had such a high ambassador's position and he put her first and never put his work over her. If he had to take a trip to another god's city he didn't leave her behind. He had taken her with him and showed her the wonders in her own land some of which she had never seen before.

She had also come to realize that she could learn so much from him he was such a gifted warrior and his history was such a proud one. He had served the sun gods armies in his youth and had become well know for his battles. Then he'd served by Gabrielle's side twice the second time with her lover and though them both had gaining a new understanding of war which was the unlike others warrior of sun. It embraced love equally in all it forms, to him love was as equal as war and both should be balanced rather than opposed. She wouldn't lie after all this time together she was starting to care about him as much as he cared about her despite their past history. A part of her still didn't want to forgive for her true father's death, but a stronger part of her wanted to let go and move on only she wasn't quite ready yet.

She shuffled her feet again. "Do you think they'll like me?" Itzli leaned forward giving her a light kiss on the head he wouldn't deny it he had come to love this girl. To him she was his daughter even though he wasn't her true father he knew that they still had a long way to go. He was just glad that she had started to come around to him a part of him had thought that she may never do so. Despite being a warrior she had self esteem issues and wasn't always confident when it came to personal things. This was all due to having no family and leading a warrior life style from a young age. He wanted nothing more than to help her with this and see her grow in to an even stronger and more dedicated warrior.

If there was anything he had leant from Gabrielle it was that having someone to love mattered it was the thing that drives you to do things that you wouldn't normally do. He looked up meeting her nervous gaze as they carried on walking to wards the families noble's house which was in Huitzilopochtli's city. "My family really want to meet you." Ichtaca blinked. "What if I'm not good enough I mean I don't have the achievements that you possess? I'm just a low ranking warrior of the fertility goddess." Itzli stopped again he turned once more putting his hands on her shoulders seeing the uncertainty in her eyes. "Your rank does not matter to my family or me what matters is that you're my daughter."

He patted her arm. "You should think less of what others see in you Ichtaca and realize that how you see yourself is much more important. I spent years believing that my achievements would make me happy and that if I got to command a temple I'd be happy." He shook his head. "I will say one thing though when it was offered to me in the end I was unhappy and it felt empty." He moved his hand up lifting up her head gently by the chin. "Do you know why that was?" Ichtaca blinked in confusion. "Was it because you could no longer serve Gabrielle as a servant?" Itzli smiled. "In part yes, but it was more than that for all my achievements I had no one to share them with. Gabrielle had also become my friend and thought of loosing my friend made everything feel empty and meaningless."

He lowered his gaze. "I realized then that life is nothing if you don't have anyone to share it with. It brought a lot of things in to perspective and everything then became clear as to why Gabrielle was willing to die for her lover. She loves her so much and she had no existence with out her, she puts her above all else and would have others protect her even if she couldn't. Xena is both her lover but most of all her friend and she isn't whole with out her." He watched as Ichtaca eyes darted. "This is why I came to find you once she left Mexica, because I need someone because everything I have is meaningless unless you're here with me to share it. I may not be your true father but believe me I love you, to me you're my daughter and I want to help you and guide you though life." Ichtaca lowered her gaze she wasn't sure what to say she knew his words were honest and that he meant them but she hadn't expected them. She looked up meeting his dark gaze. "Thank you, that means a lot to me, I know you may not be my father and I know it wasn't good between us in the beginning but know that I see you as my father now."

"There you are little brother!"

Itzli turned only to be pulled around by his brother who smiled showing off his golden tooth a gift from Xochipilli for all the pain he'd suffered. He eyed the bigger man who was wearing white robes with deep set colours a sigh of nobility. It was rather odd to him this way as he had been so used to seeing his brother in warrior clothing. He pushed gave his shoulder a pat. "Nobility is really starting to suit you brother." Tlaloc leaned over tapping his headdresses break. "Well it beats wearing one of these twenty four seven personally I am glad that, that life is behind me." Itzli pulled away. "Well each to his own, I think my place will always be wearing this headdress."

Tlaloc laughed slightly. "Ah yes but your headdress is unlike any other you are an ambassador, you should hear our little sister she loves you being in this position." Itzli shook his head. "I bet she does it means she gets the best food there is to eat, along with that nice house you all share." He turned slightly looking at Ichtaca. "I'd like to introduce you to Ichtaca my daughter." Tlaloc smiled turning the very young woman who looked nervous he eyed the green and gold clothing and the silver played coyote head dress with its green feathers which a symbol that she one of Xochiquetzal's warriors. She was not wearing their colours though which had been done on purpose obviously to show that she was his brother's daughter.

The fact that all her colours matched Gabrielle's green clothing was no accident of that he was sure. He lowered his head respectful as he took her hand. "Hello Ichtaca, it is a pleasure to meet you, we have heard so much about you. Your father does nothing but send us praise of your accomplishments." Ichtaca swallowed. "My accomplishments...?" Tlaloc put his arm around her. "Come now both of you we do not want to be late for this dinner you know how annoyed our sister gets." Itzli smiled followed him watching as the white stone house which was one of the many in the upper part of Huitzilopochtli's city came in to view with its small garden and fountains.

He had a house just like it in Xochiquetzal's city were he lived with Ichtaca he felt it best to stay there as it was her home and when the right time came they could consider moving if she wanted to. Right now stability was so important for them both and moving from house to house just wasn't the right thing to do. He watched as his sister opened the door as she caught sight of them all. She folded her arms as she walked out raising her eyebrow. "There you all are, you had me worried for a moment." Tlaloc stepped away from his brother's daughter grinning as he stepped past her and in to the beautiful home with its white wash walls and beautiful chairs and table. "Wouldn't want to do that now would we?"

He gave her a sly grin as he walked in side seeing Amoxtli close by on the cushions playing with Nene his sister's seven year old daughter who was laughing enjoying her toys. He eyed his lover who was dressed in the nobility robes like him and was enjoying herself something he loved to see. Amoxtli had found it very difficult to settle back in to this life in the beginning. She really needed his support because this life was so distant to her because of her former un-dead life. What she remembered was so long ago that she had been so unsure of everything to start with. In this he was so grateful for his sister being there because she had helped his lover settle and relearn this life all over again and her role as a noble woman.

All Amoxtli had known was pain and suffering and he knew that some off that would never leave her. She still had bad dreams triggered by her past life which could cause her to wake up late at night and cry and he'd would hold her until her crying was over. She had lost so much and had so many blows and she still sometime felt out of her depth even though she was leading such a different life now. Despite her own problem she had done nothing but purport him and he was grateful to do the same back. He smiled as moved forward sitting himself down next to her putting a hand on hers. He watched as she gave him a smile before turning back watching as his sister Cualli came in picking up Nene giving her a smile.

His gaze drifted as Itzli walked in with Ichtaca who looked nervous as ever he raised his hand. "Well everyone this is Ichtaca Itzli's daughter, the one he's forever talking about." Cualli eyed him before turning to the younger woman. "Welcome to our household Ichtaca my name is Cualli." She pulled up her daughter who giggled. "This is my daughter Nene." She turned nodding her head in Amoxtli direction. "This is Amoxtli, your uncles soon to be wife." Amoxtli looked up meeting the young girl's gaze it was perplexing that this warrior was the same age she had been before she'd died. She shook off the thoughts giving her a smile. "Welcome to the family."

Ichtaca moved a step closer to her. "Are you the same Amoxtli who used to be un-dead?" She raised her hands. "I mean no offence to you I am just curious, I heard that warriors like that live forever." Amoxtli smiled ignoring the silence as it hit the room it was more an uncertain silence she knew that this was just a curious young girl and wasn't offended by the question. "I used to be un-dead that's true, and it is true that the un-dead live forever, but I gained mortality so I'll now live as long as you."

Ichtaca moved forward her curiosity getting the better of her. "How long did you live before you gained mortality?" Amoxtli put her hands together. "Many, seasons more than most mortals live. I have seen the colours of warriors clothing change and their ideals along with it, but believe me I prefer a mortal life above anything else." Itzli moved forward putting a hand on his daughters shoulder. "As you can see my daughter is very curious she means no offence." Amoxtli shook her head. "I am not offended, since all the warriors who were like me are all now mortal I believe a lot of people are curious Itzli and as they should be to them we were monsters, yet now we are just like them."

She smiled. "The un-dead warriors are a dying race the god of love has made the whole of the feathered serpent's old army's mortals as well as Itzpapalotl's. Soon there will be only hummingbird warriors who will have heavens in every city and kingdom from here to the Mayan god's great borders." She felt her smile widen. "The reign of the un-dead warrior is over under Huitzilopochtli's rule heavenly hummingbird warriors will now be taking their place, as the immortal guardians." Tlaloc smiled as he leaned over giving her a gentle kiss. "Which is as it should be the un-dead warriors suffered so much more than any of the others warriors."

Cualli moved her free hand putting it on Ichtaca's shoulder. "You take a seat over here we want to hear more about you." Ichtaca breathed in as she sat down on the cushion opposite. She took of her headdress watching as her father did the same as he sat down next to her giving her a warm smile. Her gaze shifted as eyed the warm food which was laid out the small table which was in the middle of the cushions, it all smelt so good. Cualli picked up a drink of cocoa as she seated Nene. "Come on all off you dig in to the food we have plenty of it along with drinks so take what you want."

Ichtaca watched as everyone began to tuck in she moved carefully tucking in still feeling unsure of how she was meant to act. She had never been to a family dinner before. Amoxtli chewed enjoying every mouthful she loved being able to eat again, to feel and chew and feel the texture of things all over again every day when she eat it was pure pleasure. She wanted to try new things she hadn't been able to try but had seen others eat while being un-dead. She picked up a goblet of Tepache swallowing slowly there was so much pleasure to be had from eating among so many other things. Making love to Tlaloc had been mind blowing to her just feel the feeling of every sensation, sensations she couldn't describe but had given her so much joy.

True to most people sex was just sex but then they didn't appreciate it as it had become something so normal to them that they took for granted. To someone like her it was a time when she got to feel so many emotions and ride the wave of pleasure that had been denied to her for over a life time. Truth was that right here and right now she was happy much happier than she ever been. She'd didn't have to fight any longer though both herself and Tlaloc had their weapons in the house just in case but it was for safety nothing more than that. This was the life she'd dreamed about and now it was finally hers to embrace.

Cualli looked up seeing that Ichtaca still looked uncertain she had seen this before when Amoxtli had first sat at the table. Obviously Ichtaca was another young woman who didn't really know her place in a family setting. She took a drink she'd change that, if she could help an over fifty year old ex un-dead warrior to cook and sow then she could teach this young woman to fit in. She smiled looking over at her. "So your father tells me that you are a warrior of the fertility goddess Ichtaca." Ichtaca swallowed her mouthful looking up slightly. "Yes that's true but I'm no where near the level of you and your family." Tlaloc looked up sharply. "That is not what I heard, from what I hear you're a very skilled young lady who's made your father very proud."

Ichtaca blinked suddenly feeling out of her depth. "I didn't think I was skilled I have none off the accomplishments that you Amoxtli or my father have." Amoxtli looked up slightly filling her goblet again. "You know not all accomplishments are honours some you obtain by just being who you are and from what I have seen accomplishments aren't what matters in this household its all about being one of the family." Nene looked up from her plate. "You part of our family!" Cualli smiled stroking her hair. "That's right Nene she's part of the family." Ichtaca looked down as the understanding dawned on her everything her father had said now made so much sense. She lowered her gaze. "I thought being in a family was about what honours you had."

Cualli sighed aloud. "Once upon a time in this family it did but not anymore not since we were all returned to each other and we all had a chance to start over, plus we have all changed and had come to realize that being together was more important than our honours. We don't live together here to show off our status we live here because we want to be a strong family." Itzli swallowed his mouthful feeling a smile form on his lips as he met his daughter's gaze which was much calmer now. "Ichtaca what matters here is that you're my daughter and your part of my family." Ichtaca looked up slightly feeling a very wide smile of joy form on her lips. "I think I finally understand." Itzli put an arm around her. "Of course you do you're my child and you're bright and clever and we both know it." He looked up at the others who were smiling at them. "One day when the time is right for me to retire you will be the one who takes my place as ambassador to the love and war god and it will not be because you are just a prodigal child it is because you are my daughter and you belong to my family."

End of part 130

Silvermoonlight

One more chapter to go, I thought it would be nice to show what has become of the other characters down the road. It just didn't feel right to leave it as an unknown.