COATL the History part one (draft)

COATL the History
part one

Both Tepiltzin, and Xochitl knew from the moment she was born, their daughter Huitzil, would have a strong mind, will, and heart. At the age of eight months, she ran before she could walk. She knew exactly what she wanted, and would set her thoughts towards whatever it was. So, it was no surprise to them when, at the age of eight years old, she announced to them that, Chicahtoc, who was a boy in their village, and her same age, would be her husband one day.

Being just several months apart in age, Huitzil and Chicahtoc, were often seen together doing the things children do. Very seldom did he think of anything else but learning the skills all young boys his age needed to learn to become great warriors. He saw Huitzil as a childhood friend, and shared with her all that he learned, for she was a quick learner, and never afraid. He watched, seeing her hunt, fish, and ride as well as himself. When it came to sparing, she held her own, often far better than some of the other boys in their tribe. The fact that she was a girl was something he never minded. He enjoyed her company, and being with her. She could always make him smile or laugh with her witty remarks.

It wasn't until he was almost a man grown, at the age of thirteen, that he began seeing Huitzil in a different way. During that time of change for him, Chicahtoc not only began feeling different, but also grew taller, leaner, looking very different. The boy was turning into a man. He no longer wanted to play childhood games with Huitzil, it no longer seemed right.

Chicahtoc noticed Huitzil's beauty, and could think of nothing but her. He so desperately wanted to be near her as often as possible. Thoughts of her were becoming all consuming. Yet, he could not bring himself to tell her of his feelings.

Now Chicahtoc had not been the only one having longings for Huitzil, or noticing her beauty. Many of the other young men in the tribe had also become enthralled by her. Often the young warriors could be seen competing for her attention. Huitzil's parents would smile to see her followed by so many suitors, and the many ways they tried so hard to get her attention. Some bringing wood for the family. Others would bring freshly caught fish, or a rabbit. All excuses to see Huitzil.

Not everyone in the tribe was happy watching, for there were many of the other young girls who were very upset. Often they could be seen pouting. Many became jealous at seeing Huitzil followed around by all these young men who were acting like little puppies. Many of these young men whom they had hoped to wed.

The elders of the village watched, and reminisced of the days they were young. They began to wonder on who would be the final one to win Huitzil's heart. Many already knew of her love for Chicahtoc. They could not believe he was not among the young men following her, pursuing her love. Why was he the only one not trying to compete for her hand.

Huitzil had been ignoring all of these suitors. Her heart was set for only one young man, Chicahtoc. Seeking him out as often as possible, and always finding excuses to be near him, consumed all of her thoughts. Yet, when she was with him, as happy as she was to be with him, he seemed so quite, and so distant. It was as though he was uncomfortable whenever she was near. Was there a sigh of avoidance? She noticed he wasn't that way with anyone else, just her. She then began to wonder, “Did he not like her?”.

She did not want to think this possible. Thinking this caused a tightening knot in the pit of her soul. “He could not feel this way. This just can't be possible. He is going to be my husband one day, how could he not know this. How could he not feel the same for me, as I feel for him? Is this a game he is playing?”, she thought to herself.

When she thought about it, there were a few times when she was near Chicahtoc, and noticed an expression of anger on his face if any other young man hoovered near her. Was this jealousy on his part? If so, this could be a good sign, it was one she liked to believe was true. This would mean that he cared for her. He had feelings for her.

She decided to test this jealousy theory of hers. One afternoon, while talking with Chicahtoc, one of the other young suitors approached her, holding a string of freshly caught trout, which he said was for her family. She took this opportunity of feigning such delight at seeing him, and as she flirted with him, she would occasionally glance towards Chicahtoc. She could see by his facial expression that he was becoming upset. Very upset. She could not help but feel delight at these signs of his jealousy. “I knew it, he does love me”, she told herself.

Seeing how angry and jealous Chicahtoc became, she taunted him more by touching her suitor's arm in thanks. Her hope was that Chicahtoc would become so frustrated, and upset, that he would push the other young man away, go to her and say, “Stop this foolishness, I Love You!”. These were the thoughts, and hopes of a young girl in love. Sadly for Huitzil, he never ran to her with words of “Love” or anything else. Chicahtoc just turned and walked away, leaving Huitzil holding a string of catfish, and a young suitor wanting more of her attention.

After a time, the Chief's son, Mochipa made it known to all that he would be asking Huitzil's muan for her hand in marriage. When this news came to Huitzil she knew she must take action, this could not happen. She would only marry her Chicahtoc, or she would marry no one at all.

Huitzil, ran to find her piyan, she would know what to do. She at last found her piyan, sitting in their wickiup busy preparing the afternoon meal. Xochitl almost dropped the tiiyav stew, she had been preparing, as an excited Huitzil came running through the wickiup opening with a panicked look upon her face. She was speaking loud, and quickly, in a distressed voice. Trying to get the words out as rapidly as possible. “Piyan-piyan-what-will-I-do?-I-do-not-want-to-marry-the-Chief's-son,-I-want-to-marry-Chicahtoc!-What-will-I-do?”.

It was so difficult for Xochitl to see her daughter in so much distress. She understood how she felt. She also knew her daughter was at that age of impatience of often thinking with emotions, and the heart, rather then the mind. She stood and went to Huitzil, cupping her beautiful daughter's face in both her hands, and speaking very gently, said, “Calm down my beautiful tuwachi, Chicahtoc loves you. I see how he looks at you, we all see how he looks at you. It is with love in his eyes. He just does not know it is love that he is feeling. You must help him to know. Show him the way. Sometimes men need guidance, a little help, help that you only can give him, so you can be together.”

“How do I do that?”, Huitzil asked while wiping the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand.

Xochitl replied, “Go to him at a time when you see he is alone. Let him know that Mochipa is wanting to ask your muan for your hand in marriage. If he seems not to care, then you must leave, and accept his love was not meant to be. But, If he seems upset, and not happy about this news, then you know this is not something that he wants to hear, he is not happy. That is when tell him it is he that you want. See how he responds. That my sweet tuwachi is all you can do.” Huitzil embraced her piyan tightly, and then ran out to find her Chicahtoc. Her mind was made up, and she would take her piyan's advise. She knew in her heart that she needed to help him see his love for her.

Huitzil in her search for Chicahtoc, asked everyone she came upon, if they had seen Chicahtoc. Some shook their heads, a few pointed toward the corrals, where the horses were kept. Of course, she should have known he would probably be there with the horses. That was his job in the tribe. He had from a very young age been close with them, having had a natural ability to tame the most wild of maavagav kavaa, wild horses, in a matter of minutes. It was as though he could talk them, and they trusted him completely.

Chicahtoc was indeed at the coral, caring for the horses. He looked up and saw Huitzil approaching. He could not help but watch her as she neared. Her every step, her every movement, why was it that he could not take his eyes off of her? What was this feeling in the pit of his stomach, his soul. This feeling all throughout his mind and body every time he saw her? It was just Huitzil, just a little girl, but no, no, she was no longer a little girl. She was grown, a young woman, and a very beautiful young woman.

His heart beat sped up when he thought of those soft knowing eyes which brightened when she looked upon him. Today her hair, beautiful silken black hair, was braided with flowers. He wanted to un-braide that silken black hair slowly, feeling each strand slide through his fingers while breathing in her flowery scent.

The neared she came, he automatically began to move his large graceful hands, slower and slower in movements with a deep caressing motion, as he was brushing one of the horses. A deep desire for her began to rush through his entire being. What was this power she held over him? It was something he was feeling every time he saw her. What could this be? Why was this happening? He shook his head, as though this would clear his thoughts. This could not be happening, he did not want these feelings. Yet he could not help himself. He should be concentrating on other things, more important things, and so he tried to look away.

Looking away did not work, for he heard her voice, and could look away no more. He looked again at her, and she was much closer. Again, his pulse began quickening, his palms were sweating, his body, his being, were being driven by another force. It was as though he had no mind of his own.

Huitzil could not help but smile when at last she saw Chicahtoc. She saw he was grooming one of the horses. There he stood taller than the tallest stallion. Already he had the strong body of a grown man. His body was a bronze muscular body. He had the blackest of black hair flowing down to his waist. His hair was lose today, swaying slowly, from one side to the other, across his back, moving with each stroke of his arm. His eyes, oh how she loved looking into those amber colored eyes. They were eyes having a brilliant sparkle in them. His eyes that, she could tell, would brighten with pleasure when he looked upon her.

She could not help but watch the movement of his hands, as they stroked the side of the horse, they were so gentle. She could see how relaxed the horse was, how she longed for those hands to caress her in that same way. To smell his scent, too kiss his lips.

She walked to, and she jumped up on, the fence of the coral, and said, “Chicahtoc, are you going to spend all day brushing that horse?”

He stopped, looked up at her and, replied, “It's what I'm supposed to do, brush the horses, all of them. Why don't you make yourself useful, grab a brush, and help me? Besides, what else am I supposed to be doing?” as he turned back to the horse, giving her a side glance.

“Well, you could go walking with my by the stream, maybe we could talk.” Huitzil said.

Chicahtoc, slowly walked the horse over towards where Huitzil was sitting and asked, “What would we need to talk about there that we can not talk about right here, right now?”.

Huitzil thought for a moment, she did not want to talk here, anyone could show up at any moment. Also, it surprised her how he responded, she had just assumed that he would be excited to go with her.

“Well, there is......” and at that moment Huitzil began to fall off of the fence. Chicahtoc dropped the horse's reins and ran to catch her as she fell. He swooped her up just before she hit the ground. Sitting in his arms, with her hands wrapped around his shoulders, she looked him straight into his eyes, trying to reach his soul. “See me Chicahtoc, really see me with those beautiful eyes? I want, and love you, all of you. Please want me. Tell me you want me.”

Holding her in his arms, she was so light, so warm, her skin so smooth. He thought his heart would burst. Chicahtoc looked back into those loving eyes, and as though reading her thoughts, slowly, ever so gently, put his lips near to hers. In almost a whisper, he very softly said, “Asti'i sürüpüv, I see you, I want you, I love you”, then kissed those soft tender lips. There the two lovers remained enveloped in their love for one another. Neither wanting to part.

After a very long time, holding hands, they both ran to find Huitzil's muan. It was time for Chicahtoc to ask for her hand in marriage.

When at last they found Huitzil's muan. Chicahtoc bowed his head and asked Tepiltzin for his daughter's hand in marriage. Tepiltzin was very happy for his daughter, for he also knew how much she loved Chicahtoc. He gave them his blessings. With Tepiltzin's blessings, the young loves wanted to wed as soon as possible, and so were joined together by the following new moon.

And so they begin their life together

Chicahtoc and Huitzil were as happy as any couple in love could be, yet there had been something they both wanted still missing in their lives. A child. Many years went by, and they remained childless. As time past, they had all but given up on this dream. Yet, they tried not go lose hope, and continually prayed to the God Teteoinnan, The Mother of Gods, to bless them with a child of their own.

Teteoinnan at last heard their prayers, answering them with a child. Both Chicahtoc and Huitzil could not believe their good fortune and thanked Teteoinnan for this precious gift. On the morning of summer solstice, a young baby girl was born to Huitzil and Chicahtoc. When first looking upon their little girl's face, a thought came to Huitzil. She saw a sweet little butterfly, one that had flown into their lives, and so named their baby girl, Tepiton Papalotl, I am little butterfly. She would be known as “Tepi”.

Tepi became the center of the universe for both Huitzil and Chicahtoc, parents and daughter were seldom seen apart. Both watched their little girl grow, and could not help but feel so much pride. Tepi showed the strength of her muan, the inquisitiveness of her piyan, and a boldness which was all her own.

Whenever Chicahtoc was not out hunting, caring for, or gathering horses for the tribe, his time was spent with little Tepi. From the time she was newly born, he and Huitzil would take her with them everywhere. Their favorite spot was to the nearby stream. Chicahtoc, would gently lift Tepi up and down into the flowing water. He joked that they should have named her Pagü, fish, for she so loved the water.

When she was a toddler, Chicahtoc would gentle toss Tepi up to the heavens, and she would squeal with laughter and joy as she fell back into his strong waiting hands, always wanting more. Parents and child would laugh and laugh with a profound joy. Their little family having come to know a deep, profound love.

When Tepi was old enough, Chicahtoc began taking her riding with him. He would set her in front of him as they rode his stallion. It gave him great pride to know that he never once needed to correct her on how to sit or ride. Riding came so naturally for her. She rode as though she had always been riding. She showed the oneness with the horses that he himself held.

Tepi loved the rides with her muan. They always rode across landscapes filled with grasses and flowers. She would gaze in wonder at all the beauty that surrounded them. She loved the world and everything in it.

While she gazed across the land, her muan would point out the different plants, naming them and describing what they could be used for. He would describe the many animals, and their behaviors. Which were to be avoided and which were friendly.

Both her muan, and piyan, were very knowledgeable about everything in their world. She wanted to grow up to be just like them, and so she would listen intently to every word each spoke. Even though she was just a small child, she was extremely intelligent, always being able to understand and remember all that was taught to her.

One summer day, it was summer solstice, and Tepi had turned five years old. On this day, the sun shone brilliantly, it was a beautiful day. A day to be thought of as one filled with hope and joy. Huitzil had taken Tepi with her down to the nearby stream with the other piyan's and their children, it was also a day to wash blankets. She promised Tepi that when she was done, they would pick berries for Tepi's muan, something they had always done on wash day from the time Tepi was born. They would celebrate Tepi's birth date together with lush berries, and possibly a swim at their favorite spot.

At the stream, some of the other piyans were already there, washing or talking amongst themselves. The younger infants, and toddlers, stayed by their piyans, the older children were off playing nearby. Many of the elderly woman, even though they did not work, would come sit and visit with the young piyans. Each taking turns telling stories to all those that would listen, stories of their youths, and adventures, if they had them. Sometimes passing words of wisdom to those they deemed in need of it.

Usually the older children would be watching, and, or teaching the younger ones all the old games. So it was that Tepi went off to play with her friends, and Huitzil worked on washing what she had brought. While washing, she would often glance over to where Tepi was playing. The ever watchful eye of a piyan making sure she was alright.

When Huitzil was nearly done with the last of the washing, she turned too call Tepi to her. Yet, she could not see her anywhere, and called out her name again. When there was no response, she stood and called out yet again. Still no response. She began looking in all directions. Tepi was not answering, and was no where to be seen. How was this possible, it had not been that long since she had last looked up and saw her playing. Where could she be?

Huitzil immediately ran to the last place Tepi had been playing, now calling her name in a louder more urgent voice, still looking, around and around, in all directions. Tears streaming down her face, “Where is my Tepi”, she cried. Word began to pass quickly,Tepi was missing, she was not answering her piyan's calls. Now all the other piyans were helping in the search and began questioning the other children if they had seen Tepi. No, no one had seen her. The other children were then counted, and were present, all except Tepi.

Huitzil feeling a fear growing from her heart to the depth of her soul. A fear she had never felt before, a strong ache in her gut. She knew something was wrong, she just knew it, Tepi would never not answer her piyan's calls. She placed her hands where her little Tepi first began her life, crying, “Where is my little Tepi? Where was her little butterfly?” She would never wonder off like this. Visions of a mountain lion wandering near the children, and dragging her away began to form in Huitzil's mind. Or maybe a bear, did she remember someone saying that there had been one close by the village? It seemed not that long ago.

Where was she, why was she not answering? One of the other piyans had run to the village to search for Tepi. Maybe she had made her way back there, but no, no sign of her anywhere. And so everyone from the tribe began to help in the urgent search for Tepi. Chicahtoc's piyan immediately went to Huitzil's side, embracing her, both women crying, where was their Tepiton Papalotl, their little butterfly?

Chicahtoc, who was not far away gathering wild horses, was told of the news of his missing daughter. Upon hearing this, he immediately rode back to the village. When he arrived, one of the other villagers pointed him in the direction of the woods, telling him, that was the last place she had been seen, and there he would find his piyan with Huitzil.

Chicahtoc quickly ran to the woods, there he found Huitzil with his piyan, both crying out Tepi's name. No answer from Tepi, could be heard. No sounds, no cries, no Tepi. Where could she be? Upon seeing Chicahtoc, Huitzil ran into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably, “She's gone, she's not answering! I can't find her! Chicahtoc, where is she?” As Chicahtoc embraced his wife, he turned and asked his piyan to take Huitzil back to the village, for them both too wait for him there. Before he left, he gently held his wife's disheartened face in his strong hands, kissing her brow, he lead her to his piyan's arms. He told her, “Go back with my piyan, I have men who are going with me to track our daughter. I will find her and bring her back”. It took all of Huitzil's strength to walk back with Chicahtoc's piyan, too, leave the woods, and, too, not look for her little girl, but she did as he asked.

All of the men from their village joined Chicahtoc in the search for Tepi. One young man stepped forward, telling of news he had heard. An old hooded man, walking bent over and using a stick to walk, had been seen walking on the edge of the woods, near the place the children had been playing. Some of the older children, seeing the old man, and how he was trying to talk to the younger ones, was warned to leave. The younger ones were also warned, too, stay away from the old man.

Upon hearing this, all the children were then summoned, and asked to describe what they had seen. One little girl came forward, and confirmed what had been said about the old man. She then added that the old man had honey comb pieces. He was offering to give them to the children. At hearing this news, Chicahtoc bent over, loosing his breath, hardly able to breath. This news had filled him with more pain, pain that hit the very core of his soul. An unimaginable pain. His little Tepi loved honey combs above everything, memories of taking her to the bee hives, and showing her how to gather the honey without disturbing the bees, blurred through his teary eyes.

Would she not know to stay away from someone who was not known to their people? He had never talked to her about something like this. In all of his life, this was not something he, or anyone in the village, had every needed to worry about.

It was then decided to break up off into different groups. This would enable them to look in all directions for Tepi, she had to be somewhere hopefully not far away, yet many hours had already passed. The longer they waited the harder it would be to find her. So it went, many riders going off into many directions, all in hopes of finding little Tepi.

When some of the riders arrived at some of the different neighboring villages, the news was the same. No Tepi, but, within the last seven moons, at each village, the rider was told of children haven been taken by a hunched back, hooded old man walking with a stick. One witness swore that they saw the man grab a young boy and disappear into thin air. Why had this news not been given throughout the other villages?

Word would now begin to spread, this old hunched back man was a Ghost Witch, and people were told to watch their children closely. All were advised to keep their children near and never to let them roam alone.

The Shamans from all the villages gathered and having realized that this ghost witch who was stealing the children, worked on a way for this to be stopped. They needed to find and rescue all these children. They called upon the Goddess Chantico for help. She was the Goddess who kept and watched over each family house. The Shamans from all the villages gathered, putting a protection spell on each and every village. This demon needed to be found and stopped. Word was sent out, as far as possible, about the ghost witch, warning others and asking for any information on who, and where, this witch was.

The Evil Ghost Witch

The evil ghost witch had taken all the stolen children to his lair, which was hidden on the other side of the world. He was very powerful, and cast a spell erasing any of his movements, leaving no trace of himself. This ghost witch had been the most evil since the beginning time.

For the use of enhancing his black spells and power, he stripped the hundreds of children of their innocence, and pure nature.

Many would be kept as his slaves, each wishing he had killed them instead. He continually inflicted a slow continual torture, for causing them great pain was something that brought great joy to this evil creature.

Tepi was one of the children he kept as a slave. In the beginning, she would cry out for her piyan and muan, and the evil creature would slap her, then shout at her saying that they had sold her to him for a measly squirrel hide, and they didn't want her back. For the longest time she would fight his words, taking his beatings, always praying to Huitzilopochtli, the most powerful God of all, asking him to send down hail, thunder and lightening, to destroy this evil monster, saving her and the other children, but her prayers went unanswered. The evil monster continued to tortured her and the others day after day, continuing his great pleasure in their pain. Building his strength from their suffering.

It took several years passing, before Tepi finally accepted, no one was coming for her or any of the other children. She no longer prayed to any God, this having stopped long ago. She no longer hoped for, or asked to see her piyan or muan. She excepted that this was her life. No one would, or could, save her but her herself, and so she began planning, planning her freedom, freedom from this monster.

Part of the evil monster's control over his slaves, was changing their names. The name he gave to Tepi was Coatl, which meant serpent. He chose this name when he noticed her silently slipping in and out of rooms, sometimes without any detection. “Yes, you are my Coatl, as so shall be named”, said the monster.

Coatl accepted her name and being an exceptionally intelligent child, watched over all that the evil monster's movements. Without him knowing, she secretly learned how he performed every one of his spells, and worked all of his black magic. She taught herself how to read, giving her the ability to read his evil spell books. He was oblivious to her actions, never realizing, or even imagining, she had been watching and learning. She was thankful that he didn't realize his error, for he looked at her, and all the others, as nothing more than stupid children, his mindless slaves, all completely under his control, and filled with fear. All except Coatl.

By the time Coatl turned thirteen years of age, she had decided that she would not be a slave for much longer. She learned that this monster was what is known as a Ghost Witch, one born of his own dead body. It took reading through many of his books on black magic before she finally found the spell she needed to end his miserable existence. Once the correct spell was found, she then needed to plan how she could implement it. Cautiously, she took her time in gathering all the necessary ingredients for implementing the spell. This all had to be done without the monster realizing something was a foot. As his evil eye seemed to be always upon her, it became extremely difficult, and dangerous.

Once she had prepared all that was needed to kill the monster, she then had to plan, very carefully, for the right moment. All had to be just right, no mistakes could be made, she only had one chance, if she were caught, she would be doomed. Fortunately for her, the monster had some trust in her, enough to prepare his meals. This would be the moment, and so the night had come, the night which would hopefully be his last.

When he ordered her to bring him his food and drink, she did as he said, and set his food in front of him. She went back to the cupboard, and took out the carefully mixed concoction, she had made earlier. She poured it right into his cup. Careful to leave no trace. It was a fortunate thing that his favorite drink reeked of something which had been pulled from a slimy swamp. It was perfect for covering, any, and all other smells which the potion might produce. She set it in front of him, and walked away, as she always did.

The monster devoured his food, shoveling it down his filthy mouth, and lifted his cup to his lips to wash it down. He suddenly held out his cup, sniffing the contents. No, no, please don't let him smell the potion. He put the cup back to his lips, and resumed gulping it down. Once the cup was empty of it's contents, the evil monster suddenly began to twitch and gag. His eyes were opened wide, in shock, he looked at the cup, and then at the girl, he spat out, “you nasty little serpent, I'll get.....”, never finishing his words, he doubled over, shriveling and then turned into the color of ashen black coal, began to disintegrate into a heap of ash. At last, the monster was dead.

Coatl grabbing the monster's walking stick, hit the ashes over and over again. She could not stop. With each strike, she felt a releasing of all the anger, and hate that had built up inside her over all these horrible years. She screamed at the ashes of this horrible monster, daring it to answer back. When at last she could move no more, she dropped to the ground and cried till she fell asleep.

It did not take long for word to spread throughout the evil monster's castle that he was indeed dead. All of his enslaved children began trying to find a way out of their prison. When at last away from the monster's gate, they ran as far, and as fast, as they could, none knowing where they were, or where they were going. They only knew they had to leave this horrible place. What they could not know, was that they had all been taken to the other side of their worlds. How to get back to their families, their homes? All they knew was that they were free and they would find a way.

The only one that knew how to get back to her family was Coatl, for she knew all of the evil monster's spells and magic. She had no time to worry for the others, she had to find her parents. She gathered the monster's stick, which held power, and said the magic spell for traveling. She disappeared, reappearing in a flash right near her village, to the spot from which she was taken those many years before.

She began to look around, but there was no one to be seen. Walking to where her village once stood, was an empty land. No wickiups, no fires, no persons, no muan, no piyan. She decided to walk until she could find someone, anyone.

She walked and walked a long distance before coming upon a small village. There was no one there that she knew or recognized. She came upon an elder woman and asked if she knew of the village that was over the hill towards where the sun sets.

The old woman told her, “Yes, many years past, there was a terrible tragedy amongst all of the villages. A terrible ghost witch was going through and stealing children. At this village you ask about, a young girl named Tepi was stolen by this evil ghost witch. For many months, both day and night, the piyan of the child would wander through the woods, not eating or sleeping, always looking for her little girl. Always calling out her name.

At last she came to a point when she was not thinking in a normal mind. It is said that she walked into those woods one last time. A young warrior came upon her body, seeing her curled into herself. All the life had gone from her, her grief had finally taken her last breath away. He brought her back to the village, and a ceremony was made for her, setting her body to go with the Gods. Those who travel through those woods now, they speak of hearing a woman crying out for her lost little girl, calling her back home.”

With tears in her eyes, Coatl asked about the husband, and the elder woman replied that he had ridden off, also looking all across the lands for his little girl. It was said that he ran his horse until his horse could go no further. Once his horse was gone, he walked until he also could walk no more, never returning. Another, who knew him, found his remains far from here. He said the muan had died, of a broken heart, searching for his little girl. It was not long after the muan had left, that the village decided to move, the people wanted to get away from so much evil and sadness.

Hearing the whole story of her parents, and their demise, Coatl felt something she had not allowed herself to feel for many years, love. It was a deep ache in her heart. She thanked the elder woman and walked back to the spot the evil man had stolen her from. She dropped to her knees, and began screaming to the heavens. It was a scream to release all the pain and heart ache she felt at the loss of both her piyan, her muan, of her life. All had been brutally taken from her, from them! The tears, which flowed down her cheeks, burned like fire. She felt them in her very soul.

When she had at last she could cry no more, an anger began to set in her heart. This anger began to replace all the hope, sadness, fear, and love she ever felt. She found a place to aim this anger, it became an anger at the Gods for allowing this to happen. An anger at the Shamans, who had not protected them.

Why had the powerful Gods not answered any of the prayers sent to them by her piyan, her muan, or herself for that matter? Where were they, these powerful, all caring, Gods? Why did they allow this evil monster to exist, and hurt her, her family, as well as, all the other children he had taken? The anger she felt for the Gods began turning her heart black, hard, and very cold! She vowed that she would make them pay for all that was taken from her.

Coatl went to the woods where her piyan was said to have died, she bent to her knees, in tears, she promised her piyan that she would get revenge. The Gods would pay for what they had allowed to happen! For doing nothing, in her mind, was as if they had caused this. It was the last time Coatl vowed she would ever again shed a tear.

She raised her head to the skies, lifting the magical walking stick, and shouting to the heavens, “I'm Coatl, Tepi is dead and lies here with her piyan. I promise you this, you will pay for all of this which you have created. With my last breath, I vow to avenge them all!” As she spoke, thunder boomed across the sky and a lightening bolt shot bright as if the Gods were answering her challenge. Coatl yelled back, “You do not scare me! I am coming!”. She said a magic spell, and as before, in a flash, she disappeared. She went back to the land to which the evil monster had taken her, this time though, she was the one in control. This was now her land.