Charco De Agua

Pequena Sobrina

    ☁ As Luna moved away, Puddle brought up a shaky hand to press her fingers against the cut on her cheek. Sounds were lost in her throat - she couldn’t move. Looking at the blood on her fingertips, she felt a weird sensation.

    The water that made up her form seemed to bubble slightly, a light steam rising up from the water’s edge. No one had ever hurt her before - no one had ever intruded in her space like that. It wasn’t… it wasn’t okay.

    It especially wasn’t okay for someone to come into her home and treat her like garbage - so this was anger. This was what it felt like to loathe someone. If this… this monster thought she could do this to her. 

She was dead wrong.

    Slipping into a puddle, she scattered among the floor, closing the space between her and Luna within a matter of seconds. She flashed in front of Xibalba and made herself rise high out of the water, swirling foam and waves cascading down from her sides.

    “How dare you,” she hissed, this sudden new emotion taking over the fear she had felt just seconds ago. “You have come to this sacred place and ruined it with your bad aura - ” Reciting words from her father’s threats, feeling powerful, it felt good.

    “How dare you come into my home and attack me like I have done something to hurt you. I have done nothing - so back off.” ☁

Well then, certainly it was unexpected, and took both Gods by surprised, Xibalba eyeing the tiny Goddess with curiosity, but he knew this couldn’t end well no matter what now. 

Luna had stumbled a little, already braced for another attack until she was blocked. Receding for just a tiny bit and gaining back her posture. 

“You’re right, you haven’t.”

Really, Luna was rather impressed such a crybaby could find such courage like that. But if it was true as she thought, if she was really her SISTER, then Luna wasn’t the least bit surprised to find the familiar traits. 

It made her smile, really, maybe she might not be so bad. After All this wasn’t her fault, but at the moment, she was an obstacle. Her anger hadn’t calmed down in the slightest, but very calm, Luna reached for the small girl once more, taking advantage of her physical form. 

Fingers snatched a handful of hair and yanked sharply, bringing her to her face, rage evident once again in her features. 

“Yet if you stay in my way, you won’t be around for much longer Little Girl.” 

Snarling, growling, and yelling in Puddles face, hoping to put her back out of commision and settle with her Father. 

Xibalba wanted to snatch Puddle away from her, but Luna was already disposing of her, the grip on her head swinging around to the floor and released her. 

His next worry was the fitful child marching his way instead. Luna had regained her head in the little confrontation with Puddle, still sneering and fuming, but instead of raising her hand against him, her claw was in his face. 

Was she really going to do this again?

For a moment Luna was hesitating, throat dry and breath hitched, but all that anger, disbelief and BETRAYAL pushed it out, bursting. 

“You! You be sure you and your, DAMN Wife know, I am NOT, coming back. Ever! I can see you’re apparently getting just FINE without me.” 

    ☁ As soon as she believed that she had a point - that she had a chance - that her words were actually powerful enough to mean something to someone else, she realized she had never had a shot in the first place.

    Looming claws grasped at her hair, and another cry left her lips. Pain radiated through her skull, and tiny hands grasped at the claw in a frantic attempt to pull it off. A fresh wave of tears streamed down her cheeks and fell onto the floor beneath her, mixing with the water that made up her form and causing ripples of fear to pass through her. 

    Can’t breathe - CAN’T BREATHE - let go, please - DEATH - help - words, thoughts, and images flashed through her mind at an alarming rate as the world swirled around her. She was certain this was the end - by her words, her eyes, everything, the young girl felt it.

    She was going to die.

    Puddle had never felt that scared - had never been in danger like that before - it mortified her, and for once in her life, she didn’t know what to do but cry.

Pequena Sobrina

    ☁ As soon as one of her claws snagged on the soft fabric of her veil, Puddle heard one of her sobs echo off of the tunnel walls. Tears began to stream down her cheeks - she was scared, she was terrified - she wanted her father here, to hold her and protect her, but she couldn’t force any words out except for one.

    “Stop…”

    It came out as a tiny whimper - one where she knew it was no use to say. It sounded helpless and frightened, and oh, she was. As the older goddess demanded her to speak, all she could do was sit there and cry.

    Until Xibalba tried to step in. The little girl opened her eyes slightly, tears blurring her sight as she watched the small interaction between daughter and father. Then, as soon as she thought everything was beginning to get under control, she found herself sobbing in the face of rushing wind.

    She was pressing her physical form up against the stalagmite as hard as she could, too scared to do anything but cry. Wings snapped at her, and she let out an inhuman screech of terror as one clipped her cheek. ☁

Luna wouldn’t stop, not until she felt that this was fair again. 

Would they really do this to her? All because she had left?

Was it their sick joke? 

Was it their revenge for it?

She didn’t know and for the moment she didn’t care. She just wanted him to pay. Talons strike against stone, sparking screeches and inflicting scratches upon the cave walls. Winds were swirling in the small space, growing in power with each flap. 

Again she struck at them, using her arms to shove at Xibalba, one wing simply running over the tiny form as it made it’s way back up to the ceiling, ignoring her scream. 

Pitiful.

Slipping into light, Luna was back in her face, fluid movements and grips on the remaining stalagmites to growl at Puddle. She didn’t care if she was scared, or hurt, or anything. No she didn’t care. 

It took a moment, but Luna then realized this wasn’t her correct target. No not her. Eyes turning the Xibalba. 

“This is all your fault!”

Xibalba had sparred with his daughter thousands of times. He couldn’t count them all. Times he would win. Time he would downright lose, but he knew better that whenever Luna lost her temper, it wasn’t an easy victory, but she was no longer coordinated. 

So it was no surprise when she launched at him, clawed fingers scratching at him, reaching for his face, at his armor. Thank the Gods she didn’t have a sword. Yet as normal, she made up with it with those damnable talons and bruising wings. 

She had a terrible habit for twists and turns, slicing at her target with wider range, like some sort of saw. He hated it, but still had no trouble bouncing off her attacks, sliding out of reach, or tripping her up with the curve in his staff. 

Like before, it didn’t seem like it’d be ending anytime soon, Luna already breathing heavy but still full of energy. 

“To think, I thought, you both actually missed me.”

    ☁ As Luna moved away, Puddle brought up a shaky hand to press her fingers against the cut on her cheek. Sounds were lost in her throat - she couldn’t move. Looking at the blood on her fingertips, she felt a weird sensation.

    The water that made up her form seemed to bubble slightly, a light steam rising up from the water’s edge. No one had ever hurt her before - no one had ever intruded in her space like that. It wasn’t... it wasn’t okay.

    It especially wasn’t okay for someone to come into her home and treat her like garbage - so this was anger. This was what it felt like to loathe someone. If this... this monster thought she could do this to her. 

    She was dead wrong.

    Slipping into a puddle, she scattered among the floor, closing the space between her and Luna within a matter of seconds. She flashed in front of Xibalba and made herself rise high out of the water, swirling foam and waves cascading down from her sides.

    “How dare you,” she hissed, this sudden new emotion taking over the fear she had felt just seconds ago. “You have come to this sacred place and ruined it with your bad aura - ” Reciting words from her father’s threats, feeling powerful, it felt good.

Pequena Sobrina

    ☁ As Xibalba dipped down to help her out, Puddle nodded. “Thank you,” she murmured, rising out of the puddle slightly. She checked to make sure she was okay, but when she lifted her head, she jumped back violently.

    The newcomer was crouched right in front of her, wide, glowing eyes seeming to stare right into her soul. Azure eyes flickered up to look at the wings - it was nice that she was trying to hide them, but they were still quite intimidating.

    As she smiled, the young goddess smiled back - only more hesitantly. She was shaking slightly - she didn’t like others she didn’t know in her space unless she let them.

    Then, when Luna’s smile turned into a deadpan stare, Puddle felt her heart beat faster. Her breathing grew faster also, for she knew that look. The look where something is wrong. Wings opened, and the young goddess saw black spots before her eyes as she fought the urge to faint.

    Tears rose in her eyes and she backed up into the stalagmite - get away from the talons, get away from her, get away from the monster. 

    Puddle opened her mouth to speak, but instead, felt her body sink lower as she receded down into her comforting home of water. Her head peeked out at her, shaking violently by this point. There was no way she could say her name at a time like this. ☁

“No no, Come Here.” 

Teeth grit and brows furrowed now, Luna leaned after her, back hunched and a sharp hand reaching for the bit of material left on the girl. 

“Now answer me. Who, are you? WHERE, did you come from!”

Luna demanded, snarling at her. The lack of response causing the already growing anger to flurry behind her eyes, giving her the oh so wonderful dizzy feeling, and rush of adrenaline. 

Her chance to bark another question was interrupted by bright purple, sticking between herself and the small girl. For a moment the colors retreated, and Luna took her focus off Puddle to stare at the snake staff. 

It didn’t last long. 

Already braced, Luna shot to her feet, standing tall though she was still feet smaller than the other God, but she tried to make up for it with the branching of her wings. 

Her hands shoved at his armor, and once again, Luna was growling in her Father’s face. 

“Who is this? Is this what you both planned, just because I was GONE?”

Xibalba could feel his heart aching, repeating, reliving that one moment again from her fury, but he wouldn’t yield. Instead he returned her glare, keeping his little defense on Puddle. 

“Luna, that’s enough.”

Stern and solid, Xibalba’s voice made Luna tense, but she had no intention of calming down yet. 

No not yet.

Not when she felt so damn livid. 

There wasn’t much room in that cave. The tunnels were wide and narrow in their own respective places, but even for Luna, who was still ever so small, couldn’t fit her wings completely open in them, but this would have to do. 

Luna used to hate those wings. Loathed them with all her being, and for the longest time, she nearly always failed at controlling them in the air. The only thing she loved most, was her favorite ability she quickly mastered. 

Simple, easy, but troubling all the same. 

Open as far as possible, Luna slapped them down towards the floor, stirring gusts of wind at the two that died within moments. Then again, and again, terrible claws snatching at Puddle with each movement. 

“SHUT UP.”

    ☁ As soon as one of her claws snagged on the soft fabric of her veil, Puddle heard one of her sobs echo off of the tunnel walls. Tears began to stream down her cheeks - she was scared, she was terrified - she wanted her father here, to hold her and protect her, but she couldn’t force any words out except for one.

    “Stop...”

    It came out as a tiny whimper - one where she knew it was no use to say. It sounded helpless and frightened, and oh, she was. As the older goddess demanded her to speak, all she could do was sit there and cry.

    Until Xibalba tried to step in. The little girl opened her eyes slightly, tears blurring her sight as she watched the small interaction between daughter and father. Then, as soon as she thought everything was beginning to get under control, she found herself sobbing in the face of rushing wind.

Pequena Sobrina

    ☁ Puddle watched carefully - electric blue eyes scanning over the newcomer. The young goddess knew every god and goddess - it was part of her job - her father had taught her - but this one was new.

    Realizing that she was Xibalba’s daughter cleared things up - she didn’t know much about Xibalba, which was quite obvious from their encounter, and was slightly curious.

    As the two deities were talking, she slid out from behind the stalagmite, leaning back against it and watching in awe. She was trying to be quiet - trying not to make a sound - but she soon noticed her veil was stuck on the side of the rock.

    Instead of turning it into water, to make it easier, she yanked at it, making a small squeak as the veil came loose and she tumbled to the floor. Most of her body was submerged into the puddle now, but she rose out of it slowly and brushed herself off. ☁

It was a small sound, but it was enough to pull them out of their gaze, Luna flinching to finally notice the child, and Xibalba swiveling to see what was wrong. 

He’d completely forgotten about Puddle, since the moment Luna had come to his sight,everything else had just faded from his priorities. All he could think of at that moment, was the fact he had seen her again after so long. 

This didn’t stop him from dipping down to check on the smaller girl. His hand moving to her back to help her up if needed. 

“You’re alright?”

Who was this? Luna had never seen her, or even heard of her. After all her years she was almost certain she knew every God in the pantheon, maybe she new. 

Luna had been down these tunnels several times, but never had she encountered anything similar to this child. Yellow eyes trained on her, curious, watching, trying to obtain any sort of sign of familiarity. 

She couldn’t place it, what was it. Whenever she looked at Puddle, Luna could feel something tug in her mind, and something ache in her heart. 

What was it?

It wasn’t going to help just standing there though. Luna, like her Mother enjoyed children and their company, so it wasn’t long before she was crouched in front of Puddle, offering her a smile. 

Her wings tucked up behind her, trying to curl and hide her talons. She had learned in her time that they weren’t the most appealing attributes of her to children. 

She was cute, Luna admitted. Again she smiled, and finally took a good look at her. 

Up close now, Luna connected that feeling, realizing, this girl reminded her of her Mother. The dark curls, and something in her face. Eyes flickered between her and Xibalba, something clicking in the back of her head. 

That one moment, familiarity rushed through her body. Eyes wide, and dark colors snatching at her skin, and finally, leathery wings snapped open, shadowing the small girl. 

Claws were reaching out and scraped down the stone walls, a couple of them curling around the stalagmites littering the cave floor. 

For the moment Xibalba was happy, overjoyed that Luna had returned, until he saw those awful wings open again. The bright colors in his daughter has gone, and her face rigid and cold towards Puddle. 

His feathers fluffed out, and he felt worry creep in his spine from that all too familiar look of fury in Luna’s face. 

When she spoke it made him want to cringe, the same horrid voice that was spat at him the last day he saw her. 

“Who, are you?”

    ☁ As Xibalba dipped down to help her out, Puddle nodded. “Thank you,” she murmured, rising out of the puddle slightly. She checked to make sure she was okay, but when she lifted her head, she jumped back violently.

    The newcomer was crouched right in front of her, wide, glowing eyes seeming to stare right into her soul. Azure eyes flickered up to look at the wings - it was nice that she was trying to hide them, but they were still quite intimidating.

    As she smiled, the young goddess smiled back - only more hesitantly. She was shaking slightly - she didn’t like others she didn’t know in her space unless she let them.

    Then, when Luna’s smile turned into a deadpan stare, Puddle felt her heart beat faster. Her breathing grew faster also, for she knew that look. The look where something is wrong. Wings opened, and the young goddess saw black spots before her eyes as she fought the urge to faint.

    Tears rose in her eyes and she backed up into the stalagmite - get away from the talons, get away from her, get away from the monster. 

Pequena Sobrina

    ☁ When he told her to let them pass, the young goddess stiffened up slightly. “I know you don’t believe me,” she murmured. “But I wasn’t lying when I said I was the guardian of the cave. I’m mainly to guardian of these tunnels, but…” That’s why she was so uptight about who was in the tunnel.

    Her eyes sparkled with interest, and she leaned forward slightly to look at who was in the tunnel. “She’s pretty,” she whispered under her breath, preparing to call out to her as she stepped into the light, but froze as she looked up at them.

    As the new visitor shared an unsettling moment with the god besides her, she slithered back a bit. Puddle hid partly behind one of the stalagmites rising out of the ground, assuming they wanted to talk. 

    Him being her father after all - words had to be shared. Right? ☁

One word, and that was it. Xibalba felt the tension built up release in that word, his figure slouched and face falling. He couldn’t find anything to retaliate with, words choked up at the back of his throat, and instead shut his mouth, teeth buried in tar. 

Xibalba slithered forward, closing the bit of distance to her, to Luna, his precious Luna. Really he couldn’t tell still if she was real or not. If maybe he was just hallucinating, or even dreaming again to just see her. 

The movement made her flinch, their gaze never breaking but Luna still felt the need to keep away. Stay away. 

Get away. 

Talons twitching, and her toes curled on stone, but Luna remained still. 

Even when bony fingers had found her curls, the over sized palm gently pressing against her scalp. 

“Mi Hija, where have you been? Where have you been, all this time?!”

Bright colors darkened, her skin fading for golden markings to shine against the growing tinge. Every muscle was tense, tight, ready for flight at the soonest moment. She refused to answer though, shaking her head. 

“It..doesn’t matter. I was just, gonna check, see if you and Mama were home.” 

By the Gods did it hurt. Saying their names, Luna had avoided those words slipping out of her mouth for years now, doing anything she could to bury and compact the pain in her heart. 

Her fingers moved from the feather, they had been fiddling it endlessly now, brushing the soft fibers and followed down to the beads adorning it, and then down to her waist. Behind the bronze piece keeping her sash tied, a rough skull was tucked there, twined with one of her Mother’s bright flowers. 

Again his fingers were on his staff, wringing the smooth material with nervousness. His heart lightened for a moment, and he was absolutely terrified to ask. 

“You were coming home?!”

    ☁ Puddle watched carefully - electric blue eyes scanning over the newcomer. The young goddess knew every god and goddess - it was part of her job - her father had taught her - but this one was new.

    Realizing that she was Xibalba’s daughter cleared things up - she didn’t know much about Xibalba, which was quite obvious from their encounter, and was slightly curious.

    As the two deities were talking, she slid out from behind the stalagmite, leaning back against it and watching in awe. She was trying to be quiet - trying not to make a sound - but she soon noticed her veil was stuck on the side of the rock.

Pequena Sobrina

    ☁ The little girl nodded. She really liked them, a lot actually, but he didn’t seem to believe her completely. She just shrugged it off.

    “No problem!,” she grinned, giggling a little bit. “I’ve never seen someone with wings before - Papi told me about gods with wings before, but…” Puddle sighed. “I’m sure if he knew you were here, he’d probably tell you to leave the tunnels. He’s really - ” What was the word? “- protective…”

    Puddle opened her mouth to speak again, only to freeze in place. The water that made up her body rippled slightly, and her head turned to peer down one of the tunnels. “Who’s that?,” she asked, pointing down into the darkness.

    “A lot of gods travel through here, but I’ve never felt her presence here before…”  ☁

Xibalba could only laugh, teeth sharpening at the thought of the Candle Maker trying to run him off. 

“Oh I’m sure he’d try, but he and I are good, um… acquaintances, so there’s no need to worry.” 

He wasn’t paying much attention. Really he couldn’t care, Xibalba was actually enjoying himself in the Child’s presence. So when she pointed out the newest presence, he hardly put out a care. 

It was as she said several of the Gods used the tunnels to travel realms, so why should he give his attention? Yet he did for her sake.

“Hmm? Who knows. Just let them pass.” 

Really he hoped they’d walk on through quickly so that he could get back to the conversation before without any audience, but it didn’t seem to be. 

-

How long had it been though? The surface had caves and caverns yes, but there was just never anything like the Cave of Souls. The warm feeling, the calming silence, and the soft glow from all the candles that filled the place full of Life. 

Luna couldn’t have missed it anymore, her heart aching for some reminder of home, of her old life really. Human towns and and landscapes just didn’t cut it. 

If she felt this bad in just the cave, man how bad would it be when she finally got back to The Land of the Remembered? Could she really just walk up into the castle just like that? 

The thought was making her stomach sink, her heart heavy and again doubt was eating at the back of her skull. Oh but she had to fix this. Another twiddle to the dark feather stuck in her hair reassured her to continue walking down the damp tunnel. 

But Luna didn’t have much farther to go. So far her gaze had been stuck on the floor, watching water ripple around her feet as she walked, or when the talons in her wings cut through it’s surface. Everything was dark and blended until bright green burned her eyes. 

Now that she didn’t remember being here, but it did bring a familiar image. Once she had lifted her head to look finally, Luna was what, maybe, 3 feet from the tall God. Red skulls were boring into her person, and she felt her heart just drop, golden irises piercing him in a gaze that he had known for Centuries now. 

Gloves were gripping tightly on his staff, feathers ruffled and fluffed out rigid. His mouth was hanging open to say something, anything, but words were stuck in his throat. Breathing was forgotten as Luna forced herself to slowly inhale, the wings on her back slowly opening, and talons scraping the stone floor. 

What was she thinking. What the hell was she thinking that this was a good idea? How could Luna ever thought she was ready after that. 

“Papa..”

    ☁ When he told her to let them pass, the young goddess stiffened up slightly. “I know you don’t believe me,” she murmured. “But I wasn’t lying when I said I was the guardian of the cave. I’m mainly to guardian of these tunnels, but...” That’s why she was so uptight about who was in the tunnel.

    Her eyes sparkled with interest, and she leaned forward slightly to look at who was in the tunnel. “She’s pretty,” she whispered under her breath, preparing to call out to her as she stepped into the light, but froze as she looked up at them.

    As the new visitor shared an unsettling moment with the god besides her, she slithered back a bit. Puddle hid partly behind one of the stalagmites rising out of the ground, assuming they wanted to talk. 

Pequena Sobrina

    ☁ Taking notice of the wings, the small smile on the girl’s face disappeared. They looked hurt, and that made her feel real bad. The smile on his face was fake - she could tell - and wondered whether he could still use such beautiful things.

    “Well I think they’re really beautiful,” the young girl murmured, looking up at them in awe. She really wanted to touch them, but - azure eyes traveled down the scars on his wings, and she restrained from asking. ☁

“Hmm, think so?”

Really Xibalba couldn’t care over half the time what others said about his appearance, about his wings. 

They were once glorious things that invested a good chunk of his pride, strong and able until, unfortunate, events. 

The only time he felt better about it was the fact his Wife still seemed to find acceptance in his features. Yet here after her compliment, the God found himself smiling even more. 

“Gracias My Dear, that, means a lot.”

Skulls caught sight of her eyes, looking over the horrible markings that were etched in his feathers. Rather quickly, they snapped shut, folded tight against his back. 

    ☁ The little girl nodded. She really liked them, a lot actually, but he didn’t seem to believe her completely. She just shrugged it off.

    “No problem!,” she grinned, giggling a little bit. “I’ve never seen someone with wings before - Papi told me about gods with wings before, but...” Puddle sighed. “I’m sure if he knew you were here, he’d probably tell you to leave the tunnels. He’s really - ” What was the word? “- protective...”

    Puddle opened her mouth to speak again, only to freeze in place. The water that made up her body rippled slightly, and her head turned to peer down one of the tunnels. “Who’s that?,” she asked, pointing down into the darkness.