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tsaikoI am having the hardest time getting this story to work and just need to reassurance that I'm not totally screwing it over. First part of it can be found here. I've just got to write the part from Tlazi's POV for this next part to be done. That's what I'm having trouble with.
After a thousand years, something changed. One of the old warriors of the Sun God had passed away and another warrior was chosen from a distant province. Days passed as the young man traveled to the temple. He arrived on a day where the skies seemed to weep, never a sign of fortune.
There something was different about him. He had the same dark hair and brown eyes, the same tanned skin, and the same lithe body as the other warriors. This warrior was loyal and stoic and trustworthy. In fact, he was better at his job then some of those who had been chosen already. Still there was something off about him. Not wrong but odd. None of the Sun God's warriors mentioned it around the new warrior, but they spoke of it among themselves.
They were not the only ones to notice. From within his prison of molten rock, the dragon stirred. The heart of the new warrior called to him in ways no other did. Every seventh day, the dragon would rise to the surface and call out to the new warrior.
At first the new warrior stood strong against the dragon's temptation. He shut his ears and heart away from the dragon's words, and refused to even listen. As the days turned to weeks, the weeks to months, and the months to years the warrior began to listen. Much to the dragon's surprise, the warrior talked back in return.
A strange sort of friendship developed between the warrior and the dragon. The dragon told stories of the gods or tales he remembered from other dragons. The warrior talked about the other warriors of the Sun God or the changes wrought to the land since the last time the dragon took to the air.
Even though they were friends, the warrior always remembered his duty. He learned to relax around the dragon, but never fully dropped his guard. In return, the dragon learned what it was like to care.
For awhile, talking was enough for both of them. Then, one day, the dragon dared to raise himself above the surface of the molten rock on the warrior's watch. The dragon did not fly away to cause destruction. Instead, he settled himself on the stones of the temple where the warrior stood watch. His scales gleamed in the sunlight and his massive wings blocked the sun. Despite this the warrior felt no fear. He gently touched one scale and was neither burned nor sickened.
"My name is Eztilinhuica," the dragon said. There was power in his name, but he gave it freely to the warrior.
The warrior gave the dragon the same power in return. "My name is Ilhuiti."
***
The steps down from the temple on the rim of the volcano to the one just above the crater floor were carved out of the very stone that made up the volcano. They were also steep and narrow. If it wasn't for the wooden railings, Ilhuiti would have killed himself getting down those stairs more than once.
It didn't help that more often than not, he was late. Like now.
He pelted across the small flagstone courtyard, ducked into the temple proper, and emerged on the other side to the plaza over looking the crater. Chimalua was waiting for him impatiently. The sun was just beginning to crest the edge of the rim when Ilhuiti skidded to a stop.
"I'm not... late," he got out in between pants. Chimalua raised an eyebrow.
"Barely," the warrior replied. He wasn't the oldest of the Sun God's warriors, but he was by far the most traditional. It was just sheer bad luck that Chimalua was the sixth warrior and he was the seventh.
Then again, it could always be worse. His rotation could come right after Tlazi's. Then Ilhuiti would be forced to see the other man every seventh day as opposed to only once in a while.
"I'm here now. Why don't you go on to bed? You must be tired." Ilhuiti was trying for innocent and casual, but he failed miserably. None of the warriors of the Sun God were particularly thrilled that he was sleeping with the dragon they were supposed to be guarding, but as long as Eztil didn't try to leave, they tolerated. Some better than others.
"I'm not stupid," Chimulua replied. "You want me gone so you can fool around with him. Try not to wear yourself out too much before Yaoti relieves you." With that, the warrior turned on his heel and left.
"I still don’t see why you won't let me eat him." The voice was familiar as were the arms that wrapped around his waist. Ilhuiti leaned back into Eztil's embrace. "It's not like the Sun God won't choose a replacement if I do. Maybe the next one will have better manners."
"The answer is still no." Ilhuiti turned in Eztil's arms, silently asking for and receiving a kiss.
"What about Tlazi? He was asking about you a few days ago when he was on watch." Ilhuiti went very still while Eztil watched him like a hawk. The problem was that he was never sure if the dragon was telling the truth or testing him. Quite possibly both.
"You didn't tell him anything, did you?"
"I baited him a bit, but didn't tell him anything." Eztil cocked his head to one side. "Why do you hate him so much? Aren't you from the same province?"
"That's part of the reason we dislike each other so much," Ilhuiti replied. "I've told you before, I'd really prefer not to talk about it."
For a moment Ilhuiti thought Eztil would push the matter. Then the dragon smiled and shrugged. "As you wish. I won't ask you about it again."
***
"Why does Ilhuiti hate you so much?"
Tlazi almost jumped out of his skin at the question whispered into his ear.
After a thousand years, something changed. One of the old warriors of the Sun God had passed away and another warrior was chosen from a distant province. Days passed as the young man traveled to the temple. He arrived on a day where the skies seemed to weep, never a sign of fortune.
There something was different about him. He had the same dark hair and brown eyes, the same tanned skin, and the same lithe body as the other warriors. This warrior was loyal and stoic and trustworthy. In fact, he was better at his job then some of those who had been chosen already. Still there was something off about him. Not wrong but odd. None of the Sun God's warriors mentioned it around the new warrior, but they spoke of it among themselves.
They were not the only ones to notice. From within his prison of molten rock, the dragon stirred. The heart of the new warrior called to him in ways no other did. Every seventh day, the dragon would rise to the surface and call out to the new warrior.
At first the new warrior stood strong against the dragon's temptation. He shut his ears and heart away from the dragon's words, and refused to even listen. As the days turned to weeks, the weeks to months, and the months to years the warrior began to listen. Much to the dragon's surprise, the warrior talked back in return.
A strange sort of friendship developed between the warrior and the dragon. The dragon told stories of the gods or tales he remembered from other dragons. The warrior talked about the other warriors of the Sun God or the changes wrought to the land since the last time the dragon took to the air.
Even though they were friends, the warrior always remembered his duty. He learned to relax around the dragon, but never fully dropped his guard. In return, the dragon learned what it was like to care.
For awhile, talking was enough for both of them. Then, one day, the dragon dared to raise himself above the surface of the molten rock on the warrior's watch. The dragon did not fly away to cause destruction. Instead, he settled himself on the stones of the temple where the warrior stood watch. His scales gleamed in the sunlight and his massive wings blocked the sun. Despite this the warrior felt no fear. He gently touched one scale and was neither burned nor sickened.
"My name is Eztilinhuica," the dragon said. There was power in his name, but he gave it freely to the warrior.
The warrior gave the dragon the same power in return. "My name is Ilhuiti."
***
The steps down from the temple on the rim of the volcano to the one just above the crater floor were carved out of the very stone that made up the volcano. They were also steep and narrow. If it wasn't for the wooden railings, Ilhuiti would have killed himself getting down those stairs more than once.
It didn't help that more often than not, he was late. Like now.
He pelted across the small flagstone courtyard, ducked into the temple proper, and emerged on the other side to the plaza over looking the crater. Chimalua was waiting for him impatiently. The sun was just beginning to crest the edge of the rim when Ilhuiti skidded to a stop.
"I'm not... late," he got out in between pants. Chimalua raised an eyebrow.
"Barely," the warrior replied. He wasn't the oldest of the Sun God's warriors, but he was by far the most traditional. It was just sheer bad luck that Chimalua was the sixth warrior and he was the seventh.
Then again, it could always be worse. His rotation could come right after Tlazi's. Then Ilhuiti would be forced to see the other man every seventh day as opposed to only once in a while.
"I'm here now. Why don't you go on to bed? You must be tired." Ilhuiti was trying for innocent and casual, but he failed miserably. None of the warriors of the Sun God were particularly thrilled that he was sleeping with the dragon they were supposed to be guarding, but as long as Eztil didn't try to leave, they tolerated. Some better than others.
"I'm not stupid," Chimulua replied. "You want me gone so you can fool around with him. Try not to wear yourself out too much before Yaoti relieves you." With that, the warrior turned on his heel and left.
"I still don’t see why you won't let me eat him." The voice was familiar as were the arms that wrapped around his waist. Ilhuiti leaned back into Eztil's embrace. "It's not like the Sun God won't choose a replacement if I do. Maybe the next one will have better manners."
"The answer is still no." Ilhuiti turned in Eztil's arms, silently asking for and receiving a kiss.
"What about Tlazi? He was asking about you a few days ago when he was on watch." Ilhuiti went very still while Eztil watched him like a hawk. The problem was that he was never sure if the dragon was telling the truth or testing him. Quite possibly both.
"You didn't tell him anything, did you?"
"I baited him a bit, but didn't tell him anything." Eztil cocked his head to one side. "Why do you hate him so much? Aren't you from the same province?"
"That's part of the reason we dislike each other so much," Ilhuiti replied. "I've told you before, I'd really prefer not to talk about it."
For a moment Ilhuiti thought Eztil would push the matter. Then the dragon smiled and shrugged. "As you wish. I won't ask you about it again."
***
"Why does Ilhuiti hate you so much?"
Tlazi almost jumped out of his skin at the question whispered into his ear.
