Bartuc and Edes, reached the Nautica, which under Idomenes careful eye had been beached to keep it safe. The blunt prow was half sticking into the jungle and a pair of very skinny monkeys, with incredibly long arms and legs were sleeping in the rigging.
The two had had a couple of frights in the jungle, a load roar off to their left followed by a bat nearly flying in Bartuc's face. A bird had ran off into the brushes, making screaming noises from almost underneath Edes feet. The smell of unknown flowers was thick on the evening breeze.
Nervously they approached the Nautica. The moon cast sharp shadows and made the waves light up in their silver splendour. Nothing moved aboard the ship.
"Are you sure this is a good idea? " Bartuc whispered.
"Why are you suddenly asking me? You brought this up!"
"Not true. You wanted to find out what Thanatos was doing."
"I did!?" Edes voice nearly squeeked with indignation.
He turned to the ships and scrambled on board. If his friend thought it was his idea, he would show him he wasn't afraid. He was sure he wouldn't hear the end of it if he decided to return now.
Together they searched the ship and the hold, but nothing stirred. Nothing seemed disturbed. After a half hour the two youths got bored with it and climbed back down.
"Yeah, Edes, this was definitely one of your more brilliant ideas," Bartuc grumbled
"It wasn't..."
Edes swallowed his protest. Bartuc would turn things around again, whatever he said the white haired boy would surely twist it.
As they returned to the camp a dark shape was watching them from the tree line. When it was sure the two were gone, the shape flitted aboard the Nautica.
Halfway to the town Edes suddenly froze.
"What.."
"Hush! I hear something"
"What's that smell?"
Suddenly a large shape broke away from the darkness before them. Liquid in motion it moved forward, it's head hip-high to the boys, it's eyes growing pale green in the darkness.
The shape hissed and Edes hands went for the sword he quickly realised was still besides the fire. Cerek would have his hide, if whatever the creature before them was didn't get it first.
The shape flowed forward and moved into a patch of moonlight. Pale skin showed black splotches. Two large canines were clearly visible as the jaguar snarled at them. Slowly Edes tried to make Bartuc move backwards.
The jaguar moved like water falling and struck out with it's paw. A single nail broke the skin on the top of Edes right hand, then the creature turned and disappeared into the jungle.
"What the..." Bartuc cussed as Edes looked at the seemingly black blood welling up from the wound.
"I...I don't know. Let's hurry to the camp, I don't like it here." Edes mumbled.
The two of them trotted down the path back to the camp. Two pairs of eyes followed them, one green gold, the other morreion dark.
"The gods have touched that one. " Burning Mirror spoke softly as Edes and Bartuc disappeared from sight.
"I'd agree, " Aythadis answered.
"They have touched you as well...or..." the indian looked sharply at the Phoenicean trader. His eyes seemed to see more than normal mortals. As he watched Bruning Mirror saw two images super imposed, one of the dark haired trader, the other, though was what made him stop. Aythadis' eyes seemed liquid green gold and two raven coloured wings swept backwards behind and above his shoulders.
"Quetzalcoatl..." Burning Mirror murmered, almost to soft for Aythadis to hear as he lowered his eyes.
Aythadis reached out and gently tilted the older man's face back up.
"I am not a god, " he spoke, "At most I am a messenger, but never a god, Burning Mirror.
I speak truth..."
[This message has been edited by Jayhawk (edited 12-19-2000).]