Itzcoatl
Legacy Name: Itzcoatl

Itzcoatl was as beautiful as the night sky, and more beautiful than any girl in the whole village. His glossy black hair fell around his shoulders, and reflected the sun's light like a precious stone. He was frequently teased for looking so feminine. However, Itzcoatl tried his best to play with the other children. He would often come home covered in dust and dirt, a smile on his face. His mother would be furious with him; after all, she saw her beautiful son as a blessing from the gods and did not want him to be filthy and plain like the other children.

The constant teasing from the others didn't stop as Itzcoatl got older. He wanted to fit in, to have friends and play games. During one afternoon while his mother had gone to collect harvest, Itzcoatl took a small arrowhead and cut his hair short so it would be more like the other boys' hair. When his mother returned home, she was so enraged that she locked her poor son in a confined room until his hair grew back, only letting him out to eat.

Years went by, and Itzcoatl had grown into a beautiful young man of seventeen. He watched all the girls walk around the village in their elegant robes and shawls. He blushed whenever one of them looked at him with a sweet smile. He fantasized about getting married, supporting a family, and actually working for a living rather than being constantly pampered and sheltered like a child. However, he knew deep down inside that his mother would never let him go.

Summer came and droughts began to plague the small village, laying waste to their crops. The people started to think that the gods were angry at them. Village elders gathered in a temple in the center of the village and deliberated the fate of their home and people. They came to the conclusion that a sacrifice to the gods had to be made. The village high priest had all the families gather and line-up their unmarried, virgin daughters so he could decide on the perfect one.

Itzcoatl stood back by his home, away from the crowds. He was fascinated by the guards and the high priest in their colorful robes, so he tried getting closer. He stood up on the edge of a large rock, peeking over the lines of people. In one swift movement, Itzcoatl lost his balance, fell and rolled into the path of the high priest. He looked up, his hair tousled and his face dirtied from the ground. The frazzled Itzcoatl quickly caught the eye of the high priest.

His mother was taken aback when the elders selected Itzcoatl to have the honor of being sacrificed. She felt so conflicted; on one hand, it was her son they were talking about, but on the other, his life would ensure the safety of the whole village. His mother understood and agreed; Itzcoatl on the other hand, didn't. He didn't know why he had to die and his mind raced with questions. What did he do wrong? What had he done to deserve this? Itzcoatl wasn't upset, or even angry; he was only scared.

In the cold night, when the moon was full, the village high priest and elders took frightened and confused Itzcoatl up the mountain. They tied his wrists to a tree and placed an elegant mask over his face. The elders chanted and prayed, calling to the gods and offering up the young, virgin soul as sacrifice. Itzcoatl watched in silence as they left him, alone and cold.

Itzcoatl sat in the darkness, listening to all the night sounds around him. He would try and hide himself behind the small tree whenever he heard a jaguar growl or bat screech. However, not all the jungle sounds were frightening. The constant chirping of the crickets and tree frog songs helped him feel a tiny bit better. He laid his head against the tree's trunk, feeling tired. He could see the torches from the village down in the valley, and though they were the ones that did this to him, he missed being home.

The following morning, the sun rose and its warmth touched Itzcoatl's back. He woke to the sounds of singing birds. Itzcoatl tiredly looked around, but with the mask still over his face, he couldn't see much. His surroundings became clearer as he shook off the mask. He was still in the world of man; the gods had not come for him. A wave of guilt suddenly washed over him. Was he not good enough?

Itzcoatl stood, breaking the rope around his wrists. He looked at his hands and smiled; he was free. With wide eyes, Itzcoatl gazed all around him. He was so unsure of what to do now, where to go next. After all, he couldn't very well go back home. With fear in his heart, he wandered into the jungle.

The jungle was filled with sights and sounds Itzcoatl had never experienced before. Colorful birds flew over his head, singing their beautiful songs meant only for Itzcoatl. It was all so magical to him. Itzcoatl wandered through the jungle for days. The sunlight would shine down between the canopy branches, touching his face. When it rained, he would feel the soft mist float down and adorn his hair.

Itzcoatl didn't know it, but he was hopelessly lost in the vast jungle; he was too wrapped up in all the beauty. Night began to fall, and Itzcoatl was getting tired. He hadn't rested or eaten much since his escape, though it never even crossed his mind to do so since he had always been taken care of by his doting mother. Weakening quickly, Itzcoatl found himself a lush green patch to curl up on.

He stared up at the sky through an opening in the trees. The stars far above him dazzled the night sky, sparkling like diamonds. Itzcoatl's eyelids began to get heavier as a warm breeze blew past him. He smiled and wondered what it would be like to live among the gods in the heavens above; how wonderful it would be. What would have happened if they had taken him? Were they watching him now?.

Crickets sang their lullaby as Itzcoatl pondered his future and pulled his arms up to his chest. Although he was alone, he didn't feel like it; he felt happy and free. He wanted to believe that the gods were looking down, watching over him from the stars. Itzcoatl laid his head down, blissfully unaware that his body was slowly dying.

Suddenly, the jungle sounds fell silent and a festival of colors lit up the night sky. Itzcoatl gazed up at them with wonder. Maybe this was what the gods looked like. He felt warmed and comforted by this sight. With a smile on his face, Itzcoatl drifted off to sleep. His heart got quiet and his breath became shallow as a single tear rolled down his face. In that silent night, the gods welcomed Itzcoatl into the heavens to live among the stars forever.

Lantern

Yukimiko