Blessings of the Night Kingdom

Chills of the Turnfire: I

Gusts of wind susurrated by my ears as I soared into the sky aboard an iridescent spiritway. The last traces of fall lingered in the trees beneath me, each leaf painted with varying shades of red, orange and yellow. Autumn's hues, vibrant as they were, proved to be a stark contrast to the green tribal wear donned by the Huitztlans residing in the canopy ahead.

From afar, a flash of green blinded my eyes, swiftly slicing apart the wind currents as it made its way towards me.

"Right on time, Kinich," I exclaimed, "I say we have some fun today!"

The Huitztlan in question hovered mid-air before me, dangling off the miniscule tail of his infamous saurian companion.

"I knew you'd be up to something," Kinich sighed, still wearing his usual nonchalant expression, "Bring it on."

"Hey, you ungrateful scoundrel!" Ajaw spluttered, "Show some respect to the Almighty Dragonlord K'uhul Ajaw, instead of having a darned conversation while leeching off my tail!"

"I'd be perfectly fine without your help," Kinich scowled.

A giggle escaped my lips, amused by their quirky interaction.

"Alright guys, let's begin!" I yelled in exhilaration as I sprung off the spiritway, extending my arms to relish the welcoming embrace of the crisp autumn breeze.

Instantaneously, Kinich let go of Ajaw, hurling himself toward me. He caught me, wrapping his arm securely around my waist, and adeptly backflipped, diving headfirst towards the ground below. The world spun around us in an array of colours — of the sky above, the trees below, and the towering cliffs — dizzying me with adrenaline, elation and the reassurance of Kinich's presence. Our hair and clothes ruffled amidst the violent breeze, and it felt as if the winds served as the Wayob's discreet messengers, conveying us its blessings of courage.

"Mualani. What happened to safety first?" Kinich questioned, his voice lowered to emphasise the severity of my impulsiveness.

"I have Sharky and Floaty Bloaty! Besides, I can always count on you to catch me, can't I?" I chuckled, "Now, before you retaliate, you agreed to my suggestion before I even got into the specifics, so that's on you!"

Kinich sighed, again, the exact same way he always did. Yet from the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of the disapproving gaze he cast on me softening, before he shut his eyes — perhaps an attempt to construct a facade of annoyance.

"Don't do that again," he warned, "Or else you'll never hear the end of it."

"Yeah, yeah, don't you worry!" I reassured, only to silence his unnecessary admonishment.

Kinich shook his head in resignation. His right hand shot toward the sky, firing a grappling hook which concurrently spiralled us upward and swung us toward the canopy. Another hook fired, lifting us safely onto the ledge. Kinich heaved a sigh, this time in relief, swiftly retracting his arm from my waist, just as my feet touched down on steady ground.

"Dude, that was so much fun! Can we go again? Pretty please?" By the time I realised the request had slipped my tongue, I was already certain of Kinich's objection.

"We can do that again another time, Mualani. There's business to be taken care of."

"The remnants of abyssal corrosion?" I frowned.

Kinich folded his arms and dipped his head in a subtle nod.

"Tsk," Ajaw clicked his tongue, "All entities of the abyss shall tremble before the Almighty Dragonlord K'uhul Ajaw!"

"Kinich, are you absolutely sure you don't need my help with the abyss?" I asked, ignoring Ajaw's nonsensical bragging.

I needed confirmation, if only to quell the uneasiness unfurling in my chest. The dark fumes of war clouded my mind once more, drifting over Natlan's crimson lands dyed with the blood of thousands of casualties. Crumbled were the defences of every tribe as valorous warriors collapsed, alongside the banners of honour they upheld till death. The cruelty of it all was heartrending, devastating me with incurable scars of solemnity — wounds I had fought to suppress with a mask of vivacity.

"You're on a vacation, Mualani, not at a battlefront. The war is already over," Kinich reassured, "Besides, I'll need your help with my commissions in the tribe."

"Guess you're here because the Meztlis can't enjoy their hot springs during winter, hm?" Ajaw snickered.

"Oh shut up, you dimwit! Geothermal energy keeps our springs warm even in winter," I retorted.

Kinich shot a menacing glare at Ajaw and flicked him into timeout, paying no heed to Ajaw's shrill screeches.

"You can use the usual spare room. Treat the accommodation as repayment for my commissions," Kinich offered, pulling out a bronze key from the folds of his jumpsuit and presenting it before me.

"Thanks," I replied, picking up the key from his palm, "If you need help, just ring me up."

"Mhm."

I waved enthusiastically at Kinich as he began to turn away. He halted, his eyes narrowing subtly, far too insignificant to be considered an acknowledgement of my goodbye.

As Kinich's silhouette faded amidst the shadows between the cliffs ahead, so did my exuberant grin.

Aw, shucks, I seriously wish I could help with the abyssal corrosion, but I'm sure there's nothing Kinich can't handle!

"Look, Toba! Sister Mualani's here!"

The mention of my name snapped me back into reality. I beamed in delight, squatting down to greet my little friends and reaching out to pat their heads. "Hey Huni! Hey Toba! Great to see you again!"

"We missed you so much! Brother Kinich does too!" Huni exclaimed.

"Yeah!" Toba chimed in, "Wish I had the chance to talk to Kinich more, though. He sure talks a lot around you!"

"Hehe," I chuckled sheepishly, "That's 'cause I'm really good friends with him! Now, let's go grab a sweet treat, shall we?"