Days And Nights (Book of Life and Maya and the Three One Shots)

I'll Always Be With You

Chaska is asked to look over Zatz while Camazotz is away, where she finds herself bonding with the young boy.

A few months after Chaska met Zatz for the first time, she saw one of Camazotz's messenger bats outside her window.

"Oh, hello." She said as it flew inside. It dropped a small scroll into her hands and perched itself on a shelf.

She unrolled the scroll, reading the note from Camazotz.

Chaska, my dear sister,

Mictlan has sent me on a mission for the day, so I need you to watch over Zatz while I'm gone. You're the only one I trust to watch over him.

By the time you're reading this, I'll be on my way with him, so this isn't up for negotiation.

He won't be any trouble, I promise. I'll be back by midnight.

Camazotz.

When Chaska read the note, her breath hitched with nervousness.

She's never had to deal with children before, and now she was about to spend the whole day with her brother's son.

It's not that she didn't trust the boy wouldn't be trouble, like Camazotz said. It was her lack of knowledge of children, let alone infants, that she didn't trust.

"Ugh." Chaska crumpled the paper in her hands, "When I said they'd always be welcome, I didn't think he'd-" She sighed and rubbed her temples.

The bat perched on her shelf started to laugh at her predicament.

"Oh, who asked you?" Chaska pushed the bat off the shelf, the bat glaring at her as it landed on the ground.

A few hours later, Camazotz had arrived with Zatz and a few things to take care of him with. He explained to her how to take care of Zatz, how, what, and when to do certain things. Chaska reassured him that everything would be fine, despite her hardly believing the words coming from her mouth.

For the most part, Chaska had been doing quite well when it came to what Camazotz had told her. When she wasn't doing something to care for Zatz, she kept him in a makeshift bed made out of spare blankets, Estrella never leaving his side and calling for her when Zatz needed something.

It wasn't easy, but to her surprise, she was doing a decent job.

However, Chaska didn't think she was at all connecting with the boy. She had no past experience with children before, so she never had the desire to connect with them. But considering that this was her brother's son, and this was definitely not the last time she'd see him, she figured it was important to connect with the child emotionally.

Night was starting to fall over the realms.

Chaska had entered the room Zatz was in. Estrella was gently playing with the young boy, nudging him with his nose as Zatz giggled and was touching the large wolf's face.

Chaska sighed and sat next to the two of them, hoping to try to connect with the child, "Your father wasn't kidding when he said you're no trouble."

Zatz turned to her, giving her a blank stare. She sighed as she grabbed the small child, cradling him in her arms.

"I don't know what I was worried about. Maybe it's because you're the first human child I've ever seen, let alone a demigod."

She stared down at the young boy who hadn't changed his facial expression. She slumped her head against the wall as Estrella gave her a raised brow, growling softly.

"You think I don't know that? It's humiliating that you're able to connect to him better than me."

Estrella gave an offended look and snarled slightly.

"I'm not taking it back. Not until you tell me how to connect with him. He's Camazotz's son, I have to bond with him."

Estrella did nothing but sit up straighter and turned his head away from her.

"Ok, you're right, I'll figure it out myself."

Chaska thought for a little while, thinking about how she could reach out to the child. She then noticed something in his makeshift bed.

A bracelet.

She remembered Camazotz saying that was Zyannya's bracelet, one of the last things they had of her. Estrella handed her the bracelet and she examined it in her hand.

"This is your mother's isn't it?" She said, holding it up to Zatz, who immediately lit up when he saw it.

Chaska smiled and gave it to him to suck on, "From what your father has told me, she was quite the warrior. I regret not having met her. We might've gotten along well."

Zatz cooed quietly as she brushed his hair from his face, her eyes glancing to his eyepatch.

"I'm sure your parents loved each other very much. You know, I never felt love like that. I never met someone like that, god nor mortal. The way your father described it, you'll feel as though that person puts you in balance, no matter how different or similar you are. They're the one person you want to protect for the rest of your life. But, maybe someday, I'll meet someone like that."

Chaska looked down at the child, his eyes filled with intrigue as she spoke, "I have no doubt it will happen to you. When the time comes, take your parents as an example of love. Despite the risks, they fought so hard to protect each other and you. One day, you'll find your equal or your opposite, and you'll protect each other till the end of time."

Zatz smiled at her, making her smile back down, "But, that doesn't mean I haven't loved before. There are more than one kinds of love. For instance, I love your father like a brother, even though we're not blood. And, you wanna know something else?"

Zatz blinked questioningly, as though asking for an answer.

"I love you, too." Chaska playfully tickled his neck, making the young boy laugh, her laughing along with him.

She set him down back in the makeshift bed for him to sleep, "No matter what you need, even though you have your father, you can always come to me. All I want is for you both to be safe."

She jumped slightly at the feeling of a sudden touch. When she looked back to the boy, she saw that he had grabbed her tail.

"Uh, my dear, I'd rather you not-"

She was about to push him off until she saw him clutching it tighter like a stuffed animal, snuggling into it as he fell asleep.

Normally, Chaska didn't like others touching her tail, but she decided to make an exception.

She leaned down and kissed the boy's head and whispered, "I'll always be with you."

Estrella watched the interaction with a warm smile as he yipped a little.

"Yeah, yeah, you were right." Estrella had a smug expression, making Chaska roll her eyes, "Don't get used to it."

Camazotz came for his son a few hours later looking quite exhausted, "I can't thank you enough for doing this."

"It was no trouble." Chaska said as she handed Zatz back to his father, "He's very sweet."

She turned her attention to Zatz, "You be good to your father."

She turned back to Camazotz, "I mean it when I say you can always come to me."

"And I shall certainly do so." He said as he hugged her tightly.

For a brief moment, she saw Zatz smile back at her, making her heart melt.

Chaska watched Camazotz and Zatz leave from where she stood, her heart slightly aching. She wished she could be with the boy for a little longer.

Estrella nudged her leg, looking at her with a smirk and raised brows.

"W-What - What are you looking at?" She said, wiping a stray tear from her eye.