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

Just Grieve

The gods remember and reminisce about the ones who have fallen.

It's been a week since Mictlan's defeat and grief was felt through all the realms, funerals held for those who have fallen. Mortals and deities alike mourned their loved ones.

The funeral held in the celestial realm lasted the whole night as the gods paid their respects and mourned their loss.

After the ceremony, Chaska, Estrella, La Muerte, Maya and Zatz sat outside Chaska's home. A fire was started and they all stared into it in silence.

"La Muerte?" Maya finally asked. 

"Hm?" La Muerte replied. 

"If I may ask... what was... what was Micte like?"

La Muerte stayed silent for a moment before saying, "I have many sisters, some of which you're lucky you'll never have to meet. Micte was able to keep us all in check. In a way, she was like our mother, always looking out for us."

Everyone listened to La Muerte's words, Maya taking them in especially. 

"It confused me when she said she was going to marry Mictlan. She said it was because she loved him, but I wasn't too sure. I always felt as though there was another reason for that marriage. But I didn't want to question her about it anymore. She came to me when she was pregnant with you. For once, I was the one to look out for her. You can imagine my surprise when she gave birth to you, everything started to make sense. One day, after your birth, I found her sneaking out. When I asked her where she was going, she told me she was going to see you, that it was the day of your birth." 

Hearing this, Maya gasped softly, tears instantly filling her eyes. 

"Every year since then, I helped her sneak out to see you. She never stopped looking out for those she loved, even from afar." La Muerte put her arm around Maya as a few stray tears fell down both of their faces. 

"Micte was one of the few people who looked out for me in the Underworld." Zatz said, "She would defend me from everyone else. I could tell she and my father had a tense relationship, but I was always grateful for how kind she was." 

"Me and her didn't talk much, but I always admired her for her bravery." Chaska said, "She was one of the few people I told where I was hiding."

"Did she visit you often?" Maya asked. 

"Only a few times. We were never that close. But I have heard a few things from Camazotz." 

"I never took Camazotz to be one for gossip." La Muerte said. 

"Oh, he wasn't. But he was always a storyteller." 

"You can say that again." Zatz said with a sad smile, "It wasn't always about Mama, he'd tell stories about everything; myths, legends, warriors, kingdoms, empires." His voice began to crack, "I could listen to his stories all day." 

Zatz took a deep breath and hung his head. 

Chaska grabbed his shoulders and shook him, "Zatz, please. I've watched you endure so much, and through it all, you've always come out the other end. But for once in your life, Zatz, stop being strong." 

Zatz and Chaska looked at each other with wide eyes. 

A rogue tear escaped Zatz's eye as his breathing became heavier. Chaska pulled him in her arms into a tight embrace as he started shaking, his sobbing muffled into her neck. 

La Muerte and Maya got up from their spot by the fire and made their way to Chaska and Zatz. They both wrapped their arms around them, capturing everyone in a tight group hug, tears streaming down everyone's faces. 

Maya, La Muerte, Chaska, and Zatz cried for their mother, their sister, their father, their brother. 

Their friends. 

The silence of the night was filled with Estrella's mournful howls.