inhabiting the rainforest. They shared a border with the ocelots who worshipped the jaguar god, Tezcatlipoca, and the snakes who brought offerings to the feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl. The snakes mostly left them be these days, but the ocelots made often incursions within hummingbird lands. Thankfully, the hummingbirds’
sun god, Huitzilopochtli, helped them, granting them the speed and agility necessary to fight off their enemies. And today, on Nicolas’s The Lynx Who Claimed the Sun
79
coming of age, he would grant one final gift, the one that would allow Nicolas to become a true soldier of his clan.
His sister burst inside the room, looking as excited as he did.
“Come on, Nico-Chi,” she said. “Hurry it up. It’s starting.”
Nicolas turned to Valentina. “What do you think, Val-Coza?”
She beamed at him. “You look great. My little brother, finally a man. Who’d have thought it?”
Their mother appeared through the open door and glowered at them both. “What are you doing chatting? It’s almost time.”
As Valentina left, Nicolas’s mother gave him a weepy smile. “My baby. I can’t believe you’ve grown up so fast.”
Nicolas accepted a hug from his mother. He loved her dearly, and her affection always calmed his nerves.
She broke away from him far too quickly. “Go on,” she said. “The ceremony is about to start.”
With that, Nicolas’s mother ushered him out of the room. The beads on his cloak twinkled, reminding him of his own chirp. As they left the house, the sun’s rays hit the golden embroidery on their clothing, making them shine.
There were lots of people gathered in front of their home, both young men and women who’d come of age and older folk who’d come to watch the ceremony. Valentina had taken her place at their father’s side and their mother joined the rest of the family as Nicolas mingled with the rest of the group.
The elder appeared in front of them and started to utter their names. Nicolas’s mind whirled when he heard his own name called out. Nicolas Chimalli Huitzilin.
In ceremonies, the Huitzilin clan always used their full warrior names, granted to them to honor the Aztec ancestors. Nicolas’s name meant “Shield,” something he secretly found very appropriate. He wanted to be a shield, a shield for his family, the Huitzilin—the Aztec hummingbirds of the Mexican rainforest. On the other hand, 80
Scarlet Hyacinth
Valentina’s name, Cozamalotl, meant rainbow. It suited her, since females were meant to bring glee and hope in their lives.
Like all youths, Nicolas respected his past greatly, but at the same time, he was glad it was just that, the past. His people no longer made blood sacrifices to their sun god. Instead, Huitzilopochtli received from them all their devotion, song, and most earnest worship.
They all held their breaths as they waited for the sun to reach zenith. At last, the elder said the words the entire gathering needed to hear. The older men and women fell on their knees, while the youths all changed into their hummingbird form.
Priests gathered around them and hundreds of flower petals fell over them. Almost instantly, Nicolas felt an amazing heat flow through him. It was simply magical.
At last, the rain of petals ended and the feeling began to fade. At a sign from the elder, all the youths changed back into their legged form. Now, their noses were identical to those of the rest of the clan, huge and beautiful.
Nicolas beamed, a feeling of accomplishment washing over him.
But then, silence fell over the gathering. All eyes were on Nicolas, and apprehension gripped him. The elder headed toward him and the rest of the youths parted to make way.
The older hummingbird hugged him. “Welcome to the clan, blessed one.”
Nicolas was confused. He’d never seen such behavior in all his life as a hummingbird. Granted, he and his sister didn’t live in the main hummingbird center, but with their mother, deep in the rainforest.
sun god, Huitzilopochtli, helped them, granting them the speed and agility necessary to fight off their enemies. And today, on Nicolas’s The Lynx Who Claimed the Sun
79
coming of age, he would grant one final gift, the one that would allow Nicolas to become a true soldier of his clan.
His sister burst inside the room, looking as excited as he did.
“Come on, Nico-Chi,” she said. “Hurry it up. It’s starting.”
Nicolas turned to Valentina. “What do you think, Val-Coza?”
She beamed at him. “You look great. My little brother, finally a man. Who’d have thought it?”
Their mother appeared through the open door and glowered at them both. “What are you doing chatting? It’s almost time.”
As Valentina left, Nicolas’s mother gave him a weepy smile. “My baby. I can’t believe you’ve grown up so fast.”
Nicolas accepted a hug from his mother. He loved her dearly, and her affection always calmed his nerves.
She broke away from him far too quickly. “Go on,” she said. “The ceremony is about to start.”
With that, Nicolas’s mother ushered him out of the room. The beads on his cloak twinkled, reminding him of his own chirp. As they left the house, the sun’s rays hit the golden embroidery on their clothing, making them shine.
There were lots of people gathered in front of their home, both young men and women who’d come of age and older folk who’d come to watch the ceremony. Valentina had taken her place at their father’s side and their mother joined the rest of the family as Nicolas mingled with the rest of the group.
The elder appeared in front of them and started to utter their names. Nicolas’s mind whirled when he heard his own name called out. Nicolas Chimalli Huitzilin.
In ceremonies, the Huitzilin clan always used their full warrior names, granted to them to honor the Aztec ancestors. Nicolas’s name meant “Shield,” something he secretly found very appropriate. He wanted to be a shield, a shield for his family, the Huitzilin—the Aztec hummingbirds of the Mexican rainforest. On the other hand, 80
Scarlet Hyacinth
Valentina’s name, Cozamalotl, meant rainbow. It suited her, since females were meant to bring glee and hope in their lives.
Like all youths, Nicolas respected his past greatly, but at the same time, he was glad it was just that, the past. His people no longer made blood sacrifices to their sun god. Instead, Huitzilopochtli received from them all their devotion, song, and most earnest worship.
They all held their breaths as they waited for the sun to reach zenith. At last, the elder said the words the entire gathering needed to hear. The older men and women fell on their knees, while the youths all changed into their hummingbird form.
Priests gathered around them and hundreds of flower petals fell over them. Almost instantly, Nicolas felt an amazing heat flow through him. It was simply magical.
At last, the rain of petals ended and the feeling began to fade. At a sign from the elder, all the youths changed back into their legged form. Now, their noses were identical to those of the rest of the clan, huge and beautiful.
Nicolas beamed, a feeling of accomplishment washing over him.
But then, silence fell over the gathering. All eyes were on Nicolas, and apprehension gripped him. The elder headed toward him and the rest of the youths parted to make way.
The older hummingbird hugged him. “Welcome to the clan, blessed one.”
Nicolas was confused. He’d never seen such behavior in all his life as a hummingbird. Granted, he and his sister didn’t live in the main hummingbird center, but with their mother, deep in the rainforest.
Similar Books
Behind the Yellow Tape: On the Road With Some of America's Hardest Working Crime Scene Investigators
Jarrett Hallcox, Amy Welch
