“Our inner lives reflect how we see the world and how we react in the world. By seeking to brighten our own divine spark, we can touch and bring out the divine sparks of the people around us. By enlightening ourselves and caring for our souls, we are also caring for and bringing light to the world that we live in.”

Spoken by Feathered Serpent Jaguar, the Lord Capt’n as written in The Morning Star Chronicles in the age of transition prior to the dawning of the sixth sun.

The next day was one of sadness for the adventurers for it was time to leave the outpost of the submerged water dragon. The Gods were sad as well for their tears fell steadily and heavily on the travelers. Rarely had such a stalwart and heroic group graced their lands. It was a group that braved any tests the Gods could devise and still came back for exploration and knowledge. It was a group that honored and blessed and respected the sacred lands. It was a group where each member young and old displayed their heart of courage. And so the Gods continued to weep most heartily throughout most of the morning.

Maruuani and Ixinatsi walked to the bank of the lagoon before breakfast to cleanse and bless their sacred blades in the water. They submerged their blades in the sacred lagoon using an ancient and secret technique and then bowed low as the God of Thunder acknowledged the ceremony and boomed his approval. These sacred blades would be used for healing in the future.

Humbled and saddened at leaving the lovely paradise of Lamanai, each traveler said their private goodbyes at the lagoon and in the jungle and climbed aboard Shipnir who was ready to take us forth into our next adventure. The Gods continued to cry as we adventurers basked in their gifting of tears. (Other boats on the river, not related to Shipnir, had covers and so missed this special blessing).

Although water dragons usually sleep deep in the marsh during the day, one in particular also arose for the briefest of moments to bid us farewell. Shipnir carried us swiftly along the New River winding through the jungle back to the dusty ransacked outpost where the wagon waited with our luggage. The wagon driver was a cheerful and talkative native who pointed out two containers at the back of the wagon that upon further inspection revealed hearty homemade sandwiches, chocolate brownies and ice-cold drinks.

The wagon took us back to the portal where we happily greeted Ameyatl, Flowing Hummingbird Priestess Who Stands Strong and Tenamaxtli, Seeking Prince of Ocean Tides. We did a second victory dance to honor the overcoming of their tribulations, this one not only involving luggage but three SUV chariots as well.

Luckily for us, we needed these three chariots as our group of adventurers now numbered twelve, and the drivers of each chariot are as follows:

Tenamaxtli drove the lead chariot with speed and accuracy and his passengers were his father the Lord Capt’n, his mother the Queen and Princess Lily Shark Maiden of the South; Kevari drove the second chariot and proved his skill at avoiding holes and rocks while keeping up with the lead chariot and providing Ameyatl with as gentle a ride as was possible given the circumstances. Also in this chariot were Pakapeti, his beautiful wife, and Maruuani; Mixtin pulled up the rear with equal skill and dexterity and with him was Ixinatsi, Kurupani and her young son Tapachini. This chronicler would venture to say that Tapachini was asking many detailed and difficult questions of Mixtin and I wonder was he pleased with the answers that were given?

As a special treat we alit at the Belize wild animal refuge park better known as the zoo. The Gods were now crying tears of joy since Ameyatl and Tenamaxtli had joined us. Being so blessed, we were filled to overflowing in seeing two jaguars one black and resting on the ground, and one spotted and perched in a tree. With so much jaguar energy amidst the group, Helen, the black jaguar sought to recognize us and to honor our presence by coming forth to the wire to observe us all. To some, she stared directly into our eyes and for those who experienced this, it brought forth a bolt of lightening to stir our souls. Time ran short and we adventurers turned our faces to the long journey ahead.

Day turned to dusk and then slipped into night before the chariots reached their destination – a group of thatched spacious huts built high above the roaring waters of five sister waterfalls. A young native woman named Catherine greeted us, showed us to our huts and then welcomed us to dinner in the dining hall. Expectations were high after the succulent dinners served at Lamanai, but the tired, hungry and somewhat cranky adventurers were not happy when they tasted the food that night. 

It was Ameyatl’s birthday but she was too sore and travel weary to join us in the dining hall, so this adventurer brought her a plate of food decorated with fresh flowers and something cold to drink. She was grateful and later sank into her soft bed and slept, and I would guess dreamed of her toddler son that she had left behind and was missing so very much.

The energy of this place was primal and heavy and after the sweetness and light of Lamanai, it took some adjusting. For some it was difficult to bear and brought to the surface some things that we might have preferred to keep buried. Such is the way with pilgrimages of the spirit and the weapons we all carried beckoned us to use them, nay they demanded to be used. Many removed from their quivers the Arrow of True Talk to survive this trial.

That night the waterfalls sang us to sleep.

Day 5