A group of natives stood with bows and javelins in their hands. The sun was out, shining down on their light-brown skin and braided, black hair. Everyone in the village was gathered, men in front, followed by the women, then the children. Ahead of them, on the horizon, a sea of people was approaching. “What’s going on, chief?”

“I don’t know,” the leader of the village said with a grim expression on his face. Red war paint was smeared across his cheeks. “The great spirit of the bear has abandoned us. He isn’t answering our calls at all. Perhaps, this is the end of our tribe.”

Meanwhile, in the sea of people, the leaders encouraged their men to work faster. After spending a day and a night cutting through the forest, they finally caught sight of a human settlement. However, there wasn’t a statue of Feathered Serpent. One of the leaders of the men walking the path of god shouted, “Feathered Serpent must’ve gone this way! He’s always flown in a straight line! If he’s not in this village, then he must’ve flown past. Either Feathered Serpent has chosen to abandon these people, or they were never sick in the first place. Before we decide whether to wage war or not, we shall speak with them; let them tell us where Feathered Serpent has gone!”

A few moments later, a string of men came forward, approaching the leaders. Since the path makers all belonged to different tribes and regions that Feathered Serpent had visited, there was bound to be differences in their languages. However, by finding men who understood more than one language, they could guarantee communication between every party. “We’ve found someone who understands the language of the people in this region. Communication shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Excellent,” one of the leaders said. “We’ll advance first, greeting those tribesmen first.” The leaders and a sizable group of men stepped forward, ahead of the men who were clearing out a road. Next to the leaders, the string of translators followed closely.

At the village, the chief gestured for his people to take up arms. “Stay back! State your intentions!”

After a few strings of translations, the last translator said to the leaders, “They want to know why we are here.”

The main leader nodded. “Tell them we want to know if they’ve seen Feathered Serpent.”

One translator turned to another, translating the leader’s words into one the second translator could understand. “Have you seen the god, Feathered Serpent?”

The second translator turned to the third translator. “Have you seen Feathered Serpent?”

The third translator turned to the fourth translator. “Have your people encountered Feathered Serpent?”

The fourth translator turned to the fifth translator. “Do you know where the great god who flies in the sky in the form of a serpent is? He’s feathered.”

The fifth translator turned to the sixth translator. “Where is the feathered, flying serpent!?”

The sixth translator turned to the seventh translator. “Let us see the floating serpent!”

And the seventh translator turned towards the village chief. He pointed a finger at him and shouted, “Do you dare to let us see your turds float!?”

A baffled expression appeared on the village chief’s face. In fact, said expression appeared on everyone’s face behind him as well. The chief cleared his throat and looked at his people. “Well,” he said, drawing out the word. “Does anyone dare let them see?” He cleared his throat before anyone could respond. Then he turned back and pointed at the translator. “Is that really what you wish to see?”

The seventh translator turned towards the sixth translator. “Are you sure you want to see? It’ll cost you!”

The sixth turned towards the fifth. “Can you afford it? Pay us, and we’ll let you see!”

The fifth turned towards the fourth. “Pay us a lot and we’ll tell you!”

The fourth turned towards the third. “This knowledge is expensive. Bring out your goods.”

The third turned towards the second. “We’ll tell you what we saw if you pay us a great sum.”

The second turned towards the first. “We’ll tell you if you pay us.”

The first turned towards the leaders. “If we pay them money, then they’ll let us know which way he went.”

The leaders went red in the face as their muscles bristled. “With the puny group of men they have, they dare to resist? They wish to extort us!? Slaughter them all! Teach these ungrateful heretics what it means to blaspheme the name of Feathered Serpent! We’ll pave the path of god with their flesh and bones!”

The village chief’s eyes bulged out of his head when he saw everyone amongst the sea of people take out weapons. “They really want to see our floating turds!” he shouted at his people. “Quick! Everyone who needs to poop, hurry up and do it! Even if you don’t have to, try to show them! They’ll kill us if they aren’t happy!”

The villagers were dismayed, but they spread out and lowered their weapons while turning around. Their actions caused the leaders of the path makers to call for a stop. “What are they doing?” the main leader asked. “Is this a pre-battle custom they partake in?” The villagers lowered their loincloths and grass skirts, and the leader wrinkled his nose in disgust. “How vile! They’re, they’re tainting the path of god with their filth! What are you all waiting for!? Hurry up and exterminate them!”

***

“Oh,” Vur said and blinked. He was standing in the middle of a plains with a spirit buffalo and spirit bear cowering before him.

“Yes, great lord?” the spirit bear asked with his head lowered. “Is he not to your satisfaction? I guarantee he’s more eloquent than I am!”

“No, it’s not that,” Vur said. He glanced at his front paw. “Deedee, we forgot to leave some statues behind. We have to make this one extremely large so Tafel can find us anyway if she followed the previous ones.”

Diamant sighed. “Alright. Give me a moment.”