The ground beneath Kachina's feet trembled slightly, a reminder of Natlan's restless spirit. She stood atop a craggy ridge, her light blue eyes scanning the sprawling volcanic plains below. Smoke rose lazily from the distant mountains, and the ever-present scent of sulfur filled the air. Far below, the flicker of fiery rivers snaking through the land glowed against the darkening sky.
Kachina adjusted the green bandana around her neck, the intricate brown patterns catching the last rays of the setting sun. Her ears twitched as she heard the soft, familiar footsteps behind her. "Ayo, I know you’re there," she called out with a grin. The Tepetlisaurus emerged from the nearby underbrush, his amber eyes shining with loyalty as he nudged her arm.
"You ready, boy?" she asked, her fingers lightly brushing the orange gem on her muffin-like gloves. Ayo snorted, a small puff of dust escaping his nostrils as he crouched low, ready to spring into action.
The Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame was days away, and Kachina felt the weight of expectations resting on her young shoulders. She had failed before, and her peers had not been kind. But this time... "I won’t fail again," she whispered, though the flicker of doubt in her chest lingered like a stubborn ember.
Taking a deep breath, she stood taller, the orange emblem on her visor cap glinting in the low light. "Fear itself should fear me," she murmured, recalling the ancient poem tied to her name, Uthabiti. She patted Ayo’s side, and with a final glance at the horizon, they began their descent down the ridge, the flames of Natlan reflecting in her determined eyes.
