Bloom 821

"Six blooms since he left Kay, it feels like forever." Xtabay gleefully prattled as her attendant braided her hair. "I remember you were quite distraught at his departure, princess." Kay added as she put the finishing touches on Xtabay's hair. "I was SO mad. But none of that matters now. Are you finished?" "Yes ma'am." Kay replied. Xtabay jumped up and took a series of poses in front of her mirror. "You look beautiful!" Kay complimented. Xtabay stopped mid twirl as she heard the palace gates scrape across the stone entrance way. "He's here!" She gasped, running out of her room. Her wings spread open in her excitement and carried her through the halls of the palace to the front door. She burst through the doors before the guards had a chance to open them for her and bypassed the outside steps altogether. She landed and with the happiest grin she may have ever shown, watched Mul walk through the palace gates. His clothes were tattered and worn and dirt was smeared across his face but Xtabay didn't care. As she went in for a hug she noticed a dark skinned little girl with a curly afro peer out from behind him. Xtabay stopped in her tracks. Her eyes shifted to their snake- like variants. "Who is that?" She growled. "Hey Tabs. You look great. How are you?" Arms wide Mul went in for a hug but was shoved aside. "I asked you a question." Tiny flames began to radiate from the finger Xtabay had pointed at the girl who, while young, seemed unintimidated by the princess's aggression. "Hey, calm down Tabs." Mul calmly took Xtabay's arm and lowered it. "Remember that weird talking crow? Well I followed its directions and they led me to her. Her name is Oya and she was just a baby when she was given to me." Xtabay looked at Mul with contempt. "Are you her father?" She asked harshly. "I didn't make her but I'm all she's got." Satisfied with his answer Xtabay turned and stomped back into the palace. Mul turned to Oya and gestured for her to follow. She rolled her eyes and obliged.

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Sitting at the head of the dinning table the now World King, Xochi eyed little Oya who sat at the opposite end. "Xibalba you say?" She asked Mul without averting her suspicious gaze from Oya. "Yeah, it almost seemed darker than when we were all there." Mul answered, watching Oya stare unwaveringly back at Xochi. "And King Impetigo just let you traipse around his territory?" Mul sipped his drink before answering. "I wouldn't say let. More like tried to kill me." Xochi smirked, her sight still fixed on Oya. "And yet here you are...impressive. So, does it speak?" "Does what speak?" Mul asked. "The girl. Can it talk?" Mul looked at Oya who was now sporting her signature scowl. "Oya, can you thank World King Xochi for her hospitality?" "Nah." She answered, taking a bite from her fork. Xtabay stood from her seat, having been silent the entire dinner she finally spoke. "Mul I need to speak with you in private!" Mul knew from the tone in her voice that she wasn't happy and quickly left the dining hall with her after urging Oya to mind what little manners he'd taught her. Now alone Xochi decided to see what information she could get out of her. "Well aren't you a rude little thing." She teased. Oya took another bite. "There's a man standing beside you." Oya said with a mouth full of food. Xochi quickly surveyed her surroundings but found no one. "Is this a game you play?" Xochi asked. "Disappointed so disappointed, why Xoey why?" Oya's voice was flat and her eyes flickered between brown and violet as she spoke. "Xoey? How do you know that name?" Xochi demanded, her hand tightened around her weapon. "Disappointed so disappointed, why Xoey why?" Oya shook her head until her eye's stayed a steady brown. "It's too noisy in here." Oya pushed herself away from the table and hopped out of her chair. As Oya made her way out of the room Xochi stared off into the empty corner of the room where the candle light couldn't reach with tears in her eyes. "Father?"