South of the desert of Samalayucan stretched a chain of gigantic mountains in the middle of the wasteland. These mountains did not rise from the desert itself. In fact, the gods had already glimpsed part of them while they were still in the Hisatsinom lands. It was a mountain range that crossed almost the entire northern part of the continent, from the Haida territories onward (In Mexico, this mountain range is called: Sierra Madre Occidental).
On the foothills of those mountains, in their most fertile areas, the gods asked for lodging in one of the many villages they found. They were surprised to discover that no gods lived in this region; instead, the people lived much as they did on the other side of the world, relying on their own human effort.
Though they could not understand the language at first, Anpiel, speaking a little Tano, discovered that some of the older people in the village could still speak it. Thanks to that, the villagers kindly brought them before their tribal chief.
These people were called the Rarámuri, known by that name because of their great skill as runners. They lived in small villages, almost like extended families, and devoted themselves to maize farming, much like their northern neighbors.
Anpiel was surprised to learn that these people were distantly related to the Hisatsinom, though that relationship had broken off years earlier, when Coyote was sealed inside the desert of Samalayucan. In a way, that was why they had no gods watching over them, for those gods had remained in the north.
The Rarámuri worshipped a single God called Onoruame, though Anpiel understood that it was the same concept as Tawa in Chaco. Once again, it was another name for that demiurgic deity who created the universe and who, in some way, was part of it.
The men wore a singular sort of loincloth, while the women dressed in very colorful garments. While the men worked in agriculture, the women wove clothing or baskets from wicker. Many of them also had dwellings inside the caves of the great mountains surrounding them.
In the afternoons, they held races and athletic contests, and many of them wagered on the results. All in all, they were a very peculiar people.
After speaking with the siríame, the chief of that village, Anpiel realized that they were a very poor people, and the angel suggested helping with the villagers’ daily labors in order to pay for their stay.
And so the gods ended up helping the village with agricultural work. Rodrigo, Susanoo, and Anpiel helped the farmers with their crops. Tul and Epona treated the people’s illnesses and ailments, while Ana, Tania, Freyja, and Menrva learned to weave and embroider together with the women of the region. Tania also helped with the village cooking.
In the afternoon, Rodrigo and Anpiel took part in a race against the Rarámuri runners. They chose to do so without using divine powers... and lost miserably. Thus was born the legend among the people that their runners could outrun even the gods.
For lodging, the gods were given a room inside a cave, furnished only with a few sleeping mats and utensils made of clay and mud.
Loki, who still could not move, had remained in the improvised room all day, lying down. Ana brought him a little food and a drink called kichari, water mixed with ground corn, and fed him.
At last, after an exhausting day, the members of Orniskem all gathered in the cave to speak of their experiences, at Tania’s suggestion, for she wanted them all to have something like a social circle.
After a little hesitation, Anpiel decided to speak of his past and of his dream, although he omitted several details about his past. Once the angel finished recounting his dream, all his companions began to laugh.
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“Forgive me, Anpiel, but... useless? Thanks to you and your language skills, we’re here in this little village recovering,” Epona said with a laugh.
All the others nodded in agreement with the equine goddess.
Rodrigo also spoke of his past, what little he knew of it, along with his life in Spain and the massacre he carried out against Almanzor’s soldiers.
“Is that why you fear killing?” Menrva asked.
Rodrigo nodded.
Afterward, Epona spoke of her past. It is worth noting that not even Ana had known anything about the goddess’s life when she was a child. She also recounted how Coyote had taken the form of her brothers of Avalon, but thanks to the powers she had awakened, she was able to destroy the illusion before they could harm her.
At last, everyone turned to Menrva, the only one who had not spoken of herself. The goddess apologized, but decided to keep her story secret a while longer.
“Don’t worry, Menrva. Take your time,” Tania said with a smile.
Menrva nodded.
That night, Menrva had to share her sleeping mat with Freyja. The Etruscan goddess awoke in the middle of the night and realized that Freyja had gone to the mouth of the cave to speak through her communication crystal.
The next morning, before beginning their daily work, Menrva asked Freyja why she had not slept. The Norse goddess admitted she had not been sleepy, though her eyes looked tired, but that was surely something she did not wish to admit.
Ana, as always, was the laziest of them all when it came to getting up, so Epona kicked her awake. The gods then returned to the same tasks they had performed the day before.
While Ana was weaving baskets, Epona at last gathered the courage to visit the Irish goddess, taking advantage of the moment when Ana was alone.
“I want to speak with you, Ana... about Rodrigo,” Epona said, her expression somewhat depressed.
“I already told you that you don’t need to worry about such things, mare,” Ana replied, scarcely paying her any mind.
“Yes, I do,” Epona said anxiously. “I have always known that you liked Rodrigo, and I understand that you have conflicted feelings toward me.”
“Epona, you are my friend. I only want the two of you to be happy,” Ana said calmly. “I cannot choose between you and Rodrigo. It’s as simple as that.”
“Then why did you dream about me and Rodrigo?” Epona pressed. “Did you see us... doing it?”
Ana fell silent while continuing to weave a wicker basket.
“Ana, you were the one who cared for me in my worst moments. I saw how you sacrificed yourself for me,” Epona said, her face full of melancholy. “There were moments when I thought of leaving you, or even killing myself... but that creature I saw terrified me, and my cowardice would not let me do it.”
“I did it because I love you, Epona. I already told you that,” Ana said, still unable to turn and face her.
“And I love you too for everything, Ana,” Epona replied. “That is why I have decided to leave Rodrigo, to repay you for all that you did for me.”
Ana turned toward Epona, who stood with her eyes lowered and her whole posture burdened with sorrow.
“No! Don’t you dare say something like that!” Ana shouted furiously, taking Epona by surprise.
“But it must be so difficult for you to see us that way,” Epona replied, startled by the answer.
“And how am I supposed to be happy if I know it’s a choice that would hurt both you and Rui?” Ana asked angrily.
Epona fell silent, thinking.
“In my dream that night, I finally found my answer, Epona,” Ana added.
Then the Irish goddess summoned Excalibur and held it in her left hand.
“This sword only awakens through each person’s courage. My courage was to love you all and accept the conditions of that love,” Ana said.
Then Ana made Excalibur vanish again.
“Yes, it was very hard for me to care for you, but I did it gladly and with devotion. Seeing you kiss Rui is nothing. Besides, it’s not as though he’s the only man in this vast universe,” Ana went on, smiling at Epona.
Epona stood there with her mouth slightly open while watching Ana return to weaving baskets.
“Thank you, Ana,” Epona said timidly. “I wish there were some way I could return your love.”
“Well, you still owe me that beer you promised me back in Ireland, when we were still enemies,” Ana said.
“How in the world can you even remember that?” Epona asked in astonishment.
“You were my first friend, mare,” Ana said with a laugh.
Epona smiled.
“When we rescue Athena, we’ll drink until we lose consciousness,” she said.
Epona returned to her little improvised hospital, leaving Ana behind weaving baskets, while the day once more drifted toward its end.
Once again, Rodrigo and Anpiel took part in the marathon held by the Rarámuri people, and just like the day before, their defeat was absolute, with both of them finishing in last place.