^He ^who ^divided ^night, ^brought ^the ^stars ^down ^to ^earth, ^our ^supreme ^deity, ^master ^god ^to ^no ^other, ^he ^who ^gave ^us ^strength, ^Huitzilopochtli. ^Master ^of ^the ^Sun, ^hear ^my ^plea.

I felt consciousness slowly return to me, I opened my eyes only to be greeted with more darkness. I attempted to move slightly, but my body was held down in place beneath old stone. Rubble shifted as I mustered enough strength to emerge out from beneath its confines. My ancient bones had hardened during my time asleep, cracking and popping at every movement.

I looked around, searching for whomever it was that had called upon me. I caught sight of where I had broken free. The familiar sight of golden stone was enough to tell me of my whereabouts. My once grand Temple was now nothing more than a mere pile of moss covered stones and bricks. “How long have I been gone?” I asked aloud, trying to find any evidence of a recent worshipper or priest.

Alas, it was evident there hadn’t been anyone near my temple in centuries perhaps even longer. How could the humans forget me? After all, It was I who led them to their paradise of Tenochtitlán and It was I who led them to victory in so many of their battles.

I was quickly ripped away from my confusion and rapid questioning thoughts when I heard a voice calling my name from within the trees bordering my Temple.

I walked through the vast amount of forest, the earth shaking beneath each of my footsteps. My feathered headdress ripped off tree branches that had gotten caught in my haste.

That’s when I saw him, a meek old man perched upon a tree stump. He had a strange appearance, almost as if it was contrived. His hair was wizened and straw-like, nearly fossilized it was so dry and thin. He had worn eyes and ochre colored skin much like the mellow-red-brown light that bathed the forest.

“Speak human. What is your reason for calling to me? Where are the rest of your people?” I questioned angrily.

The old man looked up at me, his sunken eyes widened in what i assumed to be surprise, his wrinkled skin stretching slightly with his expression.

“My Lord! You’ve come, you’ve actually come!” He exclaimed. The old man fell to his knees and lowered his head to the ground. He scooped up earth in his hands and raised it to his mouth. This was an act I have witnessed many times.

“You needn’t bother with such formalities, child. It is obvious you are too weak. Now, tell me your name, human.”

The old man took his walking stick in his hand and rose himself back onto the stump. “I am called Xiuhcolotl. I’ve come here to seek your help. The people have forgotten the old ways, My lord. Their minds have grown weak and hateful. They’ve allowed themselves to be consumed by new technologies and petty wars. New world issues and diseases pop up like wildflowers. Your mother, your brothers and the other gods have been lost to time, My lord. I’ve never forgotten you, however, Great one.” He paused, searching carefully for what to say next. “The world is in shambles. Political leaders are corrupt, and young men and women are fighting battles for leaders that have never once stepped foot in the line of fire, weapons are no longer simple as you once knew them, the seas and rivers are either dried up or full of tainted waters. The earth is slowly dying, and with it, the gods.” He finished.

I scowled at his last sentence, for I did not want to believe his words to be true. “Fret not, child. for the meantime the rest of us are simply asleep, but not quite in the way you humans understand it. I feel an odd shift and I heed your warning, what is it you are asking I do?” I asked, despite already knowing what he wanted, for what else would one call upon a god of war for?

“My Lord, I beg you to save us. It is time we begin anew.” He said. Xiuhcolotl reached for something tucked behind his back. With trembling hands, he pulled out a large withered obsidian blade. “Bring upon us the sixth sun. Take my heart as a sacrifice, may it give you enough strength.” He held the knife out to me, it was much smaller in my hand than it was in his small wrinkled one. “I have lived long enough and I have seen too much, My Lord. Please allow me to go out in a way befitting of a devotee of the Gods. I wish to be useful.”

I sighed as I was not very eager to bring an end to my last loyal follower. “Very well, child. For your sacrifice and service to the gods, In the new world I will make sure you are reborn and granted the luckiest of Tonalli’s.”

The old man smiled and took a deep breathe. “Thank you, My Lord.” Xiuhcolotl did not fear death, in fact he welcomed it openly in a way I had thought lost to his kind.

I did not wish to cause him pain so I did what was necessary as quickly as possible. However, I shall spare the gruesome details of the old man’s end. Once all was said and done, I placed the still twitching heart into my mouth. I had almost forgotten the sweet iron taste human blood produced. Almost as instantly as i had swallowed the small human organ, my body began to hum excitedly as my strength returned and the markings on my body returned just as vibrant as they had been when I first emerged from my mothers womb. I picked up the man’s still body into my arms, his blood still fresh on my palms. With my strength now returned, the first thing I decided to do was find a temporary place for him within the sky until it was time for his soul to return back to the earth.

It was afterwards that I was able to finally take the time to notice the cool air. The smell was so foul that it had caused my nose and eyes to sting. I felt my face contract at the ripe oder. The old man was right, something was wrong. If I wanted the other gods to return I must bring an end to the current times. A new era is needed.

It is time to welcome the coming of the Sixth Sun.