Theya
Das Ritual Der Heißen Quelle
- on the first evening on the meeting, the Chikauitl carry out a raid on another tribe still a bit away from the meeting
- the raid escalates - there are no grown-up defenders present, and both the raiders and the youth can't rain themselves in; in the end one of the defending youths is dead
- meanwhile, Itzcoa simply sneaks in and steals an important trophy
- we learn a lot about the Nuqanchik culture and the tribal gathering (written elsewhere)
- after a few days where the Michina do almost all day-to-day work as the Initiated are busy in the inner area, the group is ordered to come along on an expedition as porters
- the expedition is towards an area of hot springs, where rare minerals are gathered to colour clothing and crystalware, and for some other special applications
- initially successful, after a while there is a scream for help - desipte very strict warnings to keep quiet so as not to attract things from the fog
- as the group rushes to aid, they find one of their youths, Acalan, under attack from three flying serpent-chameleon-things
- it turns out the things can talk to Itzcoa, who after conversing in a strange language turns sides and helps them
- Zuma goes along with Itzcoa; together they prevent Acalan and Ihui from opposing the serpents
- the serpents pry an even strange spider-turtle-thing with a human head out from under Acalan and fly away with it