The Petal that Saved Lives

Darkness swept throughout the village as all hope seemed lost. Hundreds of men, women & children grew gravely ill as night fell. The Chief paced the hall, afraid of what fate had in store for his daughter and his tribe. His daughter was all he had left in this world as the sickness had already taken his wife. He did not know how he could live on if his daughter did not survive. In the shadows, a servant girl named, Itzel felt fear overcome her. Her parents lie gravely ill as well. She feared that they would die here soon enough without a cure. She wanted to help but didn't know what she could say or do to comfort the Chief. But then, she had an idea. She ran to the ruins of a deserted pyramid that loomed in the distance nearby. It had been deserted years before she was born.

She ran back to her quarters and quickly gathered her supplies. She picked up her basket, kissed her sleeping parents, and made her way to the monument. She trudged through the jungle and across the dangerous river. It seemed like hours, but she finally had made it to the sacred pyramid. She mustered up all the courage she had and started to climb her way towards the top, hoping she could plead her way with the Gods. As she began to climb, a storm began to ensue. The thunder roared like a pack of jaguars, and lightning flashed like veins through the storm clouds. With all of her might, she finally made her way to the top. Once at the top, she made her way over to the offering table and knelt, asking an audience with the fearsome Gods. "Itzamna, Kukulkan, Ixchel, anybody! My village, my people- we need your help!" Suddenly, the storm began to swell. The wind and the rain began to swirl around her. The rain pelted against her cheeks and her skin. Afraid, she tried to shield herself from the storm and sought shelter under the table. She watched as the trees swayed and danced in the distance. Almost as if they were dancing for the Gods themselves. The storm swirled and raged, and then a single bolt of lightning struck fiercely in front of her. She screamed and shielded her eyes from the flash. Slowly, as she lifted her head, she could see feet standing in front of her. Startled, she looked to the other side of her and saw more feet. She realized that a group of them surrounded her. Then a woman's voice spoke softly to her, "Come on out, we will not harm you."

Hesitantly she made her way out from under the table. Astonished and afraid, she could see that it was the ancient Gods surrounding her. There was Chaac the God of Rain, Kuklkan the feathered serpent, Kinich Ahau the God of the Sun, Itzamna the God of Creation, Cizin the God of Death, and Ix Chel, the Goddess of Medicine. Itzel fell to her knees, overcome with gratefulness that the Gods had heard her cries. She started to cry as Ix Chel made her way over to comfort the poor girl. "Come come, Itzel. There's no need for tears." Just then, a booming voice spoke over her, "We have heard your cries and have come to help you and your village." Itzel wiped away her tears and looked up to Itzamna. He had a stern, distinguished face. Nervously, she walked up to him and asked, "But how? There is no cure. What is there that could help my people?" She looked down in despair. Ix Chel lifted her chin and smiled. "We have something that could help."

Kuklkan, the feathered serpent, flew off into the jungle and brought back a single Marigold. Itzamna brought Itzel over to the table to show her what Kuklkan had got her. Itzel was confused. How could a flower save her people? Ix Chel placed the flower in Itzel's hands. "This is a Marigold. This flower has healing properties that you could imagine. Take a petal from the flower, ground it up in a bowl, and pour water inside. Then, have your people drink from the bowl, and they will be healed." Astonished, Itzel beamed up at her. This is going to save her people! "And that's all I have to do? Drink from the bowl, and they will live?" Itzamna chimed in, "Yes, but you must hurry." Itzel grew concerned. She didn't like the tone in his voice. "Why?" she asked. Suddenly, Itzel felt Cizin stand behind her. "You have until sunrise," he hissed. Determined, she packed the flower and headed back to her village.

As she came upon her village, she could feel the darkness weighing heavier overhead. She ran to her servant's quarters and could see her parents turning grey. Frantic, she proceeded to crush up the marigold in a bowl. She poured water inside, mixed them together then had her parents drink from it. Itzel grew frightened. Will this actually work? Then, her parents gasped as the medicine flowed into them. Tears streamed from her eyes as she embraced them both. "You saved us! But, how did you do it?" Gathering her supplies, she started to rush out of the room. "There's no time to explain! I must save everyone before sunrise!" Itzel made her way to the throne room, where the Chief sat in despair. Feeling as if all hope was lost. "Your highness, I have spoken to the Gods and they have given me something that can cure the princess- that can cure everyone! But, we have to hurry. It must be done before sunrise!" He looked up at her with defeated eyes. He looked down and shook his head. "I have tried," he said. "I have cried to the Gods, but they will not answer. All is lost." She shook her head and cried, "No! I have spoken to the Gods and they gave me this flower. This will save them all!" He stood in anger and took her by the arm. "Guards!" his voice boomed. Two guards burst through the temple doors and took Itzel on either side. "Take her to her quarters and make sure she stays there!" They nodded and proceeded to take her when all of a sudden she kicked and broke free of their grip and ran to the princess's chambers. "Stop her, stop her!" the Chief cried.

Itzel made it to the princess's quarters and bolted the doors as best as she could. She took the bowl that lie on a nearby table and began to crush up the marigold petal. As she did, Itzel could hear the Chief and the guards trying to break the door down. "Don't worry, you'll feel better with this." The princess lie very faint on her bed. Itzel began to pour water in the bowl when the guards almost broke through. 'Please, please, please hurry,' she thought to herself. Just as she was about to have the princess drink, the guards broke through. "Seize her!" the Cheif called out. "No, please! This will work. I have already seen it!" The Chief took Itzel by the face. "Don't ever come near the princess ever again or I will send you to Cizin myself!" he turned to his guards and shouted, "Lock her in the dungeons and make sure she doesn't escape!" They nodded in agreement and proceeded to take her away. "No, please!" she exclaimed when all of a sudden the princess gasped out loud. They all stopped and turned to see that the princess was alive and well. "Papa?" the princess smiled as tears streamed down her face. "Yolotli!" he exclaimed as he embraced her. Itzel smiled as she watched them embrace each other. Suddenly, she could feel a guard take her by the arm and start to take her out of the princess's quarters. "Wait!" the princess cried. They turned as the princess rushed toward them and embraced Itzel. "You saved me." The Chief took Yolotli by the shoulders and smiled at Itzel. "How can we ever repay you?" Itzel took the princess's hands and placed the Marigold in them. "This. This Marigold is our savior. Take a petal and crush it in a bowl. Then, pour water into the bowl and have everyone drink it. This medicine will save everyone. But, there isn't much time. It has to be done before sunrise!"

They both nodded in agreement and rushed to gather supplies. The Chief walked up to the guards and handed them the Marigold. "Guards, find all the Marigolds you can find and do as Itzel said. Go- hurry!" They agreed and ran off to save every person that they could. Soon every guard, the Chief, the princess, and Itzel raced to help every person in the village. As the sun rose over the jungle, the last person had drunk the medicine. Everyone in the village was healed. Itzel sighed a breath of relief. The medicine had worked. Yolotli and her father smiled and each embraced her. "You have made your Chief and village proud. From this day forth- you will no longer be a servant. But, you will now become a high priest in the temple. Overcome with joy she thanked and embraced the Chief. "Thank you so much, your highness. I couldn't have done it without the help of the Gods. I'm very honored and humbled. Thank you again." Itzel hugged them again and ran off in search of her parents to tell them the news. As she approached her quarters, she passed by a window overlooking the village. She paused and stepped back to look out to see them all, smiling and cheering that everyone was alive and healed. Then, a sudden gust of wind blew into the window and blew and feather onto the window sill. She picked it up and saw a green scale with a red feather attached to it. She smiled and looked up into the heavens and mouthed, 'Thank you.' She could not have saved them all if not for the Gods. Her parents stood behind her and embraced her and they all looked up into the heavens knowing the God's will always be looking over them.