He's giving me his usual greeting, a curse paired with a menacing look. No wonder this guy is called the undead war maniac, with no friends.

The Hummingbird, my second member, is here.

Wearing a gray-blue midriff, showing his very toned abs, and white patiala pants. Body filled with golden accessories, cuffs, and anklets that enhance his almond skin painted with golden tattoos as well. A long horizontal scar that is painted in gold is visible on his face. His long navy teal hair is flowing with the wind topped with feathers, despite his burning looks, the color of his eyes is light teal.

Binuka ko ang mga kamay ko, nilawakan ang ngiti.

"Hola! Jairo!" pagbati ko.

Humakbang ako at umatras naman sila. Lumabas ang matutulis niyang ngipin sa pagkairita.

"Fuck off, Quetzalli!" he shouted.

I laughed. "Come on, it's been a while. Why not give your friend a hug?"

Napangiwi siya sa narinig, nandidiri. "Fuck you! We're not friends! Don't call me Jairo!"

I pouted, trying to piss him on purpose. "But Huitzilin is long, I told you to call me Zalli as well."

Nakarinig kami ng palakpak sa likuran niya. Kapwa kami napatingin sa lalaking hindi natitinag at nagbabago ang ekspresyon, nanatiling nakangiti at marahang nakapikit.

"Wow, lovebirds." His voice doesn't sound sarcastic, nor sincere. It's bland.

Mas lalong kinilabutan si Jairo sa narinig. Napaharap siya kay Izel at tinuro ako sa likuran niya.

"Disgusting. That weirdo is practically my cousin," he answered. Not entirely wrong, since our fathers are siblings.

Jairo tilted his head, forehead furrowed. "Who are you anyway? And how dumb are you to ask Zalli for a duel?" tanong niya.

Minulat ni Izel ang mga mata niya. His lips looks like their normal form is smiling. "Oh, I was fighting her for the position of the captain," deretsong sagot niya.

Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ni Jairo. "Are you new? You're just wasting your time."

"I guess, mali-mali ang sabi-sabi. You do like Quetzalli. You're contented with her as the captain."

Jairo clicked his tongue, giving a side eye. "Hindi mali ang kinalap mong impormasyon. Kung ako papipiliin, hindi ko gugustuhin na kasama 'yan sa misyon." He looked back at Izel. "But take it from someone who already have an experience, you can't beat Zalli in a duel."

I gently touch my chest. "Aww, you're complimenting me too much, Jairo."

"¡Vete a la mierda! (fuck off!)" Inis niya 'kong nilingon.

"Hmm. Not even you, the strongest man on the battlefield?" tanong ni Izel. It's not just pure curiosity . . . I sense something behind his questions.

Jairo's expression changed, it's a look that I enjoyed seeing, I admit.

"Yes. Not even I."

I smirked. "You're giving me too many credits, Jairo. I only won that time because you didn't use your whip."

Iritado niya 'kong tinignan. "And you didn't use your body that time, Zalli."

"Why the fuck are you full of questions, anyway?" balik na tanong niya kay Izel. "Do you have other plans than being a captain?"

They had a staring contest, I'm sensing an immense pressure between them. I was about to change the topic when someone else did.

"W-Wait!"

Not that far, I caught a glimpse of someone running towards us. Wala sa sariling napako ang tingin ko sa kaniya. Nangingibabaw siya sa desyerto sa paligid niya.

Her hair's flowing as she runs. It's my first time seeing something that this beautiful other than material objects. Her hair is light pink, silky, and straight. Wearing a red wide-sleeve shirt, and skort. Paired with black flat sandals. She's petite.

I was so focused looking at her appearance that I didn't notice our distance shortened. Natauhan na lang ako nang huminto siya sa harapan namin, hingal na hingal.

Napahawak sa magkabilang tuhod bilang suporta. Pilit niyang tiningnan ang lalaking nasa gilid ko, si Jairo.

"I told you to wait for me, brother!" aniya.

Both of my eyebrows rose. Didn't expect to hear that, but I didn't expect Jairo's reaction more. He went close to her and helped her stand straight.

His expression. I haven't seen it before.

What kind of expression is that? I commonly see it on parents, couples, and siblings. Hindi pa 'yon napapakita sa 'kin ni Jairo, alam kong kahit kanino rin. This is a new side of him I've witnessed.

Staring at them, I can't see anything that makes them identical. This is Jairo's twin?

"O-Oh, it lost my mind," Jairo answered. He stuttered. The woman pouted, but I don't sense any anger from her, she's just showing an expression.

Natigilan ako nang malipat sa 'kin ang tingin niya, agad siyang natauhan at napatayo nang maayos.

"A-Ah!" She went in front of me, bowing. Fragile. I want to step back away from her, afraid that I might crush her if I'm not too careful. She's so . . . small.

"I apologize for being late!" Umangat ang tingin niya. Our eyes met, her emerald eyes are shining under the sunlight. With her smile, her expression lightened. So beautiful.

"I'm Araceli, daughter of Mayahuel, the goddess of the maguey and fertility, twin sister of Huitzilin Jairo, son of Huītzilōpōchtli, the god of war, the sun, and sacrifice. I'm new here, but I'll do my very best to help you, Lady Quetzalli!" she introduced herself. Her voice is soft and cheerful, she reminds me of Laonya.

"She's a seer. She'll act as support, I'll do twice of work in her stead, don't push her," pagsingit ni Jairo na seryosong nakatingin sa 'kin. May diin at paalala ang tono ng boses niya.

Napatikhim si Izel. "Pabigat." Mahina man, sadya niyang pinarinig ang sinabi niya. Again, he purposely hid his reaction with a smile.

Jairo didn't let it slide. With wrinkled nose and forehead furrowed, he glance at Izel's direction.

"¿Qué carajo dijiste? ( What the fuck did you say?)" He went closer to him. Araceli, who's in front of me, looked at her brother worryingly. 

Nagpalitan ng masasamang salita ang dalawa, kapwa naglalakad papalapit sa isa't isa.

"Don't mind them, Araceli." Pagkuha ko ng atensyon sa babaeng kaharap ko. Tagumpay ako nang humarap siya sa 'kin, marahan ang ekspresyon.

"Oh, please call me Celi, Lady Quetzalli."

I smiled. "Then call me Zalli as well."

She was hesitant, surprised and blushed. "O-Oh, okay, Lady Zalli."

Nakangiti akong napailing-iling, may kinuha sa bulsa. Mas may kinabigla pa ang ekspresyon niya at pamumula ng pisngi nang kinuha ko ang kamay niya. I gently kissed the back of her hand and gave her a gift.

"Since it's our first meeting, I want to give you a gift. It's nice knowing you, daughter of Mayahuel." I handed her a golden dove pendant, a symbolism of Xochiquetzal, the goddess of beauty.

It's quite a fortune, I admit. But I can't help but to give it to her because of her beauty. I think it's nice to have a good first impression too. 

For some reason, she's blushing, even panicking. She looks nervous. I tried to be approachable as much as possible, did I still intimidate her?

"HEY!" May mabilis na umagaw ng kamay niya sa 'kin. Ang nakikipagtalong si Jairo ay nalipat ang atensyon sa 'kin, nakasimangot at magkasalubong ang kilay. "NOT MY SISTER, ZALLI! NOT MY SISTER!" Nilayo niya sa 'kin si Celi na tulala at namumula pa rin.

I looked at them, dumbfounded. What did I do?

As I look at them, I could see resemblance of 2 animals. They both look like a big wolf, sheltering a white kitten.

"Magkano 'to?! 'Di mo na 'ko mauuto! Hindi rin ang kapatid ko! Kunin mo 'to! 'Di kami bibili!"

I sighed. Look at this guy, he was still traumatized from our first meeting. "It's a gift, Jairo. Cálmate. (Calm down.)"

"No! You're a trickster!" He's overreacting. Like he's not a grown man, the known strongest man in the Mexico Branch to be exact. Mariin siyang napahawak sa mukha, parang inaalala ang pinakamasamang pangyayari sa buhay niya.

"T-This is just like what you did to me back then. Selling me a ten digits weapon!" Namutla siya nang maalala ulit ito. "Mother almost killed me when she found out . . . "

"Hey! That was a good weapon! You're still using it now!" giit ko. Umiling-iling ako. "If it was someone else, I would've sold it for more than 11 digits," pabulong kong dagdag.

Hindi ko na lang pinansin ang pag-iimbyerna ni Jairo, bagkus ay tinignan ko silang lahat. The wind blew, small sands flew with it. I sighed, followed by a smirk, taking a look at everyone.

"Well, we're all here," I said, smirking. "It's nice meeting you all. Of course, you already know me. I'll be your team captain, Quetzalli Sesha Rosaura, daughter of Quetzalcoatl, the god of wind, air, and learning." I glanced at Izel. "And Dhalia Rosaura, a beautiful farmer from the west."

"It's nice meeting you all. Let's finish this case with ease."

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