In the vast underground cities of México, life flourish, the xantilmeh trade with old and new merchandise in their shops and markets, the youkai, the barbaric invaders of their lands, now live among them, not as an equal, but they try to understand each other, two ways of life collide.
Alright first redraw: the Ahuizotl! Brushing up on its lore I found some theories that it may have been inspired by the opossum, known locally as tlacuache. Considering south America’s rich history of marsupial diversity, it’s not too much of a stretch to imagine one of them taking on a more aquatic niche (before moving north to Mexico).
The ahuizotl comes from a tree-dwelling lineage that developed fleshy pads on its tail to make gripping tree branches easier. The tail of the ahuizotl now functions as a lure, twitching enticingly in the water to attract birds, young caimans, and other prey to be grappled and drowned. Though not necessarily out to get humans, they are aggressive when handled, and may have the strength to hold young children underwater.
“The last well-preserved layer of the temple was the one Ahuizotl ordered built in 1487. And that’s where archaeologists discovered the galaxy of starfish that the Aztec priests had once offered to Huitzilopochtli.”
