The hueycoatl (book)

Once upon a time, an Old One was walking through the valley when she encountered a dwarf at the side of the road. He was ever so unhappy, for he had come to seek his fortune, but the land was cold, and the mountains inhospitable.

The kindly Old One took pity on the dwarf, and told him a secret:

'On Coatlpetl Peak,' she said, 'There lives a great and terrible monster known as the Hueycoatl. She spends all day digging for gold with her mighty claws. You'll surely find treasure there.'

The dwarf dried his eyes and thanked the Old One for her help. Then, he hoisted his pack, and set off towards Coatlpetl Peak.

The mountain was very, very cold, and very, very scary, and as the dwarf climbed up the whole mountain shook - the Hueycoatl had spotted him!

'Who dares approach me?' the monster roared.

'Oh, Hueycoatl!' the clever dwarf cried, and fell to his knees. 'Forgive me! I only came to see if you needed help!'

'I am the great and powerful Hueycoatl!' Growled the monster. 'Behold my magnificent feathers! What help could a creature like you give me?'

'I met an Old One just now,' the dwarf said, 'Who warned me that there is a terrible monster around here!'

The Hueycoatl laughed.

'Behold my mighty claws! No monster is more terrible than me!'

'Oh, thank goodness!' said the clever dwarf. 'The Old One said you might already have been devoured whole by this terrible beast! For his claws are even mightier than yours, and his feathers even more magnificent!'

At this, the Hueycoatl bristled.

'It cannot be true!' she said. 'If such a monster exists, I would have seen it!'

'Perhaps you have!' Said the dwarf, as he reached into his pack for the mirror he carried. 'Here, this is what it looks like.'

He held the mirror up for the Hueycoatl to see. She peered into the mirror, and all of a sudden, reared back in fright!

'This is the monster the Old One told you about?' she cried. 'But look at its horrible claws! Look at its terrible plumage!'

The Hueycoatl began to shiver in fright, and the whole mountain trembled.

'Well,' said the clever dwarf, 'I suppose the great and powerful Hueycoatl doesn't need my help to defeat it.'

The Hueycoatl cowered, and the whole mountain shook. 'Please!' the monster said, 'Please defeat it!'

The dwarf sighed.

'I would, but I don't have any gold. That's the monster's only weakness.'

The Hueycoatl had an idea. She reached a long, feathered claw into her cave and pulled out a big sack of gold!

'Here!' she said, 'I have plenty of gold for you. Just make sure the monster doesn't get me!'

And so, the clever dwarf made his fortune. Once a year, he climbed the mountain and told the Hueycoatl all that he had done to keep the monster at bay, and the grateful Hueycoatl rewarded him with the treasure she'd found.

To this day, the dwarves tell tales of the mighty Hueycoatl, and her hidden hoard of gold. If you are ever in the mountains, watch out! You may spot the Hueycoatl, hiding in her cave... or perhaps, she'll spot you!