The God-Eaters

"You see a bare cave. People huddle on the other side of the lens. Their regalia is archaic: the skin of a spotted cat, a beaked head-dress of red beads, a serpent-headed staff. They're tattooed and emaciated, clearly starving."

"Three of them: the Snake, the Red Bird, the Cat. I think they started human, but it's hard to tell now. We came knocking, and they gave us water, and their price wasn't so very high. Write a headline for that, eh? But listen: if you ever end up there, know this. They play games, and they don't cheat. We only got out because the Cardsharp beat them at rummy."

The God-Eaters were a trio of Third City priest-kings. After bartering their Mesoamerican city to the Bazaar in exchange for the flesh of a god, they grew monstrous and became immortal.

The priests were the Cat, known to some as the Mottled Man, his sharp teeth, his skin mottled like the fur of a jungle cat; the Red Bird, with her feathers of cinnabar; and the Serpent, with hands like snakes.

For the record, the unfortunate “god” devoured by the priest-kings was Mr. ... well, we won't speak his name. The incident has left the traces that remain of him quite cross. Very cross.

Original by Balclutha.