Underbrush hidden beneath that tall jungle canopy is trodden upon by heavy feet, as a large saurian and it's bulky rider trekked through the hellish green land, their destination peeking out from behind foliage in the distance. The day was like any other, hot, humid and noisy with the sound of jungle dwelling bugs. The heat would whittle any person down, which is why the Saurian rancher would often take a moment to have a swig of water from a bone canteen to briefly satiate his thirst. The broad shouldered giant had estimated that he would arrive at the home of the moth people within the day, should his beast keep good pace and they don’t run into anything troubling along the way. A group of raptiods or those burrowing spiders would be quite troublesome, and something he does not wish to deal with at this time. The large lizard’s long legs would make quick strides, its clawed feet kicking up dirt and pounding on the earth with each step it took. Travelling through the jungle was an entirely different ordeal to that of the skeletal highway, since the open roads prevented many ambushes, but the tall plants and thick foliage allowed ample opportunity for predators to sneak up on prey. Then of course some of those hunters care little for subtlety. These dangers would make the saurian rider far more perceptive of his environment, as he had to be careful to prevent any harm to the beast or himself.
Xicohtencatl would be knocked to the ground by the unknown giant riding their reptilian mount. The prey that the hunter had taken was a clawed beast, whose claw cut at the beetles face as they passed by. Xico could barely hear the yell of the man, most likely telling him to stay out of the way, or keep to the road. The beetle couldn't tell as they rode away. This hit-and-run had put much of the beetles body and face in the puddle he had soiled and drunk from, soiling the water further with the farmer gunk on his skin, the pathogens from which now entering his blood through the cut on his face, as well as through his stomach. It wouldn't be long before xico would begin to pass farmland as he walked toward the base of the nearest pyramid. Farmers working their fields and other travelers on their way to trade in the areas surrounding the pyramid. They all gave the fecal coated insect a wide berth, talking amongst themselves. Within hours the bug would notice sharp pain in his gut, and when he stopped to relieve himself, Xico would notice discoloration, pain, and very liquidy and violent bowel movements. As he approached the base of the nearest pyramid, the bug would feel fatigued and begin to cough harshly. His hand would grip his gut due to sharp pain, which distracted him from the group of guards that approaches as he began to attempt to climb the stairs, moving to stop the especially sick invader from interring into their city. As the moths began to detain Xico with ropes, he regurgitated bile onto one of them, which cause them a blow to his head, knocking him unconscious. Xico was awakened by an extremely painful burst of bloody diarrhea. He didn't know how long he had been unconscious, and due to stomach pain, he was unsure if he were hungry. He was aware of how dry he felt, and did not even notice that he had been scraped of the fecal muck which had before coated him, and sprayed clean. His clothes had been taken, and he had been wrapped in a sheet. Beside the door of his cell had been placed a bucket of water and a simple mushroom based bread. Ignoring the bread, he drank the water recklessly, letting a large amount wash down his front. After a few moments, a moth woman would talk to xico through the door, and he would be questioned, revealing all that had happened since he had left home. During this conversation the woman had offered to keep him alive if they could, in exchange for studying him to find a cure for the plague this dumb beetle had accidentally spread with his deplorable hygiene habits. Believing the mothkela could cure him, and being very unintelligent, Xicohtencatl would agree. For what felt like months to xico, but was only around a week or so, the studies would take place. Masked moths would take samples of xico's body fluids for study. He would be questioned daily about his worsening pain in his gut. Small amounts of herbal medicine would be administered to keep him coherent as his eyes and Carapace would yellow. His coughing, vomiting, and diarrhea would worsen, and become more discolored and bloody, but the mothkela would not be any closer to curing this subject. He would attempt to eat the meager bread he was given, and drink all the water brought to him, but rarely would be able to keep anything inside his body for long. Shortly before his final hours, Xico would ask that his body not be returned to his family, for he was unsure if his remains would infect the sacred herb grown with them, like he had infected all he met on his travel. He also requested to dictate a letter to his father and younger brother, Xochipilli, who would inherit the farm instead of Xico, explaining what had happened and that he would not be able to rest properly for their safety. His father would read the letter shortly before his own death of the same disease, also caused by Xico's bad hygiene habits. Xicohtencatl and his family would never know the full extent of the research that the mothkela were able to attain via studying his last few days, and dissecting his body. Nor would they understand the full scope of the infection his stupidity had caused. In the end, only the singular moth woman would even know Xico's name, of those that would study him pre and posthumously. His brother would begin enforcing hygiene on the farm after work was completed for the day, as the actions of his brother had proven it absolutely necessary.
The giant's journey went unperturbed, reaching the end of his long journey within the day before the setting of the binary suns, Boris had found lodging for his foreseeable visit. Unfortunately for the saurian rancher, he had awoken to some rather unpleasant bowel movements, which sent him swiftly sprinting to his room's private "dispensary facilities". There the lizard trainer had spent many hours each day unleashing a volcanic eruption from the depths of his rectum, as he received treatment from the friendly mothkela as they had to aid jungle denizens suffering from similar and other ailments as the Jorgenskull rancher. After his time in the sick bed, Boris decided to cut his visit short, thanking the healers both with recompense, and words. It's the least he could do after causing several plumbing problems. After making a full recovery, feeling a bit lighter in his wallet and his colon, the jolly giant departed from the bastion of medicine that is the mothkela's abode, as he departed, riding atop that sturdy and reliable steed on a journey back home, trying hard not to think of the colour brown.
A young beetle steps clear of a transport carriage, followed by the acrid stench which clings to him due to the coating of manure coating his Carapace. Stopping to look up at the pyramid, which would make up the entrance of the mothkela city, in awe; the young beetle would little notice the sneering of other passengers. Passengers which had the unfortunate experience of sitting for the past half day within the drumvar's odorous, yet polite company. After thanking the driver, usurping the last of the poor souls patience, Xicohtencatl would begin walking away, toward the alabaster pyramid structure. This bug had hitchhiked the majority of his trip from his home near the Fingers of the Elders, after having been ejected from the carriage he'd initially hired due to his rancid aura. Luckily his pleasant and polite attitude had been enough to earn a few hours of travel from the litany of random strangers, who felt like doing a kind thing. None could handle the stench for long, no matter how they might try. Due to this, his trip here had been extended, from the three weeks travel he'd planned for, to a grueling month. The majority of money he'd brought with him, little as it had been, had been used buying food from his temporary traveling companions. Xico would open his bundle, which he had attached to the rudimentary pitchfork he carried with him, taking out the last of the rations he carried, slowly appreciating the bread and jam he had bought from a merchant who had given him way. He also places the last slices of mushroom from home on top, gnawing at the now toughened bread. Once finished, he found a puddle shortway from the road to drink from with his hands, soiling the puddle with his fecal coating. After his meal, the bug would take the last herbal wrap he had brought with him from his bundle, lighting the roll of jungle herb to relax by the puddle and meditate. It wouldn't be long before his meditation would be interrupted by the thundering of giant atop lizard, crashing through the overgrowth toward him. Xico would watch the lizards approach in a calm stupor from the sacred herb, unknowing if the clamoring beast would stop or if the rider would let it quash this poor bug. T'would be a shame to die less than a day from his destination, especially underfoot, like a smaller insect.