2 - The new world

Raphael made a face. "I suppose Michael wasn't as interested in Gabriel as in the map that went with the letter. It wasn't kept in the same place, and I've looked everywhere in his room. Looks like he doesn't have it anymore. He either sold it, or never intended on looking for Gabriel's lost ship in the first place." He sighed, and crossed his arms. "But I want to try and find him. If he wrote a letter, and if it has reached us, he must have encountered another ship, or found land."

Eileen bit her lower lip. That was true - there was a chance that Gabriel was maybe waiting for them in the colonies. "You think that maybe the map was stolen from Michael's house? I know he was attacked not long ago", she signed. "But that's not what matters. If there is a chance we can find Gabe, then it's all good for me."

Raphael's expression softened a bit, and he looked at his sister for a bit. "And if he found peace in the new world, there's no reason for us to go back." He reached for the letter again, to take it back. "Alright. I should go back, or people will start to wonder where I've gone."

Eileen nodded. "Alright. I'll stay with Cas", she added. it was the safest for her, to stick with her brother for as much time as she could - to avoid being asked strange questions or being harrassed in any way.

Raphael nodded, and finally allowed his siblings to go back to their quarters.
The rest of their journey went without a hitch for a while, because there were no vampires on board slowly eating anyone. Just in case anyone needed to be sure on that matter.

---

In El Dorado, Carleen woke up with a massive hangover, and kicked whoever's foot was dangerously close to her face - was it Dean's? Oh, right. He had ended up accompanying them back to the temple. She definitely recognized those freckles.

Her sense of decency pushed her to grab the man's loincloth and to slowly put it back on his rear. Eyup. Much better.
She looked down at her body and sighed when she noticed all of the smudged golden paint. She needed a bath. Now.

Indeed that would have happened three centuries later, and the only passenger surviving the ordeal - a pregnant Englishwoman under the name of Erina Pendleton - would indeed have thought "A shame I wasn't on that trip from Spain to America. They told me that one was one hell of a safe trip."

---

Dean would keep on snoring for a good while still, just like Selena - who had managed to find a corner where she wouldn't get bothered by anyone's feet or naked rear.

Horknath wasn't used to be called over by Aziraphale and Crowley. He was quite a solitary deity, living apart from everyone and maybe sometimes appearing in the mortal realm to hunt by himself, which he enjoyed. However, he answered to their call promptly - and upon learning the reason for it, he was quick in getting ready to venture in the land of El Dorado. No lie, he was quite irritated. How dare these two impostors, whoever they were, profiting off his people's faith and their good spirits? Anyone who would do that was certainly no better than a thief, and he had swore to the two gods that he was honored to have been chosen as the one who would deliver the right punishment.

Quite some time had passed since he last had appeared in front of some mortals - at least some centuries, if he remembered right. But he was conscious about his importance, and wasn't afraid that people would have forgotten about him in the meantime. He stepped into the mortal realm and sat on the roots of a large tree, patiently waiting for the hunting patrol that certainly was going to pass from that path.

Usually, only a handful of hunters were allowed to take part to the festivities, given that the rest of the pack was required to get out early on the next morning to fetch some fresh food - given that almost all of it would be used for the party itself.

Sam very rarely requested his own right to party - seeing Dean gulping down liters of alcohol was sometimes enough to get him to revise his life choices - and so he waw scouting the jungle with a small group of hunters early that morning. It wasn't long before he noticed a tall form that usually wasn't there. He took a step forward, his bow in hand, and squinted as he got closer.

His jaw dropped, however, when he recognized the god in front of him. Followed by his colleagues, he walked up to the god, and bowed reverently in front of him.

He hadn't done so the first time around - mostly because Selena and Carleen were minor deities, and he had no idea as to who they were. But this time? It wasn't just anyone. "Lord Horknath," he let out, in the common tongue. "It is an honor."

Horknath observed Sam for a second. He seemed to be the current leader of the hunting pack, so he got up from his sitting spot among the roots and nodded down at him (the human was tall, for a mortal - but he was definitely towering over him). "Leader of the hunting pack, hunters", he said as a greeting. "I wish to be brought to my city."

Sam gaped for a few seconds, before he nodded. "Of course." He brought his hands to his lips and whistled, indicating every other hunter to follow him. He then leaded Horknath directly back towards the waterfall hiding the channel that lead to the city. He tried to peak at Horknath sometimes, but he was somehow way more... impressive, and intimidating that the goddesses they had welcome recently. For some reason, no one felt like talking in his presence.

As soon as they got into the city, he urged one of the guards to warn the high priests, which they did. A loud groan could probably be heard from the temple of the Sun, in which Rufus couldn't believe that another god decided to visit when he had yet again drunken his ass off the night before.

Sam silently hoped that Horknath would be patient and understanding when he'd learn that the whole city was suffering from a massive hungover.

Horknath let the hunting group guide him back to the city - after thanking them with a nod and a blessing over their weapons ("May your arrows always hit your prey."). He knew how it worked, after all these centuries, so he wasn't overly surprised by the fact that he had to wait on the pier for the High Priests. He crossed his arms and tilted his head though, frowning when he heard two distinct voices complain about having to get up to greet him. He instinctively turned towards Sam with an interrogative expression.

Sam cleared his throat, and turned towards the god. "There was a big celebration yesterday night. I'm afraid the high priests got... carried away," he explained awkwardly.

The few villagers that were up already were however already gathering around them, and bowing to the god in reverence.

Rufus might have groaned upon being woken up, he quickly half-sobered up when the city guard told him just who was at the pier. He paled visibly, and kicked Bobby, who had probably fallen asleep in his temple this time. His wife would be pulling his ears yet again.

Horknath grunted. Humans and their alcohol, right - he did enjoy a drink or two as well, honestly. He was just lucky that it didn't have any effect on him. The brew they made back in his home realm, however... "I understand" he simply answered. He didn't seem fazed by the citizens around them, and simply nodded in thanks for their reverence.

Bobby cursed loudly at Rufus for kicking him awake, and with words that were definitely out of place in the mouth of a religious figure - but he was quite quick at sobering up as well when he heard the name that the guard in front of them kept on repeating, looking both frightened and awed at the same time. "What's with Gods and coming in unannounced, all at the same time? We- we didn't miss a memo from the Spouses about an impeding war or an Apocalypse of some sort, right?", he hastily whispered to Rufus as he fretted down the stairs of the temple of the Sun.

"The apocalypse will be when Ellen will kill us for drinking our asses off yet again, right before another god comes to visit us," Rufus grumbled as he quickly adjusted his robe and ran down the stairs of his temple with Bobby. While running down, he actually realized that they had picked the wrong staff, and hastily exchanged them, risking to make both of them fall.
Thankfully, they didn't.

"Lord Horknath", he greeted the god, out of breath. He breathed in deep, and bowed lowly to him. "I am- Rufus, High Priest of the Moon. It's a great honor to meet you."

Bobby shovered. he didn't even want to think about what their husband would tell them. They would end up with a couple of sore ears, because she was definitely going to yell them off.
"And I am Robert, High Priest of the Sun", he added, bowing deeply at Rufus's side. "Honored to be in your presence."

Horknath nodded to both of them. "As representatives of the holiest of us, I greet you", he answered very formally. He observed the two men in front of him for a couple of long seconds. "I am aware of the fact that my arrival was not announced. I apologize. If you could point me towards my home, I will let you rest - any talk can be postponed to tonight." Aziraphale and Crowley had ordered him not to reveal the reason for his arrival to the people of El Dorado - not right away at least. They didn't want the citizens to become suspicious and mistrusting.

"...Of course," Rufus replied quite fast. The gods seemed to all be tired after travelling from the other realm - something which he could understand, honestly. He gestured for Horknath to follow them, and lead the way towards his temple, while throwing quick glances at Bobby. Unlike Selena and Carleen, who mostly looked human, Horknath surely looked intimidating, and although their priests trained and prayed everyday in preparation for such a visit, it hardly felt like they were in fact ready for this.

Meanwhile, since no one was paying attention to him anymore, Sam rushed towards the temple in which he knew that Selena and Carleen slept - he hadn't seen Dean in their home that morning, so he suspected he might have ended up there.
Hopefully not naked and in one (or both) of the goddesses' bed.

Horknath was indeed quite the sight to behold - a more than two-metres-tall towering mass of iron-like muscles. Even though he was still half as intimidating as his father, in his own opinion. He just silently followed the priests, graciously ignoring the way they looked at each other. He wasn't too fazed, he knew perfectly well that humans would never get used to see him or anyone of his kind.

Dean - who had actually been kicked out of the bedroom by Selena because she was not nearly drunk enough to keep an uninvited man in her bed - was just about to get out of the temple to slowly drag himself home (he was still tired, and with a hungover that would put anyone through Hell) when he ran into Sam at the entrance. "Hey", he greeted him, looking a little confused. "What are you doing back so early? Easy hunt, today?"

Rufus finally made it with Bobby inside of Horknath's temple, and he led him to the god's private quarters, which he very rarely entered. "There we are. We- will let you rest. You may ask any of the priests to call for us when you wish to talk to us again." He was doing his best to be the most polite possible.

Sam hesitated for a bit, and he shook his head. "No. No, in fact we didn't have time for the hunt, I should get back to it shortly but-" He pressed his lips together. "Horknath is here. We found him in the forest, and lead him to Bobby and Rufus."

Horknath grunted in agreement. "I will leave you some time to rest. I have been told a celebration was held last night - I gather you both look tired. I don't wish to keep you from your duties, either." He observed his quarters, looking pleased to see that nothing really had changed from his last visit. "I wish to visit the main temple, but I'll do that on my own." The sooner he was done taking care of the imposters the better.

Dean's smile fell, and he visibly paled. "Horknath? Horknath is here!?" He ran a hand through his hair, trying his best to calm down. He needed to avoid that the Hunter God met with Carleen and Selena. "Where? I mean- where is he? I- why is that the one time I don't come along on a hunt you find our major God just chilling in the woods like it's not a big deal?", he added, almost protesting. It was so unfair!

"Well, I- sure, of course." Rufus stopped for a bit, wondering if he should tell Horknath about Carleen and Selena, but- well. He probably wouldn't plan on visiting the main temple if he hadn't planned to do anything there, so instead he bowed reverently one last time. "Rest well, your Highness."

Sam nodded. He misinterpreted Dean's panic, thinking it was mere stress upon meeting his patron god anytime soon. "I have no idea why he came," he replied to his brother with an apologetic smile, "but Rufus and Bobby escorted him to his temple for now. He probably wants to rest, but I'm sure you'll meet him later. I mean-" He scoffed, and gestured at the temple behind Dean. "He'll probably want to greet his peers."

Horknath nodded to the two priests as Bobby bowed to him too. He thought unnecessary to tell them he planned on moving to the main temple as soon as they were gone - they might have asked why, or insisted to accompany him. But he was planning on confronting the impostors alone.
Reason for which, as soon as Rufus and Bobby left, he silently left his temple, using his skills to reach the main building without being seen.

Dean felt more relieved. If Horknath was gone and resting, he had some time left to try and think of something. "Yeah. I'm sure he will. As for me, well - that's the least I could get, I'm the leader of the main hunting group", he answered with a scoff, clearly trying to dissimulate his nerves. "Maybe I should go to the temple. See if I manage to get a peek of him before I go home and get my body paint done for a proper introduction." He was hoping that mayube, if he talked to Horknath himself about the situation they had at hand, he could be merciful towards Selena and Carleen - and Dean himself. Yes, he wasn't a vengeful God. If the other Gods would want to punish them, they would have sent a calamity, such as Ga'roh, or maybe the Sun himself would have descended on Earth.

By the time Horknath would reach the main temple, Carleen had left the bathroom for Selena to use, and had wrapped herself into a wide piece of cloth. She sat on the edge of the main room, and was now wringing her hair, before she would try to comb it a bit. Despite of her bath, there was still a bit of gold dust on her skin, that made it shine in the light of the day.

Sam scoffed. "You're already been named the goddesses' bodyguard, do you honestly have some time left to try to get into Horknath's good graces?"

Dean grinned. "Well, that surely can't be bad, right? To have another God who thinks high enough of me", he commented, throwing a silly wink in Sam's direction. "C'mon, let's get home - we need to tell mom and dad that we have another God in town." And he definitely needed to take a bath. He urged his brother to walk off, all while demanding details over his meeting with their patron God.

Horknath walked silently inside the main temple, deciding it would be safe for him to be visible now. After all, his appearance was what he was counting on to scare the intruders into obedience. He observed the place, stepping inside - his bare feet making a soft noise on the tiles as he proceeded further inside. He passed the corridor, pushing aside a curtain to enter the main room and taking a few steps in- and there, he abruptly froze.
In front of his eyes, a beautiful, ethereal creature was sitting at the other edge of the room, wrapped in cloth, busy fighting away knots from her long dark hair. Her skin glowed under some stray rays of sun, glistening as if it had been sprinkled with gold.
A Goddess? No, it couldn't be. But then-?

Sam rolled his eyes, but he filled Dean in on any details he might need.
Including their father's massive hangover that would probably leave him grumpy for the rest of the day, given that he had to wake up early to watch over his herd.

Carleen first heard Horknath's heavy step, and assumed it might be Dean coming back into the temple. "Back already?" She asked, flipping her hair over her shoulder once she was done untangling. Only then did she raise her head, and gasp, bringing her hands to her lips when she noticed that the intruder was much taller, greener, and definitely more handso- intimidating than Dean.
She didn't look horrified, but definitely surprised, and flustered. By now, she knew those features. "Are you- Horknath?" She asked shyly, feeling tiny all of a sudden.

Horknath didn't know what to answer. He knew that language, of course - many people spoke it in El Dorado, along other kinds too. And of course he knew perfectly well who he was. But being put in front of an almost naked, gorgeous woman had seemingly made him forget how to articulate even a single word. In the end, he simply managed to blurt out a mix between the things he wanted to say ("I am" and "You shouldn't be here") "I'm- shouldn't be here."
In his head, he was very busy yelling towards Aziraphale and Crowley something along the lines of "The inTRUDERS ARE WOMEN!?!"

And somewhere, in the other realm, Crowley would cackle as soon as he would hear about it, because Horknath's reaction was just priceless. Too bad it was happening during the day.

Carleen's surprise morphed into some kind of amusement when Horknath mixed his words, and she had to hold back a chuckle. She was a little nervous, after all, so any reason to laugh was as good as any. "It's alright. This is- more of your home than mine, I suppose." She pressed her lips together. "I do feel a little under-dressed, for some reason," she said while her eyes drifted towards his loincloth for a split second. "So, hm. Would you mind turning around while I get dressed?"