The First of the Jaguars

In Mexica mythology, it is said there were two gods who were brothers, named Quetzalcóatl (Feathered Serpent) and Tezcatlipoca (Smoking Mirror). Together they defeated the devouring monster, Cipactli, and using its corpse they created the Earth. Other gods helped to create humans and giants, who lived all in harmony. 

This new land needed light, so Tezcatlipoca took a place in the sky and became the First Sun. Tezcatlipoca demanded worship from mankind in the form of blood sacrifices, which caused a disagreement between him and Quetzalcóatl, who stood up to defend the humans. Quetzalcóatl hit his brother so strongly with his cane that he stroke him down to the Earth, and so Tezcatlipoca was defeated. Quetzalcóatl then took his place as the Second Sun.

Tezcatlipoca landed in the middle of a lake and he lay there for an entire age, until one day when he emerged to the lake's shore. His shape had changed entirely, he walked out of the water as a dark four legged beast with a deep thirst for revenge. The first of the jaguars.

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This is my version of what Tezcatlipoca might have looked like during his days as a jaguar in the Legend of the Fifth Sun. I imagine he still had remnants of his Sun powers, and jaguars didn't have their characteristic markings yet. He later created the jaguars to his image with the sole purpose of ending with humanity and take his revenge on Quetzalcóatl, which he eventually got, but that's a story for another day.

In my story, animals have their own version of the events in these legends, and Tezcatlipoca exists only as one legend that Tleyotl tells Cuauhtzin to entertain her. His name may even be different as it is told by a jaguar, but the First of the Jaguars is definitely a very important figure, and the central character in most jaguars' tales.

I intended to finish this drawing for Halloween, but alas, life stuff got in the way, and I finally got around to do the final touch-ups xP
I'll just cheat and class this as an October drawing