Uxmal (character)

Uxmal is the former high priestess of Hiija. She is stubborn and driven, and has spent most of her life trying to guide the people of Hiija in honoring their pact with the gods.

?She is a descendant of Xaochul, the first shaman, inheriting the special affinity for the spirit world?

Being the first to openly accept Ajaw and teach him about the island and how the gods sustained them, Ajaw betraying her teachings hit her hard. As Ajaw started garnering the interest of the villagers and became more revered for his skills, Uxmal withdrew and refused to have anything to do with him. She had tried talking sense into him, but the "fame" had gone to his head, it seemed.

Desperate, she tried to warn the villagers of their impending doom, should they choose to explore this technology, but it mostly fell on deaf ears. The Hiijans were too enthralled by the thought of an easier life.

As more machines were built, the gods answered her less, until they never answeres at all. The pact was broken and Uxmal chose to move outside of the village, as she no longer felt welcome, and her feelings of resentment for the people of Hiija had grown too strong. But even outside of the village, the machines followed her, and drew the life out of every plant around it.

When Uxmal grew too sick to take care of herself, a message was sent to Kiijo, her estranged granddaughter. Kiijo showed up at her doorstep, and was very matter of fact, ready to take care of her. Even in her resentment of the machines Kiijo had spent her life studying, she finally had a spark of warmth in her life again. Even if it hurt her pride, she felt very grateful for Kiijo leaving everything she knew behind, to care for a grandmother she hardly knew.

She is Kiijos grandmother, being the mother of Kiijos father, but has had little contact with any of them after Kiijos parents chose to work at the factory. She took is as them turning their back to the traditions of Hiija and the pact with the gods.