Among gods and mortals, the molasses of the fire ants was considered to be a treat of unparalleled sweetness. But to reach the fire ants meant crossing miles of dangerous and hostile jungle, as well as journeying deep into the caves where they kept their stores. Even then, there was no guarantee the ants would agree to part with their molasses, for they were insects, alien in body and thought.

Xopchipili, being the son of both a god and a mortal, agreed to go and fetch a jug of molasses for his father, the Sun (he who first lit the furnace of the gods and who has kept it burning ever after). Though he wished to go alone, the Sun sent with him one of his golden cats, not wishing any harm to befall Xopchipili.

The perils of the jungle troubled Xopchipili and the golden cat little enough, and in the time of telling a tale they had arrived at the great caves of the fire ants. The ants massed by the entryway, and Xopchipili put a hand on the golden cat and spoke to the ants. “I have come to request a jug of your molasses, fire ants. You see by the golden cat who accompanies me that I come on behalf of the Sun. Even the gods have nothing so sweet as your stores.”

Thus the ants parted and let Xopchipili past. Perhaps they were flattered, but more likely there was some other reason, known only to the ants. He led the cat deep into the stores, and filled a jug with molasses. “Xopchipili,” said the golden cat. “I am quite tired from the walk. Do you think the fire ants would mind if I had but a little bit of molasses?”

“You must ask them yourself, cat. I asked only this jug for the Sun, my father,” replied Xopchipili. The golden cat went then to ask, and returned momentarily to lap up some molasses from the stores of the ants. But no sooner had he done so, than a great chattering filled the air. Xopchipili closed the jug, and gave the golden cat a baleful glare. “Well, and I see you do not know the fire ants at all. You are charged with keeping me from harm, and now you will have to meet that charge. Let me climb on your back, and run from here as fast as you can, for you are swifter than I, and the fire ants are displeased. Let us only hope you are more fleet of foot than they, as well.”

Xopchipili climbed onto the golden cat’s back, and the cat ran as fast and as far as he could. All around Xopchipili and the cat came the angry chattering of the fire ants, as they cut through the jungle, chasing those who had stolen from them. Xopchipili struggled to keep from spilling the molasses or himself as the golden cat ran, but his hands were soon sticky with molasses, and the golden cat became covered with prints from Xopchipili’s fingers.

Still, the cat was as good as the Sun’s word, and they out-ran the fire ants, and returned to the Sun with a jug half-full of molasses. The Sun demanded an explanation, and Xopchipili dutifully and honestly told his father what had occurred. The Sun folded his arms, and clouds of his displeasure rolled across the sky. He banished his golden cat, now covered from head to tail in specks and spots of molasses, to roam the jungles of the fire ants forever.

And that is the story of how Xopchipili gave the leopard his spots.