Duck Lake water birds in spring

Quetzalli did not mean to overwhelm the woman, but she could not stop her joy. When she was at home she never would have guessed how simply hearing her own language was a comfort. She had left it behind without a thought, believing that her parents would be the most missed. They were, of course, but hearing Cuicatl speak familiar words made her realize just how much she had missed them. They had never strayed far form her own tongue, of course, but there was something different in speaking fluently to another who understood, rather than just trying with others.

Hearing that this woman had permission to be here was confusing for Quetzalli. Her pack would have never given a female permission to go out and look around. The sons, sure, but a daughter? Nunca. Cuicatl moved forward and nosed gently at Quetzalli's shoulder and it drew forth another beaming smile from her lips. "Estoy tan feliz de conocerte, Cuicatl, de verdad." She returned the gesture, returning the affectionate rub to the woman's shoulder.

"Oh ya veo. Mis padres me enseñaron ambos, por si acaso. Ha hecho más fácil aquí, como usted dijo, no muchos de nosotros alrededor!" She chuckled a little, but her heart still did a happy dance in her chest. She felt a sudden rush of home sickness for her parents, but quickly pushed that away. "He estado sola también, explorando esta tierra. Es tan diferente aquí, ¿no? Y tan hermoso." Her eyes lit up for a second and she laughed again. "Vi la nieve por primera vez aquí, hermana! Cayó tan pesadamente, y se quedó tan gruesa en el suelo. ¿Has visto alguna vez la nieve?" She waited for an answer, but then shook her head, smiling in an embarrassed way.

"Lo siento, lo siento. Estoy por todo el lugar, estoy muy emocionado de hablar mi idioma de nuevo."