Phantom Hollow Eyes in the darkness

More words, new words, were given to her, spoken so eloquently and beautifully through Esteban's natural accent that she stayed silent and let their sound linger even when he fell quiet. Noche and manana. Mitanni smiled as she heard them, glad to have the name for day as well as the night that she'd asked for. She would've asked for it next anyway.

She tried the words for herself, murmuring, "Noche, manana," below her breath, and mentally went down the list once more. Arbol, estrellas, luna, sol, noche, manana. It sounded like a good list for a beginning lesson, particularly given the time, but she was so interested in learning that Mitanni continued to consider what else to ask about.

Until she yawned again. Realizing that she was growing sleepy, surprised even that she was, the mottled black and brown female chuckled quietly. "I'm going to end up falling asleep here if I don't get back to my den," she admitted sheepishly, though the thought didn't entirely appeal to her and it likely showed. Dragging her feet, she didn't leave but stayed where she was, prolonging the inevitable as she stargazed.