Serpent Lake dulce

belen narrowed her eyes as the man began to speak. she was sheltered, and the offer was tempting. but he was also a stranger. "ay, you think i am just going to walk with you?" she groused, stepping back as her accent thickened. but her odd eyes darted over his shoulder, toward the mesa. "what is akashingo? you have food there?" belen asked skeptically, her shoulders hunching against a sudden cold lap of snow.