Duck Lake water birds in spring

@Quetzalli

The sun had found his place in the sky, beaming proudly over the earth as the last of winter was flushed from her lands and spring was hustled in. Though there was still time before spring truly took root, Cuicatl could already smell the fresh scents of life. She sat beside the lake's edge, her weight held by her propped shoulder, and watched the ducks move gracefully throughtout the water. Perhaps if this had been any other day, she would have taken it upon herself to run a quick hunt on the large flock and catch an afternoon meal, though Cuicatl felt that today was more of an opportunity for one to sing than to sqwuak. So, with that in mind, she began to form a song under her breath about the swift movements of the water birds.

Her travels continued through this new land, and though her feet may grow sore, or her body cold she was still delighted by each new territory. This land was so different from home, so exciting. She had never before had such free reign on her own life. Everday she could make whatever decision she wanted and would not be yelled at for it. She could have fun, hunt when she pleased. Least of all she didn't have to marry that viejo verde. She missed her parents occasionally, but she felt this is what she was meant to do. Truly, she was meant to be a feather on the wind. To fly away, just as the Quetzal bird did.

She was walking around the lake she'd just found, watching the ducks that swam within it. She had seen ducks before, of course, but she'd never eaten one of these ducks. There were some with such beautiful green feathers on their heads. She wondered if it taste different the moment her eyes had landed on them. So she had decided to try and catch one. She was decent at swimming, but she knew the ducks were better. So she was watching and waiting for the perfect time. She was still stalking at the edge of the lake when a song reached her ears.

For a moment she paid it no mind, dismissing it. It wasn't until she realized that it was in her own tongue did her attention snap away from the ducks. Her eyes searched for the cantante, finally landing on the lazing figure not very far away. Without speaking, she set towards the other. Once she was near enough that she wouldn't have to yell at the top of her voice, she called out to what she now saw as a female. "¡Eh, tú! Amiga! Te he oído cantar, ¿hablas español?" She questioned her still, having not yet found someone who spoke spanish back. She wondered if the other merely knew the song.

"Do you speak my language, amiga? I heard you singing. Or did you get me excited for nothing?" She laughed at her own joke, still happy to make a friend regardless of their language.

Cuicatl's attention was suddenly stolen away by a the approach of another who spoke beautifully in one of her own learned tongues. As she stood and turned to face the stranger, her tail began a gentle wag over her back and her eyes took on an innocent spark. The first words were understood perfectly, but the second half of the introduction was much less easy to comprehend, causing Cuicatl's brow to furrow and her head to tilt slightly to the side. Si, si! ¡No puedo creer que lo comprendieras! Soy Cuicatl.

She wished to take a step forward and properly greet the woman as she might have if she were still near her home and could be sure that she would take no offense. Despite this, she remained where she was, albeit antsy while she awaited a reply. ¿De dónde eres, eh? No hablan nuestro idioma aquí. It was then that Cuicatl remembered her slight faux pas in this entire encounter and excused herself before continuing, Lo siento, mi amiga, ¿como te llama?

The other turned to face her, tail waving behind her the comprehension is clear in the other's eyes. As she transitions to english, however, confusion plays over her face. Quetzalli's own face breaks into a wide grin again and her tail begins to wave happily. "¡No podía creerla cuando te oí cantar! Tú eres el primera que he encontrada que habla español aquí. Algunos parecen entender bits y piezas, pera para habla con otra Latina? Usted hizo mi día, amiga!" She laughs happily.

"Nací en Mexico. Sierra Norte de Oaxaca, para ser específico. ¿Conoces ese lugar? ¿Y que hay de ti? ¿De donde eres? ¿Cómo terminaste aquí, hermana?" She shakes her head, grinning still as the woman apologizes.  "No te preocupes! Las dos estamos muy emocionadas de habernas conocida. Soy Quetzalli. Recientemente vine aquí, explorando. Soy un Viajera." She raises her head with pride as she speaks about her traveling. "Supongo que no hablas inglés? Ese será un camino duro para viajar aquí, amiga."

There were so many questions thrown on her, and all at once! It didn't matter; Cuicatl was pleased to finally understand someone else, regardless of how much there was to listen to. Si lo se. Yo nací no lejos de allí, en realidad. Vine aquí después de obtener permiso de mi familia para continuar mis estudios. She smiled and took a step forward to nose at the other's shoulder, before continuing in her introductions. Soy Cuicatl. 

Hablo un poco, pero no lo suficiente para moverse. He estado solo desde que llegué aquí. Not that she disliked having time to herself or anything, but it was easy to feel alone when no one could understand what you were saying. Cuicatl sighed and sat back on her haunches, a sudden wave of melancholy coming over her.

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."

Cuicatl relished in the attention being shared between she and her new friend. "snow" is, my friend.">Es increíblemente diferente aquí. Pero yo ... no estoy seguro de lo que es "nieve", amigo mío. Having been raised in an environment which alternated between humid and arid, there had never been a time in which Cuicatl had needed to use this word. Neither had anyone else who she had grown up with, so to hear the word brought on a slight bit of confusion. 

Debo aprender el lenguaje común, ¿sí? Sin embargo, es muy difícil. Cuicatl laughed at the thought of learning to say anything beyond hello! or help!, though she knew that it would be imperative to her survival. ¿Me ayudarás?

Quetzalli nodded, this place was so different from home. She hadn't even seen a jaguar since leaving her home. They had been an all too common threat for her family. It seemed hard to believe a place could exsist without a threat of them. Her eyes brightened even more when the woman spoke of not knowing snow. "La nieve es ... lluvia congelada. No es sólido como el hielo, pero no el agua. Es hermoso pero muy frío. Más frío que cualquier noche en casa. Vi mucho en mi camino aquí. ¿Tal vez pueda llevarte y mostrarte? Vale la pena ver."

"Sí, los gringos aquí no hablan mucho español, si lo hablan en absoluto. No te entenderán hasta que aprendas." Her face was serious. Being unable to speak with another wolf was a frightening idea. It had been bad enough not being able to speak her language, she couldn't imagine not having anyone understand her at all. She considered the question for only a moment, knowing that she would not want to part from Cuicatl's side for quite some time. She could try to teach her.

"Haré todo lo posible, pero no soy un maestro. Puedo enseñarte como mis padres me enseñaron, empezando simple y luego creciendo. Creo que será difícil, pero podemos hacerlo juntos. Somos hijos de México, debemos ayudarnos unos a otros." She smiled at the girl, bumping her with a shoulder in a friendly manner. "Somos hermanas después de todo!"