Metztli looked up at the sky as the sun froze. Birds flew in the blue skies, enjoying the sight of the flying birds. "They're so free," she spoke to herself. She then glanced at Guillermo and Mitena, who sat silently along the way. 

What could they speak about?

Every moment that they got closer to the village, the more tense everyone felt. Metztli's anxiety intensified as she felt Mitena and Guillermo feeling the same. Esteban looked as if he wanted to sleep; Metztli theorized that he hadn't slept last night.

Glancing at the trail ahead, she knew they were getting closer; it was recognizable. She then glanced at Mitena, who looked tense. "M-Mitena, are you thirsty?"

Mitena flinched as she looked back at Metztli. "No, child. We will be arriving at the village."

"Okay. I was worried about you." Metztli then glanced at Guillermo and Victoriano. "How about either of you? Neither of you has drunk or eaten anything."

Guillermo still had his eyes on the road; he massaged his eyelids. "Thank you, but I am not hungry."

"How about some water? Water will give you some energy. I can combine it with some herbs so it can make up for the food you missed eating."

Guillermo was quiet, but he nodded. 

Metztli knew where the herbs were since she had some in her belongings. She opened her wooden chest, taking out a bag that had herbs and flowers. Opening it, Metztli took out some dried California poppies. She got a jug of water, a couple of cups, and a molcajete. The dried poppy flowers were crushed, and the cups were filled with water. Metztli then poured the crushed flowers into each cup. She motioned to Guillermo, who took a sip and flinched from the taste. However, he knew that he needed to stay awake for what was going to happen. "Nonantzin, you need to drink some water, too. You will need to gather your energy from what we are to face." Mitena looked like she was going to disagree, but with one look, she relented.

She was given a cup of water containing crushed poppy flowers. The bitter taste overflowed on her tongue, but it soothed her nerves. 

Metztli offered another cup to Esteban, who graciously took it and drank it all in one gulp. He violently flinched. "Esteban, you were supposed to take small sips."

"I didn't know what kind of flower it was!" Esteban coughed and asked for another cup of water without the plant, and Metztli complied. 

She then went to Victoriano and motioned to him for a cup; he was still looking ahead. "Victoriano?"

"Hm?" He got out of his thoughts.

"I wanted to give you a cup of water with the poppy flower. It will help give you energy and soothe your nerves."

Victoriano eyed the cup, then took it and slowly sipped the water. His headache was slowly soothed since the poppy flower was potent, but he didn't want to drink the entirety of it. "Thank you, young one."

Metztli smiled softly; there was nothing she could say that would make anyone feel better. Everyone was nervous and terrified. She made herself a cup and took small sips. The drink was making her sleepy, which suited her well since she couldn't sleep last night. She was slowly closing her eyes until a loud thud landed before her. 

It was an arrow that almost struck her feet. She yelped, gaining everyone's attention. Esteban and Victoriano got their weapons ready. Victoriano yelled for the attackers to step forward. 

It was quiet, and no one appeared. Mitena stood from her seat and yelled, "Macamo xicalacahui! (Do not attack!)" Her voice echoed everywhere, as if the Earth were to shake. Suddenly, a group of Tongva men appeared with bows and arrows in hand, pointed at the group. Mitena immediately got off the wooden cart, ignoring Victoriano and her son. "Nehuatl (It is I)."

The group of men still didn't lower their arrows, but one of them walked toward Mitena. Everyone watched as they quietly spoke. Victoriano got his pistol, readying himself to shoot if necessary. Mitena eventually returned with a grim expression.

"Nonantzin, what's the matter? What did they say?"

"They were on guard, and they informed me that Valentina is with them."

Everyone's heart skipped a beat. 

"How is she?" Guillermo asked. 

"They will not say, but they will let us enter. Although..." Mitena looked at Esteban. "They do not want him in the village."

"What? Esteban wouldn't harm them, he-" Metztli was interrupted. 

"I will respect their wishes, Metztli. If the village is on guard, then they have their reasons. I will not cause tension."

Mitena got on the wooden cart. "We must head forward. Valentina is with them."

Guillermo and everyone else made haste as they moved forward. Metztli and Esteban looked at one another as they continued onward until they saw Jachivit Village. Men and women were outside doing their daily chores. Before anyone could react, Mitena jumped off the wooden cart and ran. "Nonantzin!" Guillermo yelled for her. Everyone was shocked at Mitena's restlessness. 

Victoriano commanded his horse to follow her. "Mitena! Wait!" He and the horse got in front of her; Victoriano immediately got off his horse, holding onto Mitena.

"Victoriano! Let me go! Our daughter! She-!"

"I understand, Mitena! I truly do, but our daughter will be different! We cannot just go and assume that she will want to see us! We have to be careful and consider what she wants!"

"He is correct, Mitena," said a feminine voice. The couple saw Toypurina walking toward them with a couple of men behind her. "Valentina has come to us, but she came to us with a broken body, mind, and spirit. She is no longer the daughter you knew."

Guillermo and Metztli got off the wooden cart while Esteban stayed behind, ensuring not to get too close to the village. "Toypurina, did Valentina tell you what happened to her?" Metztli asked in a low tone, fearing she had asked the wrong question. 

Toypurina eyed Metztli with an unreadable expression but eventually answered, "There was no need to tell me. I knew what had happened because I had seen it with other women who had come before me from other villages. She won't let anyone enter her home except me so that I can do healing rituals."

Mitena tried to get out of Victoriano's grip, but it was impossible. "I have to get to her! Nochpoch! Nochpoch! (My daughter! My daughter!)"

"Mitena, enough," Toypurina spoke in a low, commanding voice, making Mitena and everyone else shiver. Toypurina was very young but had a commanding presence. "Things are not the same, and I am certain more things happened in the Mission, or else Victoriano wouldn't be here. You all will come with me, for there is something we need to speak of." She saw Esteban. "You will join us as well. Everyone will respect my order. Come and follow."

Victoriano still held onto Mitena, ensuring she would not run off. He motioned her to follow Toypurina. Guillermo walked behind his parents while Metztli and Esteban stood together, looked at each other, and followed the rest of the group, wondering what bad news would befall them.

The group followed Toypurina deeper into the village, where they noticed everyone stopping what they were doing and eyeing them. Some villagers eyed them with distrust, while others with pity.

It was the same as the last time they were in the village; they were cautious but more welcoming. The mood in the village was filled with distrust and worry. Metztli would glance at many of the villagers, feeling their aura. She also felt uneasy and knew that more had happened in the village besides Valentina's arrival.

Metztli also noticed how tightly Victoriano held onto Mitena since she was desperate to go to Valentina. She couldn't be blamed since a mother always wanted to be close to her child.

They all eventually arrived at the chieftain's kizh. Toypurina entered first, and the rest followed.

The Chief and two other men were inside. One of them looked familiar.

"¿Nicolás? ¿Qué estás haciendo aquí? (Nicolas? What are you doing here?)" Victoriano asked, confused.

Nicolas didn't answer as he sat silently close to the Chief. Toypurina then motioned everyone to sit down. Victoriano, Mitena, and Guillermo sat next to one another; Metztli sat beside Esteban behind the family. She didn't want him to be left out.

Toypurina sat close to the group but faced them. Everyone looked at the group, their faces serious.

"Nicolas has come to us not too long ago, and he has come to us with alarming news," Toypurina spoke.

"News?" Victoriano glanced at Nicolas, who didn't look at him.

"Firstly, we learned that you are no longer a Bishop of the Mission. Nōāchcāuh (My older brother) and I wanted to know if it was true."

Victoriano sighed as his shoulders slumped. "Yes, it is true. It would seem that Federico found a journal of mine where I have written my personal thoughts and experiences." He felt foolish for having a journal. If it weren't for the journal, then everyone wouldn't be in their current predicament. "I was such a fool to have let my guard down. I ensured to hide my journal in the best of places."

Mitena gently held onto Victoriano's right hand. "You mustn't blame yourself, Victoriano. You held so much within your mind, spirit, and body. If you had kept them all within, it would eventually have destroyed you. Federico is a snake! He and Pascual worked together, but everything was for naught!" She gently squeezed her hand when mentioning Pascual, the man who hurt their daughter. "Pascual paid for everything he has done to Valentina and to our people! Federico is banished from the Mission and is to go far away!"

Toypurina translated everything that Mitena said to her brother, who listened intently. His expression didn't change as he responded in his native tongue. Toypurina translated, "We do not blame you, Victoriano. You have done so much for our people ever since you became a Padre and then a Bishop. You and Mitena sacrificed your happiness to protect all of us. We thank you." She looked at her brother, who spoke more, and Toypurina translated again. "Now that you are no longer Bishop, my sister and I believe that we will be in far more danger. Nicolas Jose also came to us with news he heard from the Bishops."

"What news?" Victoriano asked.

Metztli could tell the slight hesitation in Victoriano's tone. He was nervous, as was everyone. Esteban glanced at her and gently held her right hand as if trying to tell her that everything was going to be okay. She wondered if, realistically, everything was going to be okay.

"Nicolas Jose overheard some of the Bishops speaking in secret. They wish to have our people stop with our practices."

Everyone flinched.

Victoriano feared that the Bishops would plan something strenuous, but he didn't think they would do so when he was no longer declared Bishop. "Is it certain that he heard them speak of this?"

"We asked him the same thing, and he swore that it was every word they spoke."

"B-But, didn't they mean the Tongva in the Mission?" Metztli asked nervously.

Toypurina glanced at Metztli and responded, "It is definite that our people in the Mission may not practice our customs. However, with Victoriano no longer to stop the Bishops and Padre Fermin, the rule may come across the land."

"C-Can that happen? I mean, the land is vast, and surely they can't force everyone to stop practicing their traditions."

"Ever since the white devils arrived in our land, they have fooled our people into believing that they meant no harm. They spread among our land through lies and force. They have weapons that we do not have. We have to assume the worst, that their rules may affect our village and others."

Metztli bit her lip as she squeezed onto Esteban's hand. More bad news came their way.

History made it their way.

"Soldado, remind me of your name."

"It is Esteban."

"You are a Soldado de Cuera. How much access do you have to the Mission?"

"I have much access throughout the Mission since I have a somewhat high rank. With Victoriano gone, I am not certain if I will have the same access."

Toypurina translated everything Esteban mentioned. The Chief spoke, and Toypurina translated, "My brother asks what you mean by whether you will have the same access?"

Esteban sighed. "I was able to have much access since Victoriano permitted me."

"It is true. The Bishops have certain Soldados they trust to act not only as confidants but as spies. Without my position, the Bishops and Padre Fermin may not want Esteban to have too much access. I am not certain if they wish him to be in the Mission," Victoriano responded.

Toypurina told her brother everything, and he became thoughtful until he spoke again. "My brothers would like to ask you a favor."

"A favor?"

"He would like it if you could be our eyes when you return to the Mission."

Metztli gasped as she stood, letting go of Esteban. "You want him to be your spy!? That's dangerous! It could put him and everyone in danger if the Bishops are to find out!" She then looked at Victoriano, hoping he would reject the idea.

He didn't. Victoriano stood up and turned to Metztli. "You may not like the idea, but to have peace of mind, there needs to be reassurance that the Bishops are not trying to put their rules into law."

"Law? They can't do that! They're just Padres and-"

"And look what they have done to our people? To our land. They will do as they please since they hold power, the Soldados. I understand you worry for Esteban, but he is the only one who can be our eyes. My brother and I must think of the safety of our people, our culture," Toypurina explained.

Metztli struggled to speak but turned to Esteban, who sat silently. She knelt before him. "Esteban, you don't have to do this. You-"

"I will do so, Metztli. It's the least I can do." He then looked at Toypurina and Victoriano. "I will do it, under one condition."

"What condition?"

"I will marry Metztli before I return to the Mission."

Victoriano, Mitena, and Guillermo were shocked. Toypurina didn't expect his condition but told her brother about it; the Chief agreed. He spoke, and Toypurina translated, "You both may marry, and we will give you both a proper ceremony. You may be the image of our enemy, but many of you do not have dark spirits. You shall stay in the village as we prepare a small ceremony for you both. The meeting has ended."