Metztli and Valentina walked out of the kizh together, and the people of the tribes were everywhere, preparing for tonight's festivities. Metztli was happy and excited to be part of the Tongva community since it reminded her of home and all the times her people came together to practice their traditions. "Valentina, Metztli, I have found you both!" The young women saw Guillermo walking toward them. "Mama wanted me to find you so we could all meet at the tribe's center." He looked at Metztli. "Toypurina also told me to inform you that you will sit beside the Chief."

"R-Really? Why me?"

"Well, you are new to this tribe, and the Chief wants to introduce you to everyone for a proper welcome. Don't worry, you don't have to make a speech. It is an immense honor to be seated next to the Chief. Besides, it will be a good way to learn of the Tongva culture."

"Y-Yeah. I don't do well in crowds. Still, it would be nice to be a part of this." Metztli remembered her conversation with Valentina. "Oh, before I forget! Valentina and I wanted to speak with you. I was hoping you could do us a little favor."

Guillermo raised an eyebrow, curious. "Yes?"

The women looked at each other and then at him. "Valentina asked me if I could teach her some self-defense techniques and to teach her and we were wondering if you could help us tomorrow?"

"Interesting. I would be happy to help. Now, come along. We all have to get ready."

Guillermo led the young women toward the main center of the tribe, where Chief Temejavaguichia was seen speaking with his sister. The siblings noticed the trio and stopped speaking. Toypurina walked forward. "We are happy that you all arrived." She looked at Metztli. "Guillermo informed you?"

"Yes, he did. It's an honor."

"Now, you will thoroughly learn of our culture and what the Missions are trying to repress. Valentina, please sit beside her and translate everything my brother speaks of. I will have to sit at the opposite side of him, so I will not be able to do so." 

Valentina nodded.

The trio was then led to a long log with a couple of handmade mats on top. Metztli was motioned to sit at a specific spot while Guillermo and Valentina sat beside her. They watched as the tribe's people slowly began to make their way to the center of the tribe. Many women brought clay plates while men brought slaughtered animals to cook. Metztli sat silently and watched everything unfold. The men were cutting the meat and hanging it over the fire they had made. Many women gave people plates to eat.

"So, teach me some of the basics of the language, Valentina."

Valentina looked thoughtful but spoke. "When you speak the language, you must know the meanings of the beginning and ending of words. For example, when you listened to us speak, you noticed that some words had the endings 'tli,' 'tl,' and 'li,' correct?" Metztli nodded, and Valentina continued, "When you hear words with those ending sounds, the words mean living things such as animals, people, and some objects."

"Give me some examples please."

"Coyotl means coyote. Amatl means paper. However, some words don't have a particular ending, although they may mean living things, such as mizton, meaning fish. Cahuayoh, meaning horse."

Metztli was astonished. "Hey, some of the words sound like Spanish." She noticed Valentina's mood had become sour. "Oh, sorry."

Guillermo listened to his sister teaching Metztli parts of the lesson. He couldn't believe his sister would do something like that with another person. His sister was very cautious and didn't trust many people, especially some Neophytes, since they worked for the Padres. It warmed his heart to see his sister coming out of her shell. "The thing is, Metztli, that when the Spaniards came, both languages had some mixtures and some of our languages became adopted with the Spanish language."

"Yet, they will never admit such a thing."

Metztli nodded, astonished that many words in Spanish were combined with her people's language. "If only I could tell my people from my time! Oh, I could teach them so much!"

"Continuing. When mentioning something that means more than one, then you would have to add -meh—for example, mizton, meaning cat. When you want to say 'cats' in our language, you would say 'miztommeh'. Cihuatl, meaning woman. When you want to say 'women,' then it would be 'cihuameh.' However, many tribes in different areas would use -tinih on the end for inanimate things such as tepetinih, meaning hills. Although, it not common to put ending on inanimate things, it could sometimes cause confusion."

Metztli nodded, intrigued by the language. She felt that she was learning many things about her culture that she had never been taught during her era. Much of the language was still being learned, but not at a faster rate. Still, if Metztli were ever to return home, then she could help her community decipher the language. 

"There you all are." Mariana eventually arrived at her children, Metztli, and sat between them. "I finally arrived. There was much to do."

Valentina stopped speaking, and Metztli knew that the small lecture was over. Still, something was better than nothing. "We wanted to help, Mariana. You shouldn't have to-"

"Don't worry. I wanted you children to rest. I needed something to do, and I wanted to have a chance to speak with the women."

Guillermo chuckled. "Is it because you wanted to listen to gossip didn't you?" Metztli and Valentina contained their snickers; Mariana looked at her son with a smile. Guillermo's smile disappeared, and before he could speak, his mother pinched his cheek. "Ow! Ow! Okay! Okay! I'm sorry!"

Mariana let go of her son's cheek while still smiling. A shiver went down Metztli's and Valentina's spines. "Oh, I almost forgot. Where are Esteban and the other Soldados de Cuera?"

Eventually, everyone from the tribe arrived at the center. Some sat while others stood. Chief Temejavaguichia sat beside Metztli while Toypurina sat opposite him. Everyone became silent as they looked to their leader.  Chief Temejavaguichia spoke, and Valentina began to whisper the translation.

"My people. We gather here tonight to give thanks to our Mother Earth and our ancestors who provided us with plenty. Also, we are to celebrate the return of my sister, Toypurina, and our fellow tribespeople: Mariana, Guillermo, and Valentina." Valentina stopped translating and composed herself.  The tribespeople cheered as Toypurina, Mariana, Guillermo, and Valentina stood from their seats and bowed. They eventually sat back down on their seats as the Chief continued to speak, and Valentina continued to translate. "I would also like to introduce a new guest. She is a friend of Toypurina and I would like you all to make her feel welcomed and respected." The Chief looked at Metztli and motioned for her to stand. Valentina stopped translating.

All eyes were on Metztli, making her feel like a deer looking at headlights. She gulped as she slowly stood, being watched. No one said anything, and Metztli hoped that the Chief, Toypurina, Mariana, or her children would say something in her place. "Damn it, I was told that I didn't have to make a speech!" She felt the back of her neck become warm and said what she could. "Pialli! Ne-Ne-Nechpactia ni-ni-nimitzixmati! Notoca Metztli! (Hello! It pleases me to know you! My name is Metztli!)" The young woman didn't know if she had made a mistake. She wasn't taught a lot of the language, but Mariana taught her a little bit in secret while in the Mission. Mariana taught her simple greetings. 

Valentina, Guillermo, and Mariana looked surprised, as did Toypurina and the Chief. The people looked at one another and murmured in unison. Then, a little girl stood, holding a handmade doll, and said, "Ximopanōltih! (Welcome!)" with a smile. 

Many people began to laugh while others clapped. Many called out and told her the same thing. Metztli tried to smile with relief, but her lips quivered; she sat down quickly. 

"You did good, Metztli," Mariana said with a proud smile. 

"I-I thought I didn't have to do a speech!" Metztli glared at Guillermo, who nervously looked away. 

Valentina rolled her eyes while chuckling. The Chief then announced that it was time for the celebrations to commence. A couple of men and women stood, and a couple of men held instruments; they began to play. Metztli watched as the group of men and women formed around the bonfire and began to dance around it. Then they would turn to look at their partner and twirl into their partner's place. Metztli was mesmerized, and the dance was unlike anything she and her community had danced in modern times.

There wasn't much documentation about her people's traditions. With what little they had and with the stories of the elders that were passed down, present-day Tongvas practiced some traditions to the best of their ability. Metztli felt her heart soar as she saw the Tongva community. "If I ever return home. I will remember these traditions and teach my community." She then glanced at Valentina, Guillermo, and Mariana, looking on with calm and happiness. "Now, I can fully understand why you hate being in the Mission so much. You feel free here."

Valentina looked at Metztli. "That is part of the reason. You know the main reason."

Metztli nodded. "Yes, and I can't blame you for feeling that way anymore. Being here made me realize so many things."

"You only have seen a fraction of it. You might see more and some will be eye-opening. You must be prepare for the worst."

"What do you mean?"

Valentina shook her head. "You will see in due time. Peace does not last forever even among our people." She said nothing more. Valentina watched; Metztli did the same. 

Then, a couple of male dancers joined, accompanied by a few masks of different colors and shapes. Metztli remembered something. "This must be the dance of the elements. I remember my mother telling me about it. Grandmother told her about certain traditions as did her grandmother and her grandmother before her." Metztli smiled as she watched; she looked forward to the days ahead.

.........................................

NOTE:

As previously mentioned in my introduction chapter at the beginning of the story, the language used is not that of the Tongva people. I am not entirely familiar with the Tongva language, as it is still being studied for revitalization. The language I am using is Nahuatl, which the Aztecs spoke in Mexico; since I am somewhat familiar with it, though not entirely fluent.