Metztli was inside a kizh where she learned that she would stay alongside Mariana and Valentina. It felt exciting to have the opportunity to experience what her ancestors did.

While sitting down and going through her bag, the thought of her ancestors came to her mind. "Hmm, I wonder if I have even met them? Were they part of this time of history?" she wondered. Valentina entered with a wooden chest. "Oh, did you need help?"

"No, everything was taken off the cart."

"Well, that's good. Where is Mariana?"

"She is helping the tribe's women prepare the meal. I told her that we could help, but she insisted that I rest with you. Let me prepare a fire."

Metztli looked confused but then noticed that there was a man-made fireplace in the center of the kizh. It was made of simple stones that made a circle; wood was also in the center. She watched as Valentina took a small but long wooden log and a thin stick. Valentina spun the smaller wooden stick with the bow on top of the wooden block until the smoke got stronger. She took out the wooden stick and gently blew on the smoke.

Sparks of fire were made until the fire grew larger and finally ignited.

Metztli was amazed.

"What? You've never seen a fire lit before?" Valentina asked while sitting by the fire.

"Huh? Oh, sorry about that. I was being thoughtful. Honestly, I'm excited to be here. It has been a while since I have been in a warm community."

Valentina raised an eyebrow. "Nonantzin said that the Bishop told her that you were a traveling herbalist. I haven't seen you do much healing during your stay at the Mission."

Metztli smiled, "Well, your mother has been giving me other responsibilities. I can't just disobey her. If I were allowed to help people, then I could show more of my skills. It's kind of been like that during my travels."

"I see. I assume you have seen the beauties of the Earth."

"Yeah, I've seen many beautiful places. Sometimes you see the ugly sides, too."

"The land is not ugly, it is what we do with the land that makes it so."

Metztli nodded. "I agree. What I should have said is that when one travels, one gets to see the harsh realities of humanity."

"Just like what happened to Anna Maria, it traumatized you. It would seem that you haven't seen the worst of cruelties."

It was true. Seeing Anna Maria give birth, being punished and killed for her newborn's death was traumatizing. It was something that she would never forget. Metztli hadn't truly seen the true cruelties of humanity, and she hoped not to do so again. "Yes/ You grew up with it, didn't you?"

"Quema (Yes). My family and I didn't react, but it wasn't new to us. It was something we were used to for many years. Although my family and I were allowed to live outside the Mission."

"Oh, you used to live outside the Mission?"

Valentina nodded. "My mother made my brother and me visit the Mission from time to time. Bishop Victoriano educated and protected us. The Bishop and my mother were friends forever, ever since our father died. I have seen so many of my people die due to the Padres. Although the Bishop and a few Padres have good hearts, it doesn't hide the fact that they do nothing to make a change."

Metztli's smile died down. She couldn't blame Valentina for feeling the way she did, but Metztli didn't feel comfortable with Bishop Victoriano doing so much for her and her family. "I can't blame you. They can't create change by themselves. I mean, you can't deny that you and your family are very fortunate to have some form of protection. You-"

"Nonantzin and the Bishop call this protection, but it feels like a prison. Being inside the Mission is suffocating. It is a brutal reminder of what my people go through and suffer. Also, it reminds me how life is never fair."

"Oh, Valentina. What you are going through is survivor's guilt."

"Survivor's guilt?"

"It's something I have observed during my travels. When someone survives a traumatic experience, they often feel guilty about having survived. The survivor begins to question themselves with many questions on why they were able to have it easy and why others couldn't." Metztli noticed that Valentina had become silent, and she continued, "Don't feel guilty, Valentina. You have empathy, and that is something special. Also, you are in a position to help others who need help."

Valentina looked at the fire, looking thoughtful. "I am trapped in the Mission. How could I possibly help? I couldn't act the way you did when they lashed Anna Maria."

"There are many things you can do. Sometimes the smallest acts can lead to a bigger difference and meaning. The fact that you help your mother heal the injured and the sick. Those acts are contributing to helping others. The fact that you healed people is part of your traditions, which the Padres are trying to take away. You practicing herbalism is your act of defiance." Metztli chuckled, "I mean, it's hypocritical of them that they rely on your people's traditions to help them and others survive."

Valentina found solace in Metztli's words. She couldn't believe that it made her feel less guilty. "When will you teach me those fighting skills that you used against Pascual?"

"How about tomorrow? We can ask Guillermo to help us out. When will you begin teaching me the language?"

"We can start tonight. Our tongue will be spoken tonight, and I will break it into steps." Valentina stood up. "The sun is setting; we must go and meet with the others."

Metztli stood. "Let's go!"

Metztli and Valentina walked out of the kizh together. 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!" Guillermo walked 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. It will be a good way to learn about the Tongva culture."

"Oh, well, okay," 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?"

"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."

"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 says. 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 village's people slowly made 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 got the plates of food ready.

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

Valentina continued to watch everything unfold and said, "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. 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. 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 is not common to put an ending on inanimate things, it could sometimes confuse."

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."

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 as 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?"

The question couldn't be answered since everyone had arrived at the center. Some sat while others stood. Mariana sat beside her children. 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 Tonantzin (Mother Earth) and our ancestors who provided us with plenty. We are also 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. "Ne-Ne-Nechpactia ni-ni-nimitzixmati! Notoca Metztli! (It pleases me to know you! My name is Metztli!)" She didn't know if she had made a mistake, but Mariana taught her 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!)" 

The villagers cheered.

Metztli tried to smile with relief, but her lips quivered; she sat down quickly. 

"You did well, 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 danced 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."

"Hn."

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; I am somewhat familiar with it, though not entirely fluent.