Neophyte

Dinner

Metztli finished with her responsibilities and walked all over the village to try to find Esteban, but he was nowhere to be found. She wondered if he and the other Soldados de Cuera were staying guard away from the village. While looking at the river, she noticed someone familiar. Metztli ran closer to where the individual was and yelled out, "Manuel!"

Manuel was on the other side of the river, which was slightly away from the village. He was washing his face. He heard someone call his name and was surprised to see that it was Metztli, and she was heading his way. He stood as Metztli arrived. "Hola, Manuel. ¿Has visto a Esteban (Have you seen Esteban)?"

"Ah, sí, lo vi preparando un fuego. Había terminado de cazar conejos y los estaba preparando. Le oí decir que iba a buscarte (Ah, yes, I saw him preparing a fire. He had finished hunting rabbits and was preparing them. I heard him say that he was going to fetch you)."

"¿Podrías decirme dónde está para poder ir a verlo (Could you tell me where he is so I can go to him)?"

Manuel pointed north. "Sigue recto y lo verás. No quiere que nos acerquemos demasiado al pueblo. Puede crear malestar (Keep going straight, and you will see him. He doesn't want us to get too close to the village. It can create discomfort)."

Metztli smiled and nodded. "Muchas gracias, Manuel. Hasta luego (Thank you, Manuel. Until then)." 

Manuel nodded as he watched Metztli run toward Esteban's location. He turned back to the river's water but then caught a glimpse of Toypurina outside a kizh with a couple of older women. They all looked concerned; Manuel knew something was off. Suddenly, Toypurina glanced at him, expressionless. He waved, but Toypurina walked away, making Manuel sigh.

Meanwhile, Metztli speed walked toward where Esteban was located. The closer she got, the more she noticed faint light and smoke. She stopped midway, trying to regain her breath, but then remembered what Valentina told her, "It would seem that he likes you." Was there a possibility that Esteban liked her? "Maybe as friends. Gah, why am I kidding myself? Out of all the people, he invited me for dinner." Metztli sighed as she continued on the path until she saw Esteban standing and moving sticks closer to the fire. "Esteban?"

Esteban flinched as he turned around. He sighed in relief, "Oh, Metztli, it's you! You gave me a bit of a fright."

"Sorry about that. I guess one shouldn't sneak behind a Soldado."

He chuckled as he walked closer to her. "It wouldn't be a good idea since a Soldado will always do what is needed to protect himself. I am glad you arrived, although, I was going to go get you. Sorry, I took a while. It's not easy to hunt rabbits."

"Rabbits, eh?" The thought of eating rabbits gave her chills. However, she was in the past, and people back then had to eat wild animals to survive. Metztli didn't want to be rude; she smiled. "I must imagine. They're fast furballs."

Esteban chuckled. "Furballs, eh? I haven't thought about that." He motioned her close to the fire, and she obliged. The two walked and sat close to the fire; the furless rabbits were cooking. "I brought some bread and some corn, although I have started cooking them." He then got a long rock, put the corn on top, and then sat by the fire. The two sat silently before the fire as food slowly cooked. Neither said anything, and Esteban felt foolish. "I invited her, and I can't have a conversation." He glanced at her and noticed that she was thoughtful. "So, what do you think of the village?"

Metztli got out of her thoughtful gaze. "Oh, it's a beautiful village. It feels like home." 

"The people are friendly, but I know many are cautious, while others despise me and my men, since we're Soldados de Cuera. I can't blame them."

"They see you as people who arrived in their land and made them feel like second-class citizens within their homeland." Esteban was surprised that Metztli said that, but he knew that it was the truth. "Sorry, I didn't mean to say it rudely after experiencing and seeing everything in the Mission, well, you know."

Esteban sighed as he turned the corn. "I can't blame you. What you said was the truth. I can't speak for my people, but we're not all the same. Many of us disagree with how the Tongva and other Natives are treated. Believe it or not, many Soldados are Mestizos, not only Criollos. Still, it's still no excuse."

"D-Do you plan to be a Soldado for the rest of your life?"

He was silent as he looked at the fire. Esteban didn't think too much about his future. Being a Soldado was all he had known. "I don't know."

"I remember you speaking about your adventures. Maybe you should travel more and write a book. You could also write about your experiences of being a Soldado. Do you know how to write?"

"A little."

Metztli's face shone. "Maybe I can help you! I know how to read and write perfectly, and I can help you write about your life and about your adventures!"

Esteban raised his eyebrows and then massaged the back of his neck. "Quite an idea, but who would want to read about the life of a Soldado? Not many people can read and-"

"It doesn't matter." Metztli gave him her full attention. "For those who can, they can read a different life and experience. See its joys and its pain. Not all Soldados are the same, but perhaps you can share your emotions and thoughts from your experiences with readers. What your aspirations and dreams are and were. There are people out there like you who wish they had someone to understand. "Words can make a difference; words are powerful. However, to make them powerful, you need to take action. Action can strengthen the words we want to express."

Both became silent as they looked at one another. Esteban felt his heart skip a beat or two. Metztli was full of surprises, making him feel special. He didn't want to admit it, but he yearned for someone to notice and understand him. Metztli was the only one who wanted him to pursue what he wanted in life; she wanted to help him achieve his goals. 

"Uh, Esteban, I think the food is burning."

Esteban got out of his thoughts and noticed the rabbits were getting burned. "Oh no!" He immediately got the rabbits away from the fire. They were burned. "Ohh..."

Metztli laughed. "They're crisped." She immediately went to him and retrieved one of the sticks, then gently tore a piece of the cooked rabbit. "Ah, but the meat still looks good inside. We shouldn't waste food, and we shouldn't judge on appearances." The young woman ate the piece and swayed her head. "Not bad, crispy but still good. I also think the corn is done. Are you ready to eat?'

Esteban nodded as he watched her get the corn and sat back down in his seat. Without Metztli looking, he put his hand over his heart and realized he had feelings for her.