a reptile's tongue

Citlali Kimaris · 04-12-2011, 09:46 PM

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Word Count → 592 :: Yay for more family and bad Citlali Spanish!

Citlali had slept very lightly. He often had these nights when Tlantli’s startled breathing or constant pacing made enough sound to awaken him. Lately, the simplest sounds such as a passing member or the shifting of dirt would cause his eyes to open.

He awoke suddenly, breathing in sharply, when Tlantli adjusted her position in the night. Immediately, he raised, experience saving him time from attempting to fall back into sleep. Dull forest colored irises stared, seeing nothing at first in the darkness. Silhouettes broke the black and the lantern light filled the cave. Orange flames flickered against his Aunt’s sunray pelt. She had, fortunately, fallen into another shallow dream.

His mind felt restless, sleep-deprived, and heavy. It didn’t take the boy time to ponder if he would be able to sleep or not before he made the decision not to try. Thick furred paws carried themselves to Tlantli’s bedside. Her nephew watched her for quick moment, worry like heavy stones in his abdomen. He knew what troubled his family member so. Without a proper knowing of his own true Mother or others, Citlali couldn’t understand her angst. At this moment, the coyote boy barely dared breath in fear of the golden females awakening.

But his own unusual edge made his mind beg for serenity or an aura of silence. After another short moment of concern about his Aunt, Citlali grabbed one of his finished woven bracelets. It was made of grass and white furred leather. The one his Aunt had closely observed when she was antsy. Without wanting to worry or raise Tlantli, the coyote boy placed the handmade treasure on her bed, up near the head of the bed where she would see it easily. He knew she would not suppose he wasn’t safe when she was up, now.

Outside the cave was already a slight relief. Underground was still colorless and chilled so the young Kimaris headed up and above. It was drizzling lightly, and had been for a short time. The sky was dark and sunless but the moon wasn’t visible behind the black storm clouds. Barely ten steps from the entrance under Anathema territory, the boy found a true treasure. A dark feather longer than his forearm fluttered in the spring wind. Citlali knelt by it immediately and crossed his ginger hands over his feather pendant in a twisted, wing looking form and thanked the Moon wordlessly. He picked it up with care and tucked it swiftly behind his ear before following the scent trail. Several more feathers were found and cherished before the coyote slipped into a low-branched tree after the bird.

An empty nest was found filled spaciously with speckled white eggs, perfectly rounded and trimmed. Citlali sent up another wordless prayer of gratitude and snatched the eggs with glistening eyes. He slipped out of the tree and leaned against it, finding it sheltering from the light wind and morning rain. Sleep overcame him instantly.

When the ginger and white Kimaris boy woke, it was near afternoon. He returned home quickly only to hear voices coming from inside the cave. Peeking around the side of the dirt wall, the boy recognized only Tlantli at first. From the back, the dark man was nearly unrecognizable, but as soon as a peripheral could be seen Citlali remembered who he was. For a moment, the shy boy remained hidden but softly and hesitantly spoke.

"Saludos, Tío,"

The Spanish words he knew were very few, but he was aware that English was not his Aunt’s or family’s best-know language.

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