<div style="background-color:#FCFAFA; border:1px solid black; margin:10px 10px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px;"><div style="background-color:#6594A8; border:1px solid black; margin:10px 10px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px;"><div style="background-color:#D1E85D; border:1px solid black; margin:10px 10px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px;"><div style="background-color:#630908; border:1px solid black; margin:10px 10px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px;"><span style="font-family: papyrus;"></span></div></div></div></div><br/><div style="background-color:#FCFAFA; border:1px solid black; margin:10px 10px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px;"><div style="background-color:#6594A8; border:1px solid black; margin:10px 10px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px;"><div style="background-color:#D1E85D; border:1px solid black; margin:10px 10px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px;"><div style="background-color:#630908; border:1px solid black; margin:10px 10px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px;"><span style="font-family: papyrus;"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><br/>Xpiayoc could understand Susannah's logic. Clothes for traveling, and hunting, did need to be a little simpler, which was why she wasn't dressed as beautifully as she normally would be. When people left the village to trade, they wore more plain clothes, but brought with them the beautiful garments the women of the village made for them and their protection. <br/><br/>The answer Susannah gave next was more disappointing. Had she not met anyone on her way down the square and said hello? Xpiayoc would have talked to everyone she met, chattering away like the monkeys that sometimes came out from the trees. Though, she reasoned, there were many different types of people who did things differently, even among Xpiayoc's own friends. She knew many of the girls were timid and quiet, while others were like her. She was friends with a few boys, but overall they were mean and rude and obviously not focused on being just her 'friend'. She had evaded marriage yet so far. Plus, if Susannah hadn't chosen to speak to anyone before now, maybe that meant Xpiayoc was special, and chosen carefully. That made her happy to think about. <br/><br/>Questions didn't tumble from Xpiayoc's lips quite like before as she let the silence speak. She heard Susannah's sigh and copied her like a curious parrot, expelling the air out of her mouth like it was foreign to her. She began to copy a few more things, like Susannah's posture and gait, which Xpiayoc had to make mighty steps on her short legs for. It became almost like a little game as she pushed off her feet in a jump-like motion to match even one of the foreigner's mighty steps. <br/><br/>Suddenly, Susannah's breath changed, and she grabbed Xpaiyoc's arm. The ajaw immediately bristled, thoughts racing about how she shouldn't have trusted the foreigner, and that she was an enemy, a liar. She was prepared to smack the woman's hand away and sic Hun Hunahpu on her before Susannah's voice came through, soft and quiet, a small request. Xpiayoc paused for a fraction of a second, before her eyes caught on something moving in the grass, just where her next stride could have taken her. It was a large boa, happily moving across the forest floor. If she had stepped on the creature's head, it would have been a different tale.<br/><br/>Even as Susannah let go of Xpaiyoc's arm, the woman she had saved grabbed her sleeve. "For some reason? Did the gods speak to you? Did Ixchel speak to you? What did she say? No, she's telling me- come!" Xpiayoc's speech became like babble again as she grabbed the woman's hand and began running towards the cenote. Hun Hunahpu ran ahead, barking happily. He knew where they were going.<br/><br/>Xpiayoc dropped Susannah's hand and fell into the plush grass outside the cave that descended to the holy waters. "The gods say I can trust you, Susannah," she said, grinning and breathing heavily from the exhilarating run. <span style="font-style: italic">They've brought me a friend!</span><br/></span></span></div></div></div></div><br/><div style="background-color:#FCFAFA; border:1px solid black; margin:10px 10px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px;"><div style="background-color:#6594A8; border:1px solid black; margin:10px 10px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px;"><div style="background-color:#D1E85D; border:1px solid black; margin:10px 10px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px;"><div style="background-color:#630908; border:1px solid black; margin:10px 10px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px;"><span style="font-family: papyrus;">Notes: Ixchel is the goddess of a plethora of different things, including snakes and water</span></div></div></div></div>