It’s a time and space like any other in the Ghostly Zone. Coyote was roaming the nightly planes with a lit herbal smoke and a tome in hand. A Diablillo was close behind, stopping every now and then to pick up pebbles or run through the grass, eager for when they were to stop and spend time reading or to find lost Memories. Tonight’s story was supposed to be a triumphant love story between two young women who had to keep their love a secret as they shared a dormitory. Meanwhile Virgil and Fernanda were back at the cottage minding their garden experiencing enlightenment.

Every now and then while out and about Coyote will come back with something new for the household. Last time they were out Coyote brought back an interesting piece of fabric that was now being used as a rug. Other times Coyote has brought materials, foliage, and sometimes guests. The excitement tonight was if anything of interest would be found.

Coyote’s favorite place to roam are the plateaus and the desert plains. The wide open land felt like home to run through. The cacti and rock formations felt so familiar. The far away mountains and hills seemed welcoming. The underground grottos seemed to have the sweetest waters too. Tonight Coyote was wandering the desert plains to east of the cottage, towards the earliest point that Coyote remembers since becoming a Resident, the Diablillo followed along, curious because he’s never been there.

“Coyote, what will we find in the Eastern Desert Plains?” asked the Diablillo as he trudged along the thick forest floor.

“I will tell you my little Ixtab, if you can read the words on the trees.” Coyote was leading the way ahead, following the pre-marked trees.

They briefly stopped before a tall thick tree. The light from the moon was faint through the heavy canopy of leaves above, the words on the trees barely visible but glowing in a paint of mercurial hue.

““The flow of time… is always…..cruel…” read the strange markings on the trees. Ixtab was perplexed, scratching his head while reading. “Coyote, what is time? What is cruelty?”

Coyote was amused and pointed towards the next faint glow. “I will tell you if you can tell me what the next tree bears. Vamanos, al siguente.”

Coyote and little Ixtab walked towards the glow, it’s light getting brighter the closer they got. Ixtab trudged along curiously, paying no mind to the twigs and scattered leaves. The reached the next tall tree and a curious symbol was painted on.

“What does it look like Ixtab?” Said Coyote while motioning to the tree trunk with their herbal smoke.

With a hand on his chin Ixtab declared, “It looks like…. An arrow!”➡️

“That’s right! You’re such a smart little Diablillo!” Exclaimed Coyote while ruffling Ixtab’s hair.

Onward they went in the direction of the arrow. Ixtab noticed other markers on the trees, the most obvious being the curious fabrics tied around the trunks of the trees. “these are all so pretty…” thought the little Diablillo. He reached out to touch a fabric and examine the texture. He noticed each tree trunk so far had been tied with a red fabric, a similar shade to his hair.

After some time they reached the next verbose trunk.

“Its speed seems different for each person” Ixtab was perplexed. The words of the previous tree still in swirling in his head. “Cruelty…. Time… Coyote, does time move? Or do we move time? What does this all mean? What is time”

“Ixtab! I’m so happy you can read very well! I feel so proud of you. What do you think Time is?”

“I don’t know! But these words, they say that time is cruel, that time moves different. Does it move like this? Or like this? Does it dance? Does it fly?”

“Fufufu You’re so funny Ixtab, I’m so sorry to laugh at you hahaha! Time is very hard to explain but you are correct with everything you have observed. Time can dance, time can march, trudge along and fly past us. The cruelty of Time is in the fact that while she may dance with me she might feel like walking through mud with someone else.”

“But what is Time? Will you tell me now Coyote?”

“I’ll tell you more at the next passage. Will you show me where the next tree is?”

“I think I see the next path!” Ixtab and Coyote followed the next set of wrapped trunks in red. The trees were becoming sparse, the trees becoming narrower at the trunks, but not considerably so.

Finally they reached the next tree. The mercurial paint was stronger now, brighter and easier to spot from a distance.

“but no one can change it…” followed by another arrow. ➡️

“Time can’t be changed? Why not?”

“Time exists whether we exist or not. How Time moves for you will always be different than how it moves for me. I cannot change your Time and you cannot change mine. We may try to change Time, and it may seem like it’s working, but Time is our Mistress, we are at her beck and call. Only Time can change herself, we cannot change her.”

“Time is a woman?”

“Indeed, that’s how she has chosen to incarnate. As “Woman”, a powerful and revered entity.”

“Can I meet her?”

“You already have, you just don’t remember…. Vamanos, I’ll take you the next marker. It may be hard for you to notice. You may ride my shoulders if you’re tired.”

“I am tired, and a little sleepy Coyote. 💤”

Coyote picked up Ixtab and placed him on their shoulders. The forest was considerably thinner now and the desert sky was peaking out ahead. They were met with a cool wind, the thick forest had kept some warmth within. Coyote stopped for a bit to put a shawl over them both.

After a short walk through the tumbleweeds and cacti they came across a large flat rock formation sticking up from the ground. Ixtab was fast asleep and drooling a bit on Coyote’s hair.

“Ixtab, wake up. We’re here, the final passage.”

“Huh? Already? Can you read it to me? I’m too sleepy to read right now. 💤”

“Sure thing little one.” Coyote said while gently placing the little bundled up Ixtab on the ground. Coyote sat cross legged against the rock. They already knew what it said.”

“A thing that doesn’t change is memories of younger days… I hope you get to grow up big and strong. I hope you can remember as much as possible.” They said while exhaling a pleasant smoke.

Coyote began reading the story of the two women in love against all odds quietly to the sleeping Ixtab. Reading the story of this couple inspired feelings of a romance lost in time, feelings of triumph over oppressive systems, feelings that life will be better because of strength in togetherness. Coyote no longer directly felt these things but felt these emotions as inspirations. Much like a flame, one must be ignited to feel, think, remember. Perhaps they were in love before too…

Coyote felt grateful for books. The memories and wise words do not fade when properly cared for. There isn’t much memory left in Coyote, they’ve been conscious for much time now and the memories of childhood, the life before, have practically faded. The feelings have not.