"No, I can't say I do - um," she says, almost losing a wingbeat. "That was weird."

"Weird how?"

"Well - I understood you even though you were speaking a language I've never heard before! It's weird."

"But the language I speak normally is the language you speak most of the time even when I am not around?"

"I'm pretty sure it is now that I've seen the difference!"

"Hajimemashite, watashi wa Mariko desu."

"You know a lot of languages! I don't think I've even heard of more than just the one until now!"

"I'm not good at either of those two but I know enough to check. Languages are one of the things humans have a lot of because there are so many of us."

"That makes sense. - Wasn't your name May?"

"My full name is Mabel Mariko Swan. May is short for Mabel and Mariko is a name in Japanese. Mei is too, but I'd sooner go by Mariko if I were speaking Japanese."

"Oh, I guess that makes sense. How many languages are there in your world?"

"I don't know exactly, hundreds maybe thousands."

"Wooooow."

Giggle.

Giggle. "I'm gonna go see if I can catch some moths on the wing," she says, "see you later!"

"Enjoy your moths!"

"Will do!"

Charm swoops off. It is now somewhat quieter around here. Button is still a very comfy bear.

"I don't urgently need to eat but if there's a good way to get drinkable water that would be good."

"We can pause at the next stream we cross," says Button.

"Cool, thanks."

"You're welcome!"

They come to a stream a few minutes later. Button stops in front of it. The water sparkles prettily in the moonlight.

May slides off the bear and scoops up water in her hands and drinks it until she is done.

And the rest of them either drink some water themselves or do a little foraging while she's doing that. Reflect puts down the wheelchair, finds blackberries, and picks enough to share with May and Button.

"Ooh, blackberries." Nom nom nom.

Nom nom nom!

"What does everybody think," says Starlight, "should we stop for a proper forage or keep going?"

"I wouldn't mind a bite, but I'm fine to continue," says Button.

"Don't look at me," says Ebb.

"I'm a little nibblesome," says Charm.

Reflect shrugs. Snowfall, perched on Ebb's back, doesn't contribute an opinion.