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"Candied Chestnuts" (Western Muse) As we walked east, Muimumui chittered almost constantly. At one point, Pico tried to get him to shut up by giving him something to munch on, a candied chestnut nearly the size of his head. The plan backfired. Muimumui didn't stay silent while munching and liked the treat so much he wouldn't stop begging for another. After a while the chipmunk amused himself by playing with my hair. Who would have thought chipmunks could braid? "Why do you let that rodent ride around on your pack, anyway?" Pico asked, not getting along with the little bugger as much as me. "It can walk perfectly well on it's own." "Because he's adorable," I replied, grinning. "Yeah, Pico," Alberto added, "Don't you know? The adorable always get their way." Pico rolled his eyes. "It's not adorable, it's weird!" I picked Muimumui up off my pack and set him down on Pico's. "Be nice to each other now." Pico gave me this look that said "You can't be serious." I smiled, gave him a peck on the cheek, and said, "Weren't you listening? The adorable always get their way." A walked on ahead of him before he could protest. I felt my cheeks turning pinkish as I wondered why I'd done that. Every now and then I'd glance back at Pico and Muimumui, grinning at the pair. By the time we set up camp for the night, I think they really were getting along. Some of Pico's hair was braided. Alberto made a stew with the 'help' of Muimumui while Pico and I set up camp. Alberto had to save the stew several times from additions by Muimumui, but I still found odd little bits that had to have been nuts. I mentally declared victory over making Pico and Muimumui be friends when Pico gave the chipmunk another candied chestnut for dessert. We settled down to sleep soon after dinner, getting out the bedrolls we'd had since we started travelling. Muimumui currled up in a ball against my stomach with his cape wrapped around him, very happy and sleepy from getting someone else who'd play with him and a belly full of food.
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