Full of determination, Nefaltia focused all her energy on getting Anatefka to talk. But it was an uphill battle for both of them. In all the years spent living in the wild, Anatefka had forgotten what speech even was. The only way she knew to express herself were through awkward grunts and hand gestures. Through sheer willpowere on Nefaltia's part, the girl had come to recognise a handful of objects by name. But every attempt to get her to say their names was met with tantrum after tantrum.
"Bell!" Nefaltia would say over and over, placing the child's hand on Big Marie's brass surface. "Say it. Say 'bell'."
Anatefka's lips remained locked. Instead she simply rapped her palms against the bell's side, creating an low, warbling hum. Nefaltia repeated the word over and over again, but the girl quickly tired of her demands and she went off to chase pidgeons on the balcony.
Nefaltia did not bother to go after her. Her heart was broken.
"Nefaltia, can I talk to you for a minute?" Quasimodo politely requested.
The herbalist left Anatefka to play.
"You're tutoring her very well" he said, trying to raise her spirits. "She's definitly improving."
Nefaltia had to admit it. When she wasn't throwing a fit Anatefka had shown improvment. Her prickly nature softened.
Though Anatefka still ate with her hands, she developed a primitve understanding of table manners. She took small bites instead of just wolfing her food down, and no longer licked the plate clean.
The child had shown Nefaltia and Quasimodo her unflinching cleverness. But even when tamed she was still wild. Day after day the herbalist watched her grungy little neice play her savage games, trying her hardest to keep away the gnawing feeling of hoplesness. But it always returned to her in the night when the only thing to do was recall the day's activities.
So Anatefka had lost some of her ferocity. So she learned some new tricks.
"I know you understand me a little" Nefaltia would say to her charge. "You look at me when I talk to you. Your mind is clear. But I need you to show me. Give me a sign. Anything! I need to know that you understand me."
But Anatefka remained wordless. She simply stood with her head cocked to the side before returning to her feral playthings. Nefaltia could only sigh in defeat.
The little beast was only the shell of the neice she lost so long ago. Nefaltia had pinned all her hopes on getting Anatefka to talk. To tell her how she was her family, and have her understand it.
"How can I tell her 'I love you' when I cant even reach her?" Nefaltia sobbed to the bellringer.
Quasimodo comforted the woman as best he could.
"Just give her more time. I mean, look how much she's learned so far.
"No! I cant do it!" snapped Nefaltia. "I cant keep lying to myself anymore. My little Sadira is never coming back."
The next morning, the sun was swallowed up before it had a chance to shine. The overcast dawn bathed Paris in a dim foggy light. It was exactly how poor Nefaltia felt inside. When she would look at the sleeping Anatefka it was as though she had lost her dear sister all over again. As the herbalist packed her belongings, her insides felt heavy and dead. She just wanted to get back to the Court before any goodbyes could be said. Perhaps in time Nefaltia would even forget what she had tried to accomplish in the tower.
She made not a sound as crept down the tower's winding stair case. Nefaltia would have cried, but there were no more tears left.
The cathedral's nave was like a great shadowy cave with shafts light pouring through it's many facetted windows. In the all consuming silence, Nefaltia found herself staring at the rose window above the three portals. Her mind was stagnent, yet it continued to race. She did not notice the little creature behind her.
Gently Anatefka pawed at Nefaltia's skirt. Ther herbalist glanced at the child with empty eyes before continuing on her way.
Anatefka would not be ignored. She bound after the woman, grunting plaintifly for her attention. But Nefaltia did not answer her.
"N-n-nnnnnoooooo!!"
The young woman's heart stopped dead in her chest. The strap of her rucksack slid down her shoulder and fell to the floor. Slowly she turned around to face the little imp standing behind her.
"What did you say?" Nefaltia rasped.
Her brow furrowed in concentration, Anatefka's lips and jaw quivered as she struggled to make the desired sounds.
"N-nnoo g-g-go"
By now Nefaltia had lowered herself on one knee. Her hands clutching Anatefka's shoulders.
"No go?" she asked. "You... you want me to stay?"
Nefaltia made sweeping gestures to illustrate was "stay" ment, but Anatefka quickly caught on.
"Stay!" the girl chirped. "Stay! Stay!"
The tears that dispair had dried up came back with a vengence! Nefaltia scooped Anatefka in her arms, covering the little girl in kisses.
"You can speak!" she sobbed "You understand!"
Her sorrow shattered into a million peices. In its place a radient light of hope and joy burst fourth. Forgetting her belongings Nefaltia raced back up the stairs still holding onto the child.
She just had to show Quasimodo!