Pepita and Miguel (both from Coco)

Miguel didn’t know how, but since his first time he visited the land of the dead he was able to do it again every Dia de los muertos.

After saying hola to his family he asked where Papa Hector was. Mama Imelda told him that he was visiting the place he used to live in the land of the dead with Dante.

He decided to wait until he returned but would still hang out with the rest of his family.

As Miguel went outside the Castillo where his family was a certain very large alebrije landed in front of him.

”Hola Pepita, it’s good to see you here girl” Miguel said.

Pepita enjoyed the boy’s kindness to her and the rest of the family both here and in the land of the living. She decided to express this in the best way she knew how.

She pushed him over and began playfully sniffing over his body and face. Her nostrils flared frantically as she took in the boy’s scent.

(SniffSniffSniffSniffSniffSniffSniffSniff Sniff Sniff SniffSniffSniff SNNIIIIIIFFFFFF)

”Hahahahahaha Pepitahahaha it tickles” Miguel laughed as the family alebrije kept snuffling over him. He could see her blue nose and it’s flaring nostrils as she pressed it against his face.

Pepita soon stopped and started giving Miguel repeated licks from his waist to past his forehead. With each slobbery lick all he could see were the curved taste buds of Pepita’s big blue tongue.

”HAHAHAHAHAHAHA no stohohohohop it tickles muy mucho” Miguel laughed as he was being soaked in saliva.

(Shlurp Slurp Slurp Slurp Shluuuurrrp Slurp Slurp Slluuuurrrrpppp)

After a while Pepita decided he’d had enough and stopped before letting him up.

”Hahahaha gracias Pepita, you’re such a good alebrije.” Miguel said, which earned him another lick.

Miguel then got an idea of how he would spend more time with Pepita.

”Pepita, Moma Imelda says you have the keenest sense of smell of any feline. She told me your nose was on par with a bear’s if not even better than some species of bears. I wanted to see if you could find me in a game of hide and seek. I know you were able to track me down before but I wanted you to try to do it again” Miguel said.

Pepita nodded her head as a ‘yes’.

”Bueno, Gracias Pepita. Oh, and please only use your nose to track me. I would like to prove you can find me just with your sense of smell” Miguel said.

Pepita nodded again and snuffled Miguel’s face.

“Haha okay girl I’ll go hide. When Momma Imelda comes out to get you start looking for me” Miguel said.

Pepita nodded and turned around and closed her eyes.

Imelda watched as Miguel ran past her. He had played this game before with Pepita so she knew what was going on. Imelda thought it was almost funny that he believed he could hide from Pepita. In her alebrije form her sniffer could smell almost anything from miles away. But she still thought it was nice that her spirit guide and great-great-grandson could be friends.

Imelda then walked outside to Pepita.

“Pepita, I think Miguel’s ready. Go find him my fierce gata” Imelda said. Pepita walked over to Imelda and gave her a quick lick before putting her nose to the ground to sniff out Miguel.

(Sniff Sniff Sniff SniffSniffSniffSniffSniffSniffSniff Sniff SNNIIIIIIFFFFFF)

Pepita vigorously sniffed the ground, letting her flaring nostrils be filled with Miguel’s scent.

The boy had apparently ran all over the Castillo but Pepita was always able to sniff out his trail no matter where he went. Soon she followed his scent trail to the backyard.

(SniffSniffSniffSniffSniffSniffSNIFFSNIFFSNIFFSNIFF SNIFFSNIFFSSNNIIIIIFFFFF)

Miguel could hear Pepita sniffing for him and it’s getting louder. He had hidden under one of the tables that had cloth draped over them. However, soon Pepita’s large snout and snuffling nose lifted up the cloth. Miguel knew he had been found.

”Bueno Pepita bueno. You did such a great job. Good gata” Miguel said as he got out from under the table and pet Pepita.

Pepita then pushed him over to “express her thanks”. Her big blue tongue began repeatedly dragging over Miguel’s face and occasionally from his waist to his forehead.

(Slurp Slurp Shlurp Shlurp SHURRRRPPPP)

”Nohahahahaha Pepitahahahaha stahahahap” Miguel laughed. Pepita also was sniffing him over. As she did he could see the wildly flaring nostrils of her big blue powerful nose.

(SniffSniffSniffSniffSniffSniff Slurp Slurp Slurp Shlurp Slurrrrrrrppppp)

As Miguel faded into unconsciousness all he could see were the flaring nostrils of Pepita’s nose and the curved taste buds of her slobbery tongue.

Imelda watched with Hector, who had just got back, at the boy being licked and both smiled.

(The end)