Archive of Our Own ^beta

When we live somewhere our whole lives, we become accustomed to even the smallest things.

This story comes from the millions of people who had to move away from their countries, and everything they knew, in hope of finding a better life somewhere else. Particularly now, for this story, the ones from Latin America.

When we move to a different part of the world, be it further north still in the American continent, or to a completely different continent, we would be crazy not to expect differences from our homeland; a different language, different weather, different clothes.

But there are definitely things we never even expect to be different, mostly because we had never really even paid them any mind. The taste of the meat and water, how much later the sun might set, and, unsurprisingly, the birdsongs you hear.

It makes sense, when you think about it. Of course different places have different birds.

Depending on where you move to, you might not hear any calls at all.

But it's only after it's gone that we notice it was even there, and begin to miss it.

The entirety of Latin America, from up in Costa Rica, down to southern Argentina, as eastern as the entirety of Brazil, and only not including the western coast, is home to an infamous bird, the Great Kiskadee.

People hear it in most moments of their life. When you stayed up too late and began to hear it sing outside, in the audio your grandmother sent you on whatsapp, on television while reporters speak with witnesses on the street.

It's infamous for being one of the sole constants in every Brazilian's life, being a thing in common uniting so many different people.

But after you move out, it hurts even thinking about it. Its joyful and energetic song brings nothing but bittersweet memories. Wishing, yearning, that you could hear it again.

Some say that wishes have power.

When so many people want the same impossible thing, it might just will itself into existence. Especially when those people concentrate in a single place.

Players have been hearing a strange new call added into the ambiance of the game, and wondering since when it was there; but it has, in fact, never been added. I can say that almost every Latin American immediately recognized that song.

A faint "kis-kadee" in the background, unmistakable to those who knew it so closely.

So when you hear it, pay it no mind, but you will miss it when it's gone.