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Abuela expected many things every time she walked the mountain to visit the river where her Pedro lost his life; pain, sadness, longing- and recently the feeling of love and peace thanks to her granddaughter Mirabel. She didn't expect to find a body washed up on the bank. At first she thought it was a hallucination- a nightmare. It wouldn't be the first time her mind was cruel enough to make her imagine another one of her dear ones losing their lives here.
But no- as she got closer the form didn't slip away- it was very much real. Soaked to the bone and paler than any being should be, there was a body. Hesitant and shaking, Alma reached out and touched them lightly. It was someone she had never seen before she realized- a stranger from outside Encanto. Her eyes went wide as she saw a soft breath escape their chest, and she immediately was drenching her skirt in the waters in order to pull them more onto land- looking for a pulse on their neck. Dolores heard her Abuela loud and clear as she shouted from the mountains, and Mirabel was quickly sent out with a basket of her mother's cooking. Abuela would be damned if she would let another person lose their life here.
The chaos of your arrival hadn't calmed until well after you were forced to eat and taken out of your soaking clothes, tucked into a bed in the now unoccupied nursery. Then, and only then Abuela had allowed herself to sit down and rest, and only then did any of her family dare to ask about what on earth had happened. Camilo was the first to speak up and break the tense silence.
"So you just- found them in the river?" For once, the young man actually looked uncomfortable speaking. He hadn't seen the gash on your head but they had to pull the wood from your torso at the casita before Julietas cooking could heal it.
"Aye, yes. I couldn't believe my eyes at first. I thought they were already gone." Abuela sighed, eyes glossed over ever so slightly.
"They're going to be fine now mama, they're lucky you found them." Julieta was the next to pipe in. Right now the whole Madrigal family was circled around their matriarch, shocked by what had happened so suddenly but also worried about the older woman. "All we can do now is give them the time they need to rest and wake up. How about we sit down and eat a little earlier today? I think we could use the comfort food." Alma hesitated but nodded and stood, dusting off her skirt.
"Yes, yes. You're right. We've done all we could and now all that's left is to wait. The town must be wondering why we all rushed off so suddenly, i-" Mirabel stopped her grandmother with a hand on her shoulder.
"Abuela I'll go let everyone know that everything's okay. You should take it easy, we can all see that you're stressed about this." With a glance at her family, Abuela could tell Mirabel was right. She turned to Mirabel and cupped her cheek, giving her a sad and thankful smile.
"Perhaps I am a bit stressed, thank you, Mirabel. It would be lovely if you could tell everyone what's going on." With a nod and a kiss to her Abuelas palm, Mirabel was out the door to speak with the townspeople. Most of the family disbursed after this- getting ready for an early dinner and making sure whatever mess had been made with the arrival of their sudden guest was cleaned. Luisa and Camilo returned to town with Mirabel to finish a few important chores. Isabella went to check on some crops she'd been growing naturally, and Dolores went to find her reclusive uncle Bruno who'd most likely been too far in his tower to hear the commotion. Pepa was already keeping Felix's hands busy with trying to relax- but there was one small Madrigal hand left in the room with Abuela. With a soft tug, Antonio made his presence known.
"Abuela?" His soft and innocent voice immediately pulled at Almas's heartstrings.
"Yes, Tonio? What is it nieto?"
"Do you think I should ask some of the animals to stay with the river person and make sure they're warm?"
"Oh sweetheart, that's very thoughtful of you. But we don't want to scare them any more than they already will be. And while we all think your friends are so cute and sweet- they wouldn't know that." Antonio's face turned down only for a moment as he processed what his Abuela said. But he was right back to his confident and happy self a moment later.
"Okay, maybe when they wake up I can show them that the animals are friendly?" Alma chuckled and nodded at how optimistic and excited Antonio was, affectionately ruffling his hair as she lead the two of them towards the kitchen.
"I am sure that they would love that sweetheart, but make sure you check with one of the adults before you do, okay?"