Chapter Text
"I can't believe I'm doing this." Miguel mumbled to himself, At this point he was just saying it to hear some voice in his head to tell him 'Shut up' and to just try to figure out how to get home, instead of procrastinating.
The words were a mantra at this point. One that came with every stumble through the thick, forested mountain. When he wasn't tripping over exposed roots, Miguel would mutter mockingly under his breath.
"Opening for Juanes, what a great opportunity!" He mumbled, as he tried not to trip over another big fat tree root
"It's just a small trip, Miguel. You can go to Bogotá on your own."
"What do you mean the flight's cancelled? I don't care how you get home, but you are not missing your sister's birthday!" Luisa yells through the other end of the call
That's what his Mamá had said, Since she had called him at the last stop— He can still imagine The angry look on her face if she were here right now.
"Oh no, the ports are shut down in Cartagena. Give Barranquilla a try!"
*ARF!*
The loud bark broke Miguel out of his muttering rant and thoughts . Then a slobbering lick of his hand got him laughing. "Sorry about that, Dante." He gave the Xolo dog an affectionate head scratch. "I just wish we had another way home."
Plunking down onto a large rock, Miguel unfurled a map and compared it to his surroundings. "We're supposed to be near a stream that leads down to Luruaco. If we're lucky we can find a place to sleep tonight."
*Arf!* Dante barked, then rolled on his back. His long tongue hung out, almost touching the ground. The cute antic made Miguel chuckle. Even 4 years after their adventures together, His hairless Alerbreje always knows how to make him feel better.
"Alright, break time's over!" He stood up from the rock, limbs stretching high. "Come on, Dante let's see if we can find this river—"
~Grr!~
A Puma is slowly creeping up on them quite determined as it lurched in the shadows watching the young man and the dog. In the bushes thick and quite camouflaging, Miguel could only back up at the sound— A little scared to see where this was headed, Dante right in front of him to see how to protect his master.
"...Dante, did you hear that?"
Meanwhile Mirabel, Camilo and Antonio were walking, looking down at their town below. Mirabel was really regretting the decision to leave with her cousins at this point— but if she turned back now there would be a lot of angry faces when they got back home.
"I can't believe I'm doing this."
The words were a mantra at this point. One that came every time Mirabel glanced down to the shrinking townscape below.
"Are you going to keep saying that?" Camilo shouted down from the path. At once he transformed into Mirabel, using her voice mockingly. "Oh no, what would abuela say?! We can't explore the mountains! Why didn't I pack any of mamá's arepas? What if we get hurt!"
"Alright! Alright! Enough being me!" Mirabel yelled back. She was definitely not patting her bag to feel the empty space that could have been filled with arepas. Nope. Definitely not. "I'm just saying, we don't know what's out there and we didn't even bring Dolores or Luisa in case anything happens."
Beside her a small voice chirped. "You have me!" Antonio called, From on top of Parce, his jaguar friend.
"You aren't even supposed to be here." Mirabel pointed out. She and Camilo were well on their way up the mountain; When up jogged Antonio, Suddenly beside them and talking about joining in on the adventure.
"But I'm here now, And if anything goes wrong I can help!"
"Yeah Mirabel," Camilo taunted, "You're not going to say no to this face, are you?"
She looked at the two Antonios. The fake in disapproval, the real one with a defeated sigh. "Yeah. I know you'll be a big help."
She simply rolled her eyes at the fake Antonio that Camilo had transformed into, Then she looked directly at the real one with a defeated smile— Knowing she really couldn't say no to those puppy dog eyes.
Camilo morphed back to his real self. "Great! So let's get moving! I want to make it through the gorge by noon."
The group continued their trek to the limits of the Encanto. Passing it, they went onwards through the gorge, Straight to the colourful river on the other side. Antonio and Camilo basked in the achievement, their first trip outside of the Encanto. For Mirabel, their arrival came bittersweet. She spoke softly of her experience here. Hers, and Abuela's - the story of Abuelo's last stand. The boys looked over the scene in a new light. The place now felt more sad yet more magical in their eyes. In the silence of their musings, the forest around them came more alive with sounds.
Specifically the sound of screaming and growls.
"Someone's in trouble!" Mirabel called.
"Someone's hunting!" Antonio countered.
"Let's check it out!" Camilo raced forward towards the sound, His brother and cousin fast on his heels.
They ran through the overgrowth, emerging soon upon a prowling puma. The animal snarled as it circled its prey — A growling grey dog and a teenaged boy holding a guitar like a weapon against the predator. Though his eyes had been focused on the puma, the boy's panic grew on seeing their arrival. "Get back! It's not safe!"
His attention broken, the puma launched towards him. The dog raced to defend the boy, but both animals stopped as a jaguar sliced between them.
"Stop it!" Antonio yelled, his voice oddly commanding over the puma. The puma snarled back menacingly, but Antonio only shook his head. "Nuh-uh, these two aren't food!"
The puma growled lowly, as did the dog. Antonio turned over to him and said; "Trust me, you can't" before turning back to the puma. "Go find someone else to eat. Go on. Shoo!"
The beast huffed at Antonio. Though, on hearing Parce's threatening growl, it seemed the duo were enough to convince it. With a collection of snarls and huffs, the puma walked off into the woods. Once it was out of sight, the Madrigals drew a sigh of relief.
Camilo was the first to break the silence. "Whew! That was a close one! You alright Amigo?"
The boy still holding the neck of his guitar, Gaped at the four of them. "Um… what just happened? What did you do?"
"I convinced her to leave." Antonio chirped in answer.
"You… talked to it?" His tone was suspicious.
Antonio shrugged. "Well it's my gift."
"Gift?" Miguel wanted to question what the 10 year old meant by that, But decided not to and he had a feeling that his questions and queries would soon be answered.
Realisation struck Mirabel as she took in the scene. Oh no… "You're not from around here. Are you?"
Miguel then looked at the young girl around his age and shrugged.
It was hardly a question, though the boy still answered. "No. I'm just passing through. I'm heading out to Barranquilla."
Her cousins gasped in realisation. "An outsider! This is great! My name's Camilo. This is my brother, Antonio and my cousin, Mirabel."
"And this is Parce!"
"Right, him too."
The boy blinked, taking a moment to absorb the odd introductions. Though lowering the guitar, He still looked on in confused suspicion. "I'm Miguel Rivera, And this is Dante."
"Arf!" Dante barked an 'Hola' at the group
"Nice to meet you, too!" Antonio answered the dog, A fact that was obvious to the confused Miguel.
Camilo, of course, focused more on the boy. "So what's it like beyond our Encanto?"
"Uhh?" Miguel was completely taken aback by the question
Mirabel glared at her cousin for a split second and Camilo backed off, Miguel could feel the tension between The two but decided not to say anything; This girl's glare meant not to be messed with — That much he knew.
Rolling her eyes at the obvious blunder, Mirabel changed the topic. " Lo siento, He doesn't have any manners at the moment . Are you alright? Were you hurt at all?"
The boy grimaced at the question. "A bit." He looked down at his leg, which the group realised was bleeding. A lot. "Maybe more than a bit."
Noting the big gash on his leg, He winced and Camilo looked on in sympathy. Mirabel knew she should have brought those Arepas.
Mirabel and Camilo shared a look, her cousin narrowing his eyes. "Don't say it."
"I'm not saying anything."
"You're saying it with your face. I know your face, and I know 'I told you so faces.' So don't say it."
"Fine then. I won't." She turned back to Miguel. "Come with us to our house. My mamá will fix you right up." She looked over at Camilo. "In ways I can't say."
Camilo stuck his tongue out at Mirabel, But thankfully used his own face to do so. Antonio and Parce then offered to ride Miguel down to their Encanto; An offer which he easily obliged.
If he was being honest with himself, Riding a regular jaguar is far less weird than his flight on Pepita. That a boy can converse with it, Dante too— not so much.
They made their way through town in little time. The walk went quickly, Especially as the Madrigals peppered the boy with questions about his life. Miguel in turn questioned them in obvious surprise as They showed no recognition of Juanes, Carlos Vives, and even simple things like cell phones.- On arriving at their home Mirabel watched to gauge Miguel's reaction. Casita greeted them as usual, She watched as his eyes widened and narrowed in turns.
"Our house is… magical." She explained. "Sorry, that might seem strange to you."
"...Yeah." Weirdly, Miguel offered her a smile. "Though, to be fair, this just makes it the second strangest day in my life."
"...Only the second?"
Mirabel Wanted to know what he meant by that but she was cut off when they heard yelling from inside the house, Alma coming straight towards them.
"MIRABEL!" The Madrigal cousins cringed as Abuela's voice shouted out at them. She marched through the door, looking cross. "Beds empty! Leaving the Encanto! Antonio missing! Now Dolores tells me you brought a stranger to our home!"
Alma was furious, Mira knew by that look she and Camilo were going to be grounded for at least a month for this little escapade.
Alma had somehow reminded Miguel a lot of his Mamá Imelda and Mamá Elena combined. He could already tell that she was quite the strict no nonsense tone kind of woman.
Mirabel held up her hands defensively. "He's hurt, I was bringing him to Mamá to heal him".
"He's not from here!" Abuela reiterated. "It's dangerous Mirabel. You know there is a reason we live in these mountains."
"I know, but—" She turned over to Miguel. "Sorry about this, I'll handle it."
"No, it's okay, I completely understand." The reply was directed to both women with an apologetic smile. "You have every reason to be worried about visitors coming in, Especially When you must have been living here for so long."
The entirety of the Madrigals around him blinked in confusion.
" I'm sorry, What?" Alma looked completely confused at what the young man just said.
Something tells her there was a lot of explaining that needed to be done; Especially with this boy now entering their home.