Bruno and Carina

by JillianFahey

No one in the village wanted to be near Bruno Madrigal with his strange mutterings and ability to see the future. All were afraid of him and what anything he said would mean. At least, that is the story Alma Madrigal wanted the generations to remember. Because there was one person who loved Bruno fiercely, taking on everyone else who tried to mock or blame him. Her name was Carina.

13. Chapter 13 Casita Falls

Carina looked around the town as the earth shook, something wasn't right. Then the street cracked right down the middle and she could see Madrigal's Casita crumbling. Dropping the basket vegetables she had been harvesting she picked up her skirt and ran towards it knowing she probably wouldn't be in time to save anything. Still, she had to try.

Dodging past falling bricks and jumping over the cracking street she reached the Casita just after the collapse had been complete. Doing a quick head count she saw Mirabel was missing and immediately dove into the crumbled building to find the teen. Unlike in the movie when the house collapsed more destruction was on Mirabel but she was still shielded from it. Intently Carina dug Mirabel out barely noticing when the other Madrigals (except their Abuela who was sitting on the side in shock, and Pepa who was cradling little Antonio) came to help her.

Moving the moridor and brick Luisa let Carina help with the heavier stuff unlike when the rest of the family tried. After what seemed like eternitys but couldn't have been more than five or ten minutes they heard Mirabel calling for them. Another five minutes later they had her out, and found that Bruno had protected her with his body from the debris that the house couldn't stop.

After giving Mirabel a quick once over before handing her off to her mother Carina gently moved Bruno over. Accessing his injuries, "Luisa help me get your Tio out of the rubble." He was so light Carina could have carried him but she didn't want to risk hurting him more so Luisa picked him up and set him on the soft grass that Carina guided her to. Carina had sat before she did and so Bruno's head was laid in her lap as she wiped away the blood, "Mi amor, it's time to wake up."

Opening his eyes he smiled, "Mi vida." All the Madrigals heard the exchange and it froze Abuela where Delores had stopped her, "Where's Mira?"

Gently brushing back his hair, "She's with Juli." Smiling at him, "You know how your sisters get when one of their children has a little bruise." Waving Mirabel over to them so he could see she was uninjured, "You see, all that fretting for nothing."

Mirabel took his hand, "I'm alright Tio."

Squeezing her hand he smiled, "I'm glad." Giving the teen a smile, "You're our treasure Mira."

Brushing back his hair so she could see the cuts, Carina spoke again, "Lets reward your sisters patience Mi amor."

He nodded once, "Juli, Pepa." They came immediately, "You're both alright?"

Juli nodded as she took her spot on his right and Mirabel barely got out of the way as Pepa flung herself beside her brother. Smiling through her tears as she took out the bandages, "We're all fine Hermano." Wrapping the cut on his leg before the one across his chest, "Sometimes you're worse than Augustin." Seeing their mothers worried face, "Should I get Mama?"

"No," was quick and violent. Abuela Madrigal's face fell as he continued, "She'd just yell at me for failing again."

Soothing him back from where he had tried to sit up and resettling him on her lap, Carina spoke, "It's okay. You don't have to if you don't want to." She continued talking to him quietly while Julietta treated his injuries and Pepa held onto his hand as if it was the only real thing in the world. The little group ignored everyone around them who were trying to save something from the house. Luisa carried her Tio to Carina's house where he was laid on her bed in respect for the injuries and he could feel safe.

Standing in the living room Pepa, Julietta, Felix, Augustine and Carina had a quick conference on how to best handle their situation. They agreed to split up with the triplets staying with Carina while Felix took the three yellow kids to his family's house and Augustin did the same with the three blue ones. The older three girls could change the arrangement in the future if they wanted to but it was the best for now. Abuela would be left to her own devices as the family had aired how unhappy they were with the old woman in defense of Mirabel rather than just letting her be yelled at. That agreed the group broke up to let the others know while Juliteta took care of Bruno and Carina prepared her house for the two extra guests.