Bruno was sleeping or at least trying to. All was quiet but Bruno thought he kept hearing the sound of faint scratching. Bruno didn't know whether it was his mind deprived of sleep or something was going on downstairs.
Bruno put a pillow over his head to block out the real or imaginative noise and to his relief, it did stop. Bruno relaxed and began to close his eyes only for the scratching to be heard again.
"Ay Dios." Bruno grumbled quietly.
Bruno sat up in his bed and listened. This time, fully awake, he heard the scratching. So it obviously wasn't something he was hearing because he couldn't sleep.
But that only made Bruno both curious and concerned. What if someone was trying to enter Casita and rob them? Bruno wouldn't let no thief come inside Casita. What if they had a weapon?! Bruno was worried that someone might try to harm Julieta who was pregnant with her first child. He wasn't going to let that happen.
Bruno got out of his bed and then left his tower. He wished that it didn't have so many steps. That way, he could get to the possible thief faster. Making it to the entryway, Bruno could still hear the scratching. It was a little louder now that he was closer to his door.
Bruno quietly opened his door and slowly walked down the stairs and down the hall. Bruno had taken a quick peek inside of Pepa and Felix's room and to his relief, they were safe and his newborn niece Dolores was in her cradle. Bruno smiled a little for a moment and then closed back the door. He wouldn't feel satisfied until he was sure there wasn't a thief and that Julieta wasn't hurt.
Bruno made his way into the kitchen and looked around cautiously. It was dark but it was quiet. Too quiet. What if the thief was secretly inside already? Bruno looked to the left and to the right and every corner but there wasn't any movement or any noise.
Then he heard the scratching. Bruno quickly turned and saw the sound was coming from behind the door and since he had found where it was coming from, it was louder than before.
"There you are." Bruno whispered.
Bruno made his way over to the door then he heard footsteps behind him. He grabbed the nearest object which was a bowl, prepared to knock the intruder out. He whipped his head around and was met with Julieta who quickly held her hands up with her eyes widened.
"Easy, hermano."
Bruno immediately dropped the bowl and gave a small sigh of relief and then he hugged the now confused Julieta who hugged him back and then they pulled away.
"Bruno, what are you doing out of bed?" Julieta asked.
"I um heard a noise and I had gone to see what it was. I thought it was...well...a robber. But, are you okay? Is the baby okay?" Bruno asked, looking his sister over for any injuries.
"I'm fine, Bruno. The baby's alert now but we're fine." Julieta assured, touching her brother's cheek.
Bruno gave out another sigh and then he placed his hand over Julieta's belly and gently rubbed it, feeling his soon to be born sobrina kicking underneath his hand and then he leaned over so that he could hear the baby's heartbeat.
"Tio's sorry for scaring you like that, carino." Bruno said softly to Julieta's belly, giving it a small kiss.
Julieta giggled and then she ruffled Bruno's curls and then he stood up and that was when they both heard the scratching at the door. Julieta touched Bruno's arm and looked over at him.
"Guess you weren't making that up. Come on, we'll see what it is."
Bruno nodded and then he and Julieta slowly approached the door. Bruno made sure Julieta was behind him in case it was a thief like he originally thought. Taking a deep breath and both of them bracing themselves, Bruno slowly opened the door and...
"Huh." Julieta said, blinking in confusion.
Bruno was also puzzled. Nobody was at the door, armed or anything. But the scratching did stop. Maybe all Bruno heard was just a tree scratching at the door.
The two jumped when they heard thunder. It was beginning to rain. Whatever the noise was, it did stop so they really wasn't any point to be staying outside anymore. Taking one last look, Bruno then turned to Julieta.
"Let's get back inside. You shouldn't be out in the rain like this."
Julieta nodded and the two turned to go back inside but before the door could be closed, they had heard something else. It was at first hard to hear due to the booming thunder but then they listened again. It sounded like...a cry.
"Where is it coming from?" Julieta asked.
"It sounds like it's also coming from outside." Bruno replied, shrugging.
Julieta looked at Bruno and then she began to walk back outside making Bruno's eyes widen in panic and then he caught up to her and gently grabbed her arm and she turned to him.
"You're not going outside in weather like this and in your condition, Juli." Bruno said, giving his sister a stern glance.
"But what if someone needs help? You know what my Gift can do." Julieta pointed out.
"Alright. But I'm coming with you."
Julieta nodded and the two had gone outside Casita and out into the stormy night. They walked and walked, looking everywhere and listening to the crying.
They searched and searched but by now, the sound was starting to become more and more distant due to the thunder. Julieta let out a yelp when she nearly slipped on a patch of mud but Bruno quickly caught her and held her steady.
"We need to go back to Casita, hermana. You can't keep walking." Bruno said loudly due to the pouring rain.
"Si, I know." Julieta said, looking defeated.
"Come on. Let's go."
They were nearly back to Casita when the crying was heard. They stopped and listened. Now they heard what sort of cry it was. It sounded like someone or something was...in trouble.
"Bruno, we can't give up yet." Julieta said firmly, turning to Bruno, shaking her head.
"Juli..."
Then it a moment of quiet except for the sound of the pattering rain, the cry became louder than before. It was indeed a cry for trouble but what could also be heard was...a tiny mewling sound.
"Was that...?"
"Where is it coming from?"
Bruno and Julieta heard the crying and mewling and followed it over to where the dining table was kept at. They looked underneath it and their eyes widened in shock but then concern.
"Oh, Bruno..."
What Bruno and Julieta saw under the table was a small, mewling and shivering bundle of black and brown fur. A kitten. She was crying out and her fur was soaked from the rain. She then gazed up at the two humans staring back at her and then cocked her head.
"Where did she come from?" Bruno whispered, so not to frighten the kitten.
"I don't know. There are many stray cats in the village. Perhaps her Mama abandoned her is all."
Julieta bent and leaned over with Bruno's help so that she could reach for the kitten. She carefully picked up the tiny bundle and held onto her and then bundled her in her robe.
"Let's get her and you back inside of Casita."
The two had gone into the kitchen and then they looked down at the kitten who was no longer shivering or crying but instead, staring up at them with adorable golden eyes. Julieta chuckled and then she gently petted the kitten's ears.
"She's so small. I don't think she's even weaned yet." Bruno said to Julieta, worriedly.
"You might be right."
Julieta gave the kitten to Bruno who had continued petting her and murmuring to her to keep her calm while Julieta went over to the cupboard and told Casita to open it up and then she grabbed one of Dolores' bottles and then she grabbed a jug of milk and poured it into the bottle.
"Let me have her."
"Bien."
Bruno gave the kitten back to Julieta who then showed the bottle to the small animal in her arms and she began to suck on it while Julieta held onto her securely and then she looked over at Bruno.
"You were right, hermano, she isn't weaned. Do you see? She still has a suckling instinct. She is barely 3 weeks old. " Julieta said, sadly gazing down at the kitten.
"Maybe she was the smallest and that's why her Mama left her behind or maybe even..."
The thought that this kitten's Mama was possibly killed also made Bruno stare down at the kitten in concern. While the kitten continued to suck on the bottle, she began purring, making the two siblings chuckle and then Julieta stroked the top of her head.
"Do you think Mama will let us keep her until she's old enough to be back in the streets?" Bruno asked, hopefully.
"I don't know. You know Mama doesn't care that much for animals in the Casita. She thinks they tend to cause mischief. Maybe it's best if we place her back where we found her."
"Let her go? Juli, you know that she'll die out there. She's small and still needs milk." Bruno said, frowning.
"I know but..."
Julieta felt the baby kicking inside her belly and then she looked at her belly then to the kitten. As much as she did want to keep the kitten, she could barely take care of her since she was getting so close to giving birth. Julieta sighed and petted the kitten who had just finished the bottle.
As if reading her mind, Bruno sighed and took the kitten out of Julieta's arms who nestled herself against his ruana. The two looked at the kitten and then Bruno placed his hand on Julieta's belly and then they looked at each other.
"I can take care of her." Bruno finally said, smiling.
"Mama will get suspicious, you know."
Julieta directed Bruno's hand over where the baby was currently kicking and then they looked back down at the kitten now sleeping against Bruno's chest. Bruno smiled at her. Even if his Mama did scold him for letting an animal inside Casita, he wanted to do the right thing and not let this kitten be without food or a home.
"Juli, please let me try."
Julieta stared at the kitten and stroked her ears as she purred. Julieta chuckled and then smiled warmly at the small bundle. She looked at Bruno and nodded.
"We can keep her, Bruno."
"Keep what?"
The two turned and saw their sister Pepa standing there, eyeing them warily. From the way they saw a small storm cloud beginning to form underneath her head, she knew something was going on.
"Oh, um, heh, it's-it's nothing, hermana." Bruno lied, chuckling nervously.
"Nothing is always something with you Bruno. You know that by now." Pepa remarked, hands on her hips.
Pepa made her way over to her brother and sister who tensed up. How was Pepa going to react to something like this? She loved animals like them but she really didn't like keeping anything from their Mama.
Pepa looked at the small kitten against Bruno's ruana sleeping and purring. Pepa's eyes widened but Julieta and Bruno saw the cloud go away. What was she thinking?
"Is...Is that a kitten?" Pepa whispered in awe.
"Si." Bruno and Julieta both squeaked out, still tense.
Pepa stared at the kitten but then smiled wide and then she took the kitten out of Bruno's arms and began to cuddle her and gently pet her and kiss her and then she turned to Bruno and Julieta.
"She's so cute!" Pepa said, hugging the kitten.
"You...won't tell Mama about this, will you?" Bruno asked, worriedly.
"Wouldn't dream of it as long as she stays in my room." Pepa said, giggling excitedly, petting the kitten's ears.
Before Julieta and Bruno knew it, Pepa left the kitchen, giggling and cuddling the kitten and they then heard her quietly call out to Felix saying how they got a new baby in the Casita.
"Maybe this little one will like having company her age." Julieta said, chuckling, placing her hand on top of her belly.
Bruno also chuckled and gently rubbed Julieta's belly while they hugged each other close. Maybe Pepa would keep the kitten a secret or maybe their Mama would find out but to them, at least they felt better knowing that this kitten finally had a home and that the next time they did hear scratching at the door, maybe it just might be another...'robber' and if so, they could count on Pepa to make sure they were 'taken care of'. Life was never relaxing for the Madrigal siblings but sometimes it was fun.