Pepa and Sofia finished up their coffee. "Do you have a place to stay tonight?" Sofia asked. "I have a spare room. The forest is a dangerous place at night. I would hate for you to get mauled by a bear."
"You've already done more than I deserve," Pepa insisted. "I'll go back to the creek. I didn't have any trouble last night."
"Geez, you slept out there?" Sofia shouted. "You must be out of your mind. You should stay here."
"Thank you, but I'm a danger to you," Pepa said. "I need to be alone; so I don't hurt you."
"You've done fine so far," Sofia stated. "I'm sure getting your insides out won't help with that storm cloud. You can stay here until you calm down. Do you think anyone is searching for you?"
"My family maybe," Pepa sighed. "However, I don't think they've gotten far. My mama has forbidden anyone from leaving our town. She has a tight hold on everyone in the community. I also left them something more important to deal with. My Hermana has probably taken care of it by now. That is if there's anything to heal. The person I hurt could be dead. I left right after it."
"Do you know why you can't get rid of the cloud?" Sofia asked.
"No," Pepa said. "I've tried everything that's worked in the past."
"Have you tried meditation?" Sofia asked.
"I haven't," Pepa stated.
"I think you should try it," Sofia said. "I can help you. It's helped me when I've been in dark places in the past. It clears the mind. We can get up early in the morning to start. That is if you want?"
Pepa thought about it for a moment. She had been taught to be wary of outsiders. Her mama had always told her outside of the Encanto was a bad place. People like those who killed her padre, Pedro. She should be running back to the mountains.
However, she needed help. She couldn't risk hurting anyone else. She couldn't even think of returning home with the cloud still present. "I'll do it," Pepa said.
A/N: Hermana - sister
