Rats (7)

She had pushed herself too far and she knew it. The morning had started with a dull headache that grew worse when she got into the village. The spirits were louder than normal and as much as she wanted to run back to the comfort of Abuelo's voice and Casita she had continued to follow Abuela obediently on the walkway on the east side of the village.

Her Tia was with her cousin Luisa who had just received her gift the day before and everyone was still marveling at how strong her prima was. Her mama and Isabella were out in the fields helping some crops grow. Dolores remained in the house with her Tio to do chores.

She never envied her hermana as much as she did right now, chores would have been a welcome escape from the dull ache behind her eyes and least she could call upon Casita to help her a bit or shut the windows if it got too bright.

Lena loved her mama, she really did, but a cloud or two would definitely make it easier to pay more attention to what Abuela had said during breakfast but she was too busy trying to take as few bites as possible and moving the food around her plate so that it looked like she had eaten.

From what she had gathered today she would be visiting a few families to try to speak to their loved ones who had passed.

The first of which had been Senor Jimenez had lost his brother to a sickness that Tia Julieta couldn't cure. He was the local tailor and greeted them at the door and invited them into his home. His hands were warm like the fabric he was used to manipulating.

That visit left her slightly dizzy and reaching for Abuela's hand to steady her.

The second stop was Senor Amaro who lost his wife and son in childbirth. His hands were worn from the tools he used to cut into the dirt but his home smelled like freshly tilled her. After that visit everyone in tears including Abuela, Lena's tears were for a different reason as the headache was now behind her eyes and causing her vision to blur.

The third visit was with Senora de la Cavallería whose son had drowned in the river after playing too close to the edge.

Lena honestly couldn't remember too much of that other than the pain shearing through her head and the air being ripped from her lungs and then darkness.

She awoke with a gasp and shot up into a sitting position, her head swam for a moment before she was able to regain her bearings. She was in her bed in her room, she was safe. The lingering memories of water faded and she got up from her bed and padded barefoot through the cemetery to the door of her room and poked her head out.

Casita was dark and quiet.

How long had she been out?

"Abuelo? "She whispered tentatively.

Her stomach growled as an answer reminding her she hadn't eaten since earlier that day.

"Hello? "She asked again

Nothing.

She quietly slid the door shut and proceeded to tiptoe down the stairs towards the kitchen.

She saw the faint glow of a light coming from that direction and heard a hushed voice whispering.

Lena frowned trying to make out the voice and what it was saying, she crept closer and was behind the dining room chair closest to the kitchen when she caught sight of a familiar green rauna.

"Tio?" She asked, confused.

He let go of the plate in his hand at her words, but quickly stooped to catch it before it smashed onto the tile floor.

"Dios mio, Lena!" He whispered, turning to her.

Something moved on the plate and her eyes got wide.

"Is that…a rat?"

They both looked at each other for a moment and before either could move the rat leapt off the plate and scurried across the floor and up to the chair she was halfway hiding behind and sniffed her.

The whiskers tickled her forehead and she giggled, and outstretched an open hand to it. It took the invite and sniffed her hand before stepping on it.

"Were you getting them food?"

"They love your tia's arepas," he shrugged.

"Everyone loves her arepas." Lena confirmed as she stroked the rat's head absently.

It settled in her hand and flattened itself as she stroked its fur.

"Your mama would have my head as I said I would watch you."

"Tia Julieta would have your head for having rats in her kitchen,'' she countered.

He chuckled "Fair enough. That's Lupe by the way."

"Hola Lupe." she whispered softly to the rat in her right palm.

"You gave us quite a scare earlier today sobrina. You shouldn't push yourself that hard."

She didn't dare meet his eyes, "I know but I just wanted to help."

"You need your rest Lena, there's plenty of time to stretch the limits of your gift."

"I just wanted to help." she repeated.

"I know."

There was a beat of silence.

"What are you doing up?" She asked curiously.

"They were up, so I was up."He shrugged, and rubbed his left arm.

She gave him a dubious look.

"Sometimes it's a little hard to sleep at night." He admitted after a few moments.

"Because of the visions? "

He nodded, "They aren't always pleasant as you know."

She nodded sagely. "Have you tried looking into the future for fun stuff?"

"Fun stuff?"

"Si, like what's for dinner or birthday gifts. "

He blinked at her for a moment, confused.

"You could always act surprised by knowing what you are getting for your birthday." She suggested with a shrug.

"That's… not a bad idea."

"Want to try it now? "

"Now? "

She shrugged "We're both up. I'll go with you. "

He hesitated "Are you sure, not many want to see what happens when I do a vision… "

"We're going to see what's for dinner tomorrow. I'll do my best to act surprised when Tia Julieta makes it. "

"There's a lot of stairs and sand. Your mama will be mad if you get sand in your hair. "

"I will be careful, come on Tio." She promised

Lupe crawled up her arm and sat on her shoulder and squeaked approval.

"You're supposed to be on my side." He scowled at the rat but there was no heat behind it.

Lena led him to his room and they walked through the sandfall into the clearing and she looked up.

"You weren't kidding. "

"You sure about this kid? It's not too late to back out now."

She pulled him up the first flight.

When they finally got to the top she crossed the wooden bridge holding his hand and her breath. She only exhaled when they were at the entrance of his vision cave.

"Okay, what next?" She asked expectantly.

"I need to set up everything first. "He said immediately, getting the tobacco leaves from the jar near the far right wall.

"Sit here, "he moved her to sit in front of where he was standing and he put the leaves between them.

"What do I need to do?"

"Hold my hands, it's going to get windy real quick."

He sat cross legged and lit the leaves and a wind began to kick up around them and the sand began to swirl around them as everything turned bright green.

She saw images of the family float around her and she saw the dinner table.

It looks like she squinted at the image of the spread.

" Is that Fritanga?"

She wrinkled her nose, not her favorite dish but she loved plantains in all their various forms, it was the chicharrones she could do without. She blinked as the image became clearer.

Yup, definitely Fritanga. Everyone was at the table including herself and her Tio.

"Can you see when we're having Fritanga?" She asked above the roar of the sand around them.

"No, I can't pinpoint a time exactly. I just see that it can happen."

She frowned.

The images faded and the wind died and sand fell around them leaving a slight roaring in her ears from the lack of sound.

He blinked several times and the bright green from his eyes faded and he rubbed his temples for a moment.

"Lo siento Tio," Guilt crept its way into her chest as she saw the pain etched on his face.

He waved away her comment. "It happens, nothing to be sorry for."

"Was that a better vision? "She asked hopefully.

He gave her a soft smile." Si It was. Gracias sobrina."

"Anytime Tio. "She tried to unsuccessfully stifle a yawn.

"You need to go back to sleep."

"You too Tio."

He chuckled "You're right. Let's get some sleep, then."

"Can I stay here with you? Please? I don't want to walk down all those stairs, there were so many stairs" she groaned dramatically.

"Just for tonight "

"Okay,"she settled against his side.

"You don't plan on sleeping in the sand do you? Your mama would hit me with the biggest lightning bolt she could manage."

Lena giggled at that thought.

"Funny for you, but it would take me weeks to get my hair back to normal and my rats would be all puffed up for days and avoid me. "

He coaxed her up and led her to the back of the cave where there was a large mattress with some blankets and pillows.

She crawled in first and cuddled against his side once he got in.

"Buenas noches Tio."

"Buenos dios prima."