"These guerillas, they are very bad men." Victor warned. It was clear that he was afraid of them. "They threaten us. Beat the men. Rape our women and children. They say if we do not grow their coca plants, they will burn out our village. We once tried to fight, but they have advanced weapons. The same kind your friend makes." Rage burned in Steve, but he swallowed it. Tony would be upset about this. "Last month, Arrullanoche went out to spy on their barracks. She saw something that terrified her. She refused to speak of it to anyone but myself. She said she saw metal creatures. Some walked upright, like men. Others, on four legs, like dogs. The four legged ones had teeth like knives, and they all had eyes that cast light before them. They were fast, impossibly fast. They had guns woven into their bodies. I would not believe it, but El Sabio does not lie." Here he stopped, and gazed sadly to the ground, shaking his head. "She disappeared three days ago, but she managed to send word to tell us of her fate. She went to the nearest town with a phone so she could call your friend. She must have managed to get through, if you are here. " Now he looked up at Steve, despair in his eyes. "Please, can you not save her? She is like a daughter to me. She has done so much for our village. You must save her!"
Bruce was up and about as well. He was with Victor's wife, Sonia, as she prepared breakfast. She was so serene as she made the arepas that they would later eat. Her eyes flicked up from her work to meet his own brown ones.
"You are her brother, no?" He straightened up, slightly taken aback by the question.
"Y-yes. She's my junior by 5 years. She left many years ago. I miss her so much. How long has she been here with you? How did she get here? How was she before all this?" He was bursting with questions.
Sonia smiled at this man's excitement. "She arrived here seven years ago. She was well before she was taken. As for how she got here, That is a longer story." She looked down and continued her work as she explained. "The story as she tells it is that many years ago, she ran away. she never said why, so we never asked. She walked many days. It was hard, especially for one so young. Eventually, she reached the ocean. She was eight, but very smart. She avoided police, and finally stumbled into a small town. Come to find out it was a pirate hovel." Sonia wrinkled her nose in distaste. "She's lucky to be alive. A few wanted to harm her, but something stopped them. When their captain came in, he listened to her story and had pity on her. And that is how your sister became a pirate." She grinned and shook her head.
"When she was 15, she became tired of that life. She was rowdy, a skilled fighter, and could already drink as much as any of those scoundrels. Yet she longed for a stable life. So she left. Wandered here in the forest for many weeks, learning from the animals what was good to eat. Our men found her, and she has stayed here ever since. She knows much of medicine for both the body and soul. She is strong. In truth, many of the men fear her. That is why she is yet unmarried, although a few have tried for her hand. She may have started off a delicate American flower, but she grew up to be a hearty Rosa de Montaña. A beautiful flower, drawing attention to the hidden strength within the wood of the tree."
Bruce smiled at the woman's description of his sister. "That's little Emily, alright. She could fit in anywhere."
""She is not so little anymore, Bruce." Sonia chided "She is a grown woman of twenty-two, but wise beyond her years. You should be careful to remember that. She is quite particular about that."
"She would be." replied Bruce with a small smile. "Tell me, what is she like? What does she like to eat? How does she spend her days? I've heard nothing about her for years. I want to know about everything."
Rosa walked in, carrying her little brother Carlos. She went up to her mother, asking,"¿Es el desayuno casi listo?" (Is breakfast almost ready?) Sonia nodded to her daughter. The little girl put down her brother and hurried back out. Carlos sat down on the floor and played with some leaves that had been tracked in. The mother looked lovingly at her son and turned her attention back to the young man before her. It was amusing how much he really did care about his sister. Surely he knew the truth about her. They were of the same flesh, after all. "She is strong. Kind. She always takes care of others first, though she could easily claim dominance. She loves dulce de leche, with extra honey. She spends her days healing our sick and wounded. When she's not doing that, she's either playing and watching over the children, or she's out there speaking with her beasts and watching over the village. Since she has been here, there has been much good fortune. Few animals travel here uninvited. There is less division between the men. The children are safer. It would be sad to see her go."
"That sounds like her. I'm sorry, but if I can, I'm taking her with me. I lost her once and thought she was dead. I'm not letting it happen again." Bruce stated firmly. No way would he let history repeat itself. Not again. Sonis merely nodded in understanding. The bond between these two is strong. He traveled halfway around the world at a word from her. They need each other. She must go.