**sorry I haven't posted in a while. I don't have a computer right now so I can only write while I am at school. But school is back in session so hopefully I can crank out plenty of new chapters. Thank you so much for the continued support**
Emily was quite tired after this burst of energy, so the team's progress slowed to a painful crawl. Eventually, Steve offered to carry her. Emily initially protested but at a stern look from Bruce, she gratefully accepted. Steve sweeped her up bridal-style and carried her easily. Suddenly, she put her hand up to stop them. Surprised, they began to question her, but she quieted them. Out of nowhere, she let out a piercing whistle and was immediately answered by a bark from the direction they had been coming from. Within moments, a medium sized wiry mutt came bounding out of the brush and up to Em. She reached down to put it from Steve's arms.
"Hey chico. Have you been following us all this way?" She paused as though she was listening to something. "You poor thing. You must be so tired..." The dog whined quietly and licked her hand. "Very well, come along little one." She said tiredly. Pacho yipped and began trotting ahead, looking back as if to say Well? You coming? Chuckling, (but slightly bewildered, save the Banners), the party carried on.
Natasha was the first to put their confusion in words. "Did you just...?" Emily merely gave a secretive little smile and looked to Bruce, who chuckled.
"You'll just have to wait, Nat. It will be easier to explain it to everyone at once and Tony isn't with us. It's a story easier told all at once." This only served to confuse his friends more, but they held their peace. Bruce would no doubt tell when the time was right. If they needed to know, he would tell them. Even so, the curiosity was burning in their minds (much to Emily's irritation as it gave an unpleasant itching feeling every time she tried to read them).
They soon enough arrived at the edge of the village. Most of the villagers were there waiting for them. The children came running and all surrounded Pacho and asked questions of Emily. She good-naturedly waved them off, telling them to go feed their new friend and play nicely. They all ran off laughing and shouting with the dog running after them. One of the men came and held his arms out to take Emily, but she waved him off. She climbed down from the soldier's arms, carefully balancing, using Bruce's arm to steady herself.
Out of nowhere, Victor and Sonia came and seized their beloved Arrullanoche up in their arms, weeping with joy at her return. They chattered away in Spanish so quickly that even the learned assassins couldn't keep up. Sonia gently led the young woman away. Emily cast one last smile over her shoulder and her new friends before disappearing into her hut on the edge of the village.
A few hours later, the team was gathered together in Emily's small home around her fire. She was dishing out a stew that Sonia had made them out of a pot by the fire. Her friends ate appreciatively. Julio had been imprisoned in the village's jail and so they had no need to worry about him. They chatted about simple things and joked. Throughout their meal, various villagers would stop by with food and comforts to check on La Sabia. She accepted graciously and would comfort her people. She held the children and joked with the men. She even tended to one woman's cut arm, cleansing it and binding it. It was intriguing to watch her interaction with the simple people. They obviously adored the woman.
After dinner, she put aside the dishes, vowing to do them the next day. She came and flopped down next to Bruce, laying her head in his lap and put her feet up on the corner of the chair on which Tony was sitting. Bruce played with Em's hair as she decided to tell her tale. She sat up a little and shifted to sit cross-legged, back to the fire. Steve was slightly intrigued by how the light danced in her hair. She took a deep breath and began.
"You must have so many questions.." The others nodded. "Let me tell you my story. then you may ask them. Understood?" Another nod. "Ok. Well, I guess we should start with you guys knowing about what I can do... " She bit her lip uncertainly. Bruce decided to help her out.
"Well, you guys know how I got my… How the other guy came around, right?" slight confusion. "Well, our dad also studied gamma radiation. Over time, it altered his DNA. That's when he had us. Our DNA is also mutated. I was born more intelligent, ahead in all my classes. Our father rejected us because he knew we weren't normal. That's why the Other Guy even exists. He was always there, hidden in my psyche thanks to my genes, but the surge of radiation brought him out.
"Emily, however, the radiation combined in her… differently. Her abilities are... unique" He trailed off, looking to her for help. She picked up where he left off.
"I'm a... what's the word... telepath. I can communicate mentally. Images. Speech. Even with animals. I see you don't believe me..."She sounded sad as she saw the disbelief on the faces of her listeners. She decided to prove herself. Closing her eyes, she listened carefully and opened her mind. Images and voices filled her head. She opened her eyes and looked at each member one at a time. "Tony, Pepper's worried because you haven't called her back and you feel guilty. Better give her flowers or something when you get back. Natasha, you are a secret agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. along with Clint here. Also, yes, you turned on the security system before you left, and I'm sure this 'Nick Fury' can take care of himself. Clint, just ask that girl on a date and get it over with. Captain, I'm fine, I promise. Stop worrying. I've had far more traumatic experiences. Worry instead about that muscle knot in your neck. Sonia is wonderful at releasing tension, so you might ask her. Also, who is Thor?" Her and Bruce wore identical half smiles as they allowed their friends to process this new occurrence. Slowly, they started to understand and accepted it. It explained quite a bit after all. Once they all had processed, Tony cleared his throat.
"Well, that explains about you. But how did you get in Venezuela?"