La Luna - His Future || Bruno Madrigal Fanfic || Book One

Feels Like Home

A complete soaking mess, feet muddy and bits of grass stuck to my leg, I reached the camp. The smell of fire and the sound of María's melodious humming grows as I turn towards the tent I shared with the boys. María's tent being directly next to mine, with her campfire burning brightly. All the tents looked the same, except for mine cause Mateo had put his signature mark on the side of it. A loopy water whirlpool he called it. Benji and Mateo were not early risers, for which I was very grateful for.

"Ai chica! What happened to you??" she called, eyes wide, dropping the basket of Pan de Yuca she had been carrying. "You must be freezing. Come sit, sit." she ushered me over to the fire, pulling out one of her blankets from her tent. Holding it up to cover me while I peeled off Lorenzo's wet clothes. I'm sure he's already grumbling to himself down at the river about the speed of which I'm moving at. He can wait. He'll be fine, I told myself. I think everyone has gotten used to me 'phasing' so much so that me walking around at a sluggish pace has them feeling a little uncomfortable. I learned to phase fairly early on after receiving my gift and it's one that comes in handy the most. I can shift myself within time and space and appear in that location, as long as it was within in eyesight. I had to be able to visualize myself there and will it. But I've been feeling so burnt out lately that I can't muster the strength or focus to phase. We haven't trained in weeks and it's starting to show amongst the group. They loved to train and it was a good outlet for those with gifts. "Earth to Luna", María snapped her fingers in front of my face. "Geeze.. You in there? What's going on with you today?" she questioned.

"I went to see him." I said while holding my breath, waiting for her reaction. "Good. Bout time." she snapped with a grin plastered on her face. I smiled back at her.
"I need to get the boys ready. We should leave in an hour, before it gets too late. Besides I left Lo down at the river and..." I pointed to his pile of soaked things. María laughed while holding her stomach, "Oh man I bet he's seething right about now." she said through her laughs. Grabbing a handful of Pan de Yuca out of her basket and handing them to me, "Well you better crack to it then." she giggled.

Taking the warm bread from her and smiling I turn from the fire and head to my tent. I could hear Benji from outside already. The deep breathing of my puma boy. He had been sleeping in puma form to keep us warm at night and Mateo's favorite spot to snuggle was with his big paws draped over his shoulders. Sometimes Mateo would roll on top of Benji which was by far Benji's least favorite thing. I giggled to myself, peaking in and seeing them curled up together. They may not be "mine", but they are mine. Through and through. My little patchwork familia.

Tip toeing in and stepping over Benji's massive body I kneeled down and held out the Pan de Yuca, right over his furry face. His nose twitching, he swiftly rolled over, taking Mateo with him, to grab me. "Heyyyyyy you have to share!" I laughed. "Benjitoooooooooo..." Mateo's sleepy voice squeaked.
"Shift, mi hijo." I say as sternly as possible, while trying to not break character. They both know I'm mostly putty in their hands. Benji's grumble followed by his hand reaching up to take one of the delicious breads was swift, per usual. Mateo still sprawled out across his chest, crumbs falling into his hair as Benji inhaled his food. "Ai! Benjito!" I tease as I wipe the pieces of what was left of the Pan de Yuca out of his golden locks. Grabbing Mateo and sitting him into my lap, handing him the other bread, planting a kiss on top of his head. "I need you to go over to Lo's tent and grab him some clothes. He's down by the river. I took his, so he's probably pretty annoyed by now. Better hurry." I say pointing to Benji. "Ughhhhhh.. seriously...." Benji shouted while sprinting up and pulling his boots on. "He's gonna make me run laps now and take it out on me! Thanks a lot." he huffed while storming out of the tent. "Better you than me, kid." I whispered under my breathe.

"And YOU hombrecito!" I said while tickling my blue-eyed boy in my lap, his giggles filling the tent. "Come, sit right here, I want to talk to you about something." I said through a smile while taking a bite of my Pan de Yuca. His blue piercing gaze looking up at me. Rolling my eyes and breaking off a piece of my bread, handing it to him and seeing his instant smile. "Yep. Putty" I thought.
"Do you remember how we talked about how we should behave ourselves when we reach the village?" I asked, brushing stray locks out of his face. He nodded his head, yes. "Okay well you remember how we aren't supposed to tell Bruno about all the things we know, cause we don't want to ruin the surprises for him, right?" I asked this time slightly softer.
"Mhm... But Luna..." his words were filled with sorrow, "what if he doesn't like me?". My heart hurt at hearing him say that. Leaning down and resting my forehead against his I whisper, "Of course he will like you, mi vida. He just doensn't know you yet.", kissing his forehead. "You have to give him a chance to see how special you are, okay?". Mateo's eyes looking back at me full of unshed tears. Tears for the man he's seen love him so wholeheartedly during my time skips. Try explaining to a six-year-old that the Bruno he knows won't recognize him. My heart was breaking. A part of me regrets letting everyone in on my time skips and letting them watch. They all have seen these glimpses of my future and the person Bruno is in those visions is someone we all already love. My people, mi familia, accept him and respect him already. How could they not? He's the other half of my soul.
"Mamá?", Mateo's voice broke me from my thoughts, he rarely calls me that unless he's feeling especially sad or has gotten himself into trouble, "What about Diego?" his voice cracked as tears fell down his face. I swallowed the lump in my throat and put on a brave face. I wiped the tears from his cheek, "You want to see him one more time before we get to the village yeah?" I asked. He nodded his head again, 'yes'. "Okay, we can do that.", I kissed his cheek, "But after that you will have to be a big boy and keep all the surprises between us. Can you do that mi hijo?" I asked with a smile.
Mateo's messy golden hair bounced up and down as he enthusiastically nodded his head with a grin. "Putty" I thought.
"Well then get dressed and pack up your things. Quick quick!" I shooed him up as he giggled.

Grabbing all of our things and stuffing them into our bags we placed them in front of our tent, ready to take it down and roll it up. Benji has been gone a while so I'm guessing he was right about Lo making him run laps. I had to hide my smile. Lo has always seemed harsh towards Benji when it came to training and when Benji gravitated naturally to being a leader it only spurred Lo on more. He actually loved that kid, as much as I did but Benji secretly needed Lorenzo as his role model and teacher. When Lo appointed him as head of the guard detail Benji beamed with pride and Lo's face mirrored it. Those two love to hate each other.

"Mateo, I'll finish our tent up. You go help your tia María." I called across the other side of the tent, to an annoyed Mateo, trying to untie his side of the tent rope. His little body stomping off towards María's side, not saying a word.
The whole camp was up and moving. Packing up their things and tying up their packs. Everyone moved in a coordinated rehearsed rhythm. I looked over to Lorenzo's camp spot to spy Benji helping him take down and roll up his tent. I shook my head to myself with a smile. Two peas in a pod, yep.

It's been nearly three hours since I had returned from seeing him, mi amor, in the dream. I hope he remembers me. I hope it worked. I sighed.

It's time. The whole camp was packed up. Everyone stood ready, waiting for my ritual. The one I've had to repeat every day since that first night the green path illuminated for us. I stood atop the slight hill above our campgrounds and smiled slightly. I already miss him. It was a good hurt, I thought to myself. The song I sing, just for him, rang out of me as I stepped forward to set the path ablaze for us. For me.

I felt off. But I couldn't pinpoint what was wrong.
I was probably just tired, I thought.

Mateo's hand grabbed mine as I kneeled to smile at my sunshine boy. His little face cupping my own and making me feel slightly more at ease. A soft nuzzle coming from Benji, signalling me that everyone was accounted for and ready. Giving him my infamous silent squeal of pride look, I turn back at our group. Benji's comforting arms around me, I smiled and reminded myself of the words.

"To a place that we can call our own
I wanna know what feels like home
To you"

Letting go of their hands and watching them run ahead on the path, my heart felt lighter. It wasn't my own happiness though. His happiness was seeping through our bond. I could feel it clearly.

He was watching me. He looked for me. He remembered me.

I hid my face towards the group and wiped away a stray tear.

"Soon, mi amor."