Encanto 2 - A Tale of United Families

The Worst Continues

If the Encanto hadn't already suffered enough from the loss of the miracle and everyone who had left it behind, things had just turned for the worst. As if fate wanted to curse it. The once green rich hills had become dry mounds of lifeless fauna. The crops were dead, devoid of nutrition. All green life had burnt to a crisp. The rivers within and beyond the valley and mountains were now wide cracks running along the crusty soil. Dried palm leaves were used as fans to cool the sweaty villages. But the torturous sun made many fall and faint. 

In the Casita, the Madrigals sat in chairs dipping their bare feet into whatever water they could spare to cool their red bodies. Isabella and Pepa had tied their long hair up into a giant bun like Luisa and Julieta. The men and boys were white tank tops but still smelt like polecats. Alma had managed to find a dress with very short sleeves but she couldn't make herself feel any less hot than she was. 

"I - can't - take ..." Antonio panted in each pause. "...take - much - more..." he coughed. "Than this," 

"How long can we stand this heat?!" Pepa grunted out heatedly. She wished she had her powers so she could make it rain everywhere to cool everyone down and make the plants flourish. 

"How much water do we have left Luisa?" asked Julieta desperately. 

Luisa sighed hopelessly. "Not much," she coughed out. "Not enough to survive for how long this drought might last," 

The Madrigals' fears brewed stronger.  

"We must leave," Alma announced. 

"What?" breathed a disagreeable Julieta. "We will not leave our home," 

"If we stay here any longer, we will die,"

Agustin sighed. "She's right love. We should gather whatever we can and leave to find better land. Food and water," Despite his hatred towards his mother-in-law, he knew that her words were truthful and required heeding," 

"What if there are dangers beyond our borders?" Pepa freaked out like a fish out of water. "Like Marauders," 

"What choice do we have? It's either we act now or die here. We don't have a choice," Agustin had no fear o the outsider world. Only staying and watching his loved ones especially his wife and their two first daughters die in his arms. They were his world. Losing Mirabel was bad enough. If he lost anymore, he could no purpose to go on living at all. Slowly one by one, the family nodded. There was no other choice. 

Dolores was the first stand-up. "I'll notify everyone," she slipped her wet feet into her shoes and immediately went off into town. She saw hardly anyone in the streets. They had taken refuge inside from the scorching sun. "People!" she called out. Neither a window nor a door open. She had to scream out louder. "People! Everyone open your doors and windows! I have an announcement to make!"

Doors and windows were pushed slowly open. People poked their heads out staring tiredly at her. 

"I know you guys don't feel like listening to any of us! But Alma has decided that we must leave our home! We must find food and water before it's too late!"

"We will not leave our home!" protested a mother. 

"Either we stay here or we die!" Dolores argued. 

"But what if there are soldiers out there?!" cried a child. 

Dolores tried to speak up but she was battled by protests and shouts. Just then Mariano (the man she never stopped having a crush on) stepped out onto the dusty streets and stood in front of her, shielding her from their angry, red faces. "Silence!" 

The mob silenced. They obeyed the most handsome man in town and bit their tongues. "Dolores is right!" he announced supportingly. "We are low on water and already our animals and loved ones are starving. If we stay here, we are killing our children! One day we will return to the Encanto! But for now, her need is to leave so that we can live!"