Leaves wet from the storm gleamed and the air smelled of clay and wood. Rain was his favorite smell. But not today. Not now. He would give anything to catch Ana’s scent but he couldn’t. The earth had been washed clean.
Chapter 30
Ana was glad she had slipped on her hiking shoes. Balam was almost too fast for her but the thick rubber soles gripped at the slick ground and propelled her forward so she could keep up. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail and the end dripped water down her back. It didn’t matter because she was already soaked.
Her eyes bore into the back of Balam’s head as she grumbled to herself. She hadn’t exactly been pleased to learn he wanted to start at six o’clock and insisted she participate in one more test. Her displeasure changed to anger when she realized he wanted to leave without telling Chance. Her lip quivered as she thought about Chance’s distress when he woke to find her missing. No doubt he would flash back to Markus kidnapping her. She hoped he would forgive her, especially after the hard time she gave him for leaving without telling her only weeks ago.
Balam glanced back and nodded grimly. She stared at the ground and pressed on. She understood that Chance’s confidence had crumbled after his run-in with his cousin and that he would never try as hard as he would if nothing was at stake. Balam wanted him to have faith in himself and his abilities. He said they needed supplies, anyway, and she would get the opportunity to see Sanchia again. It was strange thinking about her being Balam’s granddaughter since he appeared to be around the same age.
Even if the sun were up, it wouldn’t be able to break through the heavy clouds and leafy canopy. The trail was hard for her to make out and she hoped she wasn’t being led to any sleeping predators.
“I know you are tiring but we must press ahead. If Chance chooses to take animal form to track us, he will move faster than us.”
Ana panted and replied with as much venom as she could muster, “Well, after the amount of alcohol you gave him last night, I’m sure he won’t be up any time soon.”
Balam stopped beside a large Ceiba tree, its spiky trunk a warning to anyone who thought about touching it. The amazing boughs reached up into the slate sky.
He surprised her when he said, “I am proud of Chance. He is a good student. He works hard and he does it all for you. It is easy to see you are his true mate and he is yours.”
She regretted her spiteful response after his kindhearted praise. He cared very much for their well-being. She just wished there was another way to test Chance.
“Are you ready to continue?”
She pulled out her water bottle, took a sip and shrugged. She was glad the bottle had a carabineer and clipped it back to her belt loop so she could keep her hands free as they hiked.
“We are almost there. A little further,” Balam said and walked on.
He wasn’t wearing a shirt, and his back appeared slick even in the murky light. The black lines of his tattoos wrapped over his exposed skin like vines overtaking the crumbled ruins. They had only gone a short distance before Balam stopped and lifted his nose in the air.
“What’s up?”
He turned but his expression made her nervous. Eyes wide, he continued to sniff and said, “Let’s hurry. I will leave you with Sanchia. You should be safe in town with her.”
Before she could ask again, he dashed ahead and she scrambled to keep up. The trees thinned and without much vegetation, it got muddy fast, but at least she could see better. She thought she caught sight of a planted field and knew Balam was right. They were close.
According to her watch, it was nearing seven o’clock. She wondered if Chance was up yet and hoped he was because being away from him like this made her uneasy. Her mother had always warned her never to go anywhere without letting someone know. It was a safety thing. Balam knew where she was, of course, but Chance didn’t. At least this was the last hurdle to get past. Soon enough, they would be sitting around the fire back at home and eating dinner. Think positive.
After ten minutes they arrived at the opening of the trail, revealing the town Sanchia lived in. Balam turned and said, “Wait here. I will make sure everything is safe. I will get my granddaughter.”
He phased into a tortoise shell housecat and scampered out onto the street, carefully avoiding rivulets of water collecting into a stream. His ears pressed down as his head and body got soaked.
“But—” She thought about snatching him up on his return so she could get some answers. Ana had the distinct feeling things weren’t going according to plan.
She stayed under the protection of the forest canopy. In time, a hunched form emerged from the corner house, Sanchia’s home. It was the kind, elderly woman, and in her arms, she held the cat, whose fur was matted and spiky. Ana muttered words of greeting as they joined her.
Balam struggled from Sanchia’s grasp and leapt to his wet sarong. The women respectfully turned away and then Balam’s voice broke the silence.
“Ana, you must go with Sanchia. I need to go check on a new scent I just picked up.”
“Wait a minute. Is everything okay? What about Chance?”
“I am sure he will be okay. Chance said he smelled a new scent recently. I just need to check and make sure we are safe. Stay here, Ana. I will come back soon or if we are lucky, Chance will be here soon.”
Then Balam spoke in an undertone to his granddaughter but it must have been in Mayan, because Ana couldn’t understand what he said. Sanchia pursed her lips and nodded quickly. Balam squeezed Ana’s shoulder briefly and turned into the jungle.
“Come,” Sanchia said, gesturing to her. When Ana got close enough, the woman hooked her arm through Ana’s and they set off to the modest home.
When they were safe inside, Sanchia scurried off and returned with a towel and a welcome smile.
“Thank you.”
“Do not worry. Balam will be back soon. Come and have some hot chocolate.”
Sanchia led her into the small kitchen. The aroma of her favorite drink triggered a deep rumble from her belly. Ana had only had time for a few sips earlier before Balam whisked her into the jungle. She was starved.
Her host gave her a wizened grin and filled a cup with the dark steaming liquid. Then she piled up a plate of corn pancakes and fruit.
“You are a good eater. Take your mind off your worries and fill your stomach, child.”
Well, the woman made sense. She was beyond hungry after hours of hiking; she wouldn’t be of any use if she couldn’t think straight from hunger. As she wolfed down the breakfast, she hoped Chance and Balam would get there soon because it was doubtful she would be able to keep terrible thoughts from racing through her head for much longer.
Chance ran into his room and dove for his phone. He hoped he it had enough battery as he switched it on. It chimed and he breathed a sigh of relief as he tried calling Ana but it went straight to voicemail. He had a message from his mother, but nothing from Ana. Discouraged, he tossed his phone aside. He was wasting precious time. If he couldn’t smell her scent in human form, he knew what he needed to do. Chance stripped down, grabbed the maroon fabric from his bed and looped it around his neck, covering up the long cord of the protective talisman Balam had given him as he flew downstairs.
As soon as his feet touched the clay earth of the forest floor he shifted mid-step. Bear was the best tracker he could think of and hoped his nagual wouldn’t let him down. What with the rain, it was harder to pick up Ana’s scent but it was not beyond the capabilities of the best nose on earth. Monkeys squawked above him, sending shouts of warning out to hidden family members. It was probably a surprise to see such a large, unfamiliar beast crashing through their jungle home.
Stay calm, Chance. It’s probably just a test. There’s only Balam’s and Ana’s scents. It was the sort of thing he could see his great-grandfather doing. He hoped he was right.
Ana’s emerald eyes flashed through his thoughts and he snorted. Ever since he met her, he knew she was the one. They fit. He couldn�
�t imagine living his life without her. He would have made the same choice as his grandfather if he felt he had the option. If Markus weren’t still alive, he’d consider settling down and giving up his powers to grow old with Ana.
He stampeded through a waterfall of vines that fell onto the trail and felt leaves tumble off his back and shoulders. Deep snorts escaped his lips as he panted with exertion. His muscles burned but instead of focusing on his own discomfort, he thought of Ana.
Life just seemed to keep coming at them. Would they ever get a break from the excitement? He hoped so, but if they didn’t… Chance made up his mind.
He wanted to be with Ana for the rest of his life. Amongst all of the belongings left to him from his grandfather was his grandmother’s wedding ring. It was perfect and it belonged on Ana’s finger.
In that moment, he made a promise to himself that if and when he found her, he would propose.
Chapter 31
Chance tromped over vines and half-submerged rocks that burst roughly from the earth. Then he smelled it. A new, sickening scent. It was familiar. It brought back all of the painful memories of their deaths: Ana’s, Niyol’s and his own on the mountaintop in Idaho.
Markus.
He froze. The scent mixed and overlapped with Ana’s and Balam’s. Had they been joined by Markus? Were they following him? Or worse, was he following them?
His heartbeat thundered in his ears like an echo off a canyon wall as he searched the gloom for another set of eyes. Panic stricken, he envisioned Ana laying in the mud, her heart still and Markus’s twisted sneer looming over her. Rivulets of water poured from the top of his broad head onto his face. He shook off the rain, to no avail.
The storm wasn’t letting up and it only caused more issues for him as he tried to hone in on the various scents left from recent travelers. He was having a hard time deciding if Ana and Balam or Markus had walked through the area first.
It didn’t matter now. He needed to catch up with them. Chance sank his paws into the wet clay and propelled himself forward, sending a spray of mud into the air.
Finally, the scent trails split. The fragrance of car exhaust and pavement told him he was near a town. To his left, he could smell Ana and Balam heading toward the community and straight ahead, he detected Balam and Markus going further into the wilderness. He hoped this meant Balam had stowed Ana away in safety before confronting Markus.
Torn, he wanted to ensure Ana was safe but he also wanted to track down Balam and Markus. If he could help subdue his cousin, they wouldn’t have to look over their shoulders for the rest of their lives. If he couldn’t find a peaceful resolution, Markus’s death would do.
Ana, I love you. Stay safe. With a grunt, he charged resolutely ahead. Chance had been training heavily for an encounter with Markus. He hoped it was enough.
Ana helped clean the dishes in Sanchia’s kitchen after she finished breakfast. She stared out the little window above the kitchen sink into the storm. She supposed there was nothing to do but wait. Maybe Balam would come back soon, or even better, Chance would arrive.
After drying the plates and mugs with a cloth, she joined Sanchia in the living room. Her concern must have been clearly written on her face when Sanchia offered her sympathy.
“Come sit with me, Ana. Tell me about your stay with Balam. You are lucky he took you into his home. He has not had any visitors in a very long time.”
Ana slid back on the sofa and wrapped her arms around herself. “Well, it’s been interesting,” she said carefully in Spanish, “Balam let me look at a book filled with information about plants and herbs. I recognized many plants you had growing in your garden.” Ana waved toward the back of the house in the direction of the backyard and added, “He also showed me how to set traps, but I didn’t enjoy that as much.” She winced as she recalled the bloody results of her efforts.
Ana wasn’t sure just how much to divulge. She figured as a rule of thumb, it was best not to talk about shapeshifting too much. Obviously, Sanchia was aware of her grandfather’s abilities, so Ana decided it was safe to speak freely.
“You must have much power,” Sanchia said and patted Ana’s knee.
“Why do you say that?”
“For Balam to take time with you.”
“He said I might be a healer,” Ana said.
Sanchia’s eyes widened and she raised her brows. Ana felt like the last of an endangered species walking on earth. “I sensed it, too.”
“You never had a teacher?” Ana asked.
“Aiy, no. There are not many left. They stay hidden and do not reveal themselves.” She spoke so low, Ana barely heard her.
“But, I thought you were a healer, too? That’s what Balam told me. Did he ever try to help you?”
Sanchia pressed her palms against the top of her legs and said, “He cannot teach what he does not know. He is not a healer. He did try to help me when I was young but he could not. It was my mother who taught me the wisdom of medicinal healing that has been passed down by the women of my family. But she was not a true healer, so she could not help guide me with my power.”
“Well, what am I supposed to do now? Balam said that maybe you could help me.”
“I can teach you what I know, but it is little. I know much about plants, but I cannot help you with your power. It can be dangerous and unsafe if you do not have practice, and I have never had guidance. A teacher must find and choose you.”
“What do you mean?” Ana asked, confused.
“You must be chosen because finding a true healer would be almost impossible. But maybe Chance will be able to help you.”
“Did you know who we were when we first met you?”
“No. But I know to signal Balam when anyone comes looking for him. When you came asking for him I left my sash at the trail. And a couple weeks ago when Grandfather came for supplies he told me that Chance was our family. I would like to see him again and give my distant cousin a hug.”
Ana gave a weak smile. “Maybe soon.”
Sanchia was being a good host, keeping her engaged in conversation, but her skin crawled with anxiety. How long was Balam going to take?
Ana hoped someone would come soon because she didn’t know how much longer she was capable of waiting.
He tried to keep up with the pace his heartbeat had set but couldn’t. The thought of tearing Markus away from this world pleased him and it was all he could do to steady himself, focus on his surroundings and track both the scents of Balam and his cousin. Adrenaline pulsed through his veins and heightened his senses.
He pressed on until Balam’s trail split off from Markus’s. It veered away, down a slope dense with vines and creeping growth. Chance stopped, panting. Time to make a quick choice.
With his eyes closed, he centered himself before shifting into his human form. The hemlock pendant hung low on his neck, and brushed against his abdomen. He searched the wilderness for any sign of movement. When he was satisfied, he tugged his maroon sarong from his neck and secured it around his waist. He was drenched and his hair hung limply in his eyes.
In the rain, all his senses were deadened. He couldn’t see, hear or smell as well as he would have liked. It took but a moment to adapt the internal structure of his nose like Balam had taught him. His great-grandfather’s scent was faint but traceable. Down the hill he went, toes trying to grip the slick clay as best they could.
At the bottom, water collected into a swift moving stream that looked like a brown flood of hot chocolate. He searched the air for a sign of his great-grandfather. However his earthy fragrance faded at the foot of the bank.
“Balam?” Chance said as softly as he could.
A pair of brown eyes blinked out at him from behind a wall of vegetation located on the opposite ridge and he immediately recognized Balam’s human silhouette. He scrambled up the hill as deftly as he could but got caught in the quagmire along the way. When he pulled himself out from behind the cover of some limestone ruins overgrown with vines, his gr
eat-grandfather’s regal form confronted him, nose to nose.
Balam didn’t have to say a word for Chance to understand he was upset with him. He also didn’t have to stretch his imagination to figure out why. He hadn’t exactly approached in silence. Maybe they should have had more lessons on stealth. Chance hunched down and winced in apology. Balam turned, lifted his nose into the air and appeared to try to pick up a scent.
“Is Ana safe?” Chance whispered.
His great-grandfather nodded.
“Where’s Markus?”
Balam’s eyes narrowed and he pointed behind Chance, who spun around in time to see a shadowy figure materialize.
Chapter 32
Out of nowhere, fear penetrated every pore of Ana’s body. Danger. Someone was in danger. Her head swam and she grew dizzy. Something was wrong.
What’s going on? Was this what it was like being drunk? She tried to focus on Sanchia but the sweet, elderly woman had split into two blurry shapes. Ana rubbed her eyes.
“What is wrong, child?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know what’s happening!”
“Calm yourself. Close your eyes.” Sanchia touched her shoulder and as soon as she did, Ana felt a jolt, like an electric shock. In her mind, she saw the jungle. A deluge of rain pelted the leaves and ground. Noises and fetid smells were all around her. She wasn’t alone. Balam was there, but so was the one person she hoped she’d never see again.
Markus.
Ana scrambled off the couch, her heart drumming dangerously in her chest. Sanchia’s eyes were wide and filled with concern.
“Is something the matter, child?”
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