Eztli's Spooky Chase

Chap 12

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In the dense woods at the rancho, the group found themselves surrounded by towering trees.  Peta introduced her friends one by one.

"That guy lying over there is Rono," she said, pointing to a rugged young man with a friendly grin.

"Over there is Konane," Peta said, indicating her friend, who was still processing the oddity of the ranch. "Say hello, Konane."

"Hello," Konane muttered.

"And this is Eztli," Peta concluded, "a nerd even though we're in university. She has more books than all of us combined." Eztli smiled

The old man beamed with pride, "My granddaughter has spoken highly of you all." Eztli, touched by the compliment, replied, "I'm delighted to be here on your exquisite rancho." Rono, breaking the momentary silence, remarked on the beauty of the landscape, only to be interrupted by the unsettling sight of a dead goat.

Curiosity peaked, Konane voiced his concern, "So, you're saying there's some strange creature lurking around these parts?" The old man's reassuring voice calmed their nerves, "Don't worry, young man. Whatever it is, we'll handle it." The old woman added, "No need to fear. We know how to defend ourselves if it comes to that and you two you are still shaking,  there is a remedy to get rid of the fear is tocando las orejas.

As darkness enveloped the rancho, the group followed the grandparents outside to a bonfire. The flames crackled and danced, casting flickering light on their faces.

"Come on, you must be hungry. I'll fix you some supper," the old woman said, bustling about with a pot.

Konane took a spoonful of the stew, savoring the rich flavors. "This is delicious! It reminds me so much of when I'd go see my grandparents," he said, his apprehension momentarily forgotten.

"What's in it?" Rono asked.

"Beef testicles," Peta's Grandfather blurted out, and Rono and Konane spit out their food in shock.

"Hahaha! Just kidding!" Peta's grandfather laughed heartily, the sound echoing in the night.

Eztli, however, was undeterred. She looked at Peta's grandparents, her curiosity piqued. "I hope you don't mind if I ask, but... have any other strange things happened to you that you could tell us about?"

"Not a problem at all, young lady," Peta's grandpa chuckled, his eyes crinkling with delight. "I couldn't think of a better night for spooky stories. It's nice when young people take interest in our old tales." He leaned back, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.

Eztli grabbed a piece of membrillo, savoring the sweet flavor as she waited eagerly. The old lady nudged her husband, "Why don't you start, honey? I'll bet you love to tell them about what happened to you a few years back."

"Haha, you've read my mind!" he exclaimed, his voice booming with excitement. "Ever heard of shapeshifters? They're people who can turn themselves into animals. I think I ran into one of them a while back."

As the story unfolded, the boys' eyes widened. "It was dusk, and I was feeding the animals. I thought I saw the shadow of a turkey in the distance. As you probably know, sometimes domestic animals can escape, so I wasn't surprised. I was just trying to put him back in the rancho. But something wasn't right with that animal."

Eztli leaned in closer, her heart racing with anticipation. "What happened next?"

"The closer I got, the bigger it seemed to grow. Up close, I realized it was weird. That thing was no turkey! It nearly gave me a heart attack when it started talking. 'What are you doing?' it asked. I took off running like a bat out of hell. I didn't know if it was my old age making me imagine things, but I wasn't gonna stay to find out."

Rono and Konane were trembling, in fear, touching their ears, as the old man laughed heartily. "If you could see your faces right now! But honey, why don't you tell us what happened in your family? Just shake them up a little more."

The old lady eyes sparkled with mischief as she began, "This was something that happened to my brother, not me. The big boy was a ladies' man and always out late at night. He told us that one time, after taking one of his many dates home, he saw a woman on the way back..." The fire crackled, casting eerie shadows around them.

As the old  lady's voice lowered to a whisper, a chill crept into the air. "He thought maybe she was lost, but he had a bad feeling about her. The young lady stood crying in the middle of the road and wouldn't answer my brother, no matter what he said." The old lady's gaze seemed distant, lost in the tale.

"But after countless questions, she turned around. She had the head of a horse, and she stood there, staring at my brother. His heart leaped to his throat; he'd never been so terrified in his life. He ran away home and quit his silly game from then on. Mysterious things happen around these parts; you never know what might cross your path."

The fire crackled, casting dancing shadows on the group, enveloping them in an eerie atmosphere. Suddenly, a sound seemed to appear out of nowhere, sending shivers down their spines. Rono and Konane instinctively touched their ears, as if trying to block out the haunting sound.

A/N

Membrillo is a sweet, thick, sliceable firm paste made from quince that originated in Spain and is especially popular during the Christmas holidays. It is now a popular confection in many countries. It's also known as Dulce de membrillo (Spain, Ecuador, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Uruguay), marmelada (Portugal, Brazil), pâte de coing (France), Quittenkäse (Germany), birsalmasajt (Hungary), and quince cheese (New England) or quince paste (UK, Canada, Australia)