Random Titlan: Spooky Chase (In hiatus)/latina

Chap 34

꒷꒦︶꒷꒦ ⋆｡˚ ☁︎ ꒷꒦︶꒷꒦☁︎ ⋆｡˚☽ ꒷꒦︶꒷꒦

𒄆───────˚｡⋆˚ ☪︎˚⋆｡˚──────𒄆

The chaneques, now celebrating the victory, exchanged gleeful glances. Chaneque unable to contain himself, chortled, "Cheating or cleverness? There's a fine line, my dear human!"

"You have to admit, we're just too light on our feet." Another swift chaneque, added with a teasing wink. "Maybe next time, you'll join join us."

Zacil strolled over still buzzing from their recent victory. The leader, a wiry chaneque with a mischievous glint in their eyes, was reveling in the glory of their triumph.

"So, I saw your race," Zacil began, crossing his arms with a playful smirk. "How's it feel to be the fastest...cheater around?"

Zacil chuckled, shaking his head. "Strategy? More like a toddler throwing a tantrum when they can't win." He raised his voice slightly for emphasis, drawing the attention of his friends nearby.

The leader couldn't help but laugh, his chaneque friends joining in. "Ha! Says the one whose kid cried to the referee."

"He didn't cry!" Zacil retorted, pointing a finger accusingly. "He reported a crime. There's a difference."

The leader smirked, leaning in closer. "A crime? You're hilarious. What's next? You'll claim he was assaulted by a rogue tree branch?"

"Oh, I'm the joke here? Right. Because sneaky tricks are so admirable," Zacil shot back, a glimmer of playfulness in his eyes as he feigned indignation.

The leader turned, eyebrows raised in mock surprise. "Cheater? Please. It's called strategy. You wouldn't understand." He leaned slightly back, an air of self-satisfaction surrounding him.

At least the kid said he is okay with it so let's begin the next stage.

Zacil, conceded defeat with a grin. "Fine, fine. The leader of Chaneque turn to Zacil just called me king Xaloc . But just wait until the next game."

"The next game is 'Finders Keepers'. So, who will go next Peta step in. You must locate the object before the other competitor before the hourglass end. But beware," he added with a smirk, "our lands are vast and filled with illusions."

Peta took a deep breath, her hand tightening around the amulet at her neck. "I'm ready."

The moon cast a silvery light through the canopy, illuminating peculiar objects that seemed to dance in the periphery of her vision. She squinted, trying to discern if they were real or just clever tricks of the light. A sudden rustling made her freeze, and she spun around, her. A small, mischievous creature poked its head out from behind a tree, giggling before it darted away, leaving only a trail of glittering dust.

In the center stood a tree with branches that bent and twisted into impossible shapes, holding a tapestry of shimmering crystals. The crystals pulsed with an eerie glow, and the tree's bark was etched with symbols that seemed to shift and writhe before their eyes. The chaneque leader's words echoed in Peta's mind as she studied the tree's roots. 'Four games, each one a challenge to your very nature.' What could that mean?

Peta rushed over, she carefully untangled the vines. Inside the hollow, she discovered an intricate wooden box, inlaid with the same shifting runes. It was locked, with no discernible keyhole or mechanism.

"I need to solve the puzzle," Peta murmured, tracing the patterns with her fingers. 

Peta nodded, took a deep breath, and placed her hand on the box. Her eyes closed, and the runes under her fingertips grew warm. She murmured something in a language none of her recognized, and the box clicked open, revealing a tiny, iridescent feather.