Random Titlan: Spooky Chase (In hiatus)/latina

Chap 38

꒷꒦︶꒷꒦ ⋆｡˚ ☁︎ ꒷꒦︶꒷꒦☁︎ ⋆｡˚☽ ꒷꒦︶꒷꒦

𒄆───────˚｡⋆˚ ☪︎˚⋆｡˚──────𒄆

The jungle held its breath.

Glowing with the vibrant hues of their Tonalli, the four teenagers stood at the heart of the chaneque grove-radiant, resolute, and utterly transformed. Their eyes burned with purpose, their bodies crackled with awakened power, and the ground itself seemed to hum beneath their feet.

The chaneques-usually bouncing, giggling, and gleefully chaotic-froze in place.

Then came the gasp. It rippled through the grove like a wind through leaves.

"Nahuales," one whispered, barely louder than a leaf's sigh.

Their trickster leader, Xaloc, blinked once, then twice. His wide grin-mischievous and sharp-flickered. He had thought them wild children. Entertaining. Troublesome. Mortal.

But now he saw it.

Konane's gaze was unwavering, Rono stood firm, Peta's expression was resolute, and Eztli's eyes burned with determination.

Together, they radiated divine energy-a fusion of animal, human, and spirit in perfect harmony. But as their tonalli shifted, returning them to their natural forms, the energy drained away, dissipating into the ether like the fading echoes of a divine force.

"So... you were hiding teeth this whole time," Xaloc muttered, his voice unusually low.

He tried to laugh. The sound didn't land.

Konane stepped forward, "No more games, Xaloc."

"Return the humans. Now," Eztli said, her voice like distant thunder.

Rono cracked his knuckles. "Unless you want to see what happens when a serpent bites back."

Peta didn't speak. She just looked at Xaloc-quiet, calm, immovable. The silent kind of threat that didn't need words.

Xaloc's eyes darted between them. The chaneques around him had stopped giggling. Some trembled. Others clutched each other, uncertain. Even the plants seemed to lean away from the teenagers.

Still, he hesitated.

"But they ruined the trees. They spilled oil into the river. They were in our territory. Why should we-"

"Because we are not your enemies," Konane said firmly, stepping forward. "But if you force us to be, you'll regret it."

Xaloc bared his teeth, not in anger-but fear. In that moment, he understood. He should never mess with them.

A tense silence followed, punctuated only by the distant croak of a frog and the faint, uncertain murmurs of the chaneques.

Finally, Xaloc exhaled sharply and raised his hands.

"Fine," he muttered, and clapped twice.

From the roots of a massive tree, a hidden door creaked open. One by one, dazed but unharmed humans stumbled out-workers and wanderers taken by the chaneques' tricks. They blinked in confusion, faces marked by dirt and wonder.

The teenagers rushed to help them, guiding them gently to their feet.

Xaloc crossed his arms and looked away, sulking. "You didn't win because you were stronger," he grumbled. "You won because I let you."

A smirk tugged at his lips as he jabbed a tiny finger in their direction. "If you ever find yourself in need of a little trickery-or just some good mischief-you know where to find us."