Chap 18

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As the skeleton lunged towards Zacil with a bony claw reaching out, Zacil's instincts kicked in. With a swift movement, she transformed her hand into a razor-sharp claw, meeting the creature's attack with fierce determination.

Malinalli, swooped down swiftly, her eyes gleaming with malice as she aimed to strike at Zacil. But Zacil was quick to respond. With a sudden surge of energy, she transformed her hand into a razor-sharp claw, slashing through the air with precision and leaving deep cuts on Malinalli's skin. Blood trickled down from the wounds.

Breathing heavily, Malinalli looked at Zacil with a mix of surprise and admiration. "Zacil, I see your learning has surpassed mere basics. You have delved into the very depths of our wisdom".

As if on cue, Malinalli snapped her fingers, commanding the Tecolotes  to come to her.

Meanwhile, in another part of the battlefield, Peta , with determination, found herself cornered by the enemy. Just as the Tecolote closed in on her, a group of majestic Eagles swooped down helping her fighting the Tecolote in the air.

Amidst the chaos, Peta's Grandpa, with a deep understanding of the old ways, approached Peta. "Peta, how did you manage to summon these familiars?" he inquired, his eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and concern.

Elsewhere, Rono and Konane, two who had been battling the dark forces found themselves exhausted and in hiding. "Where's that monster?" Rono whispered, his voice strained with urgency as he peered out from their hiding spot.

Konane, cautiously approached the edge of their hiding place, her eyes scanning the battlefield. To their surprise, the menacing creature was nowhere to be seen. Instead, two monstrous beings transformed into Tecolotes, their forms shifting and blending with the shadows as they soared towards Malinalli.

"Rest easy for now," Malinalli's voice echoed. This won't be the last time you see me. Next time, you won't be so lucky, no matter where you hide... you won't escape from me."

Eztli caught a glimpse of Malinalli disappearing into the shadows.

Four friends - Konane, Eztli, Rono, and Peta - found themselves gathered in the aftermath of a harrowing encounter. Konane, with a look of relief on his face, directed his words to Eztli.

"I'm so glad you're okay. You had us hella shook," Konane exclaimed, his voice still tinged with remnants of worry.

Eztli, with a furrowed brow, replied, "Did you guys hear what happened?"Rono, chiming in with a sense of urgency, nodded vigorously, "We barely made it out alive. We had a fight with a monstrous creature while you were gone."

"So that witch attacked you guys too," Eztli muttered, realization dawning on his face.

Meanwhile, at a distance from the group, Peta's Grandpa and Zacil engaged in a serious conversation. Peta's Grandpa, visibly relieved, spoke to Zacil, "Fortunately, she's not badly wounded. What a relief. Did you see how the eagles protected her from that Tecolote? I didn't know she had it in her to awaken powers. It's hard to believe her nahual, her guardian spirit, would take that form. She could've died without their help."

Peta's Grandpa, concern evident in his voice, questioned, "What should we do? Peta's friends are in danger too. The witch will surely return for her."

Zacil, a serene aura surrounding her, responded calmly, "I know, but I've already thought of something. Where are you going?"

"If it's the kids she wants to take with her, I'll take them with me first," Peta's Grandma declared with determination.

As night fell and the group settled in, Eztli, unable to shake off the day's events, went to check on the boys to ensure their safety. As she wandered into the kitchen, she was surprised to see Zacil looking for her.

"I couldn't find you in your room, so I figured you were here," Zacil said softly, her presence comforting yet enigmatic.

"Can you explain what happened? What kind of witch are you, Zacil?" Eztli inquired, her curiosity piqued.

Zacil, her eyes reflecting wisdom beyond her years, smiled gently, "So, you think I'm different."Eztli nodded, acknowledging her lack of understanding of the mystical forces at play, "Yes, I know about witches, but there are things I don't."

Zacil's smile widened, revealing a hint of mystery, "That's true. I'm not a witch, but I'm what they call a healer."

"Over time, a lot of wisdom has been forgotten, you see," Zacil spoke softly. There are those who seek to harness the powers of the occult for nefarious purposes, to sow chaos and despair. But there are also those like me, who use our knowledge to ease suffering and heal the wounded soul."

"Do you remember me telling you about people who can shapeshift?" Zacil's voice echoed in Eztli's mind, the words resonating with a haunting truth. "You mean nahuales," Eztli whispered, her voice a mere breath in the night.

"Eztli, it's getting late. We should call it a night," she said, her voice filled with a hint of urgency. Eztli nodded in agreement, the events of the day weighing heavily on their minds. Little did they know that the night held more surprises in store for them.

As the first light of dawn began to break, the tranquility of the morning was shattered by the arrival of a group of workers at the house. Their expressions were a mix of shock and confusion as they surveyed the scene before them. It looked as though a tornado had torn through the once peaceful abode, leaving chaos in its wake.

Crisanto, one of the workers, approached Peta's grandpa, his voice laced with concern. "What happened here, Sir.?" he asked, his eyes scanning the debris strewn across the floor. Peta's grandpa sighed heavily before replying, "We had an encounter with a witch."

Crisanto turned to Peta's grandpa, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Why didn't you tell us to help you out? You're not young anymore," he questioned. Peta's grandpa gave him a knowing look, his eyes reflecting a wisdom beyond his years. "You and Sergio live an hour away. I didn't want to cause trouble. Besides, I didn't think you would stand a chance in a fight," he replied.

With a deep sigh, Peta's grandpa gathered his thoughts. "Right now, we have a lot of work ahead of us. Let's start by fixing the broken window. I need to go out and buy some supplies," he said, determination shining in his eyes.

The four friends met up with Zacil, who had a determined expression on her face. "We're going to visit an old friend of mine. She has something important for us," she announced, leading the way with purpose. The group followed her closely, their curiosity piqued by the mysterious mission ahead.

They arrived at Patli's house, a place shrouded in ancient mystique. One of Patli's assistants welcomed them inside, the air heavy with the scent of herbs and incense. Patli greeted them warmly, her eyes sparkling with knowledge beyond their comprehension. "Zacil, it's been too long. What brings you here?" she inquired, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

Zacil wasted no time in getting to the point. "I brought them to you so you can assess if they are capable of withstanding the Power of Malinalli. I heard that your master was a nagual, and it may help them in some way," she explained, her words laden with a sense of urgency. Patli studied the group before her, a mix of skepticism and curiosity flickering in her eyes.

"I see you brought some odd ones here," Patli remarked, her gaze lingering on Eztli. Eztli, always the inquisitive one, spoke up. "Who is she?" She questioned, her voice filled with curiosity. Zacil smiled knowingly. "She is a witch doctor, like a healer. Witch doctors are different from other witches."