shapeshifters are able to wield. Being so rare, it is little understood. The ancients used to say that xoxal was the ultimate power to create or destroy, to heal or obliterate. Among other things this savage magic should allow you to transform into virtually any animal.”
“Whoa. That would rock.” Johnny imagined shifting into a cheetah. Or a bear.
Xolotl closed its eyes and gave a shudder. “I’m afraid it’s been quite some time since I last visited the realm of men. It sounds as if you’re speaking English, but I’m not always certain what you mean.”
“He means that it would be great,” Carol put in. Johnny snorted, half in irritation, half in amusement. His heart rate had returned to normal. The hellhound, though imposing, no longer made him want to run away in fear.
“So, how do we know if we’ve got, uh, xoxal ?”
“Unfortunately, it has been centuries since the last pair of xoxal -gifted naguales walked the earth. They, hrm, lost their lives fighting a great evil, so their lore wasn’t passed down to anyone else. Besides, I seem to recall that the power is different for each set of twins, so I don’t know that it would be of particular use to know what previous naguales had done to trigger their abilities.”
“Wow,” Johnny muttered snarkily. “That’s really helpful.”
Xolotl regarded him intently and rose to all fours. Oh, crap, now I’ve made him mad! I’ve got to stop being such a jerk all the time. Especially to huge freaking hellhounds.
“I understand your confusion and desperation.” The supernatural beast’s features softened as if in compassion. “It is difficult to lose someone you love, to search for them in frightening places, and to have to find within yourself the strength to overcome obstacles that ought to destroy you. You have both shown great courage by simply coming this far. You’ve faced your true natures without falling to pieces. I admire that tenacity. Cling to your stubbornness—you will need it direly.”
Johnny glanced at Carol pointedly. They both had a long history of being hard-headed, so no problem there.
“Pingo, I hope, explained that you travel by the Black Road. Very few souls leave the realm of men by this route any longer, and its guardians have grown restless and hungrier for cruelty than ever before. But if you are to rescue your mother and thereby stop the dark forces that even now rally against your world, you will have to face them. I will be your guide, so far as I can. What little I know, I will teach you. In the end, however, you two will face your mother’s captor alone. To be victorious, you must be true to who you are.”
Gah. More cryptic garbage . But a part of Johnny felt energized by Xolotl’s words. He liked challenges, liked competing. If I can do something, I can do it really well. Always have been able to. So I’ll get this magic stuff down in time to kick some underworld butt. I’m sure of it.
“Okay, then.” Carol nodded, her lower lip trembling just a little. “So I’m guessing our first obstacle is getting around that ginormous river.”
“Yes, Carolina. Luckily for you, no skill of yours is required this time around. All you need to do is to climb upon my back and grab a fold of skin. Don’t worry about hurting me, you can’t. Come on, now.”
What the heck. Might as well. After securing his clay water jug to a belt loop with the leather thong, Johnny gripped Xolotl’s skin and hauled himself up. The fur was surprisingly soft. Reaching his hand down to his sister, he laughed. “Better than riding a pony, Carol. I don’t think you’ll fall off this time.”
Her face red, Carol ignored his hand and clambered up on her own. “Don’t start with me, Johnny, or I’ll tell Xolotl that you’re not a dog person.”
The hound’s mirth rumbled beneath their legs. “This is good. Humor is good. Joy is better, but humor will do for now.”
With a bound he set off. The water was dark, and Johnny figured
“Whoa. That would rock.” Johnny imagined shifting into a cheetah. Or a bear.
Xolotl closed its eyes and gave a shudder. “I’m afraid it’s been quite some time since I last visited the realm of men. It sounds as if you’re speaking English, but I’m not always certain what you mean.”
“He means that it would be great,” Carol put in. Johnny snorted, half in irritation, half in amusement. His heart rate had returned to normal. The hellhound, though imposing, no longer made him want to run away in fear.
“So, how do we know if we’ve got, uh, xoxal ?”
“Unfortunately, it has been centuries since the last pair of xoxal -gifted naguales walked the earth. They, hrm, lost their lives fighting a great evil, so their lore wasn’t passed down to anyone else. Besides, I seem to recall that the power is different for each set of twins, so I don’t know that it would be of particular use to know what previous naguales had done to trigger their abilities.”
“Wow,” Johnny muttered snarkily. “That’s really helpful.”
Xolotl regarded him intently and rose to all fours. Oh, crap, now I’ve made him mad! I’ve got to stop being such a jerk all the time. Especially to huge freaking hellhounds.
“I understand your confusion and desperation.” The supernatural beast’s features softened as if in compassion. “It is difficult to lose someone you love, to search for them in frightening places, and to have to find within yourself the strength to overcome obstacles that ought to destroy you. You have both shown great courage by simply coming this far. You’ve faced your true natures without falling to pieces. I admire that tenacity. Cling to your stubbornness—you will need it direly.”
Johnny glanced at Carol pointedly. They both had a long history of being hard-headed, so no problem there.
“Pingo, I hope, explained that you travel by the Black Road. Very few souls leave the realm of men by this route any longer, and its guardians have grown restless and hungrier for cruelty than ever before. But if you are to rescue your mother and thereby stop the dark forces that even now rally against your world, you will have to face them. I will be your guide, so far as I can. What little I know, I will teach you. In the end, however, you two will face your mother’s captor alone. To be victorious, you must be true to who you are.”
Gah. More cryptic garbage . But a part of Johnny felt energized by Xolotl’s words. He liked challenges, liked competing. If I can do something, I can do it really well. Always have been able to. So I’ll get this magic stuff down in time to kick some underworld butt. I’m sure of it.
“Okay, then.” Carol nodded, her lower lip trembling just a little. “So I’m guessing our first obstacle is getting around that ginormous river.”
“Yes, Carolina. Luckily for you, no skill of yours is required this time around. All you need to do is to climb upon my back and grab a fold of skin. Don’t worry about hurting me, you can’t. Come on, now.”
What the heck. Might as well. After securing his clay water jug to a belt loop with the leather thong, Johnny gripped Xolotl’s skin and hauled himself up. The fur was surprisingly soft. Reaching his hand down to his sister, he laughed. “Better than riding a pony, Carol. I don’t think you’ll fall off this time.”
Her face red, Carol ignored his hand and clambered up on her own. “Don’t start with me, Johnny, or I’ll tell Xolotl that you’re not a dog person.”
The hound’s mirth rumbled beneath their legs. “This is good. Humor is good. Joy is better, but humor will do for now.”
With a bound he set off. The water was dark, and Johnny figured
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