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predator’s hungry gaze. Did it have a smashed paw? A deep slice in its palm?
    My hands curled in the dirt as I edged up to a sitting position. I didn’t know how to change into my jaguar form on purpose—I had refused to learn. I couldn’t put two thoughts together. I’d come all this way just to die, and without understanding why. Like my parents.
    I tried to say, “What do you want?” but my words were soundless puffs of air.
    The jaguar gave a louder growl, showing long, knifelike fangs. I was lightheaded, about to faint. Unable to move, hopeless at defending myself—for me, fainting would be a blessing. My eyes were drawn to the powerful tail that lashed back and forth, thunking against the tree trunk.
    And then . . . it gave a fierce, sickening roar, and leaped at me.

C HAPTER F OUR
    MY EYES SHUT AS I waited to feel viselike jaws closing around my skull. Seconds passed. Finally I slit one eye to see the jaguar crouched in front of me, snarling, its tail whipping left and right. It was going to toy with me, play with me before I died. All four of its paws seemed fine, not broken or cut, I noticed a bit hysterically. Was it a jaguar jaguar or a haguari? Was there a way to tell? I knew so little about it. Surely it was a haguari.
    I felt lost in its yellow eyes and couldn’t pull my gaze away, even as my brain registered the quiet opening of a door and then a shadowy figure moving toward us. I tried to shriek “Run!” but it came out as a near-silent squeak. The figure came closer. Surely the jaguar would pounce on me the instant I looked away, but I held my breath and slid my glance past it to see a young, dark-haired woman walking closer. I stared at her, hoping she knew this animal, hoping I wasn’t luring her to her death.
    The jaguar thumped its tail against her legs as she strode past it. “Stop it,” she said firmly, shooting it a disapproving look. It snarledat her, opening its jaws and displaying deadly fangs that glowed in the darkness. She pulled back her foot and kicked its flank, her colorful striped espadrille barely making a sound against the heavy muscle. “Stop it! Go inside!”
    Yellow eyes narrowed. She sighed and shook her head, then looked at me, her face kind. “Are you lost?”
    I slowly pointed one finger at the huge cat.
    â€œDon’t mind him,” she said, crouching down to my level. “He’s being a butt.”
    The jaguar’s mouth opened, and a slow, deep rumble came from its chest. If the young woman hadn’t been there, so unconcerned, I would have peed myself.
    I swallowed, trying to lubricate a throat gone dry with fear. Finally I managed, “I’m looking for Donella Garrison. Or Donella Féliznundo.” Which had been my mother’s name before she got married.
    The young woman blinked at me, and oddly, the jaguar did too. They exchanged a look like people do, and then the jaguar turned abruptly and loped through the shadows back to the house. I saw its large form slink up some concrete stairs and through an open doorway.
    I let out a deep breath, not aware I’d been holding it. The amber light of a streetlamp cast patched shadows on the woman’s face, which was now regarding me more coldly.
    â€œWhat do you want with her?” Her voice was unfriendly.
    Swallowing again, I sat up a little straighter. I was really hungry, really thirsty, and really tired. If she left me, I would probably just liedown again and sleep under this tree for a week. “I think’s she my aunt. My mother’s sister.”
    Someone else came out of the house: a guy, wearing beat-up jeans low on his hips and a plaid short-sleeved shirt, unbuttoned. His hair was dark red, long, and messy. He came and stood silently next to the girl, his arms crossed over his chest.
    â€œI’m Vivi Neves,” I told them. “My mother was Aracita Féliznundo before she got married, and she