The Call of the Wild

Over the next two weeks, Isabel threw herself into preparations for the expedition. She pored over satellite images of the A****n, trying to pinpoint the location of Kai's village. She studied local legends, indigenous languages, anything that might give her a clue about the jaguar people.

One evening, as she was packing her gear, her phone rang. She smiled when she saw the caller ID.

"Hi, Mom," she answered, wedging the phone between her ear and shoulder as she continued to sort through equipment.

"Isabel, honey," her mother's sultry voice came through, tinged with worry. "Are you sure about this trip? It sounds so dangerous."

Isabel sighed. They'd had this conversation several times already. It was difficult to reconcile this concerned mother with the one who dumped her with Mémé and showed up twice a year if she was lucky. She was trying to build their relationship now that her mother was clean, but it was difficult to believe she'd really changed. "Yes, Mom, I'm sure. I'll be fine. Miguel's coming with me, and we're hiring an experienced guide."

"But why can't you study something safer? There are plenty of interesting animals right here in the States."

Isabel paused, thinking of how to explain without revealing too much. "Mom, do you remember Grandma's stories? About the people who could change into animals?"

Her mother's sigh crackled through the phone. "Oh, Isabel, not this again. Those were just stories, honey. You know that."

"But what if they weren't?" Isabel pressed. "What if Grandma knew something we didn't?"

There was a long pause. When her mother spoke again, her voice was soft, almost wistful. "Your grandmother... she did know a lot of things but none of it was magic. But Isabel, even if there was some truth to her stories, that doesn't mean you should go chasing after myths in the jungle."

Isabel smiled, touching the gris-gris bag around her neck. "I have to try, Mom. I have to know."

Another pause, then her mother said, "Just... be careful, okay? And call me when you can."

"I will, Mom. I promise."

As Isabel hung up, her gaze fell on an old photo on her desk. It showed her as a young girl, sitting on her grandmother's lap. Mémé's eyes twinkled with mischief and secret knowledge, while young Isabel looked at her with pure adoration.

"I'm going to prove you right, Mémé," Isabel whispered. "I'm going to find the truth."

Finally, the day of departure arrived. Isabel stood at the airport, her backpack heavy with equipment, books, and, this time weapons and a GPS system. Miguel bounced on his heels beside her, his excitement palpable.

"Are you ready for this?" Isabel asked him, a mix of anticipation and nervousness fluttering in her stomach.

Miguel nodded enthusiastically. "More than ready, Dr. Isabel. I can't wait to get back to the jungle, to see... them again."

Isabel smiled, sharing his enthusiasm. As they boarded the plane, she thought of Kai. Did he ever think of her? Did he regret sending her away? Or was he glad to be rid of the nosy outsider who threatened to expose his people's secrets?

As the plane took off, Isabel closed her eyes, picturing the lush green canopy of the A****n. Somewhere out there, hidden from the world, Kai and his people were living in harmony with nature, guarding secrets that could change everything.

"I'm coming, Kai," she whispered. "Ready or not."

The flight seemed to last forever, each hour stretching into an eternity of anticipation. Isabel tried to sleep, but her mind raced with possibilities. What if they couldn't find the village? What if Kai and his people had moved on, disappearing deeper into the jungle to escape detection?

When they finally landed in Brazil, the humid air hit Isabel like a wall. She didn't think air could be thicker than it was in southern Louisiana but here it was almost like breathing underwater. She took a deep breath filling her lungs with the rich, earthy scent of the nearby rainforest. It felt like coming home.

"Dr. Isabel," Miguel said, his voice tight with excitement, "look!"

Isabel followed his gaze to a man holding a sign with their names. He was tall and lean, with skin darkened by the sun and eyes that seemed to hold secrets. This must be their new guide.

As they approached, the man lowered the sign and extended his hand. "Dr. Torres? I'm Raul. I'll be your guide."

Isabel shook his hand, noting the strength in his grip. "It's nice to meet you, Raul. This is my assistant, Miguel."

Raul nodded to Miguel, then turned back to Isabel. "I must say, Dr. Barron, your request was... unusual. Not many people want to go to that part of the jungle. It's said to be... haunted."

Isabel's heart skipped a beat. "Haunted? Tell me you're not superstitious, Raul? Our last guide abandoned us in the night. It was pure luck we found our way back to the river and our boat."

Raul flashed her a blindingly white smile as he popped his gum. "Me? No, not at all. But," his eyes darted around, as if checking for eavesdroppers. When he spoke, his voice was low. "There are stories, old stories, about people who are not quite people. They say they can take the form of jaguars, that they guard the deepest secrets of the forest. Most think they're just legends, but..." He trailed off, shrugging.

Isabel and Miguel exchanged a quick glance. "And what do you think, Raul?" Isabel asked carefully.

Raul studied her for a long moment before answering. "I think, Dr. Torres, that the jungle holds many secrets but all of them can be explained." He tapped himself in the chest. "I'm a man of science as well. You don't worry about Raul. I will not leave you."

Isabel stared long and hard at Raul and hoped that what he said was true. Just in case, they did have the GPS system and Sat phone this time. The electronics added weight to their bags and was expensive, but this time Isabel wasn't taking chances.

As they gathered their gear and prepared to head into the city for last-minute supplies, Isabel felt a shiver of excitement run down her spine. This was it. The start of her real adventure.

She thought again of the tall, bronzed man who saved Miguel in the jungle— of his fierce protectiveness and the hint of longing she'd seen in his eyes. She thought of her grandmother, of the stories that had shaped her childhood and led her to this moment.

And as the bustling city gave way to the wild green of the A****n, Isabel knew, with a certainty that ran bone-deep, that she was exactly where she was meant to be. The jungle called to her, a siren song of secrets and ancient magic. And Isabel Torres, scientist and seeker of truth, was ready to answer that call.