Chapter 4

Nahuel was in a bad mood. He had been roaming north along the coast line for a few weeks, and had not been paying attention when he crossed into the protected forest. People had not entered these woods for more than a century. At first because the forest was known to the natives as being inhabited by Wekufe, or evil spirits. A reputation started by his father, and continued by his aunt to protect them when he was young. He was the Wekufe, feeding of those unfortunate's that had lost their way and wandered across his path. Then the local government had turned the whole area into a preserve. Their prey had disappeared and Nahuel and his aunt Huilen had moved further south into the temperate rainforest on the coast.

There they had lived in relative peace for the last half century. In peace until that vampire Senna and her strange black eyed friends had intruded on them. He still remembered the only trip he had made from his beloved forests. He had been pleasantly surprised to discover that their destination had been for yet another temperate rain forest. The trees and wildlife had been different, but the moderate climate and constant cloud cover had been a comforting reminder of home.

Nahuel and Huilen had not stayed in the small town of Forks for long. They were both uncomfortable staying in the home of the strange vampire family, and both were restless to return home. Once they had returned, however, Nahuel had been uneasy and longed to be away from Huilen, longed to be alone to think about his life.

Now however Nahuel was in an unpopulated jungle, and he was hungry. "Well, at least I learned something useful from the Cullen family." With that he opened his senses searching for prey.

The breeze shifted and he caught the scent of a jungle cat. It was moving swiftly under the trees just a little distance to the east. He resigned himself to the strange meal, and headed deeper into the undergrowth. The cat must have somehow picked up that he was following because she picked up her pace, trying to loose him. Soon she was running full out, and he had to focus to keep up with her. He was so intent that he did not sense anything but the cat, and he skidded to a stop when he felt the breeze as a faster creature overtook him.

He stared in awe as the cat leapt up to a branch and made her way higher into the canopy. The strange creature leapt to the same branch, and swung all the way around to a perfect handstand atop the branch. Nahuel was then able to see clearly that the creature was a girl, not a human, but certainly a girl.

The girl balanced in her handstand for a moment and then silently stepped down on top of the branch so gracefully that an Olympic gymnast would quit the sport if it ever saw this creature. The girl glanced once more at the black cat, and then glared down at Nahuel.

"What do you think you are doing!" the creature demanded.

Nahuel looked into the beautiful brown eyes above him. Blinking he looked away for a moment and then back up to her. She was pale skinned with long bronze hair that ended in large ringlets at her waist. She was wearing a white cotton peasant blouse and khaki shorts. Shorts that showed of her sculpted legs and slim build.

"I was chasing my dinner, if you would move, I shall go after her." Nahuel replied.

"What kind of monster are-"

The monster reference instantly hit a nerve with Nahuel. He leapt at the tree and scrambled onto the branch where she was standing.

"Who are you to tell me what I can and can not eat?" he demanded of her.

The beautiful creature gave him a scathing look and stepped into a neighboring tree, moving upward and away from him as she did.

"Your English is very good. Have you spent much time out of this forest?" she asked.

Nahuel was surprised that she could move from yelling at him to a polite question so quickly.

"No, I prefer the forest. I do occasionally find myself with people and English seems to be popular with them currently." Nahuel was surprised that he had said so much.

"Would you prefer I spoke to you in English" she asked, and then continued in three different languages "or do you like Portuguese? I do speak Spanish, and to a lesser extent Mapuche" she finished with an arched eyebrow in his native tongue.

He was still angry with her "The Spanish and Portuguese taught now are elementary. I am less frustrated with English; it was always a horrible language" he answered, knowing that she would be disappointed by his lack of surprise at her knowledge of languages and his insulting response to her question.

She practically hissed at him and then plucked a ripe mango and threw it at him.

"Eat that. The cat has kittens you idiot, you can not take her without leaving them to die."

She looked at him for a moment closely observing him. Seeing no difference in his demeanor she continued "You will leave her alone Nahuel." She saw his surprised reaction to his name and smirked. "I know you, I wonder if you remember me."

With one last look at over her shoulder the strange and beautiful creature leapt from the tree and ran into the undergrowth. Nahuel stared into the dark green forest after her. He had never seen a woman as beautiful as she was. She looked and moved like the Ngen, spirits of nature, that his mother's people thought were responsible for the order of nature. Spirits that were cared for, and protected by nature. His stomach growled and he truly thought she must be his own personal Wekufe.