'No, there's nothing wrong with wanting the two of you together.' Mantu replied as the spider came down from the top of the webbing and settled in the center.
'Then why can't she see that!' Esca growled as he looked up towards him. 'Instead of being together like we should be, she's hunting me!'
'Then you know what to do in order to lift this mark from you.' Mantu reminded him with a grin.
'Of course I know, but I couldn't…' Esca started to say, but then remembered what happened on his way out of Kento's and Kaye's room. 'I did mark another. How could have I been so careless? I shouldn't have marked her!'
'Tell me Esca, who did you mark?' Mantu asked with interest as he watched guilt start to show in Esca's eyes.
'A young girl, she was with another. A bigger and stronger boy. It happened when Rei was coming after me. It was an accident! I didn't mean to mark her, I didn't mean it!' the jaguar exclaimed in despair.
'But you did anyway. Maybe this isn't as bad as it seems.' Mantu mused in amusement as ideas were running through his head.
'No, you already have me and Rei, you don't need any more! There has to be another way to break your hold!' Esca growled as he glared at the spider.
'There isn't, now go and track the two down and keep your eyes on them. Wait until the girl is fully transformed and then lead her here.' Mantu ordered as he started to climb back up.
Esca tried to object, but the spider wouldn't hear any of it. So, the jaguar hung his head in defeat and walked off.
'Soon, my empire will flourish again, and things will go back to the way things use to be.' Mantu thought to himself with a chuckle as he watched Esca walk away.
'What that spider said can't be true. There has to be a way to end this curse without marking anyone else.' Esca wondered as he found a place and settled down and started to fall asleep.
"Kento, we have to try and find the guide that told us the story." Kaye said as they were looking around town. "Maybe he'll be able to tell us what we need to know."
"Don't worry, we'll find him." Kento replied as he was trying to sound reassuring.
Kaye nodded and they continued the search. Time passed, and it was getting to feel like they've been searching the whole day with no luck. It was like he just disappeared. They finally ended up where they met the guide when they first arrived.
"I hear you've been looking for me." the guide said as he appeared out of nowhere. "So, what did you two need?"
"Did you tell us everything about that legend last night?" Kento asked as he looked directly at him.
"I told you everything that's been told to me from generation to generation. Why? Did something happen?" the guide asked with interest.
"Where can this spider or jaguar be found?" Kento asked cutting him off.
The guide looked over towards Kaye since she hasn't said anything yet. "Something did happen, you were marked, weren't you?"
"It's none of your business. Just tell us what we want to know." Kento shot back as he was getting impatient with him.
"You don't need me to tell you. Just wait until the full moon tonight and she'll be able to find them on her own." the guide replied as he glanced back at them before walking away. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry."
Kento was about to give him a piece of his mind, but then when he glanced back at Kaye, he saw a very concerned look on her face. "Hey, don't worry, we'll find them, and we'll do it before the full moon."
"Then what do we do once we find them?" Kaye asked as she looked up towards him.
"What else? We're going to make them lift that mark from you and then we'll make sure that they won't be able to mark anyone with that curse ever again." Kento replied in reassurance. "Come, on, let's get going and find this place. I have a feeling that Rei will be looking for it too. And I don't exactly trust her either."
"I don't trust her either, she might kill Esca before we can find out how to lift this thing." Kaye agreed as they walked out into the jungle.
Hours seemed to have flew by as they were searching for Esca and Mantu. It was early in the morning when they've started searching, but now, the sun is starting to set, and the full moon is getting ready to rise.
"Man, we've been at this all day and still no trace of either one." Kento grumbled as they stopped to rest. He looked over to Kaye as she gave a sigh, "But I'm sure that we'll find them soon."
"Yea, you're right, we will." Kaye replied half heartedly as she was making a small circle so they could have a camp fire to stay warm.
"Hey," Kento started to say as he knelt down beside her. "I've said it before, I won't lose my angel to a stupid curse. I'll make sure of it."
Kaye stopped what she was doing and looked over towards him, giving Kento a small smile as she nodded.
"The way you two are towards each other, it reminds me how Esca and I use to be a long time ago, before he marked me." Rei said as she and her other two hunters walked towards them. "When I find him, I'll take his life like he took mine."
"What? No, you can't take your vengeance on him like that. It wouldn't be right and you know it." Kaye replied as she frowned at her.
"Don't act all high and mighty with me girl. Save your speeches for someone that cares. I'll make him pay my way, and there's nothing that anyone can do or say to change my mind." Rei shot back with anger blazing in her eyes.
"Watch how you come off, or I just might forget you're a lady." Kento warned with narrowed eyes.
"Kento, please." Kaye asked him as she shook her head. Kento nodded and then sat back with her. "Rei, what can you tell us about this curse that we don't know."
"I take it that the guide only told you the basics of the legend." Rei asked as she saw them give a slight nod. "Figured as much. I suppose I can tell you the rest. See, when someone is marked for the first time, they turn into a jaguar whenever there's a full moon. But the longer they carry the curse, the more they stand a chance of being in control of the transformations instead of the other way around."
"What do you mean, are you saying that you can control yours?" Kaye inquired as her curiosity was starting to get to her.
"Esca marked me nearly thirty years ago. So, yes, instead of my transformations being controlled by the full moon, they're controlled by my emotions." Rei explained with a slight nod.
"Then if you can control them that way, what's there to keep Esca from being able to control his the same way?" Kento asked as he waited for her answer.
Rei nodded, "Yes, Esca can control his transformations just like me. But for her, she won't be able to control them for a long time. She will be forced to serve Mantu for the rest of her life, or until she finds another to mark."
"No, I serve no one! I'm free just like everyone else!" Kaye shot back as she stood up.
Kento quickly stood up as well, keeping his eyes on Rei as he kept Kaye close to him.
"You have quite a spirit there, it reminds me of when I was young. No matter, tonight you will change into a jaguar, and we'll see how well your spirit is then." Rei replied as she turned her back on them and started talking with her other two hunters.
"Don't listen to her Kaye. We'll figure this out, I promise." Kento assured her.
"You're right, we will figure this out. We've been through worse than this before." Kaye said as she was trying to be strong for him even though in the back of her mind she was scared. 'But we won't figure this out before the full moon is out and I'm already transformed.'
Not too far away where they were talking, Esca was watching them closely and quietly. He didn't want to make a move unless it was absolutely necessary. He glanced up and saw that the night was complete, and the moon was starting to come out from behind the clouds.
