Chapter 4

Curiosity Killed the Cat

Like the previous day's Safari, Tracker, Xochitl, Carlos, and Maria had been hiking up a mountain in the jungle. While Tracker had been there many times, Xocchitl had never seen it before. He hoped she would like it.

As usual, the two Mexican breeds showed a very visible degree of affection toward each other. This elicited a smile from both Carlos and Maria. They both loved how well the two clicked, and how they clearly felt for each other. Although the dogs were well ahead, Carlos was keeping a close eye on Tracker. He really didn't want a repeat of the previous day.

As the two dogs approached a cave, Xochitl's eyes darted around in all directions at the amazing sight of all the stalactites and stalagmites.

Her reactions brought a smile to Trackers face as he remembered he'd had the same reaction when he first saw this cave. Swept away in a dreamy daze, he laid his chin and muzzle between Xooochitl's ears, just as she had done the day prior. A pleasant surprise was in store for him. The warmth radiating off her skin felt divine. However, Tracker's moment of euphoria was cut short when the same shiver from the previous day ran down his spine. Upon feeling this, he immediately lifted his head and scrunched up his legs, not unlike he had done the previous day.

However, like the previous day, Xochitl was quick to notice, and so were their owners as evidenced by them rushing forward to separate them.

"What's going on?" she asked suspiciously.

"Nothing," insisted Tracker unconvincingly.

"Sure," responded Xochitl skeptically.

Before he could respond a second time, she reached her snout up to his head and gave him a peck on the cheek. This upset the balance of Tracker's posture, giving her a glimpse that was more than she had expected or needed to see.

Thankfully, by this point Maria had managed to catch up to them, and pulled the Xolitzcuintli away by the collar.

"¡perro malo!" she scolded.

"I guess it's best if we conclude our little outing here," suggested Carlos.

Maria nodded and departed with her overly inquisitive hairless.

Carlos looked at Tracker and led him off the trail. "Wait here a minute," he requested before walking a little further off the trail. "Now Carlos, you've done this before and this time is no different," he told himself. When he returned to the Chihuahua, Tracker looked back up at him. "See Tracker, you aren't the only boy who has to deal with this kind of thing."

A less embarrassed Tracker took a breath before Carlos continued.

"Now Tracker," began Carlos as he redid his belt, I am going to teach you this additional trick for dealing with that, but you have to promise me you will only do this in private, and this won't be your go to way of dealing with this."

Tracker nodded in understanding and Carlos bent down and whispered some instructions in his ear.

"Anyway, I'll be waiting for you back at the trail when you're done," explained Carlos.

20 minutes later, Tracker emerged from the brush to find Carlos waiting for him.

"Feeling more bueno?" he asked.

His pup nodded.

Carlos smiled and gave him a scritch behind the ears before pointing out, "This is the first time I've ever heard you bay. Come on, let's go home"

Notes:

Boy: Carlos just means male.