The gang's all here, but not quite together... Eddie finds himself face to face with the terrible El Jefe. Kit and Dan must put aside their doubts and trust Lupe in a dangerous situation.When Eddie came-to, everything hurt. His chest felt horribly bruised and breathing still felt like it took great effort. His eyes were open, but all he could see was darkness that pressed in all around his vision. It occurred to him that he was upright, but he had no feeling in his legs or arms. He tried to lift his head where it was slumped forward but he could barely raise his chin.

His sluggish brain tried to piece together what had happened. The memory of the tunnel inside the O’Malley house trickled back slowly. The descent into the darkness. The dart in his chest. He’d been poisoned, paralyzed by that dart. He tried to lift his head with all his strength and searched the inky black room. His head lolled forward again painfully and he gave a wheezing gasp.

His heart hammered as he felt hands in the darkness take his face and lift it up. Something clamped over his mouth, he only barely recognized it was another mouth that pinched his nose shut. He felt a flood of air fill his mouth and lungs. He sputtered and coughed hoarsely as the figure in the dark pulled away and he struggled to breathe on his own once more. He tried to speak but only a drunken-sounding groan escaped him.

“That’s better.” a voice in the darkness made his curly fur bristle. “Finally breathing on your own again.”

Eddie recognized the voice of the Jumper, Red Touch. He squeaked out a groan and tried to raise his leaden head again with no success. He strained to lift his arms but realized they were bound tightly behind his back. He was braced against some sort of post in the dark chamber. He tried to speak again but the Jumper shushed him. He could hear him milling about in the void of the room, unsure what was going on, and why he didn’t have a light lit.

“Don’t waste your strength.” Red Touch said gruffly. “The venom is slow to fade, we have hours before it wears off.” There was the clinking of pottery and glass in the room. “But you’ll be gone by then.” he added with a touch of hope. “I’ll prepare you and Aguilandro so that your spirit fades out in time for his to enter your body before it expires. He needs it more than you, to continue his great work. You’re young and strong, for a mouse, though there’s not much to be done about that I’m afraid. A mouse wouldn’t have been my first choice, but we can’t be picky anymore.” he added distastefully.

Eddie struggled to see in the blinding darkness all around him. He ached to ask questions. He ached to swear and shout and scream himself hoarse. He tried to flex his fingers, they hardly twitched. How long had he been down there? What was this grizzled critter going on about?
He stiffened hearing footsteps and felt whiskers brush his ear as Red Touch returned to examine him, lifting up his useless lolling head by the chin. He made a harsh growling sound of disapproval and to his dismay, he heard the Jumper give a soft laugh.

“Young and strong.” Red Touch remarked. “That should suit him nicely.” he walked across the room. “I will fetch him now, you had best show your utmost respect, if he doesn’t choose you to be his vessel, your blood won’t be shed in vain. Aguilito will need feeding tonight as well.”

Eddie tossed his head weakly side to side, in the crushing darkness he couldn’t tell if he stayed awake or faded from consciousness again. The air was stale and musty, stinking of damp earth, sweat and some sort of sour smell coming from the back of the room. Eddie cleared his throat several times as he felt the feeling slowly coming back to his face. He wished the air was fresher. He longed to take deep, soothing gulps of it. He could hear a heavy, meaty shuffling from outside the chamber.
The door, scraped open across the earthen floor then closed with a hefty thunk. Eddie wrinkled his nose as the sour smell suddenly became overpowering in the darkness and he heard deep, labored breathing fill the dark room.

“Who’s there?” he managed to croak out, the very words felt like they left claw marks inside his throat with the effort of speaking.

“Ah, you yet draw breath.” a deep voice rumbled. “Good.” The critter chuckled and broke off with a wet, hoarse cough. “I suppose you have questions.”

“Show yourself! Let me go!” Eddie tried to raise his voice but it was broken, raspy demand. The stench was growing, he didn’t want to breathe but the weakness from the paralysis was too much for him to try and hold his breath.

“Patience.” the voice croaked and there was the sound of creaking wood in the dark, they had taken a seat in a chair most likely. “Manners are a virtue. If we forgo them so quickly we shall be no different than those savages that still follow the Wild Way.” The critter gave a few wheezing deep breaths then continued. “I am Martin Guerrero, most of my flock call me Aguilandro, the reincarnated spirit of the rodent god who tamed the eagle. You can call me El Jefe.”

“Who cares.” Eddie growled. “You’re talkin’ out from under your tail!” Eddie gasped and felt his head wrenched upwards from behind by a fistful of his headfur. There was something cold and sharp suddenly pressed against his throat.

“Speak poorly to Aguilandro again and you will bathe in your own blood!” Red Touch hissed menacingly.

“Red Touch!” El Jefe grunted sharply. “Leave us.”

“But, Aguilandro, the preparations…” Red Touch started.

“I will summon you when I need you. Be gone now.”

Eddie swallowed hard as the blade was removed and he heard the door open and close again in front of him.

“Loyalty cannot be bought.” El Jefe mused. “Red Touch is about as loyal as they come. He’d do anything to see my spirit live on. He has even offered his own body to carry on my spirit, but he is getting on in years himself. Besides, I need my priest to carry out the ceremony. It couldn’t be him, sadly.”

“Yer talkin’ nonsense. You had better let me go, if Roach finds out you’ve taken me hostage–”

“Hostage?” El Jefe gave a hollow laugh. “No, you are not being kept for something as trivial as money.”

“Good, cause I don’t have any.” Eddie muttered bitterly. “What is this place?” he asked.

“My sanctum.” El Jefe answered. “My place of rest away from the prying, pleading eyes of my flock.”

“What flock, like followers?” Eddie rolled his eyes, then felt his fur prickle at the lack of response. “What are you doin’ with me? That crazy Jumper thinks he can kill us and swap bodies or some shite.”

“That he does.” The chair gave a great creak and Eddie wrinkled his nose as the unseen critter stumped past him towards the other side of the room, washing him over with the stench billowing in his wake. “He is a hopeful one.”

“It won’t work! You know that!” Eddie snapped.

“Ye of little faith.” El Jefe picked something up and there was the sound of a striking match. The bulk of the critter’s back shielded Eddie from the light as a lantern was lit. The lantern pains were shaded with dark red glass that lit up the room in an eerie hellish light. El Jefe was a hulking beast of a rodent, nearly the size of Vernon. As he picked up the lantern and turned to face Eddie the young buck had to stifle a yelp of surprise.

El Jefe was a large, brawny gopher. His protruding teeth were long and reddish orange, he could have bitten clean through Eddie’s arm if he had the mind to. His fur was growing in patchy tufts along massive tumorous lumps boiling outwards from his pelt. His clothes scarcely fit around them and his face drooped heavily on the left side like a melted, bubbling candle. He was wearing a filthy open white robe etched with painted red and black feathers in dripping designs. He was gripping a stout walking stick with a smooth rounded cudgel topper. As he stepped towards Eddie the pendulous growths trembled grotesquely and the mouse pinned his ears back in fright.

“A horrible sight, no?” the mutilated gopher gave him a grin. “This sickness has nearly claimed me. My followers, my flock, they believe I am cursed. That this body is a rotting vessel beset upon me by some great jealous enemy. That much is true, but they respect and fear my power. They need my leadership to carry them away from the Wild Way, away from civilized frontier.” he spat on the ground. “I could have created a nation of spiritual warriors, my children could have grown up casting shadows of demigods, but now I’m dying in the dark. I need a new form to carry on leading my flock, but unfortunately, I don’t believe it can be you. A scrawny young mouse does not cast an imposing shadow.”

“Y…yer crazy is you are.” Eddie swallowed hard. “And you had better let me go! If my gang finds out what you’ve done to me–”

“Come looking for you no doubt, but they won’t find you.” El Jefe set the lantern down. “And you don’t seem keen on joining the flock yourself.”

“Damn right I don’t!” Eddie snorted, then the frown slipped into horror. “Wait…”

El Jefe gave a lopsided smile and rapped on the door with his walking stick. “Red Touch, come in here.”

The door opened and for this first time in the light, Eddie got a good look at the Jumper. He was tall, a scraggly mat of fur on his head that hung in his gaunt, withered looking face. Despite his age, he was still strong and powerful looking. He was staring at Eddie with malevolence, before his gaze locked onto his leader.

“This will not do.” El Jefe shook his huge head. “A mouse cannot be my next form.”

“Aguilandro, the red moon won’t wait.” The Jumper began quickly. “After the switch, we can find a better form for you at a later date, when this curse is not threatening to snuff you out.”

“Do not question me.” Aguilandro stood up. “He does not wish to join the flock, either. Ready him for Aguilito.”

Red Touch looked frustrated but didn’t argue as he turned towards Eddie and unsheathed a large wicked looking knife.

“Not in here, go to the Moon Cave and let his insult be known.”

“What are you yammerin’ about?” Eddie started to ask as his bonds were cut and he suddenly found himself falling forward and crashing to the earthen floor, his legs still unable to hold him up. He winced as Red Touch grabbed his scruff and dragged him out the door. He paused in the doorway and looked over his shoulder.

“What would you consider a suitable host?” he asked.

El Jefe blew out the lantern. “Bring me something impressive. Something powerful. Rats, gophers, you will know when you see him.”

Red Touch nodded and dragged Eddie out into the hall as the half paralyzed buck twisted and thrashed weakly on his grasp.

–

Lupe had reached the T intersection by the time Kit and Dan had caught up to him. His face was grim as he stared at the bones pushed into the wall.

“I assume you knew about this cult in the area?” Kit asked frostily.

“Kit, its the same symbol that we saw before in the alley.” Dan pointed out.

“The alley?” Lupe frowned. “You saw this before?”

“You ran off before we could show you.” Kit glared at him. “You’re keeping something from us. If Eddie dies because of you…” he growled.

“Enough!” Dan stepped between them. “Lupe, I think we’re owed an explanation later, but right now you know more than either of us. How do we find Eddie?”

Lupe scanned the ground and spotted the signs of a scuffle. “Something happened here… and look, an arrow mark. Eddie was marking his way back. I taught him that trick, how to stop from getting lost when there were multiple paths.”

“Did someone take him?” Dan arched a brow.

“I think so.” Lupe felt the tracks and bristled seeing the signs of a bare-footed rodent. Red Touch must still be alive too. He recalled the Jumper’s terrifying face as he had carved the cult symbol into his palm. “He didn’t walk out of here.”

“Find him!” Kit demanded.

“Keep your voice down! You have no idea who you’re messing with!” Lupe hissed.

“Who goes there!” a voice shouted down the tunnel to their right.

“I’ll take care of them.” Kit growled and started to unsling his gun.

“No, wait.” Lupe grabbed the barrel of the gun and forced it down.

“Lupe!” Kit hissed in alarm.

“Give me a minute!”

“Who goes there!” the voice demanded, starting to grow louder.

“We don’t have a minute!” Dan hissed. “Lupe! What do we do!” he had his hand resting on the handle of his sawed-off shotgun.

Lupe’s brows shot up. “Give me your guns.”

“No way!” Kit hissed.

“Kit, my brother, trust me.” Lupe murmured deathly seriously.

Kit stared at him hard and gave his head a rough shake, handing over his rifle tensely. Dan passed Lupe his gun as well. Lupe stashed the weapons under his poncho out of sight.

Lupe whispered. “Play along and agree with everything I say.” he raised his light and blew it out.

“Have you lost your m–” Kit started but Dan pushed him forward just as a horned lizard, followed by a stout brown rat and a scruffy looking mouse with one eye rounded the corner. He jumped in surprise.

“Who are you? Intruders!” he started to raise his voice.

“Oh hush, I’m back from topside with the fresh recruits.” Lupe said roughly. “Caught these two snooping around the O’Malley cabin, offered them a better reward down here.”

The horned lizard squinted at Lupe suspiciously. “Do I know you?”

“Why, are you important?” Lupe curled his lip. “I don’t have time for all this, I need to get these two into the cavern for the ceremony tonight.”

“Tonight?” The lizard blinked. “Has Aguilandro found a suitable vessel?”

“What do you think he is.” Lupe kicked out at Dan, who stumbled forward on his hands where he had been kneeling. He wasn’t entirely sure what the lizard was on about, but he couldn’t afford to look confused. He could hear more critters approaching from the tunnel to their left, he wanted to get out of sight before someone recognized him…

The lizard suddenly rested his hand on the pistol at his side. “Show me your hand.” he said slowly.

“I really don’t have time for this.” Lupe said coldly, but he stood his ground as the lizard drew his gun and pointed it between Lupe’s eyes, cocking the hammer back.

“Now.” The lizard growled, stepping close enough that the barrel was touching his dark fur.

Kit and Dan stared in horror, unsure how to react, as Lupe slowly tugged off his glove and showed the lizard a scar on his palm they had never seen, it matched the symbol on the wall perfectly.

The lizard withdrew his gun instantly. “Sorry, had to be sure.” he grumbled. “Well, to the cavern.” he holstered his gun.

“Lead the way.” Lupe said coolly. “I’ll bring up the rear.” he shoved Kit and Dan forward and they started down the dark tunnel to the right.

–

Eddie couldn’t see anything in the pitch black tunnels as he was dragged by Red Touch. Occasionally passed another critter or two in the inky blackness that he couldn’t make out. He just heard their breathing and soft footfalls. He wanted to scream and yell but for once an instinct he had never felt before had seized him and begged him to be quiet. He feared if he didn’t listen, the frustrated, furious Jumper dragging him along the tunnel would stop and kill him then and there. Instead, he tried to look all around as they went, sniffing for fresh air or any sign of the outside world.

Soon Eddie could sense the tell open out into a vast cavern. Pricks of light could be seen around the edges giving him some idea as to its vastness, and above it all was a circular hole in the stone ceiling showing the night sky flecked with stars, yet somehow that void seemed brighter than the darkness in this cavern. It didn’t take long for the new light to help Eddies eyes adjust and he felt himself being dragged over bones as Red Touch started to drag him up the pile partway and threw him down beside a few other furry bodies. It took a second for Eddie to realize that some of them were still alive.

“Summon the flock.” Red Touch told a crouching rat nearby, who scamped down the bone pile with a clatter.

Eddie tried to sit up but his back was still frustratingly numb. He rolled to raise his head, peering between the shattered ribcage of some larger rodent to the scrawny, mange pelted mouse at his side.
The mouse, an older buck, looked at Eddie with fearful eyes before flinching back as the cavern started to flood with critters from seemingly everywhere. Eddie swallowed hard and tried to sit up and again, flipped back against the bones with a clatter.

“Stop that!” The older buck snapped. “You don’t move, I move! You stay dead! You are dead!” the buck bared broken teeth then turned away, muttering madly under his breath.

“What’s your problem??” Eddie hissed and pushed hard against the rib cage with his numb, floppy hands until he could see the massive assemble of rodents and lizards gathering at the foot of the bone pile. He tried to make out faces, but he didn’t recognize any that he could make out in the dim light.

He heard the crunch of bones from higher up on the hill but couldn’t turn to see. A heavy bout of coughing assured his suspicions that El Jefe had arrived above him to watch whatever was about to happen.

–

The tunnels began to fill with critters as Lupe, Kit and Dan followed the horned lizard through the tunnels. Lupe felt pressed by all sides and had to muscle down his fear, remembering that night at the foot of the bone hill. Eddie had to be there, he had to be at the front. And knowing his big mouth he’d be killed before he could get to him.
He kicked forward and hit Dan’s tail, causing his rat brother to turn and look over his shoulder with a frown.

“Dan,” Lupe hissed in the tunnel. “You and Kit stay close to me.” he started to whisper when he heard a scream down the tunnel in front of him that sent all his fur on end. Dan flinched and his hand grabbed for his gun, even though the holster was empty.

“Oh we’re gonna water some bones tonight, gents!” a loud voice cackled down the tunnel ahead.
Lupe furrowed his brow. He knew that voice.

“You know what happens to traitors!” the voice continued, paused with grunts and sounds of effort to shove something further ahead.

“Zico.” Lupe spoke before he could stop himself.

“No! Please!” a voice gasped out pitifully and broke into screeching sobs as they were hauled away from the main tunnel.

“Andre!” Lupe bristled. “Dan, stay with Kit.” he started to go when Dan grabbed him by the tail and held him back. As Kit made a lunge as well.

“You’re not leaving us!” Kit hissed furiously.

“Let go!” Lupe tried to pull out of Dan’s grip but the rat yanked him back so hard Lupe almost fell on his face. He wheeled about angrily with his lantern to scold his brothers but saw despite their frustrated faces that their whiskers were trembling with fear.

“I’ll find you again!” Lupe ripped his tail free. “I promise!” he dashed into the crowd again, leaving Dan and Kit surrounded by the other critters in the dark tunnel.

“He left us…” Dan whispered nervously.

“I know.” Kit set his jaw and stumbled as the crowd continued forward. “It’ll be alright.” he said grimly.

“You don’t believe that.” Dan said gruffly, trying to keep the fear from his voice as they poured into a great open cavern.

“I’ll keep saying it til it's true then.” Kit grabbed Dan’s sleeve to avoid tripping headlong over a partially mummified mouse body on the ground and bristled all over in shock.

Dan stumbled back but the wave of critters behind him pushed him forward.

“New recruits, with me.” The horned lizard jerked his head to the side for them to follow.

“Who’s this?” A tall Jumper reached out and planted a hand on Dan’s chest before he could go any further.

“New recruit, Red Touch.” The horned lizard gave a little bow, averting his gaze from the taller rodent.
Dan blinked in surprise, he hadn’t seen a Jumper before, and certainly not this close. This one was staring at him with hungry eyes set in a severe face.

“Yes, yes we’ve been expecting him.” The Jumper nodded. “I’ll take him from here.”

“The hell you will!” Kit snapped, muscling between Dan and the Jumper. “We’re not splitting up!” he stumbled hard from the backhand dealt by the horned lizard that flung him into the dust.

“Do not speak to the high priest unless he addresses you!” The lizard bellowed before Dan dealt him a savage kick on the side that sent him sprawling. The lantern smashed on the ground, catching the lizards sleeve on fire. The horned lizard screamed and rolled about in the bones trying to extinguish himself to no avail. Suddenly there was a horrific gurgling and the burning lizard stopped thrashing. Red Touch straightened up and pulled the long stone knife from the lizards blazing body.

“Forgive me, he was sullying this holy place with that racket.” he wiped the knife and sheathed it. “My good rat, come with me. Alone.” he enunciated firmly.

Dan stared at the burning corpse and looked around, the firelight in the dark reflected dozens of burning eyes turned upon them. He thought of what they might do to Kit if he refused and he pulled his mouse brother upright and gave his shoulder a squeeze.

“Alright… alright.” he looked down at Kit. “I’ll catch up with you, I promise.” he started to walk away with Red Touch through the masses around the back of the bone pile.

“You came just in time.” Red Touch mused aloud. “I was starting to worry, starting to second guess the tellings. But here you are.”

“Here I am.” Dan frowned. “What am I here for?”

“All in good time, stay here, don’t moved.” Red Touch pointed at the ground and started to climb the back of the bone pile to where a large rodent Dan couldn’t quite make out was seated on top.

Dan glanced around side to side then started to edge backwards, maybe he could grab Kit and get out of here. Then he froze hearing a voice he’d know anywhere.

“Aye! Keep your hands to yourself before I tie ‘em together and shove them up your arse!”

“Eddie?” Dan breathed and pushed through the crowd until he was back at the front of the bone pile where he saw an old buck crouching over Eddie tying his wrists and ankles together with lengths of red cords. He bristled and started to push to the front of the crowd when a gunshot went off in the tunnels behind him and the whole murmuring crowd in the cavern went deathly silent.

“Lupe!” Dan heard Kit’s voice echo loudly in the back of the cavern.