Smoke and Mirrors - 62

Jared shot Daniel an ‘I told you so’ look that had his partner scowling in response. “If it’s the Chupacabra and he watching us he’s going to think I’m the weak one.”

::Not weak:: A voice echoed in all their heads, followed by a low hissed out chuckle. There was a flurry of movement high above them before something glided down to land a few yards from where they stood. It snapped its beak-like jaws together as it began hopping back and forth in movements resembling those of a kangaroo.

The trio eyed the Chupacabra warily but made no movement to try to capture it just yet. Jared spoke first. “Why don’t you think I’m weak? I’m only a human, not a shifter like they are.”

There was an amused hiss from the Chupacabra. ::Not human. Like me. Blood drinker::

Jared bowed his head in acknowledgement. “I could ask if you are friendly but you’d say yes even if you weren’t. So I guess the question becomes why are you here?”

::Here because it is safe::

“For him maybe, but not the wildlife or potentially the humans,” Daniel pointed out.

Nodding in response to Daniel’s comment Jared then asked the Chupacabra, “Are you on the run, or in hiding?”

The Chupacabra tilted its head as if trying to decide exactly what Jared was asking. Then it clicked its jaw together. ::Hiding from seeker::

“Some one is looking for you other than us?” Jared decided he’d better get their reason for being here out in the open immediately.

Giving a sharp nod of its head the Chupacabra replied ::One who wishes to study me:: It paused then tapped its chest ::Inside. Like my brother::

“Oh shit.” Daniel looked pityingly at the creature. “Do you know if this person followed you here?”

::Yes. Know he has not. Me escaped. Ran. Snuck onto boat. Hid. Got off many days later. Walked. Flew. Hid. Came here::

“From South America I suspect,” Norris said.

The Chupacabra nodded and then spewed out a stream of words in a language none of them understood. It saw their bewilderment and said ::Was telling about home. Trees like here. Good hunting. Safe until humans found us. Took brother:: It snapped its beak angrily.

“How many of you are there?” Jared asked.

Holding up both hands the Chupacabra bent down two claws. ::This many::

“Four of you. Where is the rest of your family? Still there?”

::Brother dead now. Others not family:: It shrugged ::Ran too::