He should not have lowered his dagger.

Adults were not to be trusted.

Before his eyes, Nitara's blood dripped from her wrist into a wooden cup that the young man held out.

Justin's temples throbbed as he stared in horror at the scene playing out in front of him. He felt paralyzed and the world around him blurred, except for Nitara's blood, which was bright and in focus.

The young man ripped a piece of fabric from his own orange wrap with his knife and wrapped it tightly around Nitara's bleeding wrist. The two men bowed to one another. With Nitara still in his arms, the older man disappeared back behind the palm frond.

Justin wanted to call out. To stop the man, but he couldn't move.

The younger man stepped up to Justin and spoke something he could not understand or barely hear. The man placed a hand on Justin's shoulder and it brought the man's face into focus. He looked vaguely familiar.

"She will live," said the young man, and he smiled before saying. "Go, follow her. I will lead the wicked men the wrong way."

He held up the wooden cup with Nitara's blood, stepped around Justin, and disappeared around a large trunk.

She will live, echoed within Justin, bringing life back to his limbs.

"She will live," he said out loud and stepped around the palm frond in pursuit of the old man.

Although the old man looked frail, he never once loosened his grip on Nitara as he walked. He stepped firmly and easily maneuvered over roots and rocks. They climbed a steep ravine, and he didn't seem to tire. He walked slowly but purposely as if he walked this same route a million times before.

After following the old man for about an hour, Justin's mouth felt parched, and sweat beaded on his forehead.

The man glanced at Justin, smiled, and looked ahead. Less undergrowth and gaps in the trees let in large streams of sunlight. In one of these gaps stood a small hut built out of bamboo. Looking more closely, Justin noticed rows of huts dotting the jungle.

As they neared, a large, green wooden tree house that spanned six trees rose in the center of the huts. It had a palm frond thatched roof, large windows with no glass, and an orange staircase leading to an expansive front porch.

The older man walked around the huts to the tree house in the center. As Justin followed, he noticed people sitting inside the huts, staring out at him.

Reaching the tree house, the old man climbed the steps. Justin made to follow, but immediately, a woman stepped out from behind the stairs, cutting him off.

This woman completely blocked Justin's view of the old man. He took a step back in surprise. The woman's long black hair flecked with gray pulled back into a tight braid. She wore a loose-fitting blue dress covered in a pattern of suns, stars, and moons. She smiled joyfully at Justin and the joy radiated to her eyes in creases that captured a lifetime of joy. Justin couldn't help but smile at her. She was beautiful.

She placed a hand on Justin's back and beckoned him to follow her away from the tree house.

He hesitated and glanced up. The old man had disappeared inside with Nitara.

"It will be okay," the woman said, pushing a little more firmly on Justin's back. "You can put that dagger away now."

Looking down at his left hand, it shocked Justin to see he still clutched the jade dagger. Actually, he couldn't believe he even had it. Bringing the dagger closer to his face, he inspected it. He remembered Kali giving him the dagger, but then things got fuzzy. He didn't remember putting it into his robe pocket. Something inside of him had just known it was there. Carefully, he placed the dagger back inside his robe pocket.

Justin allowed himself to be led by the woman to a hut with a tin roof. Outside of this hut sat a small wooden bench. The woman sat on this and from underneath the bench, she pulled a cardboard box. Not knowing what to do, Justin sat on the ground next to the bench.

The woman brought one hand to her heart. "Thangamani."

Justin smiled and mimicked the woman's gesture. "Justin."

She pointed at Justin. "I like your pants."

He looked down, and his cheeks flushed with heat. With everything that happened, he forgot he was wearing blue sparkling silk pants, and a golden cropped shirt. He wrapped his blue robe tightly around himself.

"I mean it," said Thangamani.

Not meeting her eyes, Justin mumbled, "Thank you."

"Here, take this." She thrust a wet cloth under Justin's eyes. "For your cheek."

Taking it, Justin gingerly pressed it against his bleeding cheek. He winced as the liquid, which smelled earthy, seeped into the cut, but then he sighed as the sting and the burning sensation evaporated.

"Help me?" Thangamani held out long strips of colorful plastic to Justin. He took them in his free hand and examined them. They looked to be cut from plastic bottles and other everyday trash. From the box, Thangamani pulled an elephant key chain made from strips of plastic.

"For tourists to buy," she said.

"I don't think I can make that," he said.

"I will show you." She replaced the key chain with her own plastic strips and slowly wove them together as Justin watched.

After several minutes, when he realized his cheek no longer bled, he set down the cloth and tried to copy Thangamani. As they worked, Justin noticed people slowly emerging from the huts. A couple of women came and joined Justin and Thangamani while others wove baskets, or cleaned or prepared food around their own huts. A few people made their way down a well-trodden path. The path ended in an expansive, rich, green plain where people plowed the earth and tended to the crops. Even more huts dotted the perimeter of the fields.

Thangamani pointed to one woman who joined them. "My daughter Sangavi and my granddaughter." The woman smiled and nodded at Justin. A chubby face poked out of a blue wrap tied around the woman's back. The baby's mouth hung open, sound asleep.

"Only child in the village," said Thangamani.

"Why?"

"Our village used to be in a different jungle. Two years ago, men came and took all the children away and so we moved."

Thangamani bowed her head and let out a low moan. In that moan were years of agony, and it made Justin's eyes swell with tears. Thangamani's daughter grabbed her hand.

"All of our children are born gifted by the goddess Kali. The men wanted their gifts and took them from us. They took my son's child. They took my precious grandson."

Justin reached up and grabbed Thangamani's other hand. Thangamani squeezed it tightly and smiled. "They will take you as well. Justin, you must be careful."

Justin shook his head. "No, I am not gifted."

"Yes. I can feel your power. Just like my son and his son. You are a wizard."

A spark lit within Justin. It was small, but her words brought light deep within. Hope.

Time passed slowly and Justin lost himself in the weaving of the plastic. The women spoke to one another in murmured tones. They spoke what Thangamani called Malasar. They talked, laughed, and wove. Justin couldn't understand what they said, but their voices soothed him.

After some unknown time, Justin completed five plastic elephants. Thangamani completed twenty and her elephants actually looked like elephants unlike Justin's, which looked like a T-Rex if you squinted right. The women placed their plastic elephants in a large bag while Justin's were placed off to the side. He assumed for them to redo once he was no longer here. He didn't mind though, just working with his hands soothed his nerves.

The sun sank below the far hills, but not before painting the sky pink with its rays, an entire day almost complete. A man approached the hut carrying a shovel. He nodded to the women and to Justin before disappearing inside the hut.

"Time for food," said Thangamani, placing her last finished elephant down. "Some of the other villagers have prepared food for us. They do this when one villager is in a crisis. You, they feel, are in a crisis."

Warmth spread from Justin's chest and radiated outward. "That is very kind."

Thangamani smiled, shaking her head. "It is what's right."

She slowly stood from her bench and placed a hand on Justin's head. "Come, we have placed the meal in the main home."

She pointed to the tree house and made her way to it. Justin stood, nodding towards the other women still seated. They smiled, nodding in return. Then he followed Thangamani to the tree house and up the stairs.

Inside the large porch with the expansive windows stood a long table. On the table lay platters heaped with hot yams, rice, meat wrapped in plantain leaves, and prawns in a savory curry sauce that made Justin's stomach rumble.

"Food for my family, you and the doctor," explained Thangamani.

"It looks delicious," said Justin, and, as if in agreement, his stomach growled.

Pointing to the one chair at the head of the table, Thangamani said, "You are our guest. Please sit there."

Justin nodded and sat at the head of the table. Thangamani took the seat directly to Justin's left.

A minute later, the old man who'd carried Nitara from the jungle appeared from the house. Justin stood quickly, eager to hear news of Nitara.

The man smiled at Justin and spoke to Thangamani in Malasar.

Suddenly, Thangamani became very animated, speaking loudly and pointing at Justin. The man shook his head, and Thangamani frowned.

She turned to look at Justin, and his heart sank. Her eyes were comforting. She was a mother who had comforted hundreds of teary eyes.

"Manohara says that your friend hit her head hard, cracking her skull. He is a magician." Justin's eyes narrowed and Thangamani raised her hands. "He only uses magic gifted to him by those gifted in the village. The only thing he could do for your friend was to put her into a deep, magical sleep. He says either her body assisted by magic will heal itself and she will wake in the morning or," she placed her hand on top of Justin's own hand, which rested on the table.

"Or..." said Justin, cutting Thangamani off, his voice cracking, "or she doesn't wake."

Thangamani nodded, keeping her eyes on Justin instead of turning away from the pain, as many adults did.

Justin nodded and quickly wiped the tears that formed in his eyes as Thangamani's daughter entered the porch, now carrying her own daughter in her arms. Behind her followed the man who had carried the shovel.

"This is Mariyappan, Sangavi's husband."

Mariyappan nodded to Justin as he and Sangavi took seats at the far side of the table. Manohara, who hovered behind Thangamani, finally sat.

Footsteps echoed loudly as someone ran up the stairs. Thangamani sighed. "That would be Murrugesan," she said, "my youngest son."

Through the open doorway rushed the familiar-looking man who had collected Nitara's blood. He glanced around, locked eyes with Justin, and frowned. "I lost your pursuers, but only just. My tricks won't last long. We will have to leave in the morning. How is your friend?"

Everyone turned their gaze upon the food before them and did not speak.

"I see," said Murrugesan.

Standing quickly, Thangamani gestured to the open seat next to Justin. "Sit," she ordered. "The girl isn't dead yet. We will know by morning."

Murrugesan obeyed and took the seat next to Justin. Thangamani dished up bowls of food. She passed the first one to Justin. The smell of curry, steamed rice, and honey yams wafted up. His hunger overwhelming him, he dug in. Minutes went by and no one spoke. Justin ate every last crumb from his bowl.

When he sat the bowl down, Thangamani asked, "Do you want more?"

He shook his head. "It was delicious, thank you."

Thangamani smiled in response.

Justin looked at Manohara and then Murrugesan. "Thank you for saving us."

"Don't thank us," said Murrugesan. "Thank my brother."

He gestured to the empty chair next to him. "Vendari. You have met him?"

Justin's mouth fell open at the mention of the wizard of the jungle.

"He told us to keep an eye out for you. He thought you would be headed this way and in need of help."

Justin realized now why Murrugesan looked familiar. He looked very much like Vendari. He had the same curly hair, except in contrast to Vendari's striking white hair, he had brown. His eyes were just as intense and his chin was just as square. But somehow, Murrugesan's face was softer, filled with more laughter and joy than Vendari's.

"My older son," said Thangamani, filling in Justin's awkward silence, "is our village leader."

"Yes," said Murrugesan, "and I want to know why he wanted us to save an American boy. What has brought you here with the most powerful family in all of India chasing you?"

"You don't have to answer that," said Thangamani.

"Yes, you do," said Murrugesan and he stood, pointing at Justin. "I put my village at risk, bringing you here. My brother lost his son to the man who chases you, so why would he protect you?"

"I don't know," blurted Justin, and Thangamani placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I..." He was going to say he was a wizard, but then stopped himself. "I stepped through a door in California and found myself in India, in Nitara's room in Bengaluru. She is the girl asleep in the next room. With me came a beast. A large black wolf-like creature. I didn't know... I guess it can be invisible. It took Nitara's brother and Nitara went after it. It's all my fault. I went after Nitara and the beast to save her brother and stop the beast from causing any more harm. Nitara and her brother Niraj are wizards and their uncle and grandfather would like to use them for their magic. I can't let them get Nitara or Niraj. I have to protect them."

All at once, fabric covered in moons, stars, and suns enveloped him as Thangamani grabbed him in a massive hug.

"You poor boy," she sobbed. "You are just like my son, Vendari. You just want to protect your friends just as he wanted to save his village."

Releasing Justin from her arms, she grabbed one of his hands.

Across the table, Manohara spoke in Malasar and gestured wildly at Murrugesan.

Murrugesan nodded to the man. "He says your beast sounds a lot like the poor creature who has been howling loudly near the tourist camps. It has scared the tourists and the nearby tigers, making it difficult to lead tours. Vendari isn't here because he is out in the jungle trying to help it."

"It's here?" asked Justin, surprised.

Murrugesan nodded. "About a two-hour hike from here, it has created a sort of den for itself."

"Wait," said Justin, Murrugesan's earlier words finally ringing in his mind. "Vendari is trying to help it?"

"Of course," said Thangamani, "it could be his son..." She trailed off and shook her head. "But you said it came from California..." She trailed off again and covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a sob.

Murrugesan rushed over to his mom and wrapped both arms around her. He spoke softly in Malasar. She nodded but continued to cry.

Looking up at Justin as he held his mom, Murrugesan said in a low voice, "When we were told there was a beast in the Anamalai preserve, we thought the worse... We thought Sembian, Vendari's son had taken his final Payanam, umm, his final transformation."

"I don't understand," said Justin. "You thought Vendari's son could be the beast?"

"Magicians don't just take children's magic," informed Murrugesan. "They take their," he placed his hand to his heart, "Atma."

"Enough," declared Thangamani and she stood, pushing Murrugesan away. "He doesn't need to hear this. He needs to sleep. Come, Justin, there is a bed made up for you by Nitara. We thought you would want to stay with her."

Justin nodded and stood. "Can you take us to the beast?" he asked Murrugesan. "In the morning when Nitara wakes? We must find her brother."

Looking Justin in the eyes, Murrugesan replied, "It will be dangerous. Magicians across the world will be tracking the child. That is the purest magic there is and the magicians want it."

"We have to find her brother."

Murrugesan nodded and Justin stepped past him, following Thangamani through the front door of the tree house. The tree house had one large room with a bunch of wooden chairs, and a chalkboard with words written in chalk that Justin did not understand.

In the far corner, underneath a large window, lay Nitara in a small cot. Even though it was warm, at least five woven blankets were piled on top of her. Her head barely poked out of the blankets. Her brow knitted together as if in concentration.

Next to the cot lay another pile of blankets.

"We don't have another cot," said Thangamani. "But there should be enough blankets there for padding."

She stepped lightly up to Nitara's cot, leaned down, and whispered, "Jagaḷa. Balaśāliyāgiri."

Recognizing the language, Justin raised his eyebrows. "You speak Kannada too?"

"A little. You pick up a little of many languages working in the tiger sanctuary."

She leaned farther over and kissed Nitara on the forehead. Nitara shook her head and muttered something that Justin guessed was gibberish.

"That is a good sign," said Thangamani and she stood up, smiling. "Rest and watch over your friend. I guess tomorrow will be another long day."

The woman turned to leave just as Manohara entered the room. She locked eyes with him. He held up a small wooden flute. She nodded and left the room.

Manohara turned to Justin, holding the flute out to him. "This may help her."

Justin raised his eyebrows. "You do speak English."

"A little."

"How will it help her?"

"It will give your strength to her."

Justin nodded eagerly. "Okay, what do I do?"

"Lie down," Manohara replied, pointing at the pile of blankets. "Don't think."

Justin stared at the man for a moment. He realized he was slightly afraid of this magician. Afraid of what power he could yield over Justin. But what choice did he have? If there was even the slightest chance that it would help Nitara, he would do it.

Keeping his eyes on the magician, he laid down on the blankets.

The magician closed his eyes. "Eyes closed."

Reluctantly, Justin closed his eyes. A pure, single tone echoed in Justin's ears. In his mind, the sound pulsed with a purple light round in shape. It expanded and contracted. Then the tone changed to a lower note and the purple ball spread and transformed into a sea of deep blue. His body felt light as if he floated on a still lake.

"Let your friend in," said Manohara in a deep voice matching the tone of the flute.

"How?" asked Justin, keeping his eyes closed.

"Reveal your soul to her soul. Show her who you are."