Page 6 of Sweaty Nights & Gator Bites

We approached the grove cautiously. The ground here was littered with fragments of what looked like ceremonialpottery and torn fabric. The first thought that popped into my head was that they were the remnants of rituals or offerings that had been desecrated.

“This is a sacred site,” I observed in a whisper. “Or it was. The spirits are clamoring from the violations committed here. We need to cleanse this spot. But first, we should find a way to understand the extent of the corruption to know how deep and far our efforts need to go.”

Dre knelt, sifting through the debris. “Look at this,” she said, holding up a piece of rock with symbols that seemed to shimmer momentarily under her touch. “This isn’t just physical desecration. These were protective wards that have been destroyed.”

Kota frowned. “Whoever did this, knew exactly what they were doing. This isn't random. This area was targeted. We’re dealing with someone who understands the spiritual significance of the swamp. Who they are or what they want is still a mystery, though.”

I gathered logs and branches, arranging them in a makeshift altar. “Help me set up for a ritual. I need to ask the spirits for what they’ve seen. They’re blocked and likely scared, but they might be able to tell me something that will help.”

Phi and Lia had a makeshift table set up for me in seconds flat. I wasted no time and began. The fragments left behind began to glow faintly in response to the power I directed toward them. For a few seconds that was all that happened.

When I was about to give up, the air grew cooler. I breathed a bit easier when some of the oppressive weight lifted. And the spirits felt closer to me. Soft murmurs filed my ears next. They were trying to communicate. Their messages were fragmented. I had to shut everything else out and concentrate. My mind then filled with images ofshadows and the glint of metal. They were giving me hints of their tormentors.

“Once she’s done here, we track these bastards down," Dani growled. “No one gets to stir up this kind of trouble in our backyard.”

I shook my head to clear it and Dre pounced on me asking, “Did they tell you anything? Who is behind this?”

Needing to move, I grabbed a few of the rocks and shoved them in my bag to look at later and resumed walking. “I got tidbits of information. It was all jumbled. I’m going to need time to sort through it and see if there’s anything cohesive.”

The swamp was unnervingly quiet as they followed me. Aside from the grumblings of six middle-aged women. The heat and humidity were messing with our ability to think straight. Kota and Phi moved ahead of us. Their keen senses led the way as we navigated through the dense foliage and murky waters.

Kota suddenly stopped, holding up a hand to signal us. “Guys, over here. Look at this,” she whisper-yelled.

We gathered around her and peered at the ground where a series of large, reptilian tracks were imprinted in the soft mud. The tracks were enormous. Clearly too large for any ordinary alligator. And they seemed to shimmer with a magical residue.

"These are fresh," Kota observed, crouching down to get a closer look. "And look at this residue. It's almost like that glowing algae.”

Phi shook her head. “You mean like bioluminescent plants. In nature, there are no true ones like that. However, scientists have found a way to artificially create them by genetically combining them with bioluminescent bacteria. There are also plant-like protists called dinoflagellates that are capable of bioluminescence.”

Lia snorted and held up a hand. “You’re saying this is a magical signature. We should grab some so we can track it. It might be helpful.”

“Sorry. I went into professor mode there for a second,” Phi said as she knelt beside Kota. Her fingers traced the edge of the tracks. “These tracks belong to a shifter in mid-transformation,” she murmured. “I think the residue indicates a blend of human and reptilian forms. Maybe this creature was caught mid-transition."

Lia glanced at me, her expression both intrigued and concerned. "If these tracks are fresh, then the shifter can't be far. And if they’re stuck, they might need help.”

I made a face. “That means we have to follow the tracks.”

Dre clapped my shoulder and nodded. It wasn’t worth arguing over. This was our life now. We couldn’t run away. We were led deeper into the heart of the swamp. The faint tang of something unnatural joined the swamp’s typical smells. The tracks became more erratic, zigzagging through the underbrush and over fallen logs.

Dani kept her voice low, barely above a whisper. “This could be a path to their lair or some kind of gathering place. Look at all the tracks.”

“Just pick a path and follow it,” Kota grumbled. “This place isn’t going to tell us anything and I’m getting hangry. We aren't skipping dinner again. My health can’t take that shit all the time.”

“Mine either,” Dre sighed and jerked her chin ahead of us. “Might as well keep on in the direction we were heading.”

After what felt like an eternity, the tracks led us to a secluded grove. The trees there were older. Their gnarled branches formed a natural canopy that blocked out most of the sky overhead. In the center of the grove was a clearing, the ground littered with remnants of rituals. The earth wasscorched. There were also broken bones and strange symbols carved into the trees.

“This is,” Phi began, “a place of power for them. Maybe where they gather and perform their rituals.”

Kota scanned the area with sharp eyes. “We need to be careful. If this is their meeting spot, it means they could return at any moment.”

The atmosphere in the grove was heavy with the weight of ancient magic. I could feel the lingering energies. They were a chaotic blend of power that hinted at the shifters’ attempts to harness and manipulate their environment. But none of it was the same evil I’d felt permeating the swamp.

Dre pointed to a cluster of stones arranged in a rough circle. “This looks like some kind of altar. What do you think they use it for?”

I lifted a shoulder and stepped closer. The air around it was charged. The hum of energy resonated with the glowing plants we had seen earlier. “This place holds a lot of their secrets. If we can decipher their rituals, we might understand their motives better and if they would kill a selkie.”

“We also need to know if they’ve tainted the swamp.” Dani gestured around us with a sweep of her arm. “We need to document everything and gather as much evidence as possible. This could be the breakthrough we need to understand the shifters' activities and their connection to the recent disturbances.”

---