When I reached the wash that buried the entrance to my mother’s realm, all was quiet. The wash lay silent and covered in rubble and fallen trees.

Rainwater runoff had moved the rocks and piles of tree limbs a little, but there was no vortex here. She was not coming out.

So how had Chandra?

If Chandra was telling the truth. I’d sensed the immense Beneath magic in her, one that could only come from someone as powerful as my mother, but in the heat of battle, had I seen clearly?

I should have remained at the C and questioned her, but no, I had to run and cry to Janet, who, it turned out, didn’t have time for me.

I climbed upon a large, flat boulder, pulled my jacket around me, and drew my knees to my chest. A streak flashed through the black sky above me, then another and another, a mini meteor shower just for me.

A coyote wandered by. He stopped and took me in, eyes glittering, wind ruffling his tawny fur.

Coyotes aren’t as afraid of humans as humans think they should be, though they rarely attack, unless they’re ill and need an easy meal.

This one looked healthy. His muzzle was grizzled, his forehead broad, legs strong. He stared at me for a good long time before he sauntered to the boulder and climbed up beside me.

He gave a grunting sigh as he lay down, his fur warming my side. His tongue lolled out of his mouth, and he began to pant.

“I really am not in the mood for you,” I said.

I lied. I liked having him next to me, cutting the chill and not haranguing me for being evil and selfish.

Aw, too bad, Coyote said directly into my head. I thought we could get snuggly.

“Not when you smell like that.” The scent of wild animal fur was pungent.

Hazards of shifting. Fleas are another.

“Bullshit. You can smell the way you want to. And don’t sit here if you have fleas.”

His chuckle was warm. You can’t let her out, Gabrielle.

I glanced at the covered-over arroyo where the vortex, awash with power, had once lain. “I didn’t come here for that. I came to make sure it was closed.”

Hmm. You’ve changed.

“Not that much. But I can learn from my mistakes, can’t I?” I hunkered into myself. “Not that anyone’s giving me a chance.”

Are you giving them a chance to give you a chance?

“Don’t get preachy on me.” I scowled. “I get enough of that from Grandmother Begay.”

Another chuckle. Yeah, she can really work herself up into a tirade. Ask me how I know that. But she’s a wise woman, even if she likes to have the upper hand. Always.

“When Pete gets married, he’ll move to Farmington to live with Gina and her family, and leave me alone in Many Farms—you know, with Grandmother, and Janet’s aunts and all their kids who like to stop by at least twice a day.” Sadness touched me. “I’ll miss him.”

That was the truth. Janet’s father’s silences could soothe me, and he was the only one on the planet who didn’t berate me.

Pete Begay is a good soul, Coyote said. Not many of those out there.

“Janet’s lucky. I wish he’d been my dad.” I meant that with every ounce of my strength.

Ask him.

I shook myself out of my self-pity. “What?”

Ask Pete if he’ll be your dad. He’ll probably say yes.

I smiled a weak smile. “I think he’s afraid of me. He’s seriously looking forward to moving out.”

Ask him anyway.

Coyote left it at that and fell silent.

A breeze crossed the desert, stirring the brush into a whisper. The stars dazzled us overhead. I wasn’t good at recognizing constellations, either the Indian ones or the Greek ones, but the patterns were familiar.

I’d always found comfort in the stars. No matter what insanity happened on Earth, the heavens were eternal. The stars had been there, just like this, for eons before we arrived, and they’d be there long after we all were gone.

“It’s so beautiful,” I said softly. “The sky bowing down to meet the desert, the mountains, the woods, the canyons. Why does it want to destroy us? The Earth?”

It doesn’t, Coyote said. An Earth elemental does, one that formed and grew with the lava and the rock. It’s possessive.

“How do we even fight something like that? There’s nothing to fight.” I shivered. “I hate intangible enemies. Give me something I can blast.”

You’ll figure that out. You and Janet. Put your heads together, and you’ll come up with something.

“Oh, thanks. Real helpful. What about you? Won’t you be fighting with us?”

I can’t destroy it. I’m from Beneath, remember? Like you. Coyote ceased panting and gave me a long look from his golden eyes. A storm is coming. Will you be strong enough for it?

“I’m not a Stormwalker,” I pointed out.

Does that matter?

I opened my mouth to blurt, Well, of course it does, but I closed it again. Coyote was hinting at something, and I’d have to think about it.

“What about Chandra?” I asked him. “Is she really who she says she is?”

Coyote looked blank. Who’s Chandra?

I hid my start of surprise. “I thought you were the all-knowing god.”

Only when I’m paying attention. Who’s Chandra?

I sighed and told him. Coyote regarded me thoughtfully then crossed his paws and began to pant again. Heavily. He moved the whole boulder.

Why would she make up something like being your aunt? You saw she was from Beneath as soon as she started throwing around her power.

“Maybe she’s my mother playing tricks on me?”

Nope. If your mother was running around, I’d know it. That’s something I’d pay attention to. Lots of Beneath gods and goddesses are related to each other. We were created by all-powerful entities. I’m probably one of your long-lost, a-hundred-times-removed cousins. His mouth widened into a canine grin. Kissing cousins.

“Forget it, coyote breath.”

More grinning. Give her a chance. Like you want everyone to give you. Coyote flopped his tongue back into his mouth. And if she truly is evil, snuff her.

“Sure. ’Cause that would be so easy.” I let out a long breath. “What do I do, Coyote? You’re a wise god. Give me some wisdom.”

Wisdom. Hmm. Well, if you ask Jolene at the diner real nice, she’ll have the cook put jalapeños on your burger. Tasty.

“Thanks a lot. I was thinking more like, I don’t have anywhere to go. The Crossroads Hotel is Janet’s. Grandmother Begay is putting up with me at Many Farms. Chandra got me the job in Vegas, so who knows what that’s about? There’s no place, you know, where I fit.”

Aw. Coyote gave me sad eyes. Poor little thing.

“Don’t make fun of me. No one has wanted anything to do with me since the day I was born.” Tears stung me.

Yeah, that’s true.

Note to self: Don’t go to Coyote for comfort. He’ll give you unvarnished truth.

“Why am I even talking to you?” I growled.

Because I sat down here, and you wanted to whine. I said before—does it matter?

“That they’d like to see the back of me at the Crossroads, that Pete is happy about leaving Many Farms, that Cornelius had to be talked into hiring me? You’re asking me if that stuff matters?”

None of those places are yours. Don’t try to take them. Acknowledge that you’re accepting hospitality. Be a good guest.

I stared at him while his words sank in. “You mean, Suck it up, Gabrielle.”

His laughter was full-blown this time. I always knew you were smart. One day you’ll be who you were meant to be, and your family will be right there with you. I know it in my bones.

I sighed. “I hope your bones are right.” I gazed into the distance, the darkness to the east tinged with the slightest bit of gray at the horizon. “Any more helpful hints on how to fight the un-fightable?”

Silence. I turned to find myself sitting next to nothing. Coyote had vanished, taking his warmth with him.

I shivered, shoving my hands into my jacket pockets. “Aren’t you even going to walk me home?” I called out. “A helpless little thing like me?”

My answer was a coyote’s yipping howl, which faded quickly into the darkness.

---

When I woke in the morning, not long after sunrise, it was to find Gabrielle sitting cross-legged at the bottom of my bed.

“Morning, Sis,” she said.

I rose on my elbows, every muscle aching. “Morning. Is it any use to ask what you’re doing here?”

Gabrielle, neatly dressed, her hair damp and combed as though she’d just had a shower, grinned at me, her teeth even and white in her pretty face. “Helping you save the world.”