The jungle had done such a thorough job of reclaiming the ruins that it took Justin several minutes to recognize them for what they were. Only after he let his eyes relax and unfocus did the shapes begin to take form-the geometry of arches and domes wrapped in vines and roots, with scattered, dislodged blocks half-hidden beneath leafy undergrowth.

The sun had gone down. The rains had stopped. The matted, disturbed clearing where the titanbird and the blue tiger had fought was hours ...