Chapter 11: The Llama Whisperer
The sun hung low in the sky as Jace and Juniper approached the run-down farm where the quirky ghost had directed them. A worn-out wooden sign with the faded words “Llama Haven” hung crookedly on the fence. In the distance, a lone llama stood chewing lazily on some grass, staring at them with what could only be described as disdain.
“Are we seriously doing this?” Jace asked, floating beside Juniper with a skeptical look on his face.
“I mean, a llama race? Of all the unfinished business we could be helping with…”
Juniper laughed, nudging him lightly.
“Hey, it could be fun! Besides, you heard the ghost—his llama needs to win this regional race, or he won’t rest in peace.”
Jace floated lower to the ground, groaning dramatically.
“I just didn’t expect my afterlife would involve racing llamas.”
They reached the gate and were greeted by the sight of a man standing with his arms crossed, waiting for them. It was the ghost, Tomás "The Llama Whisperer," who had explained his unfinished business to them a few hours earlier. Unlike most ghosts they’d encountered, Tomás was a cheerful and lively spirit, his sense of humor almost rivaling Jace’s.
“Well, well, well!” Tomás greeted them with a wide grin.
“You two ready to help my Spitfire become a champion?”
Juniper smiled, glancing over at the llama, which was still chewing lazily and showing no interest in anything.
“That’s Spitfire?”
Tomás nodded proudly.
“Yup! Isn’t he a beauty? Fast as lightning on four legs.”
Jace snorted, eyeing the llama with doubt. “Uh, sure. If lightning napped all day.”
Tomás waved off Jace’s comment, walking—or rather, floating—toward Spitfire. “Don’t let appearances fool you. This llama’s got talent, pure racing blood. He just needs the right motivation. And that’s where you two come in.”
Juniper raised an eyebrow. “Motivation?”
Tomás winked. “Exactly. This llama’s not going to win any race without some serious coaching. But no worries, I’ll guide you. I’m the Llama Whisperer, after all.”
Jace crossed his arms, a smirk playing on his lips. “You’re telling me we need to *whisper* to a llama?”
Tomás grinned widely. “It’s more about building a connection, you see. Llamas are very intuitive creatures. You have to feel their rhythm, understand their soul.”
Juniper stifled a laugh. “Right. We need to connect with Spitfire’s soul.”
Jace rolled his eyes, turning to Juniper. “This is going to be a disaster, isn’t it?”
“Only one way to find out,” Juniper said, still giggling as she moved toward Spitfire. She hesitated before reaching out to pet the llama’s head. “Hey, Spitfire... how’s it going?”
The llama’s eyes narrowed slightly, and it let out a loud, unimpressed snort, blowing air and saliva all over Juniper’s face.
“Ew!” Juniper cried, stepping back and wiping her face with her sleeve. “Okay, not the best start.”
Jace burst into laughter. “Spitfire’s already a fan of yours, I see.”
Tomás floated over, shaking his head in amusement. “Oh, don’t worry about that. Spitting is just his way of showing affection. Llamas do that, you know.”
Jace raised an eyebrow. “Right. Because nothing says ‘I love you’ like a face full of spit.”
“Now, let’s get down to business,” Tomás said, floating back toward the rickety barn nearby. “We need to get Spitfire ready for the race. You’ll need to practice with him. Build trust, like I said.”
Juniper exchanged a look with Jace. “How do we even train a llama to race?”
Tomás winked. “Simple. You make it a game.”
Jace looked at Tomás skeptically. “A game?”
Tomás nodded, a mischievous gleam in his ghostly eyes. “Llamas love games. You just have to make it fun for him. And that means...”
Before he could finish his sentence, Spitfire suddenly bolted forward, running a wild circle around the yard, kicking up dirt and hay as he galloped.
Juniper jumped back, startled. “Whoa! He’s faster than I thought!”
Jace, now intrigued, floated over to watch the llama’s sprint. “Huh. Maybe he’s got potential after all.”
Tomás crossed his ghostly arms, grinning proudly. “Told you. Now, here’s what you need to do: Juniper, you’re going to run alongside Spitfire, get him used to racing. Jace, you’re going to encourage him.”
Jace blinked. “Encourage him? I’m a ghost, how do I ‘encourage’ a llama?”
Tomás chuckled. “Oh, you’ve got ghostly powers now, don’t you? Use them to guide Spitfire—nudge him in the right direction, give him some motivation. I’ll bet you can give him a little ghostly push when he needs it.”
Juniper laughed, glancing at Jace. “I’d love to see you as a llama coach.”
Jace sighed, giving in. “Fine. Let’s do this.”
---
An hour later, the training session was in full swing, but it wasn’t exactly going as planned.
“Run, Spitfire, run!” Juniper shouted, sprinting down the dirt path with the llama trotting behind her, clearly not in any hurry.
Jace floated beside the llama, trying to push it forward with his ghostly powers. “Come on, Spitfire, let’s pick up the pace!”
But Spitfire was having none of it. Instead of racing forward, the llama decided to stop in the middle of the path and plop down in the dirt, lounging comfortably as if it had just finished a five-course meal.
Juniper bent over, panting. “Why... won’t... he... move?”
Jace floated above Spitfire, crossing his arms. “Maybe he needs a nap before the big race?”
Tomás floated over, his hands on his hips. “No, no, no. Spitfire just needs to feel the *spirit* of competition! Jace, give him a little more encouragement.”
“Encouragement?” Jace raised an eyebrow. “The llama’s sitting down like it’s a lazy Sunday, and you want me to encourage that?”
Tomás grinned, undeterred. “Oh, trust me. He’ll get moving when he feels the right energy. Come on, use your powers!”
Jace sighed dramatically, floating lower until he was eye-level with Spitfire. “Alright, buddy. You and me, we’re going to win this race, okay? But you’ve got to work with us. So, get up and start running.”
Spitfire blinked lazily at Jace, his long eyelashes fluttering as if the ghost’s words meant nothing to him.
“Great pep talk,” Juniper muttered, wiping sweat from her forehead.
Jace scowled at the llama. “Okay, fine. You asked for it.”
He raised his hands, summoning his ghostly energy and gave Spitfire a gentle, ghostly push from behind. It wasn’t much—just enough to make the llama feel a nudge in the right direction.
To everyone’s surprise, Spitfire immediately jumped to his feet and took off running—fast. But instead of following the dirt path, Spitfire veered wildly to the right, heading straight for the fence at the edge of the property.
“Spitfire! No!” Juniper screamed, running after him.
Jace floated after the llama, groaning. “I’m a ghost, and I still have to chase this thing?”
Spitfire, in a surprising burst of speed, leaped over the fence and continued running down the hill toward the road. Juniper skidded to a halt at the fence, her hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath.
Jace hovered next to her, out of breath despite not having lungs. “Well... at least... he’s fast now.”
Juniper laughed despite herself, shaking her head in disbelief. “Yeah, but now we’ve got to catch him.”
Tomás floated up behind them, clapping his hands together. “Now that’s what I’m talking about! That llama’s got fire in his soul!”
Juniper gave him a disbelieving look. “How are we supposed to get him back?”
Tomás grinned. “Oh, he’ll come back when he’s ready. Trust me. He always does.”
---
Several hours later, after much chaos and chasing, Spitfire finally trotted back into the yard, looking completely unbothered by his wild run. He gave Juniper and Jace a lazy glance before plopping down in the dirt again, chewing on some grass.
Juniper flopped down onto the ground beside him, laughing. “I can’t believe we’re actually doing this.”
Jace floated down next to her, shaking his head. “I can’t believe we’re doing this *and* failing at it.”
Tomás hovered over them, beaming with pride. “You two did great! Spitfire’s in top shape now. The race tomorrow will be a piece of cake!”
Jace stared at the llama, still lying lazily in the dirt. “
Yeah, I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Juniper smiled, wiping some dirt from her cheek. “Well, it was definitely a day I won’t forget.”
Jace chuckled, giving her a sideways glance.
“Yeah, it’s not every day you train a llama for a race.”
Juniper leaned back, staring up at the sky as the sun began to set. “Who knows? Maybe Spitfire will surprise us.”
Jace smirked.
“Or he’ll just spit on the competition.”
Juniper laughed, nudging him.
“Either way, it’ll be a win in my book.”
As they sat there, tired but amused, Spitfire let out another loud snort, as if agreeing with them. Tomorrow’s race was going to be interesting—whether they won or not.