The American Southwest, known in Chicano myth as Aztlan, is rediscovered by a phantom jaguar known as El Jefe ( the chief). His discovery takes him into New Mexico and the mountains near the Salinas ruins outside of Mountainair. His autumn arrival is announced in the darkness of the night by a bloodcurdling roar which echoes throughout the hills and awakens rancher Raul Lucero, who senses his life as a hunting guide is in jeopardy. Raul's niece,...