The Jaguar Stones, book 1 Middleworld

J&P Voelkel 

312/399

The first obstacles is when they are in the underground "labyrinth" and they go down a river and  there wanted to go the easier way but the water raised during the rain and the stone she usually went under blocked them so they had to take take the difficult way (man vs nature) which was through the cascades and rapids - page #138,"I need you to concentrate...hoop do you hear that roaring noise?its the rapids  the second obstacle was when Max was picking up the fire wood, there was a dangerous snake called "three step snake". The snake got his name because if it bites you you are only able to make three more steps until you die. Max met him while picking woods and he petrified his body and the snake passed him without biting him.