A/N: Hey, y'all! It's been a while hasn't it? Sorry about that. Spring semester was a lot more hectic than the Fall and I've been busy trying to get my life together after returning home. I had to unpack all my shit I didn't even knew I had or owned. It was quite the experience seeing all the stuff I didn't know was mine. Anyhow, that took a few days and then I had to deal with some drama as well as grieve the loss of the most wonderful woman I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. She was so sweet and kind, I loved her very dearly and it hurt even more knowing that my best friend was absolutely torn up about it and there was nothing I could really do.

In regards to that, I'd like to dedicate this story to her as she was a true survivor until the day she died. I hope you're happy where you are, GeGe, and can continue to look after everyone you left behind.

(Clears throat) Anyway, this story has undergone a lot of changes since it was first released not too long after I joined ffnet. Looking back on it makes me cringe at how Mary Sue-ish Artemis was and it drove me crazy. The second time I published this story as an attempt to re-write it and do this series and its characters justice, I still couldn't nail down Ari's character. She just refused to cooperate and continued to pester me by acting like an almighty character. I didn't set out for her to be that way because it just wouldn't make sense, logically speaking. She's been through this horrible event for many years and has suffered several losses-she shouldn't be immediately alright and wanting to fight right off the back. So, after a lot of thinking and contemplation on how to adjust her character, I finally decided to re-write Survivor again. They say, "Third time is a charm." And I'm hoping that's the case for this round.

I wrote for a very long time to make sure the writing flow was going to persist from beginning to end and I am very confident that it will. Each chapter slowly and gradually develops Ari's character the way I've been trying to do for several years. Hopefully, y'all will relate to her more this time around.

I'm really sorry for this long A/N, but I felt like I needed to explain a few things. Anyway, I'll let y'all read this story now! Enjoy!

~Delyth

P.S.-Chapter One will be up sometime tomorrow.

"I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious Ambiguity."—Gilda Radner

Prologue

Conversion

In that one instant, when the world held its breath and time seemed to freeze, Ari knew that her life would be inevitably changed for better or worse. That moment when teeth gleamed menacingly from the moonlight glaring down upon her and Lily as the monster aimed for her neck. Her body freezing into place as she watched in terror and mild awe as the beast's fur rippled like the lapping waves along a sandy shore. The crazed, fearsome gold of its eyes shearing her soul and promising a long and torturous death.

She'd forgotten her ability to move physical objects or that she could simply dodge to the side, knowing both her and her twin to the ground and to safety. There was nothing in her mind at that moment as teeth inched closer to her face and claws the size of her head aimed for her chest. Everything Dad had taught her about wild creatures and protecting herself flew straight out the window. In the distance, she could hear Lily cry out for her, begging for her to move out of the way, but nothing could reach her frozen brain.

All she could bring herself to think of was that stupid conversation she had with Aquilo when she just a kid. "You may be the huntress now, but eventually they'll be a bigger hunter ready to gobble you up. Just like the Big Bad Wolf did to Little Red Riding Hood."

"Little Red Riding Hood wasn't a hunter though, Quil. You're makin' things up again." She'd argued back, hands on her hips just like their mother did whenever she was exasperated.

He turned with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Ah, but there you're wrong, little sister. Man considers themselves to be at the top of the food chain. However, we've only deluded ourselves into thinking that way. There are much more fearsome predators out there that would be glad to eat us up."

"But, they don't!" She'd been so naïve back then, but in her mind it made sense they had the guns and all. They couldn't possibly hurt them without risking their lives. It's why they hunted.

"If you didn't have that rifle," He nodded at the gun resting on her shoulder from the strap Dad had attached to it. "Do you think the coyotes, wolves, and bears would leave you be then?"

Ari hadn't wanted to step in the woods ever again unless she was carrying some kind of weapon after that. She'd gotten so complacent living in the city where there wasn't many trees or a forest for miles unless you counted the parks. How could a big monster like the one bearing down on her now live inside such a small park? It shouldn't have been possible, but somehow this…thing had gotten passed the police with little issue.

Burning sapphires squeezed shut as time reverted to normal speed once more and a screech of desperation left her parted lips as she held up her arms. Lily screamed her name just as a heavy furry body slammed Ari into the muddy earth, its claws and teeth latching onto delicate flesh and ripping her a part. She couldn't breathe, her lungs suddenly refusing to inflate, and her eyes began to slide close as the overwhelming pain slammed into her system.

"If that's true," seven-year-old Ari asked, clenching her teeth and refusing to quiver in fear. "Then why're humans at the top of the food chain?"

Aquilo had shrugged and gave a sad smile, "Because Man is an arrogant creature and refuses to understand the Laws of Nature."