"I don't see anything." Ilana stated turning her armor head side to side.

"Keep looking, it has to be here somewhere." Lance said.

"Maybe it's invincible." Octus said.

Suddenly an abrupt, loud roar made them halt. They were silent as they heard the roar again.

"It came from the forest." Lance said and then he darted towards the area. Ilana and Octus followed.

Dust from falling trees floated all around the area, an earth shaking boom came from another falling tree, creating more dust. The roar was becoming distant.

"Oh no, it's getting away!" Ilana exclaimed and the three flew faster towards the source.

The trio eventually landed on an open, destructed area, with broken branches and trampled bushes to their left and right. Next to Lance, was a paw print the size of Ilana's armor and resembled a big, wild animal. Lance looked down at the print and let out an irritable grunt. "It got away…"

"I don't understand it just came here to destroy some…trees?" Ilana wondered. She looked further out of the forest and saw more paw prints ingrained in the ground.

Afterwards:

A frown was upon Lance's face as the three were walking home. "We can't just keep leaving like this and forget about it. There's something out there and we need to find it immediately." He stated.

"You're right, Lance but what else is there to do when we have no idea what's going on?" Ilana replied. "Like for instance, we've been out here for more than hour now and that creature still hasn't shown up. It's not even terrorizing the town what's the use in finding it? We should just sit back and wait until something happens."

"Hm…" Lance grumbled. Suddenly, he felt a small presence behind him. He continued walking as he looked behind him from the corner of his eye and slightly turned his head. His eyes narrowed when he saw nothing there. Focusing back to the front, the presence was becoming closer. A small rock was on the ground.

Lifting up the rock, with his foot, in the air Lance hurled it behind him. Newton and Ilana stopped walking to look back at Lance.

"What's wrong, Lance?" Ilana asked. The rock hit and bounced off someone's arm. The person stood there for a moment and then began walking towards the three, in long presentable strides.

It was a girl, a girl who was around their age. With black, shoulder length hair that curled naturally on different parts and a small bang that was parted to the right. The common black eyes were present and her nose was long and slightly pointed. She looked about the same height as Ilana.

She gave off an exotic appearance. Her dark molasses skin stood out the most. Like Ilana, she had her own unique style of clothing; a charcoal grey, French terry blazer with black rolled cuffs, exposing a white blouse tucked in a black waist, pleated woven skirt. Her flatted shoes matched the color of the blazer.

Now standing in front of the three with a straight posture, she gave them a small smile.

"Oh, good," she stated softly, she had a distinct accent. It did sound European, mostly southern; Greek, perhaps. "He didn't get you. I was worried at first."

"Um…I'm sorry?" Ilana asked.

The girl's eyes widened slightly and then she spoke up quickly. "Excuse me, I didn't mean to speak so abruptly. But I'm just glad to see you ok."

"Huh…but, you don't even know us."

"Well not these two boys...but I know you." Her voice suddenly went low, "Princess Ilana of Galaluna."

Lance then darted towards the girl, gripping her right arm in a firm grasp. "Who are you, how do know she's the Princess? Are you working with an organization?" He interrogated with a glare.

"Organization…? Oh!" She got out of Lance's grasp quickly. "Please, excuse me again. Allow me to introduce myself." After taking a step back she began rubbing her eyes; contacts came out. Her eyes were still closed and after a minute she opened them, revealing crimson ones. Ilana gasped as Newton's mouth was slightly opened and Lance took two steps back.

Back in her straight posture, hands at her sides, the girl stared at the three with a dignified look.

"My name is Sgt. Tara Cosmo… of the Balian Elite Army."

Ilana let out another gasp, but an excitable one. "Balian…? As in, from planet Bal?"

"Yes,"

"Wow, I'm actually speaking to one face to face," Ilana ran up to Tara and clasped her hand in hers. "It's such an honor to meet you."

"Ilana, we need to talk." Lance stated abruptly and grabbed her arm, dragging her back over to where she was before.

"Lance, what's up with you?" she asked quietly with a slight frown.

"Ilana, you can't just be making friends so quickly. You don't know what she's up to; she could be working with the Mutraddi."

"Oh, Lance, don't be ridiculous. The Balians have been our allies for thousands of generations."

"I'm going to have to agree with Lance on this one." Newton said. "She has to be the one who opened the Rift Gate and I don't think she's here on a vacation."

"Come on, you two…" Ilana muttered.

"For your safety, you can't be around her, not until I see that she's not a threat." Lance ordered.

Rolling her eyes, Ilana let out a sigh and turned away from him, her arms were crossed. "Fine…but you're the one who's going to look dumb." She headed towards Tara again while grinning at her.

"I'm sorry, I wish we can talk some more. I have so many questions! But we have to head off soon."

"Oh, that's fine. We have school tomorrow, anyway. Maybe we'll see each other then?" Tara insisted.

"Oh, so you're the new girl."

"Yes, I arrived here two days ago." Lance and Newton looked at each other once Tara said that.

"I see…well, welcome to Earth! I'll see you tomorrow then, bye."

The three then headed home. Tara turned the opposite way and took her leave.

On top of a branch, there was a person. He stared at the teens as they were going home; he then smirked.

"I have you now, Princess." He then turned his gaze towards the other girl. "But first, I must get rid of that cursed Balian." He then disappeared. A piece of his coat was left behind; it floated to the ground, shredded by the claw of a beast.

~Next morning~

Tara frowned slightly as she tampered with her lock; pulling, more like yanking, the blasted thing. She let out a small sigh and began turning again for the combination. With a swift tug the lock still didn't open, and then was slammed to the locker door.

"Here, this is how you do it," someone had said. The person grabbed Tara's lock; it was Lance. He put in her combination, turning it differently than she was turning. On this last rotate, Lance pulled down and the lock was opened.

"Thank you." She said softly and a tad flustered.

"Yeah," Lance stepped out of her way as she got out her books. He leaned on the other closed lockers next to her. Tara had finished getting her things and locked the door. She turned to Lance who was staring her, as if she had something he wanted to see.

Tara's eyebrows wriggled in confusion. "Uh…well, I-I'll see you around. Thank you again." She turned away from Lance and began walking the other direction. Lance eyes narrowed slightly.

Once she was far enough, Lance moved away from the lockers and followed her behind other students. He passed them as she was getting farther; her long strides seemed to get faster. Lance quickened his pace, passing the students swiftly.

Suddenly, Tara went into a light jog, hurrying down some stairs. With a silent gasp Lance darted towards the stairs also. Once he reached the bottom, Tara had already opened the door of a room. He walked up to the closed door. It was a German class.

Someone cleared their throat. Lance turned to the source and saw Ilana looking at him with stern glare.

"…What?" Lance finally asked. He put his hands inside of his jean pockets and casually walked past her. Ilana rolled her eyes and walked the other direction.