Hey! Here's another chapter. This chapter may seem a little boring, sorry if it is. This one is more about Vel and Arica bonding, and figuring out a little more about the prison they r in. I was gonna post a song with this chapter but I couldn't find one, though I know there is one that would be good. Any way I hope you enjoy and please review. The next chapter will a little more action in it. Enjoy!

When I opened my eyes from a long night's sleep, I was staring up at the metal ceiling. It took me a moment to remember where I was, that I was trapped in some sort of mind prison. I sat up, stretching my arms after sleeping on a couch. The fire from yesterday had gone out and all was quiet, except for Vel's gentle breathing to my left. I shifted my body to look at his large bed, where he was sleeping.

I got up, and started moseying over to the entrance of his 'home'. The view was absolutely beautiful. The island looked like an emerald in a sea of sapphires. I stood there for awhile admiring the beauty. I looked down at my clothes, remembering how dirty they were from the previous day. I decided I could go clean my clothes in the water below, so I walked quietly over to the teleportation system and went through it. I found myself on the top ledge from yesterday.

I started to hike down, easier than it was last time. I walked to the edge of the water and knelt beside it. I started to wash myself, removing the mud from yesterday's events. The mud had gotten hard and caked itself onto my body. I rubbed at it furiously, until I was clean. I looked down at my clothes that were also covered in dirt and grime. I looked up at the big metal cave where I slept last night. I stared at for awhile, checking to see if Vel was up there. I pray he stays asleep, I thought as I removed my shirt to clean it.

Vel's POV

I awoke, suddenly. I sat up looking for what caused the noise that released me from my deep slumber. I decided it was probably just the female human, Arica. I started stretching, thinking about yesterday when I met her. She was short compared to my size, long brown hair, and green eyes. My estimation would be she was around the age of twenty. I finished replacing my armor and I went over to the couch where she slept. I was quite surprised when she wasn't there. Fear flashed through me as I worried of the possibility of me hallucinating her. It has happened to me before. I searched for any evidence that would show she was here, and not an imagination. The blanket and pillow that I gave her remained there, but she was nowhere to be found.

I moved towards the entrance of my 'home' and looked outside, hoping to see a trace of her out there. I finally spotted her near the bank on the main island, washing her face and arms with the water. I stood there, watching her when I noticed her look up and I immediately took a step back, so she couldn't see me observing her. I waited for a moment, and then slowly took a step forward to gaze at her again. I let out a shocked gasp as she took off her shirt.

Arica's POV

I stood up, after cleaning myself and my clothes to the best of my ability. I ran my fingers through my hair before putting up in a ponytail. I stood there for a moment, enjoying the scenery around me. The peace was interrupted when I jumped at the voice behind me.

"Good morning," Vel greeted me, and then noticed how I jumped at the sound of his deep voice. "My apologies, I did not mean to startle you."

I smiled, "Its fine, just didn't hear you. How do you do that?"

He gave me a confused look. "Do what exactly?"

"Sneak up on me like that! You've done it twice now. I'm just surprised 'cause you're huge and I never seem to notice you." I complained.

Vel chuckled at my whining, "You're just not very observant. But that's quite typical of any human; no offense."

I scoffed, "Yeah, none taken."

I looked back over the water, noticing a very tall island not far away from the cave. The island was tall but short in diameter and it spiraled up towards the sky. As I was studying this piece of land, I heard and felt my stomach growl.

I turned back to Vel, who was smiling in a way with his mandibles. "So, what do you eat around here?" I asked, embarrassingly.

"Well, it depends what humans eat." Vel motioned for me to follow him as he started walking towards the tunnel where we had met. "Are you carnivores or herbivores?"

"Humans eat both." I replied, chasing after him since one of Vel's strides was like two strides of mine.

"Good, there's only fruit here anyway." Vel said, with a tinge of unhappiness in his voice. I remembered reading that Sangheili's are carnivores.

"So you've been eating fruit for the last ten years?" I questioned as we exited the tunnel and entered the valley.

"Not entirely. There are a few small animals that come around, but it's quite rare, sadly." He murmured.

I shook my head, "This place is confusing. Our minds are trapped in here, but there are also animals in here? And why do we get hungry if we are not in a physical body?"

Vel chuckled, and said, "Your guess is as good as mine. Our species didn't build this thing. We bought it from someone, who had gotten from a now extinct race."

Vel strode towards a tree that had plump fruit on its limbs. The multi-colored fruit was a mixture of red and blue giving it a hint of purple. Vel plucked one off and stared at it in his for a moment before reluctantly taking a bite of it.

I couldn't help but giggle at the look on his face. When I was close enough to the tree, I realized there was no way I could reach one. I jumped a few times, reaching as high as I could, though my efforts proved fruitless. I sighed in a defeat and noticed Vel staring at me with an amused look on his face.

I glared back at him, daring him to laugh at me and my tries. But Vel remained silent, continuing to stare at me. Finally, I asked, "Would you please help me and stop staring at me as if I was helpless?"

Vel laughed, before easily reaching up and picking off a fruit from a branch, and handed me the scrumptious looking fruit. "You're welcome, and you looked a little helpless."

I gave him a death glare before saying, "Shut it, and thanks." I took a bite out of the fruit and started chewing. I had never tasted anything so sweet. "This is amazing," I mumbled as I continued to finish off the fruit.

I sat down continuing to munch on the fruit in my hand, and started to think of home. I wondered how badly mother was freaking out. I hope they don't start a war because of me, I thought, laughing at the idea. I didn't even notice Vel sit down next to me and I didn't notice the large animal climbing down the mountain behind us.

Vel's POV

She didn't notice me looking at her. Something about her I found… what? Interesting? No, that wasn't the word. Was I possibly feeling an… attraction towards her? I turned my head to the other direction, not really believing what I was thinking. I couldn't possibly be attracted to a human, could I? I suppose it could just be me not used to being around someone of the opposite sex. I had to use the word sex, didn't I? A scream brought me out of my thoughts.

Arica's POV

I screamed as something large attacked me from behind and pushed me forward. The thing had me pinned down and all I could do is call out for help from Vel. But instead of Vel pulling out a weapon like I expected, he started to yell at the creature.

"Vel! Do something!" I screamed, scared.

Vel continued to yell at the animal, calling it 'Aru'. What is he doing? I thought, when I noticed the big animal removed its weight off of me. I immediately rolled over to look at my attacker. The creature had feline features, sorta like a sabertooth tiger, and it was big enough for me to ride it. The animal had short golden brown hair with golden eyes. It was obviously a predator and a born killer. I watched as Vel stroked its fur.

"What is it?" I asked, as I gazed upon the wild cat that seemed to be enjoying the attention it was receiving from Vel.

Vel shrugged, "I don't really know I just call him Aru. At first he tried to eat me, but somehow we became friends. Sorry he attacked you; he's probably never seen a human before."

I dusted myself off and replied, "It's cool, he just gave me a minor heart attack, no biggie."

Vel laughed at my words. "Come here, and pet him. He's a nice pet after he gets use to you."

I approached it slowly, and then started softly petting it. Aru began to purr loudly, with happiness. I couldn't help but smile at the large wild cat acting like a kitten. I turned my head to look at Vel who seemed to be staring at nothing but thinking deeply.

I found myself studying his features, his pretty blue eyes down to his muscular chest which I could see in between the gaps of his armor. I laughed silently to myself as I realized what I was doing. I was basically checking Vel out. I was snapped out of my thoughts as I heard him clear his throat. I looked back up to his eye level, when I figured he saw me staring at his chest. I embarrass myself so often.

Oh! And thank you Drake-C13, DraconicReclaimer, HKH4, ultimate idiot, and hamoud for reviewing or adding this to ur Favorite's list or watever u did thnx for doing it. And if i missed someone srry thnx to u too. And thnx to anyone else whos reading this. And srry for not really explaining stuff well like how animals got there and such. Its not very realistic, but o well its a story...