*Competition time! Ok, so do you have a favourite animal or bird? Please tell me in the reveiws, and I will choose my favourite and feature it in the next chapter! You know you want to!*

Kayla settled down to the ground. She had had a stroke of luck. Whilst out looking for pigeons, she had stumbled across a deer. She had taken it down quickly, and was now eating it. Raw. It tasted good, with panther senses anyway. She was pretty sure that her human self would be repulsed by the taste, without cooking it first.

She was soon full, but there was still half a deer left. It would be kind of tricky to preserve, out here. There were other predators in the forest that would find it if she hid it. It seemed a shame to waste it though, when there were so many hungry people around recently. But what would they do with a bloody and mangled deer? The people of Perdido Beach did not seem to be that desperate anymore. But there were people that desperate, not far from here... no. The Coates kids deserved what they had. Nothing. But did they deserve to die?

How odd it was, that she should find it so much easier to think like a human when she was not. Or to think like an animal when she was human. But she still felt some compassion. She was not, after all, a complete monster. She didn't want to watch people die. She stared down at the deer, not really seeing it. She couldn't take any more death.

It seemed an ironic thought to have, perhaps, after having just slaughtered an animal, but that was different. Survival. Nature was harsh, but fair. This deer had been the slowest in her herd. She wouldn't have lasted much longer anyway. That was how Kayla hunted. She had the ability to kill the whole herd, even the strongest and fastest of them. But she did not. Survival of the fittest, she thought wryly to herself. Kill or be killed. The circle of life. Just let nature take its course. But...

There were animal rules, she knew. Built into the instincts. Look out for number one. Always take the course of action that will save you. That was how they had survived for millennia. But humans didn't have the same instincts. Not the same rules. Because humans could not stand by and watch another hurting. Not if they could stop it. So the question was; was she still human?

Caine was in the dining hall again. He was furious. He was still angry for losing the girl, which he blamed entirely on himself, though no-one could tell. But this? This was terrible. He had chased her away, and straight into Perdido Beach. Bug had seen her talking to Sam, seen them walking into the town hall together. So now, he was fighting against two of the most powerful people in the FAYZ. He clenched his fists and let out a yell of anger. The chairs pushed against the walls of the hall began to rise from the floor, spinning around in a violent whirlwind. Lucky no one was there. He was completely alone in his aggression. Even Diana was staying away from him and his fury. Fury tempered, of course, by hunger.

He was not used to feeling helpless. But now... he didn't know what to do. He had people searching the forest, just in case, but there was nothing else he could do. He was the leader, and he didn't make mistakes. He stared out of the window, a slight frown on his face. How could he persuade her to fight for him? Killing her would be a waste, he thought, but if she fought for him... he felt a smile spread across his face as he imagined it. The chairs toppled to the floor, a splintered heap. He would be unstoppable.

Movement caught his eye. The bushes ringing the car park were swaying in the wind. Except... this was the FAYZ. And there was no wind. He climbed out of the window, walking slowly towards the bushes. And there she was. As if his thoughts had pulled her here, the girl was standing right outside Coates! She was eyeing him, and seemed calm, but tense. She was standing tall, not at all scared of him. This irritated him somehow, and his eyes narrowed again. She broke the silence.

"So. You're the bad guy. I s'pose I guessed as much, but-"

"What are you doing here?" he cut her off. "Don't you work for Sam?" he sneered. To his surprise, she rolled her eyes.

"I don't work for anyone" she said through gritted teeth. Her hands clenched, but after a second she relaxed. She smiled to herself in satisfaction. She looked up and met his gaze, becoming serious as she added "Yet."

"Are you offering?" he drawled, unable to keep a hint of longing from his voice. All that power...

"No, I am not." She hissed. He looked her up and down.

"I could make you" he said thoughtfully. She laughed coldly.

"I would like to see you try."

"That sounds like a challenge."

"Maybe it is" She murmured, looking straight into his eyes. He blinked, and looked away, feeling uncomfortable. Uncomfortable? Caine Soren felt uncomfortable looking into a girl's eyes? That wasn't right. Something was wrong here. Perhaps her power? Yes, that had to be it, she had the power to influence people. But then, that would not be a four bar power...

"Is that why you came here then?" he asked, distracting himself from his thoughts.

"No" she murmured. She reached down, and lifted up an enormous chunk of meat. Meat! His mouth watered just looking at it. "I figured you people were hungry, and I had leftovers, so..." she trailed off as she saw how Caine's eyes were fixed on the deer, unblinking. "So..." she continued. "Truce? I don't bother you, you don't bother me, right?" Caine nodded eagerly, and the meat started to rise out of her hands as he lifted it with his mind. "You should probably cook it first" she said, breaking into his reverie. He looked up.

"Why would you do this?" he asked. She grinned at him.

"Because I decided that I'm human" she said, and turned away, back into the forest.

And hidden in the trees, Taylor smirked.

"Gotcha" she whispered, and bounced back to report to Astrid.

*You want to reveiw, don't you? Well look, you see that blue button, just there, see it? Just click on it, and type the name of your fave animal/bird in the box! It's easy! Thankyou*