Okay, so, here's chapter 2. Pretty short turn around, but I'm trying to figure out how posting these things work, because despite writing for years, I'm only just now posting them. Blame Ryn, or her creator rather, who both got me into HxH and encouraged me to post this. Chapter 1 has some upload flaws, but I won't be changing those (mostly because I can't figure it out), so hopefully this chapter looks a bit better.

Also, I wrote this story to be slightly confusing, so don't worry if you feel a bit lost. Ryn and Adella are both connected to far more than Gon (or the viewer) knows about in Exam Arc. You will get small hints along the way, but most of the answers will come after Trick Tower. Have fun guessing.

As applicants begin dropping out, Adella and Ryn try to keep pace towards the front. Hisoka and Gittarackur also seem to be keeping up, running next to one another almost in sync.

"They're matching pace with us." Ryn nods towards the other side of the tunnel.

Adella doesn't seem fazed. "We aren't here to beat them."

Ryn smirks, knowing very well just how competitive Adella can get. "I'm going to remind you that you said that later."

Adella just rolls her eyes, going silent to save her breath. Ryn doesn't prod, knowing she won't get much else out of her friend and silently agreeing with her. They didn't know how long this run would be, and despite being in decent shape, needed all the advantages they could get.

As the smooth tunnel turns into stairs, the two grimace, but manage to keep up, one of the first to exit. Though, the actual first were the two boys Adella had already decided were her favorite applicants. "Gon! Killua!"

The two boys turn as she exits the tunnel with Ryn by her side, pausing in their argument about who actually finished first. "Adella!" Gon waves to her, pulling Killua over.

"Seems the two of you beat everyone. I'm impressed! You'll both be Hunters in no time."

Gon grins widely, but Killua just cocks his head, scrutinizing her. The fact she isn't winded makes him all the more curious.

Suddenly, Gon seems to realize he hasn't introduced them, not knowing Killua has already run into the two women. Or rather, they ran into him. "Oh! Killua, this is Ryn, my friend." He points to her hair. "Isn't her hair pretty! It's purple! Ryn, this is Killua. And this is..."

Killua shakes his head. "I've met them already, Gon."

Adella laughs, ruffling the hair on Killua's head. "Yeah, sorry about that."

"Baka! Stop it!" He reaches up, swatting at her hand as Gon laughs, causing Adella to ruffle his hair too.

Ryn watches the exchange, not caring much about the two boys. Adella was the soft one, so of course she would be taking these two under her wing. "So why are you two here?"

"Oh! My dad passed the exam when he was my age. I want to become a hunter like him! I've never met him, but there must be a reason he left!"

Adella winces but smiles reassuringly at Gon. "I'm sure he will be proud. You are amazing, Gon."

The boy grins widely, the two already fast friends. Ryn clenches her jaw, her worries not assuaged. This was exactly what she had been trying to avoid, Adella getting attached.

Once she has finished praising Gon, Adella turns to Killua, still smiling. "And you?"

He just shrugs. "I was bored. Heard this would be hard, so I thought I'd try it."

Adella laughs, loud and long, causing some other applicants to look at the group, including Gon's friends, Kurapika and Leorio, who had finally made it out of the tunnel. "You know, Killua, I think that's exactly why you'll pass."

It seems to be the right answer, odd though it may be, as Killua chuckles, thanking her. Adella has solidified her new friends, and rather quickly too.

A sharp grating sound fills the air as the door to the tunnel descends, closing them off from those who hadn't made it.

Satotz begins speaking. "The Milsy Wetlands, also known as Swindler's Swamp. We must cross it to reach phase two of the exam."

Adella glances at Ryn, who still looks rather annoyed. Then again, Ryn looked annoyed a lot.

"This place is home to a variety of bizarre creatures who feast on human prey. So please be careful. If you're deceived, you'll surely die."

The gathered crowd begins murmuring, worried. Ryn just snorts, annoyed. "Great. Weird animals who try to deceive people so they can get what they want. So, men?"

Satotz frowns, clearly not appreciating the joke, though Adella does, agreeing quickly. "These wetland creatures are not to be underestimated, for they will use every trick in the book to fool their prey. Please follow me closely so you won't be deceived."

"Don't fall for it!" The crowd turns as another man rounds the side of the exit, claiming to be the real examiner.

Ryn leans over to Adella. "Is he?"

Her friend rolls her eyes. "No. The association would never let a creature lead us here, even as a test."

Ryn nods, frowning. "But how do we…"

Suddenly, five cards slice through the air. Three land in the face and chest of the claimed examiner, while two Satotz catches in his hands. As the man goes down, all eyes turn to Hisoka.

"So, you are the real one." The crowd gasps, wondering how he had reached this conclusion. Not one to shy away from the spotlight, the magician explains. "The examiners are Hunters, each hand-picked by the Exam Committee. Anyone who holds the title we are vying for ourselves could have deflected that attack, and quite easily as well."

Satotz is impressed, but obviously cannot show it, reprimanding him for trying to assault an examiner. Again. It seems he had been disqualified last year for doing the same.

Adella rolls her eyes. "He's going to get someone killed."

"I think he already has, Del."

Satotz regains everyone's attention, issuing one final warning. "I want to make it abundantly clear that if any of you lose sight of me once we enter the fog of the Milsy Wetlands, you have no hope whatsoever of reaching the second phase of the exam."

With that, they are once again off and running.

The fog is thick, and the swamp soft beneath their feet. Adella and Ryn are barely winded, but the fog is not helping in the slightest.

"I cannot see." Ryn snorts at Adella's obvious remark.

"Well duh. It's foggy. Thankfully we're pretty close to the front."

As she says this, the fog thickens, the person just in front of them becoming merely a shadow.

Adella huffs. "Yeah, but I can barely see Satotz. What if…"

As if on cue, the silhouette in front of them reaches back, one hand grabbing each woman. Ryn grunts, tugging on the hand. "Who do you think…"

"Stop."

The voice is familiar, and both women immediately cease trying to pull away from him.

"Hisoka has some business to tend to. He has charged me with keeping an eye on you two."

Ryn pouts. "I want to go have fun!"

"No. Chrollo would kill all of us if you got hurt."

Ryn turns to Adella, still running at the man's side. "Del, come one, we can make it."

She doesn't respond.

"Del?"

"He's holding my hand, you think I'm gonna let go?"

Ryn groans, rolling her eyes and resigning herself to this fate. "Softy. I blame you, by the way. You all deprive her of touch so much, holding your hand makes her mushy."

The man doesn't respond, leading the two through the fog just behind Satotz.

The run doesn't seem to take long, the fog lifting as they leave the swamp for a forest instead. As soon as the fog lifts, the man has let go of them, allowing the two women to run at their own pace.

"I wanted fun." Ryn pouts.

Adella reassures her, smiling now they've crossed into the relative safety of the forest. "Don't worry. I'm sure we will have to fight people at some point. You can have fun then."

A large, walled residence appears as they round the final corner on the now obvious path, and Satotz slows to a stop just outside of it. "We shall wait to see if anyone else joins. Rest for now."

Ryn sits under one of the trees, leaning back against the trunk. "Well, that wasn't terrible."

Adella glances around, noting some familiar faces are missing. "Gon and his friends aren't here."

Ryn frowns, opening one eye. "The white-haired kid is."

"Where!" Adella glances around for Killua. Spotting him, she relaxes. "Oh, good. I also don't see Hisoka yet. But your favorite is here." She motions to Gittarackur across from them, standing looking into the woods.

"Oh, great." Ryn groans.

Adella chuckles, happy Ryn is the one uncomfortable for once.

"Hey!"

Adella looks up, only to see Killua on his way over to them. "Have you seen Gon?"

"No, he isn't with you?"

Killua shrugs, trying not to appear worried. "He was, but then I lost him. I was hoping he'd found you."

Adella shakes her head, chewing her lip in worry, not bothering to hide her unease. "That's… not good. I hope he's okay."

Killua tilts his head to the side, considering her. "You… like Gon, don't you?"

Adella shrugs. "I like you too. Both of you are incredibly talented, and you have good hearts."

Killua doesn't look impressed. "What do you know about hearts?"

Ryn looks between the two, something beginning to dawn on her, but not quite crossing the horizon.

"I know enough to recognize when one is good, even if it hasn't gotten much use."

The answer is cryptic, one Killua doesn't like, even if it does impress him. "Fine, keep your secrets."

Adella smiles, ruffling his hair, which causes him to protest. Still, he manages a small smile as Adella laughs at him trying to fix it. "Don't worry. Gon is pretty tough. I'm sure he will make it."

Reassured, Killua leaves them be, waiting for Gon to arrive, which he does a few seconds later.

"Oh good." Adella sighs, glad to have not lied.

Ryn pulls Adella down beside her. "You are too attached to those kids. We aren't here to play mother."

"I'm not…"

Ryn raises a brow. "Adella. You are."

The brunette folds her arms across her chest. "They are twelve."

"And passing the exam on their own. Now can we focus on why we are here?"