The jungle became almost pitch black much sooner than they thought. Fina slept on Joe's shoulder as a mouse for most of the afternoon walk so that she could be wide awake during the night so she could keep watch. She was laying a little ways away from the rest of the group as a cougar and listened to the sounds around them.

At one point she thought she could hear Jodie sniffling and Joe quietly trying to comfort her. But that was a while ago and now they both seemed asleep.

It was harder to tell with Fred. She could tell by his breathing that he was pretending to sleep but was actually wide awake. His heavy breathing then turned into genuine snores though, so he must have fallen asleep for real.

Fred suddenly started awake with a snort and sat up slowly. He stretched with his back to her and Fina couldn't help but notice how muscular his arms were. He turned his head, looking for her probably, and Fina wondered if he would be able to spot her in the dark. Being a Cougar granted her night vision, but he could probably only see vague shapes.

His gaze passed over her a couple of times before he found her, mostly likely because her eyes were glowing. He jumped a little when he noticed her, but he soon relaxed and smiled in her direction. Fred cast a wary look at Jodie and then carefully made his way over to Fina.

"Hey," he whispered with a large smile. "Is this spot taken?"

Fina considered transforming into her human form to answer him, but decided against it. Fred waited uncomfortably for a moment before letting out a sigh and sitting down next to her.

"I really messed things up didn't I?" He sighed.

Fina didn't answer, but gently laid her paw on top of his. Fred put his arm around her and gently caressed her fur. There was a slight noise to the left, but when Fina turned her head to look, she only saw a monkey. She turned back towards Fred and found him staring at Jodie.

"I'm not very smart, I'll admit that." He said quietly. "But I'm not malicious and I'm not a cheater. But I guess, technically speaking, I am a liar."

Fina tensed and waited for him to continue. However, she couldn't resist a low growl.

"Quit it, I'll explain what I mean." Fred chuckled. "When we first met it's not like I meant to hurt Jodie with our friendship and I wasn't trying to two time her. I mean, I flirted with San-Li a lot, I mean a whole lot and if anything I would have cheated on Jodie with her if San-Li hadn't been a psychopath."

Fina bristled and made an impatient motion with her head.

"Sorry, sorry." Fred sighed and kept going. "Anyways, I really did just think of you as a friend. And later I really did think of you like a little sister. I don't when, but... at some point that changed..."

Fred turned his head to look at Fina. "I don't know when or how it happened but... I like you Fina. A lot. A whole lot. So yes, I did lie when Joe and Sam asked if I had feelings for you. And I definitely lied to Jodie when she started to realize that I liked you. But let me make one thing clear; I never cheated on her."

Fina's felt breathless as she listened to Fred's confession. She was dying to transform and wrap her arms around him and kiss him senseless, but she restrained herself.

He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "When I realized that I liked you so much, I took you to Coney Island hoping to, I dunno, win you over because I kinda thought you felt the same way about me. Anyways, when you turned me down I was about to go back to Jodie and make up with her, but I just couldn't. It just hit me out of nowhere that I didn't care about your immortality or your bond or whatever. The honest truth was that I liked you a lot and I didn't have the same feelings for Jodie anymore."

He turned his head to look at Jodie again.

"When Jodie and I first started dating she gave me this special chip for my phone so that we could keep in touch despite being a hundred years apart." Fred turned to look at her again. "When I realized how much I liked you, I messaged her that I couldn't be with her anymore. Then I destroyed the time chip. You know, trying to burn the bridge so I can be all or nothing for you like San-Li told me I should be."

Fina closed her eyes feeling happy for the first time in weeks. Suddenly, there was a noise so slight that Fina almost didn't hear it. She turned her head to locate the source but didn't see anything. She was just about to settle down again when she heard it again. She was instantly up on all fours and felt her fur bristle.

Fred seemed to realize something was wrong and stood as well. "Fina? What is it?"

Fina didn't answer and scanned the jungle closely. There! Right among the trees close to Joe and Jodie she saw movement. She darted over to them and stood protectively in front of Joe's sleeping figure.

The sound came again and Fina let loose a low growl, hoping to scare whatever it was off. The sound only increased though and this time she definitely saw something moving directly towards them. She growled louder and began snarling.

"Fina?" Joe yawned and began to sit up. "What is it? Is something out there?"

Please stay close to me, sir. She answered in his head. I think I see something out there.

There was a loud scream and Fina spun around to see Fred being dragged off into the jungle by a dark figure. With a loud roar she raced over to attack the figure. She was halfway there when something fell from above and landed on her back. Something closed around her neck and powerful electricity went coursing through her body.

"Fina!" Fred and Joe screamed in terror.

Fina screamed as she was forced back into her human form. She writhed on the ground in pain and she could only hear the sound of her own screaming as her body felt like it was being torn into pieces. Her body suddenly relaxed as consciousness slowly left her. The last thing she saw was Joe and Jodie being grabbed and taken into the jungle as darkness consumed her.