AN: NEW CHARACTER WILL APPEAR!

I would like to thank RubyDracoGirl for allowing me to use her OC's! You totally rock for that!

Also, we learn who this GIRL is that has been stalking our new friend, Francis! Yay!

R&R, peeps! R&R!

WARNING: GETS PRETTY BLOODY AFTER THIS POINT!

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Chapter Four

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I stared in shock at the girl on top of me. Who was this chick? And why was she stalking me? And what the hell was she doing in that armour? She got off of me and helped me up. I dusted off my clothing as well as I could. I looked at her. She was actually kind of good looking. She was a slender, had long, red hair, and soft brown eyes.

"What did you do that for?" I demanded in anger. I threw my hands in the air for emphasis.

"To test you," she replied.

Somehow, that made me even madder. She backed up slightly.

"TEST ME? TEST ME? YOU ALMOST KILLED ME, BITCH!" I nearly screamed. I was suddenly surprised, yet still very angry. "What's your name anyway?"

"Rachel Dower," she said. "Are you done?"

"Maybe," I grumbled. In truth, I was done. I went inside my oh so humble abode. Rachel followed me. I sat on my blanket. I had fashioned a mat of grass and reeds since I had taken to living here. It really helped to ease the pain of sitting on rock. Rachel had armour on, so it shouldn't bother her anyway. I was still peeved, and I obviously looked it.

"Well, get on with it!" I snapped. I got out a small pot and a spyder grill.I lit a fire under it and poured water into my puny pot. Once the water started bubbling, I started cutting up some herbs and native vegetables and throwing them in. Next came the cut loins of a rabbit/donkey creature. Finally, the spices. Soon, the delicious smell of cooking stew filled my nostrils. I stirred.

"I had to test you. To see if you could survive here on this rock," she explained. "It's not very safe."

"Really? I hadn't noticed!" I snapped, pointing to my now permanently crooked nose. Rachel looked away.

"Sorry about that," she apologized sheepishly. She ran a hand through her red locks. "I was mad. You had punctured my strength serum bottle. I was forced to take to hiding until I could make more. Without it, I'm as weak as any human."

"Strength serum?" I asked. "Is that what that green stuff was?"

Rachel nodded.

"I thought I had stabbed you!"

"You nearly did. Any deeper, and I would have bled out of my intestine. I'm just glad the serum was there."

I tasted the stew. It was ready. I got my bowl out. Poured some in it.

"Want some?" I asked. Rachel obliged. I found another bowl and poured some more stew in it. We both ate immediately.

"So, are there any other humans here?" I asked between mouthfuls.

Rachel shook her head despondantly.

"No. The Hunters got them."

I looked down at my soup in despair at her words.

"Oh."

"I only survived because I took this suit from the one I killed."

My head jerked back up.

"They can be killed?" I asked.

"It's very hard -nay, nearly impossible- but yes, they can be killed."

I was suddenly hopeful again. They could be killed! They had weaknesses. What though, I didn't know. But this girl, Rachel, did.

"How did you kill it?" I inquired.

"By using what it didn't even expect. It's own weapon," she answered. "It had it aimed at me. It was a pistol, so I grabbed its arm and turned it on its neck just as it fired. It was very gory. Its blood was all over me. Took forever to wash off."

I was quiet. But very happy. I took another bite.

...

Than-Guan Bhu'ja, or Midnight Ghost or Matador, watched silently from a perch high up in the tree. So, this was the human Lar'ja told him about. He had observed him all day. This Ooman was a very resilient one. Bhu'ja zoomed in on him with his mask. He was eating some kind of liquid food. Its smell was intriguing. Like meat mixed with spices. He produced a series of clicks and leapt down. He would investigate tonight.