KuromiKajitsu: I'm so sorry it took a long time to upload!!!

Darren: You're apologizing even when I haven't said anything...

KuromiKajitsu: Shut up, Darren! I'm trying to make progress here! Just do the disclaimer!

Darren: Fine. Someone's cranky...

KuromiKajtsu: I HEARD THAT!!!!

Darren: Kuro-koi doesn't own the Darren Shan Saga.

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Chapter 7

"AHHHHH!"

I heard a scream just as I walked into the tent with Darren. It shocked me enough to make my ears and tail flit up. I looked around the tent to find the cause of the scream and saw the blue eyed girl huddled in a corner fearfully looking at Evra. She turned her eyes to me and was about to scream again until I ran over and clasped my hand over her mouth.

"Don't scream," I commanded in a soft voice. The girl was shivering. Her eyes moved upwards towards the top of my head. Realizing that my ears were still up from the shock of the scream, I hid them once more.

"I'm going to remove my hand now," I said assuringly, "but you have to promise me that you won't scream again." She was still shivering but her head bobbed. I let my hand drop from the girl's face. She was silent. Her eyes were wide and scanned the room.

"So, what is your name?" I gently asked.

"M-Marisa," she stuttered.

I gave her a big smile. "Nice to meet you, Marisa. I'm Jennifer, but you can call me Jenn." I held out my hand and she hesitantly took it. "Is it okay if I call you Risa?"

She looked up at my cheerful face. Her shivering ceased and I could see a smile form on her lips. "Sure," she replied.

"Yay!" I cheered, jumping up from the corner. Marisa stood up as well. "Let me introduce you to my friends," I said then pointed to Evra. "This is Evra Von. He's a snake-boy, if you haven't noticed," then I gestured towards Darren. "And this is Darren Shan. He's a half-vampire."

Marisa looked at him nervously. "A-a vampire?"

"Don't worry," I smiled, "we won't drink your blood."

"W-we?" she turned paler.

"I'm a half-vampire, too!" I said cheerfully while she became whiter. I continued, "I'm also a fox!" My ears popped up from my head and my tail curled out from underneath my dress. Marisa froze her eyes wide with shock.

"It's okay, Marisa," Darren walked next to me. "We won't hurt you." But he all of a sudden tensed. His breathing became more rapid. His gaze was on her arm, which was wrapped in a cloth. Blood soaked through the makeshift bandage and I could sense what Darren was about to do next.

"Risa!" I pushed her out of the way and put myself in front of Darren. He tackled me to the ground and I could hear a loud snap.

"Jenn!" he sat up, his eyes were wide with fear. I just smiled up at him.

"It's okay, Darren," I assured him. "I'm not hurt." I moved my leg but then winced. Darren noticed and got off me to check my leg.

"Your leg is bruised," he said eyeing the purple mark on calf. I looked down to see that he was right. On my left leg was a small bruise that pulse slightly.

"I'm fine. It's not that bad."

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I sat on Darren's cot with my left leg out. I say that I'm fine, but I still end up like this. Darren sat on the bottom of his cot and placed an ice pack on my leg. I looked over at Marisa who sat cross-legged on Evra's cot looking at her hands nervously. Evra sat on the floor at the foot of his cot peaking at Marisa every few seconds.

"So, Risa," I said, breaking the silence. "How old are you?"

"S-sixteen," she replied seemingly surprised. Hmmm. Could she still be thinking about Darren's attack? She cleared her throat, then asked, "How old are you?"

I giggled. "I'm twenty-three!"

She stared at me like I was insane. Darren noticed and interrupted.

"That's her genetic age. Physically, she's fourteen."

Marisa then looked back at me wide eyed. "But, you look like you're twelve."

I replied, shaking my head, "Half-vampires age one-fifth the rate of a human."

"Really?" she sounded interested. "How old is Darren?"

But before I could speak, Darren answered, "Twenty-five."

Marisa pondered, "Then that means that he is sixteen."

I smiled, "Yup!"

Then she turned to Evra, who was still looking intently at her, and asked, "How old are you?"

Evra smiled and said, "Seventeen."

I was happy. Everyone was getting along so well. Then I suddenly remembered. Nervously, I asked Darren, "Is it okay if I invite someone in today?"

He looked at me slightly curious. "Who?"

"I met her while I was out. She's my-" But I was cut off when an older girl came into the tent.

"Hey, sis!"

KuromiKajitsu: Yay! ^^

Darren: Great. Just what I need more girls. *sulks*

KuromiKajitsu: Now I am demanding more reviews!