Her dark mocha eyes searched over him, lacking the usual warmth, but he didn't notice. The sheer joy of simply seeing her, alive, was almost too much, and he rushed forward to embrace his one and only.

Wsssh! Crack!
A wooden staff sliced through the air, skimming his cheek. Vert stumbled back, touching a finger to the targeted area. He felt a warm liquid begin to make its way down his cheek and tasted the tang of iron on his lips. He didn't understand. The huntress stood, eyes coldly watching him, and then he realized that she was not his teammate anymore. She was a predator.

And he was her prey.

Vert took a defensive position, but deep down he knew he could never lay a hand on her. She did the same, and suddenly flew at him, rope in hand. Vert was taken by surprise, his wrists tied before he could react. She secured the rope to a tree, then cautiously made her way toward him. Vert felt exposed as the once-familiar eyes scanned over him, then she slowly lifted her hand. Soundlessly, the huntress traced a finger across his uninjured cheek, holding it there. Vert nearly gasped, he had craved her touch for too long. Their eyes met for a brief second, blue on brown. Vert held the gaze and was shocked to the core when she lifted a blade, slashed his bonds and sprinted up into the tree. Away from him.

Something came over Vert and he rushed toward her. He was too close. He would not lose her again. The simple touch of her hand on his skin had reminded him, brought him out of the lost, wandering state. He had not meant to leave without her and didn't intend on doing so now. Vert had come; he had found her. Now, he made a new promise. He would stay with her, through whatever had made her forget. Through whatever Vandal had done to force her retreat into the world of predators and prey. He had come, and he would stay. He would bring her back. And it would all start with this. He lunged after her into the tree, desperately keeping his eyes trained on the grass covering that was evading him. Branches whipping at his arms, insects stinging and biting, all were forgotten as he pursued her. She was aware of him, and he knew it, too. Still he chased her through the treetops and underbrush, doggedly and without rest. Finally, she flipped off one of the lower branches, landing in the center of a small clearing. Vert did the same, panting. She folded her arms, eying him coldly.

"I'm not leaving, Agura." He said forcefully. She didn't flinch, and he saw no recognition in her eyes. Not even her own name. Vert felt a dull ache in his chest when she turned her back on him, disappearing into the undergrowth. Still, he felt he had gained respect. Not quite trust, not friendship, but it was a start. She reappeared momentarily holding what appeared to be kindling, and began stacking them on top of each other. Vert realized she intended to start a fire, and cursed. All their cars had fire starters in the emergency kits, and he had left the Saber to be found by Kalus. He didn't dare leave her, but another question arose. Where was his team?
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"Great." Stanford muttered cynically. They were officially lost, having aimlessly wandered the dense jungle for nearly an hour with no success, and the search was becoming exhausting.

"We're almost at Vert's beacon." Sherman reminded them, trying to stay patient.

"Should be right around…here!" Zoom announced as their vehicles surrounded the Saber. "But…where's Vert?" He addressed Sherman nervously. The younger Cortez had to resist throwing a punch at the nearest tree in frustration. Why was this happening? Why couldn't something just work out? He simply sighed, sucking out the negativity and frustration. The last thing the team needed right now was another tantrum.

"I don't know, Zoom." He admitted. "Let's look around for a minute. Spinner, get the Saber ready for towing."

"Got it, bro!" Spinner gave him a thumbs up, and Sherman found himself grateful to his brother for being agreeable.

"Stanford, can you do a sonar scan for any life forms in a ten mile radius?" He asked. The red-head simply nodded, uncharacteristically silent.

"Two heat signatures about ten clicks northwest!" He announced, seconds later. "I'm uploading the coordinates."

"Thanks, Stan." Sherman said. "Let's go, team!"

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Vert watched, intrigued. Agura had somehow managed to start a fire, using only the resources available. She was more skilled than the team, knew, he realized, and that was why he was so attracted. Vert had never really wanted a princess, a damsel in distress. He desired a strong, capable woman who could fend for herself, and he had found that in so much more in Agura. He admitted that, when he had entered the Fusion Vortex and found himself trapped in the Shadow Zone with Krytus*, he had almost been crushed that their vehicles hadn't joined. To be united, to work together as one. He had missed his chance. Now, he may never get it again. Vert shook himself out of his thoughts. His First Lieutenant was holding a branch over the fire, apparently a sort of kabob. Vert was momentarily mesmerized as he watched the flames dance in her dark eyes. She retrieved the branch from the fire to inspect what appeared to be chunks of meat and…fruit, maybe? Vert couldn't quite discern the meal due to the flickering shadows and dusk sky. At first, he was confused as to how she had come across meat, but the grim truth still came to him. She was a huntress. She had…killed. Vert pushed away the thoughts. It was survival.

He returned his wandering gaze to Agura. Satisfied, she had dislodged the food, placing it neatly on a large, smooth stone. The scent of grilled meat hung in the air, and Vert became aware that he was watching her hungrily as she ate. Glancing up, she eyed him, cautious, then slowly transferred half the contents of her "plate" onto a similar one, not taking her untrusting eyes off him. Placing the slab of rock on the ground, the huntress slid it towards him. It was then Vert noticed that, beneath the camouflage, she still wore the emerald shocksuit. His heart gave a small flutter of hope as he lifted the plate. He couldn't bear to think of what he might be eating, but hunger presided over curiosity as he took a cut of meat in his hands. She was watching him, he realized, waiting for approval. Vert had to admit he was in disbelief that she had shared with him; it didn't fit the rules of survival. His guess was that she had recognized him as human, labeled him as helpless, and felt a certain degree of responsibility for her race. It was certainly the most logical answer, but Vert secretly thought (hoped, even) that it was her motherly instincts. He cautiously bit off a small section of meat, then hunger overruled caution as he nearly inhaled the well-done but flavor lacking meal. He looked up to receive the slightest nod of approval. It was almost incredible how she could communicate so much to him with so little.

Vert was suddenly overcome with emotion. He wanted to be with her. Not separated by the fire, or amnesia. He wanted to hold her in his arms and kiss her, with every fiber of his being. But he couldn't. He had to stay with her, establish trust, and then…then she could be his again. She would remember; she had to. Without her, he was nothing. An empty shell of a man. The leader sighed, standing to return his plate. He placed the rock slab at her feet, then daringly took a seat next to her, holding in a moan of relief as his leg touched hers. How he had missed the feeling of her next to him. The contact ended as quickly as it had begun. The huntress immediately jumped to her feet, glaring at him, but something seemed…off. She seemed uneasy, scared even. Vert realized that he had unintentionally made her lose control. She looked down on him, then scurried away with their plates. Vert groaned; they had taken a larger step backward than forward. Why couldn't he have controlled the need to feel her against him? He would never get close to her now.

*A/N: See episode "Shadow Runners"