Sorry it has taken so long to put up another chapter but life got in the way. Lol So the next 2 chapters are from Joan's point of view. I wanted yall to get to know her a little bit better and this was the best way. I'm sorry that it is a bit repetitive but I thought it would be cool to see what both of them were thinking/feeling when they see each other again. Please review and tell me what you think of the characters and story so far.

Chapter 4

Joan had been lounging in a tree when she heard someone approaching. She glanced down, knowing it would be Nahla or Lily. She was fixing to jump down when she saw Nahla, but stopped when she saw the figure with her. She cocked her head to the side, waiting for the pair to get closer. She squinted at the figure, gasping as she recognized Monroe. Her blood ran cold even as her heart fluttered. She hated how her heart went crazy around him. She shook her head to clear it and a smile played across her lips as she quietly climbed down the tree. She leaned against the tree as Nahla whistled for her. She glanced down and found a small branch that had fallen. She stepped on it, making a loud crack. Both whirled to face her, she noticed the annoyed expression on Monroe's face and she chuckled.

"Hello Monroe. How's life been?" He looked so shocked to see her. She decided to tease him a little bit. She walked slowly towards him, making her steps slow and deliberate, until she was right there in front of him. Noticing his hands tied behind his back, she pulled out her knife and reached around him. Noticing his eyes flash at the sight of the knife. She had to fight to keep her composure more than she would ever admit to anyone. She loved how his eyes told her everything, loved the look he got when he wanted her. God she had forgotten how blue his eyes were! She cut the rope binding him quickly and before she lost herself in those deep blue eyes, slowly backed away smiling at him. She almost laughed when he looked down at his wrists.

"You didn't answer my question." She said, hoping he would look up. He did and she stared disappointedly into his eyes that no longer held the emotion they had moments before. Instead the cold, calculating General Monroe stared back at her. A chill ran up her spine as they engaged in their staring contest. She would win this one she told herself, to make up for all the others she had lost, all those years ago. She heard Nahla shift nervously beside her. It had surprised her that she hadn't killed Monroe on the spot. Maybe she was waiting for her to say it was ok? Did she really think that she still cared for Monroe? She felt a pain in her heart. Did she?

"What do you want to do with him?" asked Nahla. She almost smiled as an idea formed.

"Kill him." Monroe's eyes widened and flew to Nahlas'. Nahla had again surprised her by the speed at which she brought the rifle up to level it at Monroe's chest. She didn't even hesitate! Then again after the stories she had told her of her time with Monroe she couldn't really blame her. If a man had done to Nahla what Monroe had done to her she would not have hesitated either. They were sisters in every since except blood, mess with one you messed with both.

"I win." Joan said, feeling the triumph of beating Monroe. Finally she had beat him at his own game!

"That's not fair!" He yelled. She noted how mad he looked, remembering that he hated to lose. Anger flared in her. How dare he get mad at her! It wasn't like he had ever played by the rules!

"Go cry to Miles." She replied, smirking at her jab at him. She had expected him to explode in anger like the last time she had said that. She winced as the memory brought back the pain to her jaw. Instead of getting angry, his face fell and he opened his mouth to say something. He was interrupted by a loud crash coming from the direction of the house. Her and Nahla both wheeled and took off for the house. There was no communication needed, they just needed to get back as fast as possible. For a brief moment her thoughts went to Monroe, would he follow them or turn and run?

She saw the smoke and shook her head to clear it. She couldn't think about him right now. They reached the center of the commotion and tried to take it in. Her eyes followed the black smoke that was drifting towards the sky. Fear struck her, as she realized it would be visable for miles. No telling who would come to investigate. Bandits? War clans? The list of bad possibilities was endless!

"Get that fire out now!" She yelled. Already there was buckets of water being thrown onto the flames. She began to stomp out the smaller flames trying to spread to the grass around it. She glanced to the side then did a double take, Monroe was throwing a bucket of water on a fire that had been on its way to the big house. No one else had caught it but him. He looked up at her and she nodded to him. Turning back to fight the fire, she wondered why had he followed them?

It is dark by the time they put the fire out.

"Lily!" She yells. The young girl lifts her head and comes to stand beside her.

"Your in charge. Assign a few to keep an eye on this and a few more guards tonight, who knows what that smoke will attract." The girl nods her head and turning, starts calling people to her. With a last look at the fire Joan turns and starts to walk towards the house. Nahla is beside her and leans in so that only she can hear.

"Why is he still here?" She asked.

"I don't know." Joan replied, determined not to look back at him.

"Well get rid of him or I will!" She snapped back.

"With his skills he could be useful." She said calmly. Nahla glanced back at Monroe trailing a few paces back.

"What good is a cold blooded killer?" She said looking hard at Joan. Joan smiles at her.

"Someone like that can do a lot," she says with an unamused laugh. "Look what I did with this place." She said a hard edge to her voice, striding a little ahead of her. Nahla winced at her words replying quietly.

"Yeah but what did it cost you." She looked back at Monroe. And what had it cost him?