Here's Chapter 4 everyone and I really don't have much to say here besides saying thanks to TrueSapphire for helping me out. Now let's get this chapter going.

Chapter 4: Gaur Plains

The next morning was when we headed off to Gaur Plains–after having a healthy breakfast of course! The boys bought themselves some new armor and even though Shulk wanted to get some for me, I noticed the lack of funds, so I told him I'd be fine for the time being. He didn't question it, and after parting ways with the travelers–though Shulk and Reyn got more quests to do–we began our way to Gaur Plains.

Entering the Gaur Plains of the Bionis' Leg, I expected it to be big as seeing how freaking big the Bionis, was and I wasn't disappointed at all. The vast amount of vegetation and stone cliffs made the area look incredible to me as the boys stopped.

"Shulk! Neetz! Look over there!" Reyn called us, turning and pointing over to something in the distance letting out smoke.

"Smoke?" Shulk noted.

"Maybe someone's got a fire going." Reyn grinned. "Hope they're cooking up something good!"

"I don't think it's a barbeque Reyn," I replied as I tried to get a better look at it. "The smoke doesn't look like one to me."

"Come on, let's take a look," Shulk asserted to the both of us.

We both nodded and we started to head into the plains. Seeing the creatures here took my breath away; if we had Leg Arduns and other creatures back on Earth...things might get out of control. Besides that, as we were hunting some of the creatures, we had stopped by a huge rock shooting out from the ground. Stopping there to heal up, I couldn't help myself being fascinated by the orange-mossy green rock. According to what Shulk said, the landmark was called 'Jabos Rest Rock Area.' It wasn't a clever name, but I didn't blame him for the name. Hunting more creatures, we found ourselves going towards the smoke after doing the quests that we could complete. Going closer to it, it looked like some kind of vehicle – probably either damaged or overheated.

"Someone's left a buggy out here," Reyn stated.

"That's strange," Shulk observed the buggy before folding his arms to think. "Who would just abandon a buggy in this place? And it's pretty new."

"Is it brand new?" I queried looking at him as he lowered his arms. "Because if so, then somebody clearly doesn't know how useful this might be."

"It's not brand new, Neetz, but it's in very good condition. You wouldn't just abandon it. So what did happen to the driver?"

"But how is it good condition Shulk? It's smoking!" I exclaimed.

"But it is, Neetz!"

"Fine..."

As the three of us looked at the buggy, trying to think of what could have happen, Shulk extended his arm out so he could touch it. I didn't really think much of it and Reyn wasn't paying attention, but when he did, my headache slightly got worse. I winced in pain for a split second before it went away. Thinking nothing much of it, I turned to look at Shulk, who now had panic in his eyes.

"Shulk? Shulk, what's wrong?!" I asked him.

"There's a boy! He's being attacked by monster!" Shulk exclaimed, looking at both of us.

"You saw it happening? Where?" Reyn asked in a hurry.

"I don't know! But it was near some water."

"Near water... But what made you have a vision all of sudden?"

"Maybe it was triggered by touching the buggy."

"Well, why are we just standing here then?" I asked, getting their attention. "Let's search everywhere where there is water. We're bound to find him eventually if we get going now."

"Ok."

After wandering around for something, or simply running away from huge creatures wanting to kill us, we found ourselves getting closer to a waterfall. Not wanting to waste any time, we ran over there and soon stopped to look for the boy.

"Shulk! Neetz! Over there!" Reyn yelled pointing over to our right.

We saw the boy on the ground, frozen in fear as the Leg Arduns roared at him. Hearing him scream, I couldn't help myself to think that his voice was a bit weird...but then I'm weird as I'm not from here, so I wasn't going to judge him. Both boys ran up in front of the boys as I can up from behind to help the kid up.

"Are you alright?" I asked the young boy.

"Who are you?" the boy quaked.

"Neetz! Get the boy outta here and to safely!" Reyn ordered, looking back at us. "Leave these guys to us."

"Ok then, just be careful!" I understood, looking at the boy now standing up. "Come on, let's hurry!"

After the boys returned with the fight, the four of us returned to the buggy. Shulk went to fix the buggy, and since I was right, I could bug Shulk all about it later. I made sure the boy was unharmed as Reyn kept an eye out for anything else coming our way. It wasn't that long until he finished and finally stood up.

"Ok. It should work now," Shulk spoke, nodding to the boy.

"Great! You saved my skin!" the boy said, still a bit out of breath. "My buggy short-circuited, and then there were those monsters, and… Well, thanks!"

"I fixed the circuit, but it's out of ether. Change the cylinder and it'll be as good as new."

"I think its time for the introductions," Reyn presented, pointing to the respective person. "I'm Reyn. He's Shulk. She's Neetz."

"Please to meet you," Shulk smiled to the boy.

"Nice to meet you," I smiled.

"Oh… Hi! I'm Juju," Juju answered back, then looked down. It looked like he wanted to say something. "Um... Where are you three heading? If you got time, you should come back to our camp!"

"Your camp?" Shulk asked.

"Yeah. It's not far."

"How about it?" Reyn asked us.

"Let's take him up on the offer," Shulk asserted, looking at me and Reyn. "I'm surprised there's a Homs camp here, but they might have some information."

Reyn nodded. "I suppose."

Shulk turned back to Juju. "Juju, can you tell us how to get there?"

"Sure," Juju responded. "If you go back to the oasis, you should see a tall stone post. Head there first."

"Then what?" Reyn inquired.

"Reyn, let Juju finish giving us the instructions on how to get there," I chimed in to Reyn before looking back at Juju. "Continue."

"There's a small path in the woods next to the stone post. Just follow it down to our camp," Juju finished.

"Thanks! Now let's get going."

After some time, we finally arrived at what looked to be the Homs camp. Juju was in the buggy, and we arrived at nighttime no less, so it was a good idea that we did go to the camp. The camp wasn't much, and I could see that this camp wasn't one meant to be found. It struck me as odd as we followed Juju into the camp. Inside the open area of the camp were a young woman and an old man. When we entered the camp, the woman turned around and I couldn't help noted the interesting clothing designs of the female. What's with this place with some woman wearing revealing clothing?

"Juju," the woman crooned. She walked towards us as Juju stopped the buggy. "Where have you been?" Looking at Juju, I couldn't help noticing how depressed he looked as she stood over her. "Don't tell me you were..." Her voice trailed off as she looked at the buggy and Juju a bit angrily. For whatever reason, as Juju said silent, I felt something of a brother-sister relationship between them. "I've told you a thousand times! We're not ready to leave the camp yet!"

"But I thought..." Juju trailed off.

"Juju!" she scolded him.

"Sorry… Sharla."

I couldn't help feel sorry for Juju, even though he did deserve to be punished. When Sharla bent down and placed her forehead against Juju's, I concluded that they had to be either siblings, or really close to one another. Smiling, she removed her forehead from his before turning to look at us...or rather Reyn and Shulk since I was the closest to the buggy.

"That gear..." Sharla observed Reyn's gear. "You must be survivors from the Defense Force!" She quickly ran up to Reyn and placed her left hand on Reyn's chest in a desperate manner. "Is Colony 6 ok? Did Gadolt make it?" Her face was a bit close to Reyn, who was surprised by this closeness.

"Hold on," Reyn began. "What're you talking about?"

"We've... We've come from Colony 9," Shulk averred.

I glanced over at Shulk, and then looked back at Sharla. She then turned to me and walked closer to me. A bit intimidated, I backed away from the buggy towards the boys.

"And where are you from?" Sharla inquired, looking straight into my eyes, "Because I know you're not from Colony 9 or 6."

I gulped hearing her strict, yet blunt tone of her voice. This wasn't the best time to state the question I wish to avoid currently, but I decided seeing there was a camp here, I could possible slide around the question with a blunt answer.

"She's with us," Shulk answered. "Her clothes were a gift to her; that's why she wears them."

"Th-these clothes are mementos from my family," I stammered out. "That's why I look different."

She just gave me a questionable look before looking at the boys. "Colony 9..." Sharla stated aloud.

"They saved me from some monsters," Juju interrupted. "This is Reyn, Shulk and Neetz."

"Oh..." Sharla sounded disappointed. "So you're not from Colony 6... Thank you for helping Juju," she smiled at us. "I'm his sister, Sharla."

"I told them they can rest here...with us."

She glanced back at Juju. "Did you now? Well, all right. I suppose it's only fair."

"Did something happen? To Colony 6?" Reyn asked curiously.

"Actually, we're heading there ourselves," Shulk stated.

"Colony 6 has been..." Sharla's voice trailed off until bitterness and sadness filled her voice, "our home! It's been occupied by the Mechon."

Her gaze went away from us, and I could see Juju looking down away from us a well. This was no ordinary camp; it was camp for refugees. Just what happened to that colony?! Both boys looked sadden as well, and I couldn't blame them.

They said only two colonies were left... Well, one right now. According to what I learned from Shulk, there were once ten colonies. The reason Colony 9 and 6 were still left was because the other eight destroyed colonies in the forgotten past were closer to Sword Valley, the Mechon, and, therefore, Mechonis. Colony 9 has survived longer than the others because of its one advantage: its great distance from Mechonis. Colony 9 was able to live peacefully despite the attacks happening above them. For those living in Colony 9, this was a home that could never be replaced.

But now the Colony 6 was gone, it was only a matter of time before Colony 9 fell as well. Inside my heart, I wished that it wouldn't happen in the future, and yet something inside me asserted that it would happen.

"I'll tell you all about it inside. Follow me," Sharla told us, turning around and heading towards the cave.

Shaking the feeling off, the three of us looked at one another before following Sharla. Something told me inside deep within the depths of my human mind that this was only the beginning of a tragedy to come.