Two hours have passed since the start of the exam and the applicants have traveled over thirty kilometers from the start. None of them know how far they must go. They are forced to run at the leaders pace, with no goal specified. It's a monstrous exercise with no end in sight, and many applicants have already dropped out.

Gon is running more towards the back of the group while I'm closer to the front of the pack. "Hey kid, wait up!" I hear someone from behind me call out, "You should show the Hunter Exam some respect!" It's Leorio. I sigh and turn to see who he's yelling at. Sure enough it's the boy I met before, Killua.

"What do you mean?" he asks innocently.

"You're using your skateboard? That's cheating!" Leorio shouts.

"Why?" questions Killua.

"Why?! This is an endurance test!"

Gon, catching up to them, defends Killua. "No it isn't," he interjects.

Leorio looks peeved. "Huh? Gon, what are you saying?"

"The examiner only told us to follow him."

"Whose side are you on, eh?" The old man complains.

Killua slows down to match Gon's speed. "Hey how old are you?" he asks my brother.

"I'm twelve years old."

Killua does this really awesome flip on his skateboard and effortlessly catches it in his hand, tucking it under his arm. "Guess I'll run too."

"Wow! That was cool!" Gon says excitedly. I'll admit it was pretty sweet.

"I'm Killua."

"I'm Gon," they both introduce themselves.

I feel a sharp pain in my side and trip over someone's foot, falling to the ground.

"Damn it..." I say hitting the ground with my fist. One of the guys elbowed me right in the gut while another one tripped me. I was so preoccupied watching Gon that I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings. I could hear them laughing ahead of me. That should not have just happened.

"Are you okay?" someone asks me. It's Kurapika, he's holding out his hand to help me up.

"Yeah I'm fine," I say grudgingly taking his hand. We start to run alongside one another. "Thanks..." I mumble.

"No problem," he says. "It may be the Hunters Exam but I'm not going to stoop that low."

There's a moment of silence between us.

"Kurapika..." I pause. "If I can ask... why do you want to become a Hunter?" His eyes cloud over and he looks away leaving my question unanswered. "I'm sorry I didn't mean... you don't have to tell me."

"No it's just..."

I put my hands up surrendering, "Nope, I don't want to know. You can tell me some other time, if you want."

"I know why you want to be a Hunter..." He says. I look at him confused. "Gon, he couldn't stop talking about you on the way here... he said you were looking for your family. I guess in a different way I kind of am too." There's darkness in his eyes.

"Oh..." I study him. Something horrible must have happened. "Well if you don't mind me asking, how did you meet Gon?"

"On the ship we had to take to get to the Hunter Exam. He jumped off the boat to-"

"Wait, he what?" I interrupt.

"It was to save a guy that went overboard," he's trying to make it sound like less of a big deal. "Leorio and I caught him. After that we just kind of stuck together."

Yeah that sounds like Gon. He reacts without thinking about what's going to happen to him. "The old guy was there too?" I ask.

"Leorio?" he chuckles. "Yeah him too."

"Ugh," I sigh. "I'm not sure I'm going to like him."

"I didn't at first either, but he'll grow on you."

"Thanks I guess... for saving my brother."

As if he knew we had been talking about him moments ago, Leorio comes zooming past us yelling, "Damn it all!" *Kurapika and I both sweat drop.*

"What's that about...?" I ask him as if he would know.

"I have no idea. I'm going to make sure he's alright..." Kurapika says unsure of himself.

"Yeah, that's probably best," I nod and he runs ahead to catch up to Leorio.

~~~~~

Up ahead I see an enormous flight of stairs. "Time to pick up the pace," Satotz calls out. Great stairs, and lots of them. I hope there's more to this exam then just running. I look around to see where Gon's at. He's still running alongside Killua.

"Gon, wanna race to see who finishes first," Killua challenges.

"Sure. The loser has to buy dinner."

"Okay, you're on!"

"Ready... Go!" They both yell together. I smile. I think I'll get in on this little bet too. I run up alongside them.

"Hey can I join?" I ask.

"Kira!!" Gon smiles and gestures to me, "Killua this is my sister."

He seems a little surprised, "Yo."

I just smile at him. We've already met.

"Whoever loses has to buy dinner for the winner," Gon informs me.

I smirk, "So you'll both be buying me dinner then."

"You're on!" they say in unison.

Within moments the three of us have caught up to Leorio and Kurapika.

"See you at the goal, Kurapika," calls Gon.

"Catch you later old timer," Killua says.

Leorio yells, "I'm not old! I'm a teenager just like you guys!" Everyone freezes.

"No way," Killua says in disbelief.

"Are you sure?" Gon asks.

An angry vein pops out of his forehead. "ARGH!! Gon, it's finished! I'm never talking to you again!"

Gon laughs nervously, and with Killua right beside him, they run ahead. I'm still in shock from Leorio's announcement. I shake it off and wave to Kurapika as I pass by to catch up to them.

"I'm impressed that you two can keep up with me," Killua says devoid of emotion.

"Really?" Gon rubs the back of his head nervously.

"Or maybe it's just everyone else is too slow. Man... the Hunter Exam is going to be a breeze. That's no fun."

Gon studies Killua's face. "Hey, why do you want to become a Hunter?" he inquires. I have to admit I'm a bit curious myself.

"Me?" Killua shrugs. "I'm not really interested in becoming a Hunter. I heard the exam was supposed to be really hard, so I thought it might be fun. But this is disappointing. What about you?" He gesturers to Gon.

"Well, my dad's a Hunter. So I want to become a hunter like my dad."

"Hmm... what kind of Hunter is he?" Killua asks.

"I don't know," Gon answers simply.

"That's kinda weird," laughs Killua. "You want to be like your dad, but you don't know anything about him?"

"I was raised by Aunt Mito-san so I've only seen my dad in pictures. When he was twelve, my dad took the Hunter Exam. He passed and became a Hunter. Then he left the island. I want to find out why he chose to be a Hunter over being with me," Gon says filled with admiration.

"Oh... what about you?" Killua asks looking at me.

"I want to find my birth family. Mito-san took me in as well and raised me since I was a baby. She'll always be my mom. I just want to know where I come from, but I don't know anything about them either. I just hope they'll be easier to track down if I'm a Hunter. I'll be able to access more information and have more clearance once I'm a hunter."

Killua looks off into the distance. "You're both looking for your families..." he mumbles inaudibly. "But that means you really aren't brother and sister?"

Gon and I glare at him. "Yes she is! She's my sister!" he insists, pulling me closer to him.

"He'll always be my brother," I confirm.

"Right... hey look, the exit," Killua points out. A bright light shines through the tunnel. All three of us speed up.

"GOAL!!!" we yell as we cross the finish line, leaving the musty tunnel behind us.

"Yay! I win." Gon calls out.

"What are you talking about? I was faster." Killua claims.

"Guys," I confidently interject. "I was definitely faster."

Gon turns to Satotz and asks, "Hey who was faster?"

"I believe all three of you crossed the finish line simultaneously," He replies in bewilderment.

Gon thinks for a moment. "Killua, you and Kira will buy me dinner, and I'll buy dinner for the two of you, and she'll buy dinner for the both of us," he explains excitedly.

"What? You're so weird," Killua shakes his head at Gon.

"Hey, Satotz-san," Gon asks him again. "Is this where the Second Phase takes place?"

"No we still have quite a way to go."

"Oh..."

~~~~~

Kurapika and Leorio make their way out of the tunnel, well Leorio's pretty much crawling out. Gon waves at them, calling them over.

"Is this our destination?" Kurapika asks.

"No, it isn't" replies Gon.

"I see."

"I honestly thought you weren't gonna make it," Leorio says out of breath, looking at me.

Seeing the state he's in, he's really talking about me? I grit my teeth, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I saw a lot stronger men bow out. I thought you might too."

I glare daggers at him. "I don't quit. And I made it here before you did," I point out.

"Just barely."

"Are you looking for a fight?"

"I can't beat up a little kid... let alone a girl."

Gon looks a little nervous and holds me back. "That's right you can't old man," I retort back making Killua laugh.

"Why you-"

"Leorio," Kurapika says turning the attention to him. "Must you start fights with everyone as soon as you meet them?"

"She started it," he mumbles to himself.

"Isn't this awesome, now we're all here together," Gon tries to lighten the mood.

"Yeah just great," Leorio grumbles, rolling his eyes.

I ignore him. "Well at least I'm happy you're here Gon," I smile ruffling his hair.

"The fog is fading," Kurapika points out.

"The Numere Wetlands," Satotz informs everyone. "Also known as Swindlers Swamp. We must cross these wetlands to reach Phase Two of the exam. This place is home to many bizarre animals, many of them cunning, insatiable creatures who deceive humans and prey upon them. Be very careful if you let them fool you... you're dead."

The gate to the tunnel closes as one guy is just reaching the top of the steps. "No, wait!" he calls. "Waaaaaiiiiiiitt!" It slams shut. That really sucks for him.

Satotz continues like nothing happened. "These wetland creatures will use every trick in the book to fool their prey. An ecosystem in which creatures obtain food through deceit... hence the name Swindlers Swamp. Stay very close to me so you won't be deceived," he warns.

"What a joke," Leorio blows off what he says. "How can they fool us when we're expecting it?"

"Don't let them fool you!" A man's voice yells.

"I just said they can't," Leorio calls back.

"Don't fall for it..." Everyone turns to look at the man. He's hurt and badly wounded. "He's lying to you!" he points right at Satotz. "He's an imposter! He isn't an examiner... I'm the real examiner."

Most of the applicants are looking around confused. "An imposter?" "Then, who is he?"

"Look at this..." The one claiming to be the real examiner pulls something out from the side of the tunnel and throws it on the ground.

"It looks just like Satotz-san!" Gon says shockingly.

"It's a man-faced ape, one of the creatures that dwell in the Numere Wetlands," he explains. "Man‑faced apes love the taste of human flesh. However, their limbs are long and thin, so they're quite weak. That's why they disguise themselves as humans," the injured guy continues.

"Think about it," Kurapika says as the five of us talk amongst ourselves. "This is all happening right after Satotz's warning."

"And if they're so weak, then why is that man all beat up if he's supposed to be a hunter?" Killua adds. Plus if he wanted to kill us, he wouldn't of had to lead us all here. The tunnels would've been a better choice.

"They trick humans into following them into these wetlands, where they team up with other animals to kill and devour them. He intends to trap every single applicant!" The injured man yells desperately.

"Well he certainly doesn't walk like a human," Hanzo points out.

Gon looks at me. I take a moment before answering, "I feel like he's lying. I believe Satotz-san." Gon nods his head in approval, satisfied with my response. It seems he was thinking the same thing.

"What makes you say that?" asks Leorio.

I shrug. "Why, you don't think so?"

"Well, what if you're wrong?" he looks back and forth between the two 'examiners'.

Before I have time to blink, three cards are thrown at the man and three cards are thrown at Satotz. Satotz catches the cards that were thrown at him as the other guy falls down... dead.

"I see, I see... that settles it... you're the real one," Hisoka says looking at Satotz, shuffling a deck of cards in his hands. "Any Hunter bearing the title we seek would have been able to block that attack."

"I shall take that as a compliment. However," Satotz warns, "should you attack me again, for any reason, I will report you for turning on an examiner. And you will be immediately disqualified. Are we clear?"

"Yes," Hisoka replies casually.

Satotz goes back to speaking to everyone, "I believe that a number of you were fooled into suspecting my identity. If you lose sight of me in the Numere Wetlands fog, you will never reach the exam's Second Phase. Do bare that in mind. Then let us be on our way. Please follow me."

Satotz heads into the wetlands as the rest of us all follow close behind him.

The applicants have finally escaped the long, dark tunnel. Thus far, 36 candidates have withdrawn from the exam, leaving 369 remaining applicants. Their next challenge is the Numere Wetlands, also known as Swindlers Swamp. The brutal Hunters Exam continues.