Luckily I didn't see Jake there again after Nicole and Rudy had saved me. The fireworks and band were awesome, and I had a good time.

Though Rudy showed up, he couldn't stay for long. Even the band hadn't stopped yet, but Rudy said we were lucky enough to even see him there. But there was still one thing I was a bit frightened by. Mum had left before us, because she didn't want to stay here till late night. And Nicole was picked up by car, which meant only one thing: I had to go alone. Immediately when I reached the dark empty streets, I felt vulnerable. I almost knew that any moment now something was going to happen. Either Jake turns up or...

"Wait a moment... Hey!" someone called from behind me, like this someone weren't sure if they knew me. That was not at all a good timing when I had thoughts like that. I was able to stifle the scream, but they startled me enough to make me jump.

I didn't recognize the voice, but I was still on alert. Trying not to show it out, I turned around to face the one who had called me.

At first it was hard for me to see him in the dim light of the street lantern. It was a guy, maybe a year or few older than me. He had short blond hair and he was wearing only black, if I saw correctly. But then I noticed there were six more boys standing behind him, all in about the same age.

I had no idea who they were, and slowly I felt the fear grow inside me. The guy smiled, his eyes running over me, from head to foot. Why me again, I thought. After learning about the savannians, I suddenly started getting into dangerous situations. And I was already almost certain that those guys here are savannians, too. His smile made me think so. Though, anyone would probably feel insecure when they'd meet a gang like this on an empty street at night. They stepped closer. All of their eyes were on me.

"You're the one who went into that school house, right? The one who Jake couldn't handle with?" he asked, still coming closer, the same smile growing on his face.

My heart skipped a beat. I now recognized them. Jake's friends. I took many steps backwards, while they only came closer.

"Stay away!" I at least tried to sound warningly. But my fear muffled even the slightest brave note in my voice.

"Please, don't run away now," he said, amused. "I assume Jake has had a word with you after it happened?"

"I won't tell anyone," I replied hastily.

My words didn't hold him back. There was a dangerous spark in his eyes, that made me want to cower. It was already too late when I noticed that his friends had walked past me, cutting off my way to escape. I stopped, looking at the boys standing around me in a circle. I swallowed, doing my best not to show out the fear, though I don't think it was working.

"How the hell did you escape from him anyway?" one of them asked.

"Maybe Jake's getting old?" someone laughed.

"You haven't seen Jake lately, have you?" the one who talked to me before, asked. I didn't know what to say to them, really. So I just glared at them.

"Not too chatty, are we," somene's playful voice said from behind me.

"C'mon girl. Talk with us." One of them suddenly put his arm around my waist. I squealed and jumped away, while they were laughing. But I bumped into another one, who caught me in his arms.

"Well, well," he said, looking down at me with an amused smile.

I pushed myself away from him as fast as I could, and I was back in the middle of the circle. I looked at them all, trying to remember any self-defence measures. Though it's hard to believe anything I could do would work on them. But I would still fight back, no matter how useless it is. I didn't want to become their prey.

"Are there problems?" a new voice said, that I again didn't recognize. We all turned our heads to the direction of whoever was interrupting. A boy came towards us, his hands casually in his pockets, eyeing the little circle here. I could tell he was not one of the Jake's gang members. He looked somehow different. Maybe it was the fact he wasn't dressed in black. He wore a beige shirt, which made me wonder if he didn't sense the cold night air at all. And he looked too calm.

When I already started to fear that this stranger has stuck his nose into wrong business, I was astonished to see that the guys around me suddenly looked at each other, like not knowing what to do now. And almost like coincidentally they took a short step back.

"Nah, we're just chatting," the one who had talked to me said. His voice didn't reveal anything strange.

"I'm sorry, are you with them?" the stranger asked, now looking at me. I shortly glimpsed at the boys around me, and seeing a chance, I stepped away from them. "No," I said.

The stranger raised his eyebrow at others.

Jake's friend only shrugged. "See ya some other time then," he said, waving to me, before sending the stranger a serious glance, that I can't truly comprehend. Then they just turned away and walked off.

"Um, thanks," I mumbled to the stranger, turning to other direction, to get home.

"You knew them?" he asked instead of leaving me. And he followed me. I wanted to run at the moment, because I didn't want to stay outside in the dark for much longer anymore, and because I couldn't be sure if he wasn't one of those creatures too. I bet he is. Jake's friends seemed somehow to be afraid of him. But I couldn't figure out, what animal could beat seven jaguars on its own. But maybe he is someone important amongst them? Like some royalty or so.

"Uh, yeah," I said, remembering that he had asked me something.

"Maybe I should send you on your way?" he offered. "Who knows, maybe they think about showing up again."

"Thanks, but I can go on my own." I didn't look at him, but I still heard his steps follow me.

"My destination is the same way," he said after a while, when I already was putting words together to say something.

I sighed and again tried to stifle my fear, only looking ahead of me. But somehow I felt no danger emanate from him. His voice rather calmed me and gave me some sort of safe feeling in this dark night.

"I'm Shane, by the way. Shane Tyson," he introduced himself after another short moment of silence.

"Selina Olson," I told him my name, also adding my last name if he did it.

"Hm," he wondered about something. "Have I heard this name from the news?"

"Maybe," I said simply, hoping he wont ask anything else about it.

He nodded but didn't say anything, and I mentally thanked him for that. After this, neither of us said anything else, and we walked in silence. I didn't directly look at him even once, but I still observed him from the corner of my eye. I wanted to be sure he doesn't make any strange moves. But he stayed completely normal; nothing gave up that he might be one of the savannians. He didn't look at me either, which was a bit relieving.

"Here's my home," I said when we reached my house. I now turned around to have a better look at Shane. He was older than me; at least two years. He had short dull light brown hair, a bit messy. And he was slim, his arms muscular, but not over-trained. He looked at the house, then back at me.

"Well, it was nice to meet you," he said with a smile that was far from what I saw earlier today on the faces of those jaguar-people. His smile was warm and cute. But then he already turned away, continuing his way alone. I found myself staring towards him long seconds after he had turned away. Now I hurried inside, heading directly up to my room and bed.

The next day didn't pass by quietly either. Nicole called me. As she was alone at home, and Rudy was still busy with his "things with family", she decided to call me to ask if we could spend some time together. Nicole doesn't like to be alone - a well known fact about her, if you're her friend. So I promised to meet her at Mist's Dining Place.

When I made it there, I saw Nicole sitting behind one of the tables at the back of the room. On the table in front of her was a half empty glass of some cocktail.

"Was I late?" I asked, taking a seat at the other side of the table.

"I was bored," she said simply, playing with the straw in her drink.

"I wonder what Rudy is so busy with. Usually he always has time," I thought aloud.

Nicole shrugged. "He didn't tell me. But hey, did you heard the news about the people near Blue Mist strangely disappearing?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Disappearing?"

She nodded. "Yeah. And they leave behind no trace. Just go for a walk or something, and then they're suddenly gone. No one ever sees them again. It hasn't happened in the town yet, as far as I know, but near the town's edges. Like near forests. Three people at least are missing so far, if not more."

It was strange. Could it be savannians? I tried not to show out to Nicole that I might know a little more about it.

"Creepy," I said. "I hope they stop whoever is doing it."

Nicole nodded. "I thought that Rudy lives practically out of town. And forest is right behind your house, too. And across the street. Also, maybe it has something to do with what happened in that school-" Seeing me shudder, she changed the topic. "Anyway, you wanna go somewhere? Catch a movie or something?"

"Maybe. What movies-"

"Selina?"

I shut up and turned my head towards the familiar voice, finding Shane standing next to our table.

"Oh, you," I said, staring down at the table.

"I just happened to see you here. I'm waiting for a friend," he explained, stepping closer.

Nicole stared at me, the question who is that? clearly written in her face.

"Um, Shane, this is Nicole, and..." I gestured with my hand, already told Shane's name. "Shane sent me home last night," I added then for Nicole.

"Wanna sit down?" Nicole immediately asked, referring to all the empty space around our table. I wanted to send her a warning look, but I was afraid that Shane will notice it. He thanked Nicole, and then sat down right next to me. I had to force myself not to glide away, and tried to relax my muscles that had became stiff.

"You seemed very quiet yesterday," Shane said, looking at me.

I shrugged, making myself look nonchalant. "It was dark, and you were a stranger who was following me."

He chuckled slightly. "I'm sorry about that then."

"Um, Shane?" Nicole tried to get his attention. "Are you new in town? I haven't seen you before."

"No, I don't live in town. I home is in a small village near Blue Mist. It's pretty much in the middle of a forest."

"What brings you here then?" she kept asking.

"I have some business to take care of. Some unexpected problems have occurred and I know some people here whose help could be useful."

"Okay," Nicole nodded.

Shane now looked at me again, almost like waiting if I too say anything. But I remained silent. Moments later he raised his head, looking across the room, and a serious look came into his eyes. "Okay, I need to go now," he said, standing up. Then he left, heading towards some guy who had just entered.

"So," Nicole said with a playful smile. "He was pretty cute. And hot."

I rolled my eyes and sighed. "How long till you finish your drink?"