Through the heavy breathing, wind blowing in my ears and crunching of branches, at first I couldn't hear much else. Until some moments later, I think I was hearing something following us. And it was getting closer. No, not it. They. The hyenas. I used all the strength I had to run, and did my best not to trip over. And I still had no idea where we were. No sign of getting closer to civilization. I even didn't think I remembered coming through here before.

Any time now they would catch up with us, I thought. A cold chill ran up my spine at that thought. But then I noticed a clearing from between the trees ahead. Jake made it there before me. And when I got out of the woods... the place was still unfamiliar. In front of us was a small two-storied house. The only decorations in the garden around it were some little flowerbeds near the trail leading to front door. The trail's other end led to the forest, where I could see the only place in the circled clearing where cars could access this place. I guess this was the way back to city.

Jake hadn't stopped. He probably knew where we were. Because he immediately ran up to the porch on the side of the house. I suddenly heard the strange laughter of hyenas and noticed that I had stopped. I wasn't sure about anything anymore, but I did know that I wasn't going to let the hyenas just get to me. So I followed where Jake had gone to.

I was about halfway there when I saw Jake take back his human form. Without looking back, he headed towards the glass doors. But he didn't go in. Instead, he grabbed something from the other side, then turning around. Seeing a hunting gun in his arms, I froze. He aimed back at the forest. At the way where we had come from. He seemed so comfortable with that thing. Like it was nothing new to him.

The hyenas were here. I could hear it. I turned around fast, right in the moment to see two of them jump out on the clearing. They were followed by third. I shrieked, forcing my legs to run once more. The sound of loud shots filled my ears, followed by something I think were squeaks. For a moment, Jake stopped and loaded the ammo, then shot again.

Only when he lowered the gun and stared at the woods with satisfaction, I dared to glimpse over my shoulder. Hyenas weren't there anymore. And I'm not sure at this distance, but was it blood there on the grass?

Jake turned away to put the gun back to where he had taken it, while I just stayed there, few metres from the porch.

"You... killed them..." I stammered, almost no sound leaving my lips. But Jake still heard it.

"Then there would be bodies, don't you think?" The way he looked at me, made me feel pretty stupid. But then I remembered it was not the right time to worry about that.

"They only got hit," Jake said. "Healing will take them some hours."

I then suddenly remembered something. How badly injured Jake had been the night hyenas attacked him. But the next time we met - at that lake - Jake looked perfectly fine. Just as he did now. I eyed him, looking for at least a scar. I saw nothing. So... savannians could heal fast. That sounded surreal. But hey, I've already seen people take animal forms!

But at the moment there were more important things to discuss. "Where are we?" I asked carefully.

"My home," he replied simply.

"Your...?" I started to repeat, but stopped. My eyes ran over the house and the clearing around it again. Moment later, I suddenly felt even more uncertain and hesitant. "We should be at school," I said, hiding my real intentions. It was still Jake who I was here with. And it was his home. I was at the lair of the predator.

"We should," he said, stepping down from the porch and heading towards the front door. With slow steps, I followed him. But didn't go too close. When he went inside, he didn't close the door behind him. I don't know if he thought I would go with him. But I didn't. I stayed outside and waited. From there, I could see Jake open another door, which he didn't close either.

Someone else appeared at the doorway. Jake's mother.

"I heard shots," she said.

"Hyenas," was Jake's short reply. And Claudia seemed to understand it, as she didn't ask about it any further.

"Mum, I need your car keys," I heard Jake say then.

She scowled. "Why?" she asked, while her eyes found me. I didn't hear what Jake told her then, but Claudia disappeared for a moment. When she came back, she handed something to him. Claudia's eyes again landed on me, and I recognized her concern.

When Jake came back out, he walked past me, towards the small silver Audi parked near the trees. The same car with what Jake's mum had brought me home the night Jake had tried to kill me.

"You coming with me?" he asked, unlocking the car. He opened the door but didn't take a seat yet, instead he waited for my answer. "Or are you going by foot?"

"Um, where exactly are we?"

"Through the woods, about a kilometre from school. But by the road it's about five times longer."

Now that was a dilemma. But eventually, with a sigh I strolled over to the car and sat onto the passenger seat. He hasn't attacked me yet. Why would he do it now?

But that was rather what I wanted to believe, not what I actually believed.

I know Jake is eighteen, but I had never seen him drive a car before. I didn't know if he had driving license. But did he, or her mother, even have the licence for the gun? I wasn't going to ask about any of it, though. I had much bigger things to worry about here.

It took a few minutes until we were finally out from the woods and on the highway. We turned left, and soon I recognized the place. We weren't in Blue Mist anymore, but were driving back towards it. Didn't take long till we finally passed the sign. All this time neither of us said anything. I didn't even notice Jake looking at me once.

I liked this silence, but I figured that this might be perfect time to get some answers. After all, I was stuck in a car with him anyway.

"Who Melany is?" I asked, breaking the silence. It might have not been the most important thing to know, but I wanted to start off with smaller things.

Jake glimpsed at me shortly, like he had only now noticed that I was here too.

"Beech marten," he said.

For a moment, silence came between us again. I was thinking of next question.

"You said there are other savannians. How about our school? Students from my Year?"

He didn't say anything right away, but seemed to think about it. "Four people from Year ten, if I'm right," he said eventually.

"Who?"

"It's not up to me to tell you."

I frowned and studied his face. "I need to know."

"No, you don't."

"I do." I was irritated by how obvious he sounded. "I have to attend school with those creatures every day!"

"There's a whole bunch of them in our school. Would I have to count them all then?" His tone was still calm, and I got a feeling that I might not be able to make him tell me.

So I stayed silent for a while again.

"But what was up with that biology project anyway?" I eventually broke the silence again.

Jake only looked at me questioningly.

"I don't think you were so interested in it, nor in my marks. Why did you want me to come with you so badly?"

"Didn't my mum tell you that I'm helpful?"

I ignored this answer and waited for another one.

"Maybe I'm just playing with you," he added shortly after.

I frowned, not knowing what to say to that.

"It wasn't too long ago when I chased you in that warehouse. You should be more afraid of me."

I still didn't say anything. I was afraid of him. Terrified. Though, so far I have given my best not to show it out. But still, I didn't think this was the only answer to my question. But when I remained silent, Jake didn't say anything else about it either.

Soon I didn't have a chance to say anything more anyway, as he pulled up in front of our school. I opened the door and, without a word, I left.

_________

Is it just me or did this chapter come out too jumpy? Anyway, I would be glad if you voted ;D