I still sat at the table, even after Rudy had left, thinking it all over again and feeling happy for making up with him. I was just about to get to my feet when my phone rang. It was mom, telling she'll be home late tonight as she went to see dad in the hospital. This only meant me having to stay alone for who knows how long, and it seriously dampened my mood. We ended the call and I slipped my cellphone back into my pocket.

"Oh, hey Selina," a familiar voice almost startled me, making my head snap up. Shane was coming my way; probably he just entered the diner.

"Hey," I answered. "I actually was about to leave, but..." I stopped suddenly, realizing I was offering to stay, even though I felt unsure for some reason.

He only nodded, then pointed at my leg. "It's okay. But how's your knee?"

"It's fine." I managed a smile. "I'm getting used to it."

Then, out of nowhere, another voice called out, interrupting our small talk.

"Here you are! Oh... you found a friend?" It was a joyful voice, and soon I saw who it belonged to. Another guy stepped out from behind Shane, a few inches shorter than him but still rather tall compared to me. He also seemed a year or two younger, but I couldn't say for sure. His brownish-orange hair was only a little too short to reach his outstanding sky blue eyes. A wide leisured grin was plastered on his face as he leaned on the table, a bit too close to me. "I'm Kealan," he said without hesitation. "An old friend of Shane's."

"I'm Selina," I replied slowly, feeling even more unsure now. Maybe I simply wasn't used to guys coming to talk to me.

"Selina was just about to leave," I heard Shane say, as if I couldn't talk for myself.

"What, right now?" Kealan looked shortly at him, then back at me. I noticed how he kept that playful smile on his lips, trying slightly to make it look more so like asking me to stay. He seemed friendly, but something about the way Shane looked at him made me confused.

"Well, I'm not actually in a hurry..." I managed, rather shyly though.

Kealan's smile widened even more. "We've got time, too. Just need to wait for some guy to show up." Without as much as a warning, he landed on the seat right next to me. Shane seemed to become only more serious at that, but took a seat across from us without saying anything.

"So, how long you've known Shane?" Kealan held his elbow on the table, leaning on it, all attention on me.

"Not very long," I said, looking down at my hands. "We've met a few times only."

"Really? I thought you looked like closer friends." He took a quick glance at Shane, still grinning. He seemed like a very joyful person. Shane, on the other hand, was looking almost uneasy, which I couldn't understand. "Shane is a nice person," Kealan continued. "It's hard to find a friend like him."

I only nodded. As much as I knew Shane, I couldn't disagree. But still I didn't say anything here.

A few seconds we were just like that - me trying to look down at the table, Kealan studying my face from the side, never losing that smile from his lips. Then, "Your're not very chatty, eh?"

"Not chattier than you, at least." And he had done it, somehow. I felt the corners of my mouth crook upwards. Maybe I tried to prove him I wasn't that quiet and shy girl, I'm not sure, but whatever the reason, I picked up a new topic. "Kealan, that's some interesting name. Or is it just me? Are you from somewhere else?"

He shrugged. "I'm from Amazonas. But my name has Gaelic origins, I think. Kealan actually means slender." A strange spark appeared in his eyes. "If you knew me better, you'd understand why it suits me."

Shane must've given him some signal, because Kealan turned his head sharply at him, questioningly. The look in Shane's eyes was almost like a reminder of some kind.

"What? I can talk to this lovely girl here." Kealan flashed another playful smile at me, showing his perfectly white teeth. "Like we have anything better to do."

Whatever the deal was, I guess Kealan was too carefree for Shane's liking. But it was hard for me to ponder over it now, as I did my best not to blush or at least no to show it out. Shane rolled his eyes, still quiet.

"Ah, well... I'm not bothering you, am I?"

"No," I shook my head. "I don't have much else to do either."

"Good. I wouldn't be surprised if you said yes, though. I tend to sometimes talk too much and..." He stopped suddenly, his smile gone for the first time since we met. I noticed his eyes had landed on two older guys who had just taken seat behind a table across the room, right next to the exit. To my great surprise, the emotions replacing Kealan's smile now were irritation and annoyance. "Oh, they're asking for it," he growled in low voice and was about to stand up, when Shane stopped him by grabbing his arm.

"Leave them for now, okay?"

Kealan stared at Shane, then back at those guys before sitting down again. He seemed to calm down a little, but the happiness I saw before never returned.

"Who are they?" I asked quietly, trying to understand what had just happened.

"Only some nasty guys," was Kealan's only answer.

My cellphone let out a small 'peep', signalling I got a message. I pulled it out and read:

you're not home. Are u okay? Jake

I wasn't sure where he had got my number, but I texted him back.

I'm fine, be right there

"I think it's actually better if I go now," I said, slowly looking up from my phone. Kealan let out a small sigh but moved so I could get past him. He pointed at the cellphone still in my hand.

"Someone's looking for ya?"

"Well, yeah, I guess. I hadn't told him I was coming here and he was worried, but... see you some other time, maybe?" I didn't know what else to tell him, or did I actually wan't to meet him again. Not that there was something wrong with him, at least not something that was clear to me. It were those shape shifting people who made me cautious. After I had said goodbye to both Shane and Kealan, I left. But before exiting I made a quick trip to the toilet.

When I returned and was heading towards the exit, I noticed that Shane and Kealan were nowhere to be seen. I didn't pay much attention to it, though, and stepped out in the sunshine and blowing wind. As soon as I were there, another 'peep' came from my cellphone.

where are u? can I pick u up?

While trying to write a quick reply, my ear picked up a distant sound that made me stop for a second. I recognized the voice as Shane's, but it was the tone and words that caught my attention. He was probably at the side of the building, just around the corner that prevented me from seeing him.

"...do something like that again, I'll drag you back to Amazonas personally." I wouldn't say he sounded angry, but he definitely wasn't pleased either.

"Oh, don't worry about me. Seriously. I agreed to help because I owe it to you, friend." It was Kealan. "And sorry, but I swear I'll strangle them to death as soon as they dare show their faces again." He sounded nonchalant, as long as he didn't mention 'them' - whoever they were.

"Kealan, forget them," Shane insisted.

"What can I do? They disgust me."

"Then tame your anger. Fitz should be here any moment now."

"Why did you ask him to come anyway? He's no fun."

Shane sounded bitter now. "It's not meant to be fun."

I heard Kealan's light chuckle. "Don't be like that. Try to picture them as flies that you swat at..."

"Please, let's not talk about it," Shane interrupted suddenly. "Just keep in mind - if you need to find me, I most likely am at Samara village. The small light brown house at Samara's Camp, if you remember."

"C'mon, how stupid do you think I am?"

The sound of next message made me flinch.

Selina? if u don't answer, I'll come and find u myself

This time I replied him.

I'm at Mist's Diner, heading home now

I left my spot, not looking at the direction where I knew Shane and Kealan were standing. I didn't want them to think like I was eavesdropping. Something about their conversation felt a bit off, but I wasn't sure what exactly to think of it.

I was already a few blocks away when I suddenly felt something weird. It was as if someone was watching me, or even stalking. I took a quick glance over the shoulder and spotted two figures at the end of the street. They were walking the same way as I. At first I told myself it's nothing, that I'm imagining things, but as something clicked at the back of my head, I turned to look behind me once again. And then I recognized them. The two guys Kealan wanted to strangle. I guess they didn't run into him then. But I still felt like I was being followed. Maybe I'm too paranoid, I thought as I added some speed, as much as it was possible with a hurt knee. A few moments later, though, I was startled. Those two behind me had quickened their pace just as I did, but keeping the distance. This discovery frightened me and I immediately asked myself what should I do. I really was unnerved, considering I had only lately found out about savannians by so tragic way, plus my dad was attacked by hyenas. Focusing only on the road in front of me, I hoped to be home as soon as possible.

Getting closer to a short street, a thick forest running along on the left, I felt uneasy as I noticed no one else there. This part of town never felt utterly safe, especially the last weeks. I was even more scared by the fact that the boys behind me didn't keep that distance anymore. In fact they were catching up too fast. I didn't want to run, but my pace didn't seem to be fast enough. I already felt my knee hurt too badly to keep it up like this for much longer. My ears were perked up, trying to catch their footsteps in case they got too close.

Relief washed over me as a pair of car headlights appeared from the end of the street, followed by a shiny steel-colored body of a Chevrolet. It pulled up next to me and I couldn't help but sigh as Jake opened the door for me.

"You okay?" he asked, studying my face as I sat in.

"Yeah." When I looked back, I noticed the two guys were gone.

"What were you doing at the diner?"

"Rudy was there," I said, shutting the car's door and fastening my seatbelt. "I went to talk to him."

"How did it go?"

Shoving everything negative aside for now, I thought back to our conversation, and a smile crept onto my lips. "We made it up." And, just like that, my face fell again. "But he also said he was going to leave town. At least till the hyenas are gone."

Jake nodded slightly. "That's the smartest thing they can do."

"I know," I sighed, "but I already miss him." Playing with a stray strand from my sleeve, pulling it and wrapping it around my finger, I fell in thoughts. Not too long after, though, I remembered something else that promised the smile back onto my lips. "Rudy told me he's a zebra," I said. "Which means a predator got his ass kicked by a zebra." I smiled at him widely as he turned to look away.

"Oh, c'mon. That can happen." Still, he couldn't keep that shadow of a smile from lingering on his lips. "I must admit though, I wasn't expecting this from him." For a second his eyes flashed back at me. "But you aren't mad, right? You know I wasn't planning anything big. Just a little strength test between guys."

"Hm, I guess I wouldn't have to worry. You were the one to get your nose bleed."

Jake didn't say a word after that, not on this topic at least. He just shook his head, trying to suppress his smile.

As Jake drove down the street, back towards where I had come, I scanned the area and streets that turned left, and I also scanned the trees. Two guys from the diner were nowhere to be seen. I wondered if they ran off. Or if I really was too paranoid.

"Are you taking me back home?" I asked, turning away from those previous thoughts.

"Is there somewhere else you'd like to go to?"

"No," I said. "But I would be all alone at home. Mum won't be there until later today."

"So are you saying you want me to stay with you? Should I come by your place?" He smiled faintly as he said it.

"I don't know," I replied slowly, thinking of staying alone with him while the whole house is empty. I didn't know if I should want it. "Could the hyenas break in there?" I asked instead of answering.

"I don't think they could be stopped if they want something, and I don't know if they care if your neighbours will see anything." After looking at me shortly, and seeing my concern, he added, "But I'd have nothing against spending a little time with you."

Eventually I found myself nodding. So I indeed will stay alone with Jake. Then I began wondering. "Jake? What do you do at your free time?"

He shrugged. "If I'm bored, I usually wander around as a jaguar. Often I'm with the other jaguars. Or I just stay at home. I like peaceful lifestyle."

I raised an eyebrow, staring at him. "You and peaceful lifestyle?"

He only chuckled lightly and said, "Yeah, that's me."

After staring at him a little more, I turned my attention to our surroundings and noticed we were leaving town.

"Where are we going?"

"At my place," he replied.