Shane is a savannian. I knew it. If he knows about souls leaving their bodies, he has to be one. At the current moment, though, that was the least of my concerns. Ideas of what might happen next bolted through my head faster than I could comprehend. What was he going to do to me? Does he know it's me? Will I survive? Can he read my mind? Oh no... no, no, no... Please don't kill me, please don't kill me...

To say I was consumed with panic wouldn've been an understatement. The only thing I could do was to shrink as small as possible. Still, that probably wasn't going to be much help. Shane studied me closely, with curiosity in his eyes. I had no other way but to stare back. As I did, I began to wonder; what was it that he and Kealan were discussing near the diner? Killing someone? Am I in the hands of a murderer? Shane didn't look threatening; neither his look or stance did. Honestly, he simply looked amused. But in ways that sounded even scarier. A murderer without feelings. I'm dead.

"Well, let us see who you are," Shane enunciated his thoughts. Before I could even react, he suddenly squeezed his palms tighter together, leaving me no room to move, and shoved his fingers into my little being. If I could've made any sounds right then, I probably would've screamed. I wiggled like a fish on dry land, trying to get free, but obviously I had no power against him. His touch didn't hurt, but it definitely was one of the worst things I've ever felt. Then, too late, alas, I realized: he was reading my mind.

In spite of the great discomfort I tried to keep my mind blank. It wasn't easy, as I could feel a heavy pressure inside my incorporeal being. Otherwise I would tell it was a headache. I knew I couldn't fight back. Whatever there was to come, I told myself I'll make it through it. Even if I wasn't ready.

It didn't take long until a look of surprise crossed Shane's face. "Selina?" he asked a bit hesitantly, removing his fingers from me and giving me a little free space, but not letting me go completely. This invasion alone, though, was enough to leave me dizzy and my mind spiralling in a confusing turmoil. It took a few seconds to get back to my senses, and when I did, I hurtled those few centimetres I had been given to the far corner in between his palms, to get away from Shane, if it was even possible in my case.

Then a thought hit me - what if Shane was a hyena? What if he had simply played being a nice guy? Acted as if he cared and wanted to help. I could not figure out why he would do it this instant - I had no time to ponder over it - but I couldn't leave this possibility aside.

"I'm curious as to why you're here," he said. Then his expression turned serious. "Were you sent by someone? Answer truthfully. Use colors, black means no."

I hesitated, fearing what might happen if I tried to lie or if he didn't believe me. Trying to compose myself, I went to get myself darker, hoping dearly I won't mess it up.

"It was your own idea then?"

I cautiously turned lighter. He eyed me a little skeptically, perhaps, but did not seem to come to a conclusion just yet. He said, "Really? I assume you have an eligible reason for spying nevertheless?"

This time I hesitated a bit too long and feared he might take it as a lie when I turned towards darker colors. It was the truth, though, I realized myself. I'd been stupid to come here. What was I trying to achieve?

But Shane did not show whether he believed me or not. He ran his tongue over his lips, thinking. Then he turned his eyes back at me, and asked, "Is it the first time you're spying on someone?"

I turned lighter.

"In this case, whether this stays your last or not, take my advice: stay away from those you know nothing about. You were lucky this time." 

He removed his hands and went back to sit behind the desk. For a moment I got caught in confusion, wondering if he had really meant to let me go or simply forgot. The latter seemed hard to believe. Shane absentmindedly brushed a finger over the open page of the book he had been reading before turning to look at me again.

"If you didn't trust me, you could've just made it clear. I would've got the point, I believe." He tapped his fingers on the desk. "You're not the first one to be cautious. But spying wasn't the best solution anyway."

So he was going to let me go? He wasn't going to hurt me after all? That was my first thought. My second was: what did he mean by 'you're not the first one'? Had he really such a bad reputation?

Shane eyed me for quite some time; silence had fallen upon the small room. At some point he raised his brow and said, "Anything else you wanted? Usually one stops spying when found."

He was right. I was free, I'd almost forgot. I slowly floated backwards, through the wall. Once away from Shane's view, I fled, leaving the camp far behind. Finding Jake's place turned out to be not as easy as finding the camp. Being caught had left me a stronger mark than I'd first realized, apparently, and I needed time to clear my mind. Thinking of Jake helped. But with that, It suddenly dawned on me that he might've already found my unconscious body. What ought I tell him then?

His house came to view at last, but I did not enter right away. Instead I hesitated. The lights were on in Jake's room. Maybe I had left them so? Mentally sighing, I slowly descended, went through the wall, then stopped to peek in. I spotted Jake immediately; he lay in bed, the upper part of his back leaning against the wall behind the headboard. My body, unmoving, as if dead, was set in his arms, resting on his chest. Jake himself looked calm, to my relief. He had closed his eyes and might as well be asleep.

I approached my body cautiously, fearing I might somehow wake him, although I was pretty sure I couldn't even if I wanted to. There were no sounds I could make, for one. I took back my body, which turned out to be far too easy. As I waited for my senses to adjust, Jake's silent words reached my ears:

"Had a fun trip?"

He didn't sound very happy, but not scolding either. Still, I feared he blamed me and readied myself to  make up an excuse. At the same time I wondered how he knew I'd come back. Had he seen my soul? I could've sworn he didn't.

"I... I just wanted to try it," I slurred, feeling my tongue still a little soft. "I loved the stars. They're much brighter like this."

"Indeed," he said, his tone a little lighter this time, but not quite what I'd hoped for. "You must've been bored, I guess?"

"Where were you, anyway?" I asked, trying to avert the topic from myself before it reached the question I did not want to answer.

He exhaled, his hot breath touching the skin of my neck. "The boys needed my help. Deon and a couple of hyenas got into a fight. Things got serious and someone needed to step up."

I shifted to look at him, to find injuries, but saw none. Looking at his face, though, made me scowl. Maybe it wasn't me who'd brought down his mood, after all.

"Are you okay?" I asked, concerned.

He slowly raised his right arm, pulled back his sleeve, and I froze. The lower part of his arm was all red and swollen, a horrid bite mark obviously the cause. It was all crimson where the beast's teeth had pierced his skin and probably even flesh. I was astonished the wound wasn't bleeding; there was some dried blood everywhere around it, but that was all. His skin, well, it looked like it would peel off any moment now.

I stared back at him, wide-eyed. "Shouldn't you go to the hospital? Clean it? Anything..."

He stopped me with a grim smile, then put his arm back down. The move seemed to cause him almost no pain, surprisingly. That injure sure looked severe. He rolled his sleeve back down, saying, "I'm not your average human, remember? I heal faster. In a few hours' time the wound should be closed up enough to keep it from bleeding again. And it should all be much better by the morning."

Not sure whether to feel dumb for asking or simply jealous of his abilities, I turned to look away. Jake noticed, of course, and raised his left hand to brush a finger softly across my cheek. "Did I offend you in any way?"

I shook my head, then settled with resting it on his shoulder. "No, you did not offend me," I replied. "But back to the hyenas. How did it go? Did you scare them away?"

For a moment he didn't say anything and I feared that maybe I myself had offended him somehow. He squeezed my arm softly, which, I presumed, he did not notice himself. Then he said, "Yeah, for now. It would've all gone well, probably. If they hadn't killed Randy."

He was staring at the ceiling, his expression blank. For a moment we both stayed silent as I slowly comprehended what that meant. "Randy was one of the jaguars?" I asked quietly at last. He only nodded.

Even if I thought those other jaguars were nothing but cold-blooded murderers and hated them the same way I had hated Jake, I didn't feel happy to hear such news. This Randy had been Jake's friend, and he'd been killed. Suddenly I realized it could've been someone else. It could've been Jake who died this night. And then I realized that this might not stay the last time they encounter the hyenas if the pack doesn't leave Blue Mist soon enough. His life was in danger, just like mine.

I wrapped my arm around him and hugged him. He inhaled shakily, closing his eyes, and pulled me even closer in response. His warmth was both inviting and calming, and I snuggled into him while he held me thight, as if he was afraid to lose me.

"I wish we could just escape them," I mumbled softly into his shoulder.

"I don't think leaving Blue Mist would help much," he said quietly. "There are too many of them and they would do anything to get what they want. It's possible they've made you a target already. And if their target runs, it can only become a more serious cat and mouse game. More fun for them." He exhaled. Then added in half-whisper, "Especially if you were running with me."

Running away with Jake. It sounded so... strange. Not in a bad way, though. A part of me - a part that I've never known before - longed for such adventure. But I knew better than to actually plan something so reckless. Besides, I knew I couldn't just leave home and school. Then again, what could we do if things were really this serious? I thought back to the time with Rudy and Nicole, when we spotted that camp site at night, at the edge of Blue Mist. Those must've been hyenas. If so, then Jake was right. There were far too many. And what was our defense? I suddenly realized that if they decided to come for me, I would literally be dead.

Maybe it would be better if we stayed apart? If those monsters come for me, then Jake wouldn't be hurt. He couldn't defend me. But honestly, even though I felt bad to admit it, I was too scared to bring that up.

Looking at his face, I noticed the way his eyes stared at nothing in the ceiling. There was this sad tinge in them, and under the lamplight his eyes were glimmering. I realized too late that those were tears he refused to let free. For some reason I hadn't even thought he would be capable of crying, which sounds stupid now that I think of it. I guess I always considered him as the tough and fearless one. But the tears could be there just as much because of a lost friend as our sticky situation.

For some time we both didn't say anything. I still had my arm around him. Snuggling even closer into him, till my nose was touching his neck, I felt his fingers softly brush through my hair.

I wondered if it was too early for that. But after a while thinking, I decided I didn't care. Things between me and Jake might've developed fast, but now we were already deep in. At least I felt like I was. And I believed I knew what I felt.

"I love you," I whispered, not opening my eyes, fearing he wouldn't respond with the same.

His hand stopped for a moment, but then, slowly, kept on stroking my hair. I felt him move his head, probably to look down at me. Then he placed his chin on the top of my head, wrapped both his arms around me and took a deep breath in.

"I love you, too, Selina," he whispered back quietly.

And so we lay there, as close to each other as we could be, and slowly I felt myself drift asleep. I found myself counting Jake's heartbeats until dreamland consumed me.

* * *

As I woke the first thing I noticed was the fresh, cool wind softly touching my face. Slowly, I opened my eyes, only to see the line of trees far in front of me. I was high above the ground. Fast, I gripped whatever stayed in my hands' way and looked around.

"Did I wake you up?" Jake asked, smiling gently down at me. I was sitting in his lap, in bridal style.

Looking behind us, I saw we were on the balcony. To be more exact: on the balustrade. Using nothing to hold balance, Jake seemed very comfortable sitting on such a thin border, legs hanging over the edge, metres of nothing but air below us. Still shocked, I gripped around his torso tightly. "What... Why are we...?"

"Easy now," he laughed. "I wouldn't let you fall." Still, I was thankful when his own arms tightened around me more securely. "It was a beautiful morning. I woke up early to come to see the sunrise, but didn't want to leave you behind."

I looked up into the sky. The sun was far from rising. "What time is it?" I asked, suppressing a yawn now that I had calmed down a little. But really, only a little.

"Maybe around eleven, maybe twelve." He shrugged.

"You could've woken me up," I replied, pushing back the loose strands of hair the wind constantly kept blowing in my face.

"You were cute when you were sleeping."

I smiled, hoping I didn't blush. "Well then," I began, resting my head on his shoulder, "I guess I'm ruining it for you. I'm hungry."

Before I could say anything else, he whirled around and cast his legs over to the other side of the balustrade, still holding onto nothing for balance. I had no idea how he did it, but soon enough he was carrying me through the door and into his room. Even though I could have walked on my own, he only put me down once we were in the hallway. He showed me where the bathroom was, and after I had made myself presentable enough, I descended down the stairs. Jake was already waiting for me in the kitchen. 

As I approached, I noticed deep relief cross Claudia's face. She covered it quickly, though, and the rest of the morning went by completely normally. I knew she had been worried about me and I wanted so badly to tell her everything was okay. Jake had been utterly nice; even thinking about it made me smile.

We had pancakes for breakfast. One of the best pancakes I had had lately. But aside from the tasty foods, I didn't fail to notice that Jake and his mother didn't talk much to each other. If they did, then I was the subject.

Jake hadn't lied about his healing ability either. The gruesome wound I had seen last night was now nothing more than a brightly visible scar that he said would be gone, too, in only a matter of hours.

In one of those silent moments when we ate, I let my mind wander back into the night before. Not only did I mean the time I spent with Jake, but also my encounter with Shane. I wondered what'd I do when I saw him again. He let me go this time, but it still didn't prove he was one of the good guys. Plus, he's most possibly a savannian.

Having finished my breakfast sooner than Jake, I retured up to his room. At first I sat down on his bed, eyeing the shelves that covered one of his room's walls. I noticed a small framed photograph in about the center of everything. I rose from the bed to have a closer look. It was of Jake and his mother. He was maybe only a few years younger here, sitting close to her under a maple tree. Both of them had a genuine smile on their faces, Claudia's arm fondly around her son's shoulders. They looked happy.

I heard the door open quietly and moments later Jake stood beside me. "What are you looking at?" he questioned, following my gaze on the shelf.

"Your mother looks a lot more at ease here," I pointed out. "As much as I've seen her, something always seems to be troubling her." I had a hunch what that might be, but didn't say it out loud to him. 

Jake looked at the picture thoughtfully. "We don't talk as much nowadays I guess. But we've had better times."

I looked at him, then back at the small picture, and wondered out loud, "You haven't mentioned anything about your father. Where is he?"

"I've never known him, actually. Even now, all I know is his name. Mum told me he left us a couple of weeks after I was born. He didn't want to deal with a monster-baby or something." Jake shrugged.

"He left you because you were a jaguar?" It surprised me. I didn't know this man, but I couldn't imagine a father leaving his child behind, no matter what the reason. I couldn't imagine my father doing it.

Jake nodded, but seemed indifferent about the topic. "Mum told me all this a long time ago. I wasn't interested, so I never asked again. But I remember her telling me my father had wanted to give me up after learning what savannians are. Mum argued back, and so he left." Another shrug.

To me, such behavior from a parent sounded so wrong. And how could he be so nonchalant? Jake continued.

"As far as I know, seeing me in my crib one day, with those full-colored eyes and pointy claws had scared him half to death." He grinned as he said this. "Told my mother about this, who realized my blood carried a savannian's genes. All she could do was to face this misfortune and tell my father the truth, which, as I already said, resulted to him leaving."

"And you've never thought about finding him?"

"Why would I?" Jake looked down at me. "I don't care, really. Besides, I have a feeling if he wanted to meet me, he'd contacted me or mum by now."

Jake took a few steps back until he could lean against his desk by the other wall. With a sigh, I decided to leave his father to wherever he was and followed Jake. As I had approached, he welcomed me by placing his arms around my waist, pulling me in. For a moment I thought back to the night at that old school building. To when he chased me through the aisles of that warehouse. And now... Now we were here. How?

"I liked what you told me last night," Jake murmured close to my ear, bringing me back from my thoughts. It took a moment for me to remember what he meant by it.

Instead of replying, I gave a shy smile.

He smiled, too, and momentarily pulled me tighter against him. "Come with me," he said then, letting go and heading towards where the balcony was.

I didn't ask what was on his mind as I followed. He didn't tell me either. As I stood next to him, looking down from the two storey height, Jake surprised me by suddenly picking me up. Carrying a confused me on his arms, he sat on the balustrade again. Then, with a second, he heaved his legs over and to the other side, making me cringe before the dangerous height. I wanted to muster up some words, but as I tried to talk, Jake only grinned and said, "Hold on."

I didn't have time to say anything now. He jumped.