Staring out from the darkness, are two electric blue eyes.

Becky immediately takes a huge step backward, pushing her hands out in the direction of the eyes and shining a bright light on them.

What appears makes me shift towards Zero, my eyes widening.

A blue Wolf, I repeat, a BLUE wolf stands there, hackles raised as he stares at us. He is quite big for a Wolf, which only makes him look even more threatening.

I'm nearly shocked out of my skin when Becky relaxes, letting out a breath.

"What are you doing?" I ask, alarmed. Zero seems to relax beside me to, at ease. Am I the only one here concerned about the giant blue Wolf standing right in front of us?

Becky doesn't pay attention to me though and instead addresses the wolf.

"Were not going to hurt you. Now shift." She demands the wolf, making me utterly confused.

The Wolf relaxes his stance, his tail giving a slight wag, before he turns his back to us and runs off into the darkness of the cave.

"What was that?" I demand, not taking my eyes off the darkness where the wolf dissapeared into.

"A Lightling." Becky answers nonchalantly.

I stare at her, dumbfounded.

"No way." I argue, burrowing my eyebrows. "I don't see you with pointed ears or a tail."

Becky just rolls her eyes, staring back off into the darkness where the wolf dissapeared to.

"Just wait for it." Is all she says.

Wait for what? I'm about to ask that exact question when the eyes appear in the darkness again. The same intense, electrifying eyes. But then something else appears. A nose. A human one, followed by a human mouth with a human chest and human arms and finally human legs.

A boy stands in the light, looking no older than us, with slightly curled blonde locks and healthy glowing skin. He wears no shirt, only a pair of dry fit basketball shorts. His eyes glow blue, just like the wolf's.

Zero, who's standing beside me, reaches over and gently lifts my jaw up from when it had been hanging open, staring in shock at the human boy.

Before I can open my mouth to scream, talk, or whatever my momentarily scattered brain had decided to do, the boy lifts a hand, giving a small wave.

"Sorry for the un-warm welcome. I thought you were an intruder since a Lyncher was chasing you. I'm Maximus, but you can call me Max." Becky opens her mouth to respond, but I beat her to it.

"Are you a werewolf?" I blurt out, mentally face palming myself once the words leave my lips.

His eyes shift to mine, interest lighting them up as he gives a huge smile.

"No way, a human! What are you doing here?" Then his eyes trail to Zero, who looks slightly scary standing in the dark, protective mode fully on as he assesses the new unfamiliar person. "And a Kinling? What an odd combination."

"What's so odd about it?" I snap, getting suddenly defensive.

He shakes his head, smiling apologetically. "Nothing at all. Don't mind me. As for your previous question, no, I'm not a werewolf, I'm a Lightling."

I'm still confused.

"Lightlings," Becky cuts in, "Have the power to shapeshift along with the power of light. Just like Darklings have the power to create illusions. Some Lightlings are also occasionally born with the power to heal."

"Okay then, but why were you blue?" I ask, turning to Max. It's weird how relaxed I'm starting to feel. This Max guy has this calming way to him, like a happy aura. Is it because he's a Lightling? If so, why isn't Becky the same way?

Becky huffs through her nose, obviously irritated at my ignorance.

"Lightlings each have their designated color. They're born with that color, and every time they shift into an animal, the animal is that color too. Max's color is blue, and therefore his wolf is blue."

"So what's your color then?" I ask Becky, interested.

She shifts on her feet, before mumbling, "Black."

"Can I see you shift into something?" I press, wanting further details.

"Absoluetly not." She says flatly, not even considering it.

"What do you mean "no"? Why not?" I demand, probably sounding like a spoiled teenager.

"Because I said no!" She snaps, glaring at me, and I'm taken back by the viciousness in her eyes. Is she trying to hide something? Suddenly, I find myself suspicious of Becky. Can I really trust this absolute stranger who appeared from the jungle out of nowhere? And why am I just now having these thoughts?

"Your a Lightling too?" Max asks, staring hard at Becky, studying her. She lifts her chin, eyes challenging him.

"Well duh." She says.

"Strange, I haven't seen you before in the territory. What's your occupation?" Max inquires.

"What's your occupation?" Becky questions back.

Max straightens, pride shinging in his eyes. "I am the son of Marquis Demonte. I'm sure you've heard of him."

"Of course I know who he is." Becky rolls her eyes, seeming to lie through her teeth. "But for the sake of this ignorant human and Kinling, who is he?"

"He is the most respected and well known Merchant in all of the Lightling territory. Even the Lightling High Commander deals with him frequently. You'll never find a better deal than with him."

I raise my eyebrow, seeming confused how being a Merchant can earn you that much respect, but Becky's eyes glitter with interest.

Merchants here are very well respected. Zero's voice echoes in my head. The first time we're using the bond since the earlier incident. They are able to get their hands on things from where you humans live, and never give away their secret of how. It's a very noble occupation.

Interesting, I think down the bond at him, and watch Zero shake his head slightly in agreement.

"So what's a Merchant's son doing here?" Becky questions, crossing her arms.

Max suddenly gets a nervous look, rubbing the back of his head and rubbing his bare foot on the ground.

"Well, you see, I'm not exactly known as an angel. Even though I'm a Lightling, I still have a bit of a mischievous side. My father's put up with it for years, but when I wrecked two of his ships, he kicked me out for two months. So here I am."

I feel my mouth drop open again.

"Your dad left you to the dangerous wild for two months? What kind of father is he?"

"I like how you ignore the fact that he single handedly wrecked two ships." Becky mutters, but I ignore her.

"It's a miracle your still alive! Oh, I'm so sorry!" I say, pity in my voice. I turn to Zero, straightening stubbornly. "That's it, I've made my decision. Max is coming with us."

"What?" Becky asks, at the same time Zero freezes in shock.

I turn to Max, who's shifted into a small blue monkey while I had my back turned. I swoon as he looks up at me with huge eyes before scampering over and climbing up me to perch on my shoulder.

"Aww. Just look at him! We can't leave him here defenseless. He'll be eaten alive." I say, giving monkey Max my index finger that he grabs with his tiny monkey hand.

"Your forgetting that he's taken care of himself this long just fine." Becky points out. "And he's only acting that way because he knows your gullible and will fall for his cute act.There's no way we're adding another number to our already crazy bunch. I refuse to allow it."

"But please!" I plead, gently grabbing Max under his armpits and holding him out in front of me. "Look at those eyes! You can't possible refuse them!"

Max turns the full force of his huge monkey eyes on Becky, who continues to stare blankly back.

"No. And that's final."

"Who said you got to make all the decisions?" I ask Becky, tone turning sharp as I let Max back on my shoulder.

Her stare turns hard, but then she scoffs, rolling her eyes. "No one. But I'm thinking about what's best for us, and adding Max to our group is not best."

"Yes it is." I push. "He can hunt and defend against any animal with his shifting abilities."

Zero huffs beside me, giving me a tiny glare. "You can also do that, Zero." I tell him, patting his bicep.

"He might also help with getting us into the Lightling territory. If two Lightlings are on our side, they would have to let us in."

Becky groans, rubbing her face with her palms. She finally sighs, peeking through her fingers.

"You'll bring him along even if I still say no, won't you?"

I nod enthusiastically.

"Fine." She growls. "He can come. But he has to help us whenever we need it."

"Yeah!" I clap, and Max lets out a celebratory shriek.

"Quit that noise. And you," Becky says, glaring at Max. "Stop acting helpless and go shift back."

Max wastes no time, scurrying down me and making me squirm because it tickles, before scampering off into the darkness again.

I smile softly, suddenly feeling a sudden wave of tiredness hit me. I sway slightly, wondering why I'm so tired.

A pulse goes through my head, dull at first, but then more pulses follow, until they're going at the same time as my heart.

"Ah." I groan, clutching my head, because the more pulses that go through my head, the more painful they get. Like each pulse is a hammer banging on my skull.

I fall to my knees, about to collapse, but Zero swoops me up, looking down at me with worried grey eyes.

"Ashley?" I hear Becky call, as little concerned.

Just then another pulse resonates, making me give a grunt. What's happening to me?

Zero whines, holding my close. The edges of my vision are lined in black mist, before darkness closes in.

And I faint.

* * * * *

I wake up on the ground, sunlight that's shining through the trees blinding me.

I groan, trying to sit up. There's a dull ache in my head, and my body feels weird, slightly tingly.

"Ashley?" I hear Becky's familiar voice question, and my eyes dart to her form which is leaning on a tree a few feet away.

"W-where are we?" I ask, pushing myself up and leaning back on my arms.

Max sits two feet away, looking concerned. Zero's nowhere in sight.

"What happened to the cave?" I question again, my mouth dry.

Max and Becky stare back at me with solemn, resigned eyes. It's starting to creep me out.

"Please answer my questions." I plead, looking back and forth between them. Becky sighs, pushing off the tree.

"Max is a Lightling with the power to heal. He thought natural light might help, so we moved you out of the cave."

"Where's Zero?" I ask, looking around. He's usually never far from me.

Becky shakes her head. "We don't know. He stormed off half an hour ago, around the same time you fainted."

Disappointment floods me, but I shake my head, attempting to stand, only to be gently pushed back down by Max.

"You should rest." He says. "I've never healed a human before, and my powers might make you feel off."

"What happened to me?" I ask, letting him push me down.

He swallows, looking at Becky, who nodded.

"Well, you fainted."

"I know that." I say, rolling my eyes. "But why?"

"I was getting there." He clears his throat. "You fainted, because something is poisoning you from the inside."

My eyes widen, the words going in one ear and out the other.

"So what does that mean?" I whisper.

"It means, Ashley, that your dying."

Dear readers, here's another update, sooner than expected. How do you like Max? I personally love him. Also, hope you like the new cover! Shout out to blck_n_whte, who made the cover. If you need a cover, they will make one, all you have to do is follow them and give credit. It's super easy and great quality. Vote, comment, and hug a neon dinosaur.

Lots of love,

Dangeroustoken