The girls body shook as she gasped for breath, on her hands and knees. She was nude, gold skin glistening with sweat in the moonlight. She vomited, choking, and coughed, slowly getting back her breath. She crawled forward, groping through a bush, and pulling out a plain white sun dress. She slipped it over her body, and pulled herself up, clinging to a tree. She brushed her long, dark auburn hair from her face, revealing twinkling teal eyes. She was of slight build, strong but small. She was of average height for an 18 year old, around 5 1/2 foot. She staggered slightly when she tried to take a step, and dropped to her knees, chest still heaving. She sat, trying to regain her strength.

An orange tiger crept along in the shadows, watching the girl, he growled slightly, he slipped behind a tree, transforming into a good looking 19 year old boy. "Are you okay?"

She coughed once more, and looked up. "Yeah." She shifted uneasily away, eyes narrowing slightly. He smelled like her kind, but different. She pushed herself to her feet, watching suspiciously. He smelled like cat. "I'm Roxanne."

"Hunter,"

She nodded slightly. "What an appropriate name." She said, tugging at the hem of her dress. "I've never met anyone other than my kind." She said, studying him, startled to realize how her eyes lingered on his features.

He looked her over, adminring her looks. He smiled at her, "I haven't really either."

She paused, glancing warily around. "We aren't welcome here, not like this." She said, eyes searching the bush.

He nodded, "Where shall we go?"

She turned, silently leading him through the woods til it opened onto the beach. "Safe." She said, waving her hand at the sand. "Just stay out of the trees."

He nodded, "Okay. So what are you doing out here all alone?"

She raised a brow. "Not alone in ythe sense that I am the only one. The woods are full of shifters and all sorts of 'mythicals'. But when you're a human, you're vulnerable. Not from ones like us, but others." She studied him. "So what about you? Why were you here, alone?"

His mouth turned to a flat line, "I have my reasons."

She nodded and looked out over the water, sighing wistfully. She felt awful, every muscle aching. It had been a rough night, and she was exhausted. She blinked to keep her eyes open.

"Sorry, I don't much like talking about it."

She shrugged. "No need to apologize, everyone has their secrets." She spoke quietly, still watching the waves.

He nodded. He slumped down, sighing and breathing in the crisp, salty air. He listened to the waves breaking and he closed his eyes as mist played with his skin.

Her voice broke through the quiet. "Can you swim?"

"Yea. It's probably my favorite thing to do."

She nodded. "What does it feel like?"

"I don't really know how to explain it. You don't know how?"

She shook her head. "There was never anyone there to teach me." She said.

"Would you like to learn now?"

She shook her head. "This water isn't safe. Look closer, how under the surface it swirls. That's not currents. Kelpies, sirens, all sorts." She lifted her ching, looking downwind. There was something there, and a howl drifted from the forest. Men. Guns. Run. She jumped to her feet, yanking his hand. "We have to run-" she was cut off when a tranq dart flew past her neck.

Hunter looked towards there. Then grabbed her hand, not letting go he began to run.

She ran, being half pulled along. She tried to take deep breaths, she new if she had too much adrenaline, she'd change, and she couldn't change and run at once. Not yet. She calmed herself, concentrating on keeping her legs running, not the men behind them.