I felt Eve's smug consciousness sink back in the depths of my own and I couldn't help but let out an irritated breath. -"Damn parasite."

-"Love you too~."

Ignoring the confusing emotions that threatened to surface at Eve's words, I checked to make sure none of the wannabe super soldiers looked like they were about to do something stupid before focusing again on the fox woman.

"Little Fox, in future I suggest you pick your allies more carefully. Not only have you shown me, a potential ally, that your species is fractured and weak, but it seems that your kind also can't be trusted."

"I'm sorry," the fox woman looked at the ground, which confused me greatly.

-"Arnt we scary and terrifying? Who takes their eyes off something that could kill them?"

-"Watch her ears and tail. She is expressing traits that those animal documentaries, the ones that you use to love watching, stated were signs of submission. Maybe she is more animal-like than human?"

Eve's words turned harsh, but the undertone was jokey. -"It would also explain why your guard is not as high as it should be around her but you should remember, some of the most dangerous predators are female. No matter how badly you want to grab their tails to see if feels as fluffy as it looks."

-"I hate you."

I couldn't deny the desire to touch the fox woman's ears or tail hadn't crossed my mind, just to see if they felt like the real thing, but having Eve say it out loud sickened me.

Eve laughed in my mind, though I could tell she was still paying attention to everything and would alert me the moment a threat appeared.

Sighing, a sound that sounded more akin to a hiss, I threw 001 towards his men and watched him roll to a stop, his basic armour seeming to do more damage than protection.

Even though things weren't unsalvagable at the moment, at least to me, things were going far from planned but then again, it wasn't as if I had thought this far ahead.

Meet the humans, pass off the Rakorn and its young and then go kill and eat.

-"Some things are never easy."

A hissing sound, vastly different from human language sounded from behind me. "I am here, White Hunter. My leg slowed me. I have your back."

"Lizardman rogue," shouted one of the soldiers to my left, making me wonder why they had only just noticed Kallis. She had been sat by my feet at the top of the hill the whole time.

In fact, I suddenly felt a little stupid for leaving her there. Two could play the hostage game and I wasn't entirely sure what I would do if they had got hold of her.

The soldiers quickly paired up, one watching me while the other guarded his companions back.

-"Least they can't spread out as much now they have to watch their backs," said Eve in a thoughtful voice. I could almost hear her mind starting to come up with something.

Even the Fox woman jumped, looking around with fear in her eyes as a dagger appeared in her hand.

-"I don't think they can see her?" said Eve. -"That or they are blind."

-"Seeing as we can only see the eyes of the two women, and they are trying to look everywhere, I think you might be right." I had to agree with Eve. Unless they were great actors, it didn't seem they could see Kallis, and I doubted it was because of my body blocking her from view.

001 was still struggling to his feet, but it was clear after a quick glance at the nervous soldiers, that it was getting to a point where one of them might do something stupid.

-"Her name is Kallis. Try to remember it this time. It might add a bit of humanisation to her." As always, Eve knew what I was about to do.

I was sure that some of the Rakorn telepaths could communicate with each other individually, but I had never tried to do so and doubted this was the best time to try.

I just had to hope she would follow my lead.

"Reveal yourself, Kallis. The humans are so jumpy you almost made them defecate themselves."

-"Why not just say shit?"

-"Umm, because it sounded more intimidating?"

-"Uh huh."

The fox woman yelped as I felt a strange sensation spike behind me, all but proving my theory that Kellis had some sort of stealth ability.

-"Why have we never seen this ability before? I would have thought she would have used it when she ran? Maybe it takes a lot of energy? It can't be movement based as they only just noticed her."

-"Maybe," Eve was momentarily distracted as one of the female soldiers to her left, shifted her weight. -"Maybe we have but it was ineffective. Our vision is not what I would consider typical. Our brain restricts it to what we are currently expecting but as you have probably noticed the small differences that are slipping through. It also explains why the Spike hounds didn't seem to notice her while we were following."

"It's with the lizardmen!" spat 001 as he was supported by one of his subordinates as he attempted to draw his own sword.

-"Ah, didn't think of that."

I felt Eve mentally shrug. -"Neither did I to be fair, its somewhat obvious if we think about it. The Rakorn are their enemies, and we are with one."

Eve's voice gained a sadistic edge. -"However, after looking at the damage done to the armour around his neck, I wonder how easy it will be for him to change? It looks like the clasp was crumpled."

Eve had all but resigned herself to the fact that we were going to have to fight and seemingly given up on focusing me, however, I wasn't quite ready to admit defeat, especially with the lifeline the fox woman had thrown me.

My mind raced to find a solution and meet my objectives.

Excluding the fact that I wanted to keep my human heritage a secret, I had three objectives.

The first was to start, at a bare minimum, a neutral relationship with the human race so I could set up a relatively safe home base. Preferably far from any hills of grasslands. I had seen enough of them to last ten lifetimes.

The second was to secure a safe place for Kallis to heal and look after her daughter. Though on the outside it seemed like an act of compassion, I felt it was more to appease the unease I felt if I was to abandon them to their deaths. I wasn't particularly attached, but at the same time, it would leave a bitter taste in my mouth.

A new addition to the list, one that was in last place regarding priorities but strangely linked to the reasons for the second, was that I didn't like the fact that the fox-woman seemed to be on the verge of being usurped and, if I could help her solidify the woman's power, at least regarding negotiations with me, I might earn her trust and gratitude which would greatly aid my first objective.

Eve chuckled in my mind, reminding me that although I could mask my thoughts, my subconscious was free for her to pillage as she pleased.

"Not everything is black and white... Lieutenant. Just like the motives of you and your followers."

Even though the conclusion that I was working with the Rakon was a given, seeing as a Rakorn had just emerged behind me, probably looking like she was trying to protect me, the man was starting to get on my nerves.

"Do you deny it?" shouted the Lieutenant, though it was clear that our previous encounter had shaken him. "Answer or be considered an enemy of mankind."

"Lieutenant! you don't have the ri-" The fox woman's words were cut off.

"System has already permitted it. It is suspicious that this... thing turns up at the same time as the lizards and now travels with them." Even though I couldn't see his eyes, I could tell that 001 was glaring at me with hatred. "Are you really so naive to want to continue this? This is a monster. It should be killed or captured. "

"What the hell are you talking about? Yes, he is with a Lizardman, but it's clear that, not only is it injured, that it is under his control." Shouted the fox-woman, her face turning red. "And his requests are reasonable. The right to trade and travel in our lands and he even offers to help us with the war. How would that benefit the lizardmen?"

"Simple. Its a spy" responded 001 as if it was a fact.

-"Logical conclusion." Though it quite concerned that the possibility didn't occur to the fox woman, I found her flushed face quite endearing.

"Master, this pathetic species continue to insult you. Give the word, and they shall blight this land no more." Eve's feminine voice, though laced with anger, floated from the hills to my left.

-"Huh? Are we bluffing now? Also, don't you think that you laid it on a bit thick? It's kind of obvious that you said that for their benefit."

-"Well, you seem against the idea of doing the right thing and killing them all, and it seems like our presence isn't enough to make them back down. What was it that you kept mumbling about when we hunt? The greatest fear is fear of the unknown. "

Another Feminine voice, different but strikingly similar to the first erupted from the right. "Yes Master, Please allow us to remove this filth from your presence."

"Mary, hostile count," shouted the 001. The soldiers started folding back in on themselves, creating a circle.

Something brushed the edge of my consciousness, similar to when the Rakorn mindcrafters were searching for me and, just like then, I retaliated.

Well, I did hold back. I was almost sure that if I liquified the woman's brain, all hell would break loose.

The woman's scream as blood poured from her nose and fell to the ground caused two of the warriors close to her to rush to her side and drag her to the centre of their defensive circle. The fox woman was the only one who didn't retreat, though it was clear from the fear in her eyes she wasn't expecting a good outcome.

"Do you think I was just standing here admiring the sights... Lieutenant?" The hostility in my voice caused everyone to freeze. "The fate of you and your men was in the palm of my hand the moment our paths crossed. The only reason you are still breathing is that your race somewhat interests me."

-"Oh, and now who is giving it too thick now? Oh mighty and evil demon lord," giggled Eve. -"But if you want my opinion, you should have said that it was because of the captivating little fox. Women love honesty."