Akari POV

Its the fourth second say and the four of us are still split up and are on our own now. I decide to roam around as a wolf because why not. I even blend in with the wildlife easier plus nobody is anywhere nearby.

I roam around for a few more hours doing things like planning what I'm going to do, catching fish in my mouth, looking for fruit, but when I looked over to my right...

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SQUIRREL!!

I transformed into a cub and start to chase it around the forest because wheres the fun in chasing it as a grown-up wolf I will just and up killing it.

I chased it for a good 5 minutes until it climbed up a tree. So annoying. They think they're so amazing because they can climb trees huh?

"Hey there little one." I heard a male voice say. 

Shat I let my guard down. At least he doesn't know that I am taking the exam. Well, I doubt he knows I'm even human. I guess I can trick him and force him to give me his tag. I'll try that.

I felt my feet rise off the floor and the as the man carried me.

"Hmm, didn't like that squirrel did you?" He rhetorically asked. I looked up at the tree where the squirrel last was, and it ended up approaching the man?

He sat on the floor cross-legged with me secure in his arms while the squirrel ran to his side. He gladly pets the squirrel then he started talking to us again. "It's pretty cool... people always say that good hunters are loved by animals. I guess I'm going to be a great hunter one day." He smiled.

Now its time to put my plan into action, but I will still mess with him.

I jumped out of his grasp right after he said he will be a great hunter. I don't sense much potential from this guy. Sure he's really nice and caring, but he's more of an animal lover in my opinion. I mean like seriously beside me and that squirrel I don't see or smell any other animals. Enjoy your rodent. I glared at the squirrel for the last time.

I then hopped out of his grasp and ran around the guy to put on a quick show. I also did this to inspect him and to make sure he doesn't get suspicious. I circled around him about 2 times already and he commented, "Cute" 

Tch baka

I ran behind him, transformed into my regular form, held him still and placed my claws let some bloodlust out and said in a menacing tone, "Cute huh? How about you give me your tag before I kill you? How does that sound?" I asked slicing his neck. 

"I-I d-dont have it on me." He stuttered

"Where is it and whats your number? Be carfull what you say. I can tell when your lying." I thretend. As I made a one way teleapathy connection, so I can hear his thoughts.

(AN- "Bold" is the mans thoughts)

"What the hell- How did she do that? She cant possibly tell if im lying right? But then again she was able to turn into a wolf and she can kill me right now- Dam it!"

"You have 10 seconds to answer my questioin before I start cutting you." I said

If I kill him it would be a waste. Ill just interrogate him. He is bound to think about it. But I will have to end up killing him. Theres no way of knowing that he wont try to capture or turn me in when he figures out what I am.

"S**t what am I going to do? She will never find where I hid my tag though. Ill make my answer vauge, wait but she will still kill me."

"Tell me exactly where it is. You cant say any vauge answers like in a tree."

"This is not worth dying for."

"Two more seconds," I say

"Fine! Ill tell you! I hid it in a cave on the northern part of the isand. The cave is pretty big and safe the last time I checked. There was no people or animals there. It was safe. I thought I was safer if I did not have my tag on me." He explained

He's not lying.

"I am number 62 and that is the tag number that is hidden there."

I went through his thoughts again. He was remembering when he was walking in the emply cave and he hid his tag #62 in one of the crevaces.

I let go of him considering not killing him because what does he know?  My tribe was a secret from the outside world. What most people know is that anima is a myth. At least thats what Menchi told me. 

I looked at his pleading face and I decided to let him go.

Theres no good reason to kill this man yet.

"If you or any of your friends come after me I will kill them." I said walking to the northern side of the island leaving him stunned.

TS

I reached the cave and carfully walked in to see if there are any traps. Oddly enough there wernt any besides a trip wire. Maybe he thought if there were traps it would be suspisious then someone will know theres something important in here.

I felt my surroundings and smelt the air. It seems like other people are here. Well, good thing im up for a fight.

I walked further into the dark and saw a lady with a large vibrating yellow hat and teal hair. She also smells like honey.

"Hey" I cassually greet her scence she dosent have any malice.

She was taken aback by me but later waved her hand and watched me carfully.

I look to my right and I see the snake charmer tompa told my friends and I about, but hes dead. Around the walls, there was some slithering and hissing from the snakes residing there. That's amazing... I hate snakes.

Yea... on several occaasions, they decided it would be an amazing idea to have pythons suffocate me, ingect snake venom in me, and, lastly, throw me in a pit of snakes. Pretty cliche.

"What happened here?" I asked the lady who was sitting and leaning against the wall.

She then explained how she went in here to take burbons tag, but she is stuck here because the moment she tries to leave the snakes attack. She also explanind how her bees attacked burbon aswell and he died because of the sting.

Well, now I know why her hat is vibrating. I chuckled.

I got up and found the tag in the crevace where thy target hid his tag. Luckuly she did not find it.

"What about you? I assume your target hid his tag here?" She asked me.

"Yeah, I encountered him in the forest and forced him to tell me what number he is and where he hid his tag and now Im here." I explanined "I never got your name. Im akari." I smiled and held out my hand for her to shake. "Ponzu" She replied taking my hand.

"I guess were going to just hang out here huh?" She asked

"I guess..." I trailed off. "Whats up?" she asked me. "Technically I can get out because I cant die because of poision, but then again whats the use. It will still be painfull being bitten by the snakes and when I get out they might just chase after me for the rest of the exam. That will also be a pain, so its safer in here than outside."

 "How so?" Ponzu askes

"Well, im pretty sure you wont attack me or anything because theres no point now." 

"Thats true" She added "And I will not attack you for the same reason. The snakes only attack if you try to hurt burbon more or if you try to escape, right?" I ask 

"Yes," She replied.

"Outside is fair game. Anyone can attack to try to gain more points." I finish.

"I guess your right. and thanks for hanging out I aprreciate it. Itll be boring." She said

"No problem, but no hard fellings if I leave at the end?" I ask senserly.

Ponzu POV

I alredy know that I cant get out of here, and she can. I guess I should not hold her back. I can tell she will do amazing things later on in life. 

"No hard feelings." I say back with a smile.

Akari POV

Im happy I made a new friend, but I have a feeling something bad will happen, but for now, Im going to enjoy being here.

Who else loves ponzu? I think it's great that they made her an independent woman who can defend herself in an anime with mostly guys.