Misty stared at the shark mutation unable to move. Facing one of these things in the water was one thing, but seeing them on land was a whole other thing. They were even more dangerous than she had thought they could be. Shane moved quickly killing the beast with what seemed to be ease, but the blood that was flowing from his skin said otherwise. She rushed over and looked at a claw mark that was on his arm. It wasn't deathly deep, but it was deep none the less.

"I'm fine, but you aren't." She said as she looked at the cut. She needed to go get some seaweed to put on it to stop the bleeding. She chewed on her lower lip as she thought of that. "You need to sit down, I'll go get something that will help stop the bleeding and help keep out infection."

Shane was fine. Well he thought he was fine. He looked at Misty. He smiled a weak smile. "I'm good. Really I'm fine misty. Really I'll be okay. I promise. "He said his face lying. He tried to be tough for her. Had to put on a show for her. He was a tough guy right?

"You know maybe I should sit down. " He said softly. He say down looking at his arm. It looked bad. He looked at her hoping she knew what to do. "Alright. I wait here till you come back. "

Misty didn't believe him for a second, he may have felt fine, but if the wound got infected it would be bad. She watched him as he sat down and then turned on her heels and ran towards the cave system. She took a flying leap and dived into the water feeling her body shift back to it's normal form. She swam through cave after cave until she got back out to the ocean. Her mind raced with different things the healer used, she wasn't sure if they worked as well on humans as they did mermaids, but it was worth a shot. She collected some seaweed and was about to head back when she saw another of the mutants. She ducked behind a rock hoping it didn't see her, but her hopes were crushed when it took off towards her.

Shit She thought as she took off away from the island swimming as fast as she could weaving in and out of the rocks. The mutations looked like it was part shark part octopus. Whatever it was she didn't want anything to do with it. She swam faster twisting around a rock so that when the mutations went past the rock it passed her. She took back off the way she had come and went up the beach line holding the seaweed in her hand. She was half way up the beach when she heard her name.

"Misty? What are you doing out here?" A familiar voice demanded. She spun on her heel and saw one of her father's top fighters. "There are mutations all over this part of the sea! You need to go back to the shimmer, it's safer there. Plus, there is a human here."

Misty's heart was in her stomach. She felt like she was going to be sick, she was friends with Erick, but if he told her father she would never be allowed to leave again. She took a deep breath as she thought about what Erick had said. Tried to figure out what to say.

"I know there is a human here, I brought him here." She said glancing at Erick knowing she was done for.

"WHAT!" He demanded storming towards her and stopping a few feet away his arms crossed. "What do you mean you brought him here?"

"He was going to die, Erick! I couldn't let him die!" Misty replied looking at the seaweed in her hands. "He's hurt, a mutant attacked him, I've got to help him until the others can find him."

"Do you know how dangerous this is? What would your father say?!" Erick growled out.

"Please don't tell my father, listen he thinks I'm human. I'm not going to slip up, I promise. Just until his kind finds him, please Erick don't tell my father!" Misty begged as she looked back up at Erick.

"Fine, but I want to meet this human that you're willing to risk our entire species over." Erick growled.

"You'll need clothes." Misty replied with a thankful smile. She ran through the woods with Erick on her tail and found her small stash of clothing. She didn't have much in the way of male clothes, but she managed to find a pair of shorts and tank top for Erick. She pulled back on the bikini she had been in earlier and slipped towards where she had left Shane the seaweed in hand.

After she left he fell asleep slightly. Maybe out of exhaustion. He was in godly tired. He started to dream. Of many things. Like how he had met his team. They had been seen as screw ups. Terrible SEALS. Course that was not the truth. They were just disorganized. Shane had met Shoefield after a fight. They had been arguing and it had led to them being ordered to work together. Through that they had become close friends. From there the two had made their team. From there they became the best team the SEALs had.

He woke up and she was still gone but he heard footsteps. It sounded like her but there was a second pair if footsteps. He got up and hid in the forrest. Away from where they could see. He trust Misty but it was the second person. A male built like a soldier. Shane creeped away and managed to get behind them. He was great at stealth but did not want to get caught. He charged out and tackled the guy to the ground. He had left his knife. After wrestling with the guy for a minute he managed to slightly subdue him with the guy's back to the ground. "Who the hell are you? Better question, you said you were alone Misty. Not the truth huh?" He said still worried. He was still hurt but holding the guy down. Just like he was trained.

Misty looked around the campsite, he was gone! Where had he gone? Did something get him! Just as she was about to ask Erick to track him Shane came out of the woods and tackled Erick. They struggled for a while, but Shane came out on top. Misty had a feeling that if they were in water it would be a different story.

"STOP!" She screamed wanting Shane to get off Erick. If Erick didn't like him he would tell her father and she wouldn't be allowed away from the Shimmer unsupervised.

"Who the hell are you?" Erick growled struggling under the human above him. Misty could tell Erick wasn't happy with being pinned down.

"Shane that's Erick, he's a friend. Erick this is Shane. I didn't lie. There wasn't anyone else on the island." She frowned chewing on her lower lip a little. "He just came to make sure I was ok. Please get off him so I can fix your arm!"

Shane looked down at the guy. Odd. He thought they were alone. Yet this guy was built like a soldier. Someone who could fight but why was he here?how was he here? All these questions were in his head right now. Except this guy was pissed but seemed to be out of his element right now. Like he was a fish out of water. Why did he think that? There was something odd about this guy. Misty seemed comfortable around him. Which made this even more strange. How did she know him? Either way Shane felt he needed to be friends with this guy.

Shane got off of him letting him off the ground. He reached down and helped the guy up by pulling him up with his arm. "Sorry friend. Just trained to do that. Deal with bad situations. You sort of startled and my training kicked in. But you know about that right? You seem like a fighter of some kind. Takes one to know one. Oh. Captain Shane Ryan. United States Navy. SEAL. " He said sitting down so Misty could patch him up.

"As I said sorry for that. Uhh how do you and Misty know each other?" He asked subtly trying to catch them in a lie. Something was off here. He could tell.

Misty quickly worked on his cut wrapping the seaweed around his arm so it wouldn't fall off and would keep the wound clean and help it heal. She glanced up at Erick who was watching Shane carefully, she knew she was going to get chewed out.

"Navy SEAL? Like those people that are from the underwater cities?" Erick asked crossing his arms an annoyed look on his face. "The ones that are making crazy mutations that destroy everything in their path?"

Misty bit her lower lip a little. Erick needed to shut up before he said or did something that showed what they were. He wasn't used to talking to humans, probably never had until right now.

"Erick, I don't think he would be one of the ones making the mutations. That's what hurt him." Misty said trying to give Erick a look to shut the hell up.

Okay now something was up. How did Erick know about New Moscow? A secret base under about a 300 feet of water? How did he know the mutants came from it? This was classified information. No one knew it. Except this guy did. How ? Did he have a diving suit? Why would the creatures matter to him. Few would leave the sea. Unless...

"Wow how long you been here? Most people know what a SEAL is. United States Navy Sea, Air, Land. Hear that? United States. Not Russia. The Russians were making those monsters. Not the United States. See the difference. " He said then something hit him. How did they not know this?

"Wait. Where the heck are you from, Erick? Not the US. You would know what a SEAL is. We are sort of famous. " He said looking at the guy. Part of him did not want to anger him. Misty trusted him but they were in cahoots. She knew something. Time to catch them in a lie."Hang on. How do you know about the city?! It's deep underwater and classified. " He asked looking at the guy.

Misty felt like her heart had completely stopped. How was Erick going to cover that up? How were they going to keep Shane from finding out about what they were. She backed away from Shane a little bit, pretending it was because she was done with his bandage, but in all honesty if he found out the truth about them she didn't want to be in arms length of him. He seemed nice enough, but what if he captured her, or even killed her.

"You aren't the first person to wash up." Erick replied his jaw twitching a little. Then he motioned towards Shane's arm. "Plus, as you found out we aren't strangers to the mutations."

It was then that Misty realized just how stupid she had been. They could come up with excuses all day, but there was no proof of how they got on or off the island. No proof of anyone living on the island. No way to explain any of that.

Shane knew that this was a lie. More people had washed up? Could he mean his team? What of some of them survived. What if they were dead? More blood on his hands. He did not want it that way. He could not bear more deaths cause he messed up. He looked at Erick in time to see his jaw twitch. A tell. He was lying through his teeth.

"Wait there were others? What happened to them? Let me guess the mutants got them. Hang on. The mutants have been a problem here? Looks like the Ruskies have not had control here. " He said softly. "You know I won't hurt you Misty. Not after you saved me. " He said noticing her backing away. Though he was more curious with her friend.

"Hey Erick. You and I have a soldiers build. Like you know how to fight. Where did you learn? I mean you look tough but I could take you easily. " He boasted. He figured a little ribbing would make Erick like him more. It was how soldiers worked and SEALs were no different.

"Not recently, you are the only one recently." Misty said when he asked about the others. "Normally they were too far gone to save, too many injuries and I didn't know what to do."

She watched as he said he could take Erick, on land that could very well be the case. She was hoping Erick wouldn't say that though, it would definatly give away that something was right. But she had a feeling that Shane already suspected something was off. What had she done? Had she really put her whole people at risk?

"It's a family thing, always be prepared for anything and protect your family and people no matter the cost." Erick replied standing a little taller with his shoulders squared. "In the right environment you wouldn't stand a chance. Misty had said you were hurt, I was exactly thinking I was going to get jumped. That's the only reason you got the best of me, hu...Shane."

Misty caught him nearly slip human in there and she fought to keep from holding her breath. She needed to get Erick out of here and fast! They were going to get caught if he kept talking, he wasn't used to having to act human and it wasn't going as well as it should.

Hu? That was not his name. Well he was human. But wasn't Erick and Misty? Human he meant. Sure she was unnaturally easy on the eyes. It was odd. She seemed nervous with he and Erick talking. But why? It was just two guys squaring off. Hell but two guys together and if they didn't try to one up the other then things were wrong. He though Erick seemed relatively normal.

So there were no survivors. Had his team made it? He wanted to know but right now he had to stand up to his challenge. "You know I respect that feeling. It's what my people and I stand for. It's why we were going after the city. To save lives. "

"Oh so you were surprised huh? Then what about you and me keep it even?" He said standing up straight and squaring up on Erick. The two were evenly built. Erick was half an inch taller. Shane noticed Misty wanted them apart. Why? They were just having a stand off. These happened all the time on base. "I could beat you right now. My injury won't stop me. Unless you are afraid to fight me. " He said looking at Erick head on. He was doing this to look tougher than he really felt. "So come on then. Fight me. Unless you have to run away. " He said egging him on. He did not have his knife.

Misty quickly stepped between the two placing a hand on both of their chests.

"NO! No fighting, it's not necessary." She frowned looking between the two. When she looked at Erick her eyes flashed orange for a split second. She would use her royal heritage if she had to. She would make Erick stand down, even if she didn't like making someone else do something. She saw Erick's jaw twitch in anger.

"Move, Misty, we're not going to kill each other." Erick laughed a little. "Plus, I'm not about to let this puny SEAL beat me."

Of course she stepped in. She had to right? Make sure neither killed the other. Why? She should not care if Shane died. It was odd. He did not matter. Not really.

"Oh come on Misty. That's just fighting words. Heck I do this all the time. It's fun where I come from and normal. " He said looking around Misty. He was not backing down. "That and I'm not letting some scrawny looking beach bum beat me. It'll be fun to watch Misty. " He promised wondering why she was against them fighting.

"You are hurt, I'm not about to have to patch you up again, let alone patch him up too." She replied looking right at Shane trying to keep her eyes from flashing a different color. "Plus, it's not polite to fight in front of a girl, or so I'm told."

She turned her attention to Erick her eyebrow raised to see if he was going to try to argue with her. She could tell he wanted to and she was not going to have any of it.

"I'm not backing down from this meathead." Erick huffed his eyes focused on Shane. She could tell he wanted to fight him, and she wondered if part of it was because he wanted to see how he would match up against a human on land.

"Well neither of you are fighting. You are not about to fight my guest so you might as well back down." Misty replied putting her hands on her hips and raising an eyebrow a little daring him to say otherwise. She threw the same look at Shane, she couldn't let them fight, because if for whatever reason the fight moved to water they were screwed.

Shane smirked at Erick. He needed to have Misty save him. Why was he getting that Erick was trying to impress Misty. Maybe he was trying to figure it out. Still he got the feeling that Erick and Misty knew more then they were letting on. Also why did he get the feeling that Misty was in control here. That Erick was her underling but he did not know. "I think he would be the one who would need to be patched up."

" I'm not backing down from this wimp. " Shane glared looking confident. He wanted to see if this guy could fight at all. Unless he was just blustering. But Misty's glare said not know. Course he would still make a stab at the guy. "Meathead? Its called muscular. I could beat you anywhere. Maybe when you don't have Misty to help you." He said looking at the guy.

"Alright fine Misty. We won;t fight right now.Course he will learn I'm better than him. So you want to fight then come back whenever. For round two." He said smirking at Erick. "Alright so what do we need to do now? " He said looking at Misty smiling. He figured ignoring Erick would get the point across. He was wondering what Misty's damage was. "So uhh how did you two meet?" He asked looking at her hoping that this guy would eventually leave them alone.

When Erick backed up one step Misty took that as he would back off now too, but the look on his face told her he wasn't at all happy about it. She turned and looked at Shane keeping her hands on her hips.

"We grew up together, been friends all our lives." She replied with a shrug.

"Though you haven't been this crazy all your life. Taking care of someone you know nothing about." Erick replied keeping his eyes on Shane.

"Don't you need to go home or something, Erick?" Misty demanded turning to face him. He glanced at her for maybe a second a frown on his face.

"I'm not leaving you with him." Erick replied his eyes going back to Shane. "I don't trust him."

If there was one guy hiding in the shadows who's to say there was not another. Shane was starting to feel pressured again. There was something off here. Why was there some childhood friend here? Wait a minute. Grew up here? That seems a bit suspect.

He let it go and watched them argue for a bit. Was she crazy for helping him? He did not think so. He owed her a debt now. He would keep her safe. No matter what.

"Him? I have a name, you bum. It's Shane. Try not to forget it. " He said matching the stare. "Misty saved my life and I owe her a debt. Of my life. I will keep her safe. I can keep her safe better than you. I won't harm her. You on the other hand are getting close to being hurt. I say you leave ,friend. " He said keeping calm. He hoped Misty would get rid if him. Shane was close to jumping Erick again.

Erick laughed a bitter laugh shaking his head at Shane. "You can't even take care of yourself or she wouldn't have had to pull you out of the ocean. How the hell would you protect her. Let alone the fact that in all honesty she is probably set up to be able to take care of herself a hell of a lot better than you could."

"Erick!" Misty looked at Erick her eyes wide. Could he not tell that he was only adding fuel to a flame. That he might as well have been egging Shane on. "How about you go home, ok? Please."

She said please, but she didn't mean it. He needed to leave and he needed to leave now. Things were going to escalate out of hand if he didn't.

"I'll go, but I give you an hour, if I haven't seen you by then I'm finding your father." Erick said. She felt herself go stiff. If he got her father she would be screwed, she would never get to leave the shimmer again!

"You know why I'm terrible in the sea? Humans aren't made for it. We are land creatures. I saved her from the mutant. What did you do for her? Oh another thing. I was knocked out saving my team. I was willing to die for them. Course you don't understand. " Shane growled back at him.

Misty's way of just talking was not working. Erick was to thick headed an proud. What was his beef? Shane had done honestly nothing to him. Just talked to him and tackled him out of fear. Honestly nothing. They had exchanged insults in the usual guy way. Nothing really warranting this anger. Except Shane was now his enemy. Was this some kind of rival thing? Did Erick see him as a rival to Misty? Heck they had just met but by how angry he was... No that was not it. It could not be right.

Shane was seeing red so he missed the whole finding father thing. He glared at Erick. "Yes you are leaving now. Course this ain't over. You and I have a score to settle. Course I have no idea why you hate me. I did nothing to you." Shane said shoving Erick back and giving him a look that said come at me. Unless he would leave.