Namibia, a country in South Africa. Known as a no man's land cause of the Namib Desert overtaking most of the territory and also known for the luscious Orange River.

Scene changed to Dario as he once again had planned on tracking Gustave, only difference is that the crocodile requested for his arrival in Namibia, the same country he along with Katherine, Indulu and Zeta are traveling across now.

Katherine: And you're saying he's calling you out? Sounds fishy.

Dario: I know but what choice do we have? It may seem like it's a trap but we're gonna have to play his game.

Indulu: Thankfully it's Namibia, I'm aware of the place. There's only one water source where he'd play his tricks, the Orange River.

Dario: That's like the exclusively south, acting as a border to the South African Republic.

Katherine: I still say we should be cautious.

Zeta: Uh hey...

Dario: Oh hey Zeta.

Katherine: What's up girl?

Zeta: Thanks for letting me come along, it means a lot.

The trio looked at her interested to see what she has to say.

Katherine: Anytime.

Indulu: Any particular reason why you joined us?

Zeta: I know my brothers did horrible things and that they paid with their lives thanks to Gustave...but I want to...give him a payback for doing it in front of me. We couldn't save Kalin, but we could've saved the others but it was too late.

Dario: Zeta...I never expected this.

Zeta: I know, but if you were in my position and if you lost your siblings to some crazed killer wouldn't you want to take revenge. Even if they weren't good people they were still my blood.

Dario: They did try their hardest to kill me but you have a point. Fine you can come with us, we'll confront Gustave together.

The leopard trophy smiled and hugged Dario tightly.

Zeta: Thank you, thank you...

She had a mild blush. Smiling lightly, as her face nuzzled the hunter's chest. She then realized and looked up at Dario who was rather surprised, she backed off chuckling nervously.

Zeta: My bad my bad!

Dario: It's fine don't worry.

Katherine: Who knew you were a hugger Zeta~.

Zeta: Uh, shut up Kat!

Indulu: Touchy kitty~.

Dario: Alright alright we can tease each other AFTER we find out what this reptile is up to. Ok?

K/I: Ok!

Zeta: Mmm...

The quartet crossed the desert, passing by cacti, sandy terrains, with no signs of water or anything edible to sustain thirst.

Indulu: I'm wondering, if Gustave really is here how can he withstand these conditions.

Dario: I really don't know.

Katherine: There are lots of salties in Australia and most of it is a wasteland so to speak.

Zeta: I'm not accustomed to Namibia, what does this place have again?

Dario: Last time I checked, snakes, scorpions, aardwolves, giraffes-

Then they heard squeaky sounds.

Katherine: What was that?

Indulu: Oh no..

Then more of the squeaky sounds were heard, out of nowhere the group were surrounded by...

Dario: African wild dogs...

As he mentioned that a pack of around 40 of them would surround the group, sniffing them curiously.

Indulu: Whatever you do, don't move...

???: You have no claim here.

They looked and saw what seemed to be the leader of the group, a grizzled old wild dog.

Dario: Ok, what's your name bucko?

Lamiar: I am Lamiar, and what kind of a group are you? You're probably the weirdest ever pack of all time.

Zeta: Huh? How are we weird?

Lamiar: A human, a leopard, a cheetah and a....I really don't know what you are.

Katherine: I'm a dingo.

Lamiar: I never heard of your kind. Anyways you all should be with your kind, not this mishmash group.

Dario: Actually they're with me.

Lamiar: I did not give you permission to speak human.

Dario: Wow, someone's commanding today aren't we?

Lamiar: I'll silence you if you don't shut up.

Dario: And I'll put a bullet through your skull if you keep threatening us.

Lamiar: Silence monkey.

Indulu: He IS NOT a monkey, mutt.

Lamiar: Not a monkey? Then how come he is relatives to chimpanzees and gorillas?

Katherine: *to Dario* This guy reeks of racism.

Dario: Uh huh, then that means we can domesticate wild dogs considering us humans are ontop of the food chain.

Then all of the wild dogs gasped in shock.

Dario: What?

Lamiar: Domestication? That is sickening.

Katherine: Wouldn't put it that way bud, ain't that right love? *winks at Dario*

The wild dogs gasped again in shock.

Zeta: What now?

Lamiar: You are in...love with the human?

Katherine: Yeah, problem?

Indulu: I am too.

Lamiar: Disgusting. That is not how the laws of nature bid us.

He turned human, he was now a dark skinned man that had a mildly muscular build and was around the same height as Dario, he wore tribal like clothing. Lamiar pointed at Dario.

Lamiar: This human is cursed, he's the animal equivalent of the antichrist!

Zeta: Huh? What does that mean?

Indulu: You don't wanna know, it's just mumbo jumbo.

Lamiar: You human need to be disposed of for such heresy, it breaks the laws of what nature taught us.

Dario: Oh yeah, try me pal.

Lamiar then turned to his pack, squeaking out commands. The wild dogs nodded and began circling Dario.

Dario: Can't I ever go on a hunt where I don't get interrupted by my anything else and just get the target that I want.

Katherine: Afraid not lover boy.

Dario aimed his rifle and fired a shot in the air which spooked off majority of the wild dogs.

Lamiar: He has the weapon!

Dario smirked before firing at Lamiar who growled, he turned into his true form and tackled Dario down the ground.

Katherine, Indulu and Zeta turned as well to their normal forms to defend Dario. The rest of the wild dogs joined in on the fight.

Dario kicked Lamiar away and punched an incoming wild dog on the jaw.

Dario: I should've brought the twins for this...

Zeta: You mean the lionesses?

Lamiar: You domesticated lions too? You are a freak of nature! A heretic!!

Dario: If I'm a heretic then you're a fanatical sociopath, pal.

Indulu swiped a paw at a wild dog but she got tackled down by another one as two more came to restrain her.

Indulu: Help!

A wrench was thrown by Katherine and it hit the three dogs with a chain reaction.

Katherine: Bullseye!

Zeta: How do you do that?

Katherine: I'll teach ya later after this.

Then suddenly majority of the wild dogs surrounded Dario and began dragging him away.

Dario: Let me go you sons of bitches!

He kicked one of the dogs in the snout, but Lamiar threw a punch which knocked Dario out cold.

Katherine: Oh no Dario!

Indulu: After him.

Lamiar: Grab them too, we'll re-evaluate them.

Then majority of the pack ran at the trio.

Katherine: Scatter around!

Indulu and Zeta did what Katherine instructed as they dealt with the wild dogs. Lamiar turned to the three wild dogs that held Dario.

Lamiar: You know what we do to heretics right? Then do it!

The three dragged Dario away.

Zeta: Dario we'll save you as soon as we end this madness!

Lamiar: Split up and get them!

Katherine was on the run. She fired back at some of the wild dogs with her rifle but the numbers and their stamina was too much for them that she had to turn into her true form to try and outran them. Zeta followed Katherine from behind as Lamiar and his pack chased them.

Indulu in the other hand was on her own as she ran as fast as she could since she was a cheetah, but the wild dogs after her would continue to chase after her, not giving up.

Scene changed as Dario slowly woke up, he rubbed one of his eyes and then he saw his left ankle chained to a large rock.

Dario: What the fuck?!

Wild Dog: Oh, you're awake human.

Dario: The hell are you bozos doing?

Wild Dog: Lamiar told us to do what we do to heretics. Punish you.

He pointed behind Dario, the Americo-Macedonian turned around to see he was close to the Orange River. He pieced the pieces together.

Dario: Oh no no, you guys are nuts for this.

Wild Dog: It's just the circle of life man, at least we didn't eat you.

Dario: It's just as bad as this.

Wild Dog 2: Hey at least we shall use your gun and bag as a way to memorize you.

Dario: *sarcastic* Awww you shouldn't have.

Wild Dog 3: In a bad way, in that way here in Namibia where you shall be recognized as a heretic against the circle of life.

Dario: Gee ever heard of sarcasm?

Wild Dog: Time to go for a swim human.

Dario: More like a dive, you sure you guys don't have anything better to do or something?

Wild Dog: We play hopscotch.

Dario's snarky expression changed to that one of being weirded out.

Dario: A kid's game? At this rate I rather be underwater than listen to what else you do in your free time.

Wild Dog 2: Your wish is our command.

Dario: It's an expression-

The hunter got pushed down the river bank with the stone. The rock landed on the ground at the bottom, Dario was trying to swim up but was limited from the chain.

The Americo-Macedonian pulled out his hunting knife he had hidden underneath his shirt and tried to cut the chain as quickly as he could. With each passing second he could his heartbeat getting slower, each cut he loses oxygen. The fear of drowning to death was getting the better of him, getting more desperate to free himself.

He could feel his vision starting to get blurry and his eyelids slowly close. He turned and looked around the water, until he spotted something swimming towards him.

Gustave.

His eyes had widened, just as things couldn't get any worse. The crocodile was closing in, Dario closed his eyes awaiting for the inevitable.

But then, Gustave opened his mouth and instead of biting and swallowing Dario whole, he bit and tore apart the chain that held him by the ankle. The hunter was surprised as he began swimming up.

He popped his head out of the water catching his breath. He saw the wild dog trio watching and staring at the hunter with shock.

Wild Dog 3: He...he didn't die!

Wild Dog: That must mean....HE'S IMMORTAL!!

Dario swam up shore and rested on the ground looking up at the sky. His break cut short as Gustave too emerged from the water in his human form, his gigantic stature shocking the dogs.

Wild Dog 2: That crocodile is massive!

Gustave looked down at Dario, the hunter grit his teeth staring at the trophy he was pursuing.

Dario: I'm defenseless, exhausted and nearly drowned, the least I need is you to-

He was cut off as Gustave knelt down with one knee and offered Dario a hand to get up. The hunter was shocked by the sudden gesture, he was hesitant at first but he accepted it nonetheless.

Gustave helped Dario get up as he still coughed up some water. The Americo-Macedonian stared at the crocodile trophy.

Dario: Thanks...

Gustave:...No need, I don't want the one person that keeps this interesting for me to die this pathetically.

Dario's eyes widened.

Dario: YOU CAN TALK!!?! Since when?!

Gustave: Since forever.

Wild Dog: And the immortal one summoned a guardian? He must be a chosen one!

The trio of Wild Dogs knelt down in a worshiping position in front of Dario and Gustave. The crocodile snickered.

Gustave: Seems like you have a cult following, hunter.

Dario looked back at Gustave and then the trio before narrowing his eyes with a tired expression.

Dario: I really need a vacation after this.

He then changed his demeanor and held his knife in defense.

Gustave: Relax, I'm not going to hurt you....yet....

Dario: Huh? Then why? Why did you call me here? Why save me? It's not the first time you did this.

Gustave: Let's just say, of all the hunters and trackers in my life, you are definitely the most persistent of them all in all of my 78 years.

Dario: You're 78 years?! Wow!

Gustave: Us crocodiles can live up to 120 years, what did you expect hunter? We're not fragile and soft like you.

Dario: Enough! Now you listen to me croc, I'm gonna be asking some questions and you WILL give me answers!

Gustave: They better be interesting, I like to keep my friends close and my enemies closer.

Dario: I'm surprised you could ever consider me a friend when under these circumstances.

Gustave: I'll give you the answers you seek, but first you need to rest and we need somewhere more secluded. You nearly drowned and the heat will make things worse for you.

Wild Dog 2: Oh immortal one, I know a place where we can go to so you can find shelter. But it will take us time.

Dario: Oh, I guess we can go there. Lead the way.

The wild dogs nodded before leading the duo to somewhere. Dario kept a close eye on Gustave, in case he was up to something...he didn't trust him at all.

To be continued.......

OK guys, this was chapter 146.

Peace out!