Katherine and Zeta were on the run, from the pack of wild dogs that Lamiar had sent after them, they were truly in a rock and a hard place.

Zeta: How much..*pant* do we have to run...?

Katherine: I don't know Zeta. They just keep coming and coming, they're like on endless stamina or something!

The duo were in their dingo and leopard form while the pack were hunting them down without any signs of slowing down.

Lamiar: You can never escape us! The stamina of a wild dog is unsurpassed by none!

Zeta: Ugh, I just hope Dario escaped their clutches.

Katherine: Knowing my adorable red head, he pulled it off somehow.

Speaking of Dario, scene changed to him, Gustave and the wild dogs that have pledged their allegiance to the hunter after they thought he was some immortal deity. The quintet were crossing the desert, the sun shining on them as they walked on the harsh and burning sand.

Dario was on guard, he kept an eye out for Gustave to see if he did try to attack. He glanced at the crocodile who just calmly walked, unbothered by the harsh conditions, remained docile for the moment.

Dario: How are your feet not burning or anything?

Gustave: It's not my first time crossing a desert. Been to Egypt once, lovely place and lovely people-

Dario: That you probably eaten.

Gustave: *nonchalant tone* Guilty.

The crocodile trophy turned to Dario.

Gustave: You look terrible, hunter.

Dario: The fuck you mean terrible?

Gustave: If I had a dictionary I could explain. But I'll cut it short, you look like you'll pass out any second.

Dario: Hey pal *to the wild dogs* How much til we get to our destination?

Wild Dog 2: Hmmmm....

Wild Dog 1: What a fruitful question-

Wild Dog 3: About 20 minutes. *sniffing the ground following the trail*

The hunter grunted in annoyance. Then one of the wild dogs came to him.

Wild Dog 2: Oh great one, forgot to mention. We saved your gun.

Wild Dog 1: We were close to selling it but since you're alive and immortal we shall give it back to you.

Dario: You don't hold it.

Wild Dog 1: Oh but we buried it here!

He walked to a spot and began digging it up and pulled it out of the ground, he gave it to the hunter.

Dario: Uh, thanks fellas?

Gustave: Feels like Christmas doesn't it?

Dario: Shut up.

Gustave then pulled out one of his sickles, Dario in response ducked as the sickle slashes a nearby cactus' head. The piece fell off but Gustave grabbed it.

Dario: Oh that does it you-

Gustave: Drink up.

He offered the freshly cut cactus juice to Dario who remained confused, staring at the crocodile who cut open a cactus bud and offered it him as a drink.

Gustave: What?

Dario: I'm not sure cactus water is safe to drink.

Gustave: It's a prickly pear cactus, I'm familiar with this kind of cacti. It's safe to drink, not to mention healthy and hydrating, good for your immune system as how you humans put it. Didn't you study biology hunter?

Dario: Took biology, not my thing.

Gustave: Figured.

Dario: You looked like you were going to attack me.

Gustave: You'd be dead back in the river if I decided to reverse my intention of saving you, so why attack you now? Plus, you did convince me to answer your questions.

Dario was in a corner, he knew Gustave was right. In the end he swallowed the pill and nodded.

Dario: Touché.

He accepted the cactus and drank it slowly.

Dario: Mm...thirst quenching.

Wild Dog 3: Oh! Mr Guardian sir can we have a tru at this cactus juice?

Gustave: Heh, i don't see why not.

He then shreds the cactus apart, the wild dogs surrounded it like crazy and started drinking.

Gustave: Just don't drink too much, there are side effects.

Dario: Aren't you gonna take one?

Gustave: I'm good, thanks.

The two then noticed the trio of wild dogs drank too much. One of them started hallucinating with a smirk.

Wild Dog 1: Dada?

Dario: Oh great, the three stooges drank too much. What are the side effects?

Gustave: Mild diarrhea.

One of the dogs barfed on the sand.

Gustave: Nausea. Increased stool volume, increased stool frequency and abdominal fullness.

The other two couldn't hold it anymore and they ran off to get some privacy.

Gustave: And thanks to those idiots drinking too much, we just have to find the place ourselves.

Dario: Yeah but we can't leave them here.

Gustave: Hm?

Dario: They offered to take us to the place, they brought back my rifle and not to mention they didn't act hostile. They're not so bad when you think about it, it's just their leader is a dick.

Gustave: Leader?

Dario: His name was Lamiar.

Gustave: Lamiar? I remember him, he's the one pushing agenda of speciesism. I find that a rather stupid concept.

Dario: Tell me about it. He called me the antichrist once.

Gustave: Hmm....

Dario: What?

Gustave: His head is filled with delusion, pay no attention to his words.

Dario nodded as he rounded up the three wild dogs.

Dario: Come on boys, I think we're close, please take us to shelter before we die from the heat.

Wild Dog 2: You got it dada!

The trio then began sniffing whilst having hick ups. Dario and Gustave just followed.

Gustave: You're....an odd creature, hunter...

Dario: You're not far from an enigma yourself lizard breath, given your reputation.

Gustave: Touché.

The scene changed to Indulu who had avoided the pack sent after her.

Indulu: I think I lost them...

Then she saw two figures from a far distance.

Indulu: Are those...?

She then sped towards the duo.

Katherine and Zeta were still being chased, but then they saw someone coming for them.

Katherine: Someone's coming towards us...

Zeta: It must be Indulu-

Suddenly the two stopped at their tracks and couldn't move, the girls looked down to see they were in quicksand.

Katherine: SHIT!

Zeta: Quicksand!

Indulu saw the two got stuck.

Katherine: Indulu! Stop!

Indulu stopped as she watched the duo get sucked slowly by the quicksand.

Indulu: Girls hang on I'll-

Suddenly squeaks were heard, the three turned and saw Lamiar and his pack.

Indulu: Not them again!

Lamiar: Ah, stuck in quicksand I see?

Katherine: Fuck off! At least we won't die by your hands!

Lamiar snapped his fingers and ropes were thrown at the duo and the wild dogs began pulling them out of the quicksand.

Lamiar: You're too precious to die, you have potential to learn the REAL way Mother Nature intended us to do.

Zeta: You're sick!

Indulu was about to jump in and rescue them but the numbers were too much.

Katherine: Indu, we'll be fine. Find Dario and come back rescue us!

Indulu: I will! Be careful!

She ran off, Lamiar nodded at 5 wild dogs who nodded back as they ran after the cheetah trophy.

Lamiar: Now...to restore your balance that was corrupted by the human antichrist...

The scene changed to Dario, Gustave and the trio of wild dogs as they approached a tavern in the middle of the desert, one not far from Namibia's civilization.

Gustave: A tavern? I guess you three aren't as useless as initially thought.

Wild Dog 3: Why you-

Wild Dog: Brother, it's not wise to anger the chosen one's guardian. I mean look at him....

Wild Dog 3: Right...sorry...

The five would enter inside to find shelter and refuge for now until they would go back to confront Lamiar.

They found a table, Gustave due to his size he broke the chair and fell down but he seemed unbothered. He had crossed his legs sitting on the floor. This prompted whispers from most of the patrons.

Then a waiter approached, seemingly surprised of the group's rather "interesting" members and features.

Waiter: Hi what can I...get you..?

Dario: You got any beer?

Gustave: You sure it's a good idea?

Dario: After everything that has happened, fuck it I could use one bottle.

Waiter: What about them three?

Pointed at the wild dogs who were now in their human forms.

Dario: Eh just give them some water or whatever.

Wild Dog 2: Water sound delicious.

Wild Dog 1: Water has no texture nor taste stupid!

Waiter: And...*gulped* you big guy?

Gustave: I'll have a beer as well.

Dario: *raised a brow* Why on Earth-

Gustave put his hand over his own mouth to indicate "silence". Dario rolled his eyes and went along with it. The waiter nodded and left.

Dario: Alright, enough bullshit croc. Now I'll ask you some questions and you WILL answer me.

Gustave: Lay it on me, hunter.

Dario: Why did you save me? For like the 4 time or something, I lost track.

Gustave: Simple. Of all the humans that have been sent to track me, you're...the most persistent of the bunch. You just don't know when to quit.

Dario: Oh I'll quit when your scales are used for a suitcase, for all the mass murders you commited.

Gustave: I see your point...I admire your ambitions.

The hunter's eyes widened in surprise to hear his target say that.

Dario: You admire me? Why?

Gustave: It takes a lot of courage to chase something like me around an entire continent. And you're a hunter just like me, we kill to eat, we kill because we have to. Only difference is I kill to sustain myself, you kill for two reasons: you were paid to do it and you do it to save the people you care for. That's what makes me the moon to your sun, differences aside, we're not far off alike.

Dario: I...never expected such words from you. I mean we're enemies but thanks I guess.

Gustave: I don't need your thanks. That's unnecessary. But your skills and accomplishment as a hunter are not something to sneeze on, after all....you saved all the animals from a tyrant.

Dario's eyes widened upon hearing that, the hunter checked his ears. The crocodile chuckled.

Gustave: You heard it correctly hunter, I also want to thank you for doing us animals a favour by killing a tyrant.

Dario: How on Earth do you know about-

Gustave: Vlad? Let's just say...I have my ways, let's put it that way.

Dario: You're....different, from all the trophies I hunted. You're not someone that plays god or tries to act all mighty....you're self aware, you know the situations and circumstances we are in. Locked in a stalemate where one of us will die, why do you prolong it?

Gustave: I want to see how long this train will go, as I mentioned earlier, you're different from most of my trackers. You're diligent, persistent, you have tenacity. But I am not one to go down without a fight, all those searches back in those countries...they were just tests...

Dario: Tests?

Gustave: Yes, to see how much you can take, to see if you really are special...if you are worth my time, or just another one hit wonder like the rest. But I was wrong....

Dario: I'm lost, where are you going at with this?

Gustave: To put it simply....I want to fight you.

Dario: Fight me?! Then why the hell did you call me here?

Gustave: Simple. You mentioned Lamiar earlier and I mentioned how I don't like him. I want him and his beliefs to be buried under the sand. And here we are.

Dario: That roughly translates to you needing my help.

Gustave: You could say that, seeing as you're so capable, you want him dead because he nearly killed you and possibly kidnapped your mates and I want him dead for him polluting these waters with corpses of "heretics". Something that I do not tolerate. I thought of using this as your final test.

Dario: Before we fight...

Gustave: Yes, and as for all those times I saved you. Let's just say I don't want my opponent to have any inconveniences, any complications and issues. Because if you were to die....I want it to be by my hands....

The two would glare at each other, exchanging death glares at each other. They weren't exactly the best of allies or friends but for now they were working together to get rid of someone that they both can't stand, putting their goals aside...for now...

The waiter came by with their orders.

Waiter: H-here are your orders gentlemen.

Wild Dog 2: Water!

Wild Dog 3: Water!

Wild Dog 1: Lets go!

Dario: Thanks.

Gustave: Good day to you...

The waiter nodded as he left. Dario opened his bottle and starts to sip once. He looked over to Gustave who struggled to open the bottle thanks to his hand size. The Americo-Macedonian chuckled to himself in amusement.

Dario: Hey. Allow me to help.

Gustave gave the bottle to Dario who opened it for him. The crocodile got his bottle of beer back before he lowered his scarf, exposing his damage tissue and skinless mouth, slowly drinking the beverage.

Wild Dog 1: Ewww, what happened to your mouth?

Gustave: Freak accident.

Dario: I was there, how he survived that was a miracle. Then again this is you, you survived an RPG need I add.

Then the doors opened from the tavern and in came in a woman, brown skinned, with short, crimson red hair, cobalt blue eyes, and a golden wreath over the head. She wears a short white dress, a black jacket, and tall dark purple boots.

The woman caught some eyes from the bar, gushing at her beauty. The wild dog trio had their jaws dropped when they saw her, Dario raised a brow with interest in her, Gustave didn't care.

The girl noticed the quintet at the table, she looked at Dario specifically. She winked at the group, one of the wild dogs had fallen off the chair and landed on the floor out of lovestruck.

Dario: Sheesh, she certainly had effect on you guys.

The girl approached their side and put her palms on the table.

???: Hey there boys~.

Wild Dog 1: She-she-she-she's on our table!

Then he fell off the chair and landed on the ground, lovestruck too...followed by the third and final member of the trio who did the same.

Dario: Well they're in a daze.

Gustave: State your business, jackal. We are in talks.

Dario: Jackal?

Gustave: Oh, forgot humans don't have the ability to see if we are animal or not.

Dario: Aka, a trophy.

The girl giggled before turning to Gustave wit a teasing smirk.

???: Aww you're no fun croco. You let my secret out~.

She turned to Dario with a smirk.

???: And yes I'm a jackal, a black backed jackal to be exact.

Dario: Got a name?

Ayn: Ayn. You lot are?

Dario: Dario.

Gustave: Gustave.

Ayn: Interesting names, so what are you two doing here?

Dario: Better question is what are you doing in a human populated area?

Ayn: I'm a freelancer. I may be a "trophy" as you put it, but that doesn't mean I fully belong out there in the desert~. *turning to Gustave* Kinda like how your reptilian friend over here belongs in the river.

Dario glanced at Gustave to see if it got a reaction out of him, but nothing. The crocodile trophy is handling it well.

Gustave: It will take more than an insult to rile me up.

Ayn: Feisty aren't we? I can do feisty-

Dario: Okay let's not escalate this into a potential bar massacre.

Gustave: I concur, hunter.

Ayn: So quick to defuse the situation huh? How are you not an officer yet, cause I have been a bad girl~.

Dario: *mumbled* Oh god not another Phantasm....

He pinched the bridge of his nose.

To be continued....

OK guys, this was chapter 147.

Peace out!