\\Annya (POV)\\

A lot of people made it to the half way. Yet it was way more less people, than when we started the phase. Guess there's truly a lot of naive people, I thought sitting next to Killua.

Then soon after I saw how Leorio and the blond guy I saw before, ran out of the tunnel. Leorio tripped in the middle of exit and stayed there catching breath.

"Hey Kurapika!" Gon exclaimed looking at the blond. So his name is Kurapika, hm...

"Hey," Kurapika replied catching breath like Leorio. "Is this our destination?" He asked looking around.

"Nope, not yet!" Gon said smiling.

"Mh, I see," The blond said. He looked at the mist that was before us and seemed to notice something. "Looks like, the fog is lifting!" He said as we all turned to the mist side.

"Ah, really?" Gon said, standing up. He smiled at the view we got. Me joining him.

The fog lifted to reveal a forest.

"The Numere Wetlands, also known as Swindlers Swamp," I heard Satotz say. I turned to him. "We must cross it, to reach the Phase two of the Exam. This place is home for the variety of truly bizarre animals. Any of which are crafty and varicose creatures. Who deceive and feast on human prey," I shivered. "So please be very careful."

Aye-aye captain, I thought griping a little on Killua's hand.

Satotz turned to us pointing his finger. "If your deceived, your surely die." I gripped stronger on Killua's slew. He looked at me weirdly. Then again looked at Satotz, as if he didn't mind. I blushed letting go. What am I doing?

I heard as the entry we came from started making weird sounds, and with everyone else looked back to see the entry closing. Some guy was still running up, trying to seek us. "Wait for me!" He shouted as the tunnel door closed.

Satotz started speaking again. "These Wetland creatures are not to be underestimated, for they will use every trick in the book to fool their prey," he said as everyone turned to him gasping. I would have hid behind Killua, if I wasn't so flustered for what happened before. "This is an eco system in which all the creatures hunt by the art of deception." He said making people nervous. "And that is also why it's called the Swindlers Swamp," he said.

I feared the unknown. No I wasn't scared of those animals Examiner just talked about. I was scared of that gloomy forest that I had no idea about. Living and growing up in a forest though me that every living creature knows their land well, better than some newbie human. But at the same time, I wasn't scared. I was way more exited and in my head, jumping up and down.

I guess what I fear most is my curiosity.

Satotz turned around. "Now then. Please follow me closely, so you won't be deceived," everyone stated nervously and I felt Killua standing closer to me a little in front of me. As if protecting me.

Leorio spat smiling weirdly. "Is he messing with us? If we know their gonna deceive us who's gonna fall for it?" He said, making fun of the examiner. I glared at him.

"Don't fall for it!" Someone shouted from behind. Everyone turned to the person who was shouting.

Leorio annoyed, glared at where the sound was coming from. "Listen, didn't I just say that we won't?"

We all stared at a wall as a average looking man stepped behind it. He looked quite beaten up, which was kinda worrying me. He stared at the crowd. "Don't let them fool you," he again said everyone silently gasping at him. "He's lying..." the man said before pointing towards Satotz. "That man has lied to you!" He shouted as Satotz calmly stood in his spot. "He's an imposter," the man kept gagging. "A total fraud! I'm the real examiner, you got it?!" He shouted now pointing at himself. Everyone started gasping as their eyes went from the man to Satotz, to the man to Satotz.

I looked closely at the both guys. No. That man is a fake. The Hunter Exam always hires a professional Hunter to lead the participants. And if that guy got beaten by some weird animal... Hm I don't know...

"Imposter? What's going on here?!" Leorio shouted.

"But then who is he, really?" A guy with the number of 294 said. Everyone eyes now on Satotz.

"I'll prove it! Look at this!" The man said bringing out a dead looking guy similar to Satotz only with a huge mouth, with sharp teeth. Everyone gasped, and Killua stepped in front of me as if protecting me, really. Gon standing next to him.

"Oh wow! He looks like mister Satotz!" Gon pointed out.

"This is the Man-Faced Ape from the Numere Wetlands!" The man gagged.

Leorio stared at the view. "A Man-Faced what?!" He shouted.

"The Man-Faced Ape," the man answered  dramatically. "Loves the taste of human flesh. But, their limbs are really long and thin, so their actually quite weak," he said moving his head from people to people. I was kinda glad that Killua was now in front of me, so he couldn't see me. "That's why they disguise themselves as humans!" He kept talking. "They trick us into following them into the Wetlands where they work together with other creatures, to kill and eat us!" He said. Everyone now staring at mister Satotz. "That's what he wants! To deceive the entire Hunter Applicant pool, and feast on everyone one of you!" The man said pointing a finger at Sototz. Everyone seems to make a line without any people so the two of them could examine each other.

The two of the 'examiners' looked at each other.

"Bastard..." Leorio said. I didn't look at him.

"Oh yeah?" Said the same guy, 294. "Well then that would certainly explain why he doesn't walk like a normal human!"

Suddenly I heard a swish in the air as I sensed a strong aura from somewhere near. It was poker cards, as they where each thrown for each of the believing examiners. The man that just showed up was shoot with the cards as they went through his skin and stabbed him. I sensed nen on it as my eyes twitched at mister Satotz. He smoothly catch the cards before they could do anything funny.

The man fallen on his back in slow motion as people around (including Leorio) started gasping. While Satotz calmly stood in his place one hand holding two cards and the other one.

I looked over at where the aura was coming from to see a clown looking man fixing his cards. Everyone seem to notice him too. He giggled under his breath. It made me feel uneasy. "I see, I see," he said. "That settles it then," he said opening his yellow-golden eyes. "So you are the real one," he says before everyone looks at Satotz. The brought thing that looked like mister Satotz woke up from his death and while screaming ran away. "The Examiners are Hunters, each is hand picked by the Exam committee," the clown pointed out what I thought before. "To do this job without pay. Anyone who holds the tittle were vying for ourselves," his eyes stared at Satotz. "Could have deflected that attack," he finished. "And quite easily I might add."

"I shall take that as a compliment, thank you," Satotz said, eyes closing for the sentence. "Still," he said opening his eyes. "Should you choose to attack me for any reason, I will have no reason but to report you for attacking an examiner, and had you immediately disqualified." Satotz said giving little glare. "Is that clear?"

"Of course," the clown answered. Something about him wasn't right and I could feel it. As if...

Everyone along with me turned around hearing bird noises as I walked next to Killua trying to get a better view. A few crows flew to the fake examiner and began devouring him. I looked away, not really liking the scene.

"Nature can be so brutal..." Leorio said. "It's hard to even watch,"

"Can I agree you with that," I said feeling more and more uncomfortable. Killua glanced at me and just sight.

"So he was a Man-Faced Ape as well," Kurapika made a conclusion.

"He was trying to confuse the applicants and lour some of you away," Satotz explained. "These attacks are to be expected."

He turned and began walking.

"We can't let our guard down," Killua said while tapping me on the head.

"Right," Gon and I said at the same time.

Satotz continued. "Please be aware that you will encounter such dissections on a regular bases. I must assume that a number of you where fooled into suspecting my identity," Satotz said stepping before the faker examiner now being eaten by crows.

"Oh well, I..." Leorio tried to explain. Me and Killua both glared at him.

Satotz again turned to us. "Understand? I want to make it a very clear that any of you are to loose sight of me, once we enter the fog of Numere Wetlands, you have no hope what so ever of reaching the second phase of the Exam" Satotz finished, giving me goosebumps. But I was still very excited.

"You've been warned," he added.

𑁍❀𑁍

We soon entered the Wetlands, Satotz from time to time, reminding us to satay close to him.

I ran between Killua and Gon, Kurapika and Leorio in front of us. Speaking of which I heard Kurapika talking.

"Fog is getting even thicker as we go," Kurapika exclaimed.

I could really agree with him. I was glad to be running next to Gon and Killua, since I felt their confident aura and was glad.

I felt that something changed in the air. As if some tense entered it. So I did the most common thing. I looked back. Killua seem to copy me, his eyes widened at the view.

"Gon, Annya, let's move up to the front," he said while I just nodded.

"Right, the last thing we wanna do is to loose sight of the examiner right now," Gon said. He probably hasn't felt the tension in the air yet.

"I just wanna put a little distance between Hisoka and us," he said. "Staying too close is dangerous. I can smell it."

I frowned. Hisoka? Who's this Hisoka person? Is he that clown thrown the poker cards with his nen? If so we should really stay away.

I gave Killua a nod, while Gon in confusion stared at us. "Smell?" He smelled the air. "I don't think he smells!" I sight in Gon's innocence. He then turned around. "Hey! Leorio, Kurapika! Killua said we should all move up to the front!" Gon shouted at somewhere in the back. Huh? When did they get behind us?-

"Hey! Calm down, don't you feel the tension in the air?" Killua interrupted my thoughts.

I heard Leorio's voice from behind. "You idiot! When you reach the front, I'll already be there!" He shouted as I raised one brow.

"Go ahead!" Kurapika shouted. "We'll meet you there!"

Gon seemed disappointed with their answers. Killua wasn't waiting. "C'mon, let's go!" He said as we three moved up.

𑁍❀𑁍

After we ran for some time, Gon made a speech. "I wonder what's happening... I can't hear people screaming all around us!"

I sight. "Gon, that is why-"

"-we need to be careful," Killua finished my sentence.

Gon still seemed worried. "I haven't seen the guys in a while... I just hope their ok," he said.

Suddenly I felt something weird under my knees. We all stopped in our track. The ground before us collapsed and before any of us could do something, we were swallowed by some huge frog.

I felt as the frog bumped while walking. It was very sticky and disgusting in its mouth as I tried not to breath with my nose.

Then it stopped. It started shaking a little and it poured us out. I landed on my back, sliding, while Killua got out criss crossed and Gon on his face. Well not really but eh.

The frog then turned and walked away. Gon chuckled. "I guess he didn't like the way we tasted, huh?"

"It was this stuff," Killua said bringing out Tompa's orange juice. I grinned at the laxative in Killua's hands.

"Oh! The drink Tonpa had!" Gon said excited. "I guess that's what saved us!" Gon cheered. I smiled at his innocence.

"Yeah, probably so, but I could've escaped without it," Killua kept his pride.

I smirked. "Well if we're talking about this frog then I think I could've managed it myself too," I said.

Gon wasn't listening anymore. He was staring at the forest. "I'm still worried about Leorio and Kurapika," Gon said. I kinda felt bad for him, so I placed my hand on his shoulder.

"Don't worry, Leorio and Kurapika are strong aren't they? They'll figure it out," I smiled while standing up.

"But-" Gon tried to complain more.

"Just forget about them, we need to keep moving," Killua said standing up with me. Even if I didn't like this, he was speaking truth. "We can still make it if we start right now."

Killua started running, me following him, not looking back at Gon.

I'm a matter of seconds I felt his aura disappear. I sight. Can't stop him now. I guess.

Soon me and Killua saw people running in line. Killua smiled proudly! "Aha! We caught up with the main group Annya!" He said as I smiled, standing next to him. He turned to where Gon he assumed he'll be. "So what do you say Gon? I told you we'll make it-"

He stared at the empty spot. We both kept in silence for a moment. "He was here, just a minute ago..." I said. We both sight and ran to the main people group.

We made it to the check point as we both rested against a tree. "Man, I really thought Gon would at least be here!" Killua whined. I inhaled and exhaled while staring at the blue sky.

"He will make it," I said determined. Killua raised a brow.

"Ya think so?" He asked. I nodded. "Well then let's bet, if he comes back I'll let you do whatever you want to me, or you can ask me do anything for you," he said. I smiled this is a nice deal. "But if he won't come back in time you'll do the opposite for me," he finished pointing his thumb at himself.

"Deal," I said bringing my hand. He took it as we shook it.

𑁍❀𑁍

"I told you he will make it!" I said petting Gon's head as he giggled at my actions. Killua at other point looked glad that Gon made it and angry that he lost the bet.

"But really Gon how did you make it?" Killua asked. Yeah I was wondering about that as well. We found them near a tree- Leorio beaten up and Kurapika with Gon exhausted.

"Oh, I just followed the trail of Leorio's colon," Gon cheered. Me and Killua stared at him. My eyes shined with proudness, as if I was his mom.

"You- you are really weird, aren't you Gon?" Killua sight leaning down a little. I walked over to him and kicked his leg.

"Excellent work, everybody!" I heard Satotz voice as we all turned around. "The second phase will take place here, in the Viscaforous palace! So I shall now take my leave," he said. "I wish you all, the very best of luck!" He said. Those words softened my heart as I giggled. Satotz again started walking his big steps and soon was out of our sight.

Then a huge sound came from the gates of the that 'palace' wall. It stated slowly opening. The second phase is now starting!

𑁍❀𑁍

Hi there reader! Thank you for reading this chapter, I hope you liked it!

As you see Killua is being nice towards you and that is the reason, because here you where his first ever friend! So he cares for you.

Also I'm trying to change the storyline as best as I can so Annya could fit in!

And last, eat, drink, breath, go outside and stay cool! Bye^^