Days now...

He had survived for days. Food was in short supply, but he was able to collect enough for himself to eat. He was tired, he could hear the sound of a waterfall in the distance and insects moving around. He was lucky that nothing had come across him that would take him apart for a meal... No insects, no animals.

He sat down, taking a deep breath and pulling out the last bit of the berry he had in a small pouch he fashioned out of a blade of grass. It was tasty, something that would keep him moving for a little bit longer until he could find the next source of food. Or until something happened to kill him. Mat hadn't seen anyone around lately though - after he was killed by Clare the pleasure was taken from his body and he was let free from the burden once again. He knew better than to expect this to be his life now...

Just when that thought crossed his mind, he saw her... Krista was approaching, her eyes locked on the mountains beyond him.

"Elišhka, Come take a look." She said with a smile, her backpack on her back.

Mat watched as her boot lifted over him, standing up in awe of the sight. The pleasure he had dismissed a moment ago had returned as the sole of her boot threatened to flatten his body once more and send him back into the stream to another world of torment. When he stood, her heel descended. He had set his berry down on the small rock he used as a seat, and her heel landed directly where Mat once was. The near miss made him fall to his back. He watched as her heel lifted, taking his food with it as Mat whimpered lightly under his breath.

A few animalistic sounds came from behind him. They were a form of communication, but nothing he could understand at all. Krista didn't understand what her new friend said, she just understood that her words were heard.

Just then, a shadow came over Mat's little body. He looked up to see her...

She was beautiful! White fur with emerald green eyes, long brown hair pulled into braids throughout her body. There was even some green mixed in with the darker brown colors. She was walking upright, which was abnormal for a Moomba - Elišhka enjoyed walking that way, though from time to time she would revert back to walking on all four.

He was able to take all of this in within a fraction of a second as her lifted over him, blocking out his view. His heart pounded as time slowed, he watched her powerful toes lift up in her gait. Her step was just high enough to brush over the top of the grass before it descended. The moment her paw touched his little body, he felt an overwhelming surge of pleasure before his bones splintered out. The force was quick, ejecting his intestines from his side in a painful and sickening 'pop' as everything collapsed at once... But like other times before, his soul lingered in his body.

"What's wrong?" Krista asked, looking back to see Elišhka lifting up her right paw and looking back.

The Moomba smelled blood, immediately after she felt a little 'pop' under her foot. The blood wasn't human, it was different... It smelled delicious! Elišhka sniffed at the air a bit to take in the smell, familiarizing herself with whatever it was in the event she came across the individual in the future. She saw the bit of blood on her paw, as well as the crushed body - but instead of wiping him off, she just looked back to her friend and smiled...

The two walked over to the edge of the cliff, looking to the water below and the mountains beyond.

"It's beautiful isn't it? One of the reasons I like walking..." Krista smiled as she let out a light sigh.

The Moomba smiled as well, whimpering out some pleased grunts and groans. The smell of Mat's blood mixed in with the fresh smell of earth, which made her feel happy inside. Elišhka had chosen to follow Krista around ever since she was saved nearly a week ago by the SeeD. Instead of returning to the Shumi Village, she chose to help Krista on the missions given to her by the Garden. She was kind to the Moomba, when all the other humans Elišhka had run into were horrible. Her physical appearance, having white fur and a habit of walking upright, made her worth more as a slave.

To Krista, she wasn't a pet or a slave - she was a friend. And though they couldn't speak to each other, the bond was true.

Mat's lingering soul screamed in pleasure and pain as Elišhka stood upon him, further flattening him into the dirt. The girls took their time, watching the scenery and taking it all in. It was refreshing for them, and torturous for the little human beneath the Moomba's paw.

Shortly thereafter ~ The Garden was credited Gil for another successful assignment.

Even unaware, Mathew's death was profitable.