I am reposting this story with corrections, additions, and edits. I have tried to maintain the integrity of Stephenie's Host world and certainly welcome any comments/discussions regarding it.

Disclaimer: The Host is the intellectual property of Stephenie Meyer, I only claim the two characters in this story.

Disclaimer: The quote from 'Bone' is the intellectual property of Hart Hansen and FOX.

Disclaimer: The words from 'You wouldn't even be lonely' are the intellectual property of Andy Griggs

David – Former Army Ranger

David crouched in the thick underbrush silently observing the creature. He glanced around the immediate area and again there were no others of its kind. This one was alone. Interesting. He bought his high powered binoculars back up to his face to continue his observation. Even at this distance the binoculars made the silver rings in the eyes clearly visible. He also noticed the blond hair pulled back into a high ponytail. A few escaped wisps of hair framed the delicate features of its small square face. Different expressions played across the face as it struggled over the rough terrain. His human male brain couldn't help but notice the tight fit of the jeans hugging tantalizing curves. The relatively fresh, clean denim clung to its hips, thighs, and extended down its slender legs to just above the like new hiking boots. The jeans appeared new, not worn, torn, and patched the way a human woman might have to cling to the only clothing she had. He had held to the vain hope it was still human. It had been a faint hope. The creature was a soul in an attractive female body.

Even without the silver rings in the eyes to confirm, its manner of movement though the forest was too carefree, skipping stones across the river, too careless, gazing happily at the scenery and too noisy to be another fugitive human like himself. Maybe he was the last of his kind, human, wild and free. He sighed at the thought. He had been looking for another human. The loneliness was more difficult with each passing day, week, month… It had been how long? Two years already since the last time he talked to somebody; a simple conversation with another human being; simple human interaction. He had been out in the 'new' society these aliens had built; on scavenger hunts for supplies the forest couldn't provide. While on his hunts he learned from his careful intelligence gathering the basics of this new world of alien controlled human hosts. Yes, they had created an idyllic world, but for themselves, a fifties era 'Father Knows Best' society of pleasantly happy citizens.

The individual he was watching fit that mold. However, why was it alone? They were never alone; they were always in groups, families. They never ventured far from their society, never into a wilderness alone, never this far into the forest, his territory, only seekers would do this, but even they would not be alone. This one was certainly no normal Seeker. There was no stealth to its movement. No attempt to hide its presence. Small animals were fleeing before its advance. Sherman's march though Georgia was quieter. Again, he scanned the area. He was beginning to suspect a trap. Maybe it was a decoy? Maybe seekers were developing new tricks to play on human emotions? A lovely young woman sent out into the woods to draw attention, hopefully get humans to appear, while the REAL seeker team follows from a safe distance. He had circled back once to confirm it was alone, no others following.

He made another long careful sweep in an arc around the area looking for something, anything that would indicate seeker activity. He saw nothing. He shook his head. He couldn't understand what the hell it was doing out here by itself. When he finished the second recon it had stopped and was finishing setting up a campsite by the river and was inside a tent. They were dangerously close to his cave, barely a quarter of a mile. Why did it have to wander in this direction? Since he first spotted it hours ago less than a mile in from the road, he concluded its host must have had some outdoors experience because it knew to follow the river down here from the road. It was fit enough to travel over some pretty rugged terrain with a full pack and smart enough to pace itself with breaks for water and rest. Now, it had picked a pretty good site to setup. Hum, its outdoor skills concerned him. Souls usually didn't cultivate such skills.

He realized it setup very close to the first site he had chosen when he first arrived here three years ago, before he found the cave. He thought back to those days. The army, his three tours in Afghanistan, he needed time to decide what to do with his life. A product of the foster care system, the army was his only 'family'. His friends and buddies were family. In a war zone they were closer than family, but they all had 'real' family at home. They received letters, phone calls, and had a 'real' family to go home to. His time in the forest was just supposed to be a time to find himself. Little did he know at the time that his army ranger survival training and the experience of war would be critical for his new life. While he was doing his own Henry David Thoreau Walden experience, the world beyond this forest changed. There were no longer options to the path of his life.

Oh, it was leaving the tent carrying a large drawing pad, along with a box of drawing pencils, he guessed. Suddenly, his male mind again kicked in as he noticed it had changed into a tight sports bra and from jeans to jean short shorts, now showing its long lean slightly muscular legs. He smirked as he heard it squeal in delight as it dropped its toes in the river, then watched as it picked its way over the rocks close to the river bank, found a large smooth rock and sat down. The blond ponytail swayed back and forth as its silver ringed eyes scanned around the river scene. After observing the area closely for any signs of any other activity, he started to think it was either a very good actor or it truly was out by itself on a camping trip. After about a half hour of surveillance, he headed back to his cave to eat, replenish his water supply and ensure the area around the entrance was 'natural'.

It wasn't more than a ten minute trip back to his cave, which concerned him again. It was just too close for comfort, but there was little he could think to do about it. He contemplated various options as he munched on his meal of berries, nuts, edible roots and some rabbit jerky. He finally decided a recon back up the route it had taken from the road was a wise plan. He double checked he had his usual equipment loaded in his army combat fatigues, his standard wear when he moved around the forest. He had 'civilian' clothes for when he ventured into soul society. The canteen was full, the binoculars back in place. The first aid kit of soul medicines he had acquired on various raids was in the left leg pocket. The Glock 37 with a full clip was strapped to his right leg beside his army Ka-Bar knife in the side pocket. He thought about grabbing his helmet with the night-vision device attached, but sure he'd be back before dark, he stayed with the soft field hat, put on his sunglasses and was ready to go. He was glad not to have had to use the Glock during his life in the forest; the Ka-Bar on the other hand was very handy. Thinking back to three years ago, he wondered why he brought so much of his army stuff with him into the forest, but now he was glad he did.

On the journey up to the road he had been on high alert, carefully examining every possible hiding or observation location. It was uneventful. He skirted around the creature only getting close enough to check that it hadn't moved. At the road he spent a good hour watching and observing any activity, there was neither too much nor too little going on. He guessed the small white corolla parked in the small rest area by the bridge was its. A family stopped at the rest area, two adult, and two smaller adults. They could hardly be called children with the aliens inside; they acted as nothing more than smaller versions of the adults. Traffic was light on the road with nothing of note moving in either direction. As the sun got lower in the afternoon sky, he decided it was time to head back. He planned another pass by the creature's campsite before he headed for his cave.