Hey! This is my very first fanfic so I hope you like it!

Like I said in the description, I do not own the Host. SM does.

Chapter One

A very strange world indeed,I thought to myself as I walked through the tunnels. Everything seemed brighter, maybe even happier. Maybe it was just me, or maybe it was everyone else too, but today was a great day. It started off like any other. Waking up next to a sprawled out version of Ian, quietly being thankful that I was small enough to be able to still fit on the mattress with him in this position. We argued over my going on the raid. Went and ate breakfast. We argued with the others over my attendance. Practicality finally won over (again), and then we waited till dark. And that is when the most wonderfully amazing thing happened. Hope showed up at our front door. At least that's what it felt like as the other group of humans introduced themselves, and when Burns stood in front of me, shaking my hand.

The others had stood there during our exchange of words, looking dumbfounded. A dark haired woman next to the man named Rob kept opening and closing her mouth as if she were about to say something. Jared stood in my line of vision, a smile beginning to play on his lips as he looked at the tall man and the crowd behind him. Burns eyes stayed on me, his freckled face spread out into a grin. I felt my face mirror his. He still had a hold of my hand, but I didn't mind it. Just the fact that he existed had me singing inside.

"So it looks like we aren't as special as we thought, huh?" Nate called out in the short silence. He chuckled, stepping into the no-man's-land. Everyone was beginning to settle into a more relaxed posture, no longer glancing at the weapons they all held. I heard my friends sigh, one more forceful than the others, and begin to shuffle forward. The others did the same. A familiar hand settled into mine, making me look up into dark blue eyes. Blushing for reasons unknown to me, I dropped Burns' hand and took a step back. He seemed unabashed, but gave Ian an appraising look as he took in our entwined fingers.

"It seems as though we have quite a few things to discuss. We've been standing outside your hideout for days, hoping that you would come out. Never would we have thought to find another one like me," he said, still shifting his eyes from me to Ian. I felt Ian's hand tighten on mine. As Burns spoke, the others began introducing themselves to each other. I heard the dark haired woman say that she was Kim as she shook hands with Melanie.

Ian spoke for the first time since the other rebellion had arrived. "Yes. We do have many things to tell each other. Maybe we would all be more comfortable if we discussed them inside." He said the last thing slightly louder, giving Jared a meaningful look. I suddenly became painfully aware that we were still outside in the open. Where we could easily be seen. Jeb seemed to realize this too and cleared his throat.

"Alright everyone!" he had to speak loudly over everyone to make sure they heard. "Now I realize this is a big event happening right here, but we're still out in the open for anyone to see us. How about we all go in and get more comfortable, eh?" He patted Ian on the back and began to make his way back to the cave entrance. Ian gently pulled on my arm, signaling it was time to stop talking to Burns for now. I followed him to the passageway, Burns right behind me. We were about to go in when everyone in front of us stopped. Brandt had an uncomfortable look on his face as he faced the crowd of humans and two centipedes. His eyes quickly flickered to Burns then back to everyone else.

"Um, Jared? Don't you think we should take some, well, precautions?" His eyes moved to Burns again then to the other group of humans. His tone of voice made it clear what he was indicating. Don't let the strangers know the way out of the tunnels. Especially the alien. Apparently everyone else knew what he was saying as well because angry mutters broke out at his words. Melanie and Ian's eyes flashed with anger at his obvious reluctance to trust Burns, while Aaron nodded in approval and Jared looked thoughtful. I stroked Ian's arm to calm him as his fingers tightened again on mine, this time in anger. Jared finally spoke when the voices began to drift off. He turned to the other group, eyes tightening a bit in guilt.

"I hate to say it, but Brandt has got a point. It may make a few of the others nervous if strangers walked into the tunnel and were able to find their way out without our knowing," he said loudly enough for everyone to hear. He looked at the leader of the other humans, Nate, to see his reaction. Nate's eyes were widened in surprise, maybe even hurt, at the untrustworthy words. Surely all living humans could trust each other? He glanced at the others' pained expressions and cleared his throat after a minute of silence.

"I suppose," Nate finally announced, "that if it would make you all feel better, that we could cover our eyes." He ended the sentence as a question. Aaron and Brandt nodded their heads in unison, looking ashamed even though it was their idea. I felt guilt as the humans found sources to cover their eyes with, and when Burns took a handkerchief from his pocket to pull over his eyes, it felt as though a knife were cutting me through the stomach. I remembered only too well when it was me being blindfolded. I of course had long forgiven them for this action-I was the enemy after all-but I still didn't like that another innocent person had to experience the paranoia of these silly humans.

"Okay," Jared called once everyone had their vision obscured. "Everybody find someone to hold onto. Melanie, Wanda, Ian, and the rest of you, guide them towards the entrance." His voice was apologetic as he walked over to the nearest man and took his arm. I turned and reached for Burns' hand. He curled his fingers around my hand, engulfing it completely. He smiled down in my direction in thanks.

When everyone was settled, Melanie called for everyone to hear. "Alright. Let's go." And we headed into the caves we called home.

So yeah! My first writing to ever post on here! I hope you liked it! I can imagine scenes in my head, but sometimes not all of them make it to the story. Tell me what you think and if I should keep writing! Thanks for reading!