It did not belong among the trees and animals. Everything about it was unnatural. Surrounded but avoided. Sounds from nature filled the air everywhere, except for in the small cottage in the heart of the forest. It was as if the animals could not bear to come near for the very air around it was sickening both from decay and dark magic. The cottage was rotting on the outside and the inside, but she didn't mind. It had room only for a small cot, table, chairs, and a chest to sit at the foot of the bed. She sat on the chest, ignoring the rough, uncomfortable wood. Mari had no use for it other than for sitting; she had nothing to store.

She clasped and unclasped her hands. Her feet kicked up dirt as she dragged them over the floor. She shifted her weight and leaned on her hands, trying to be patient and failing. She was unfamiliar with the idea of waiting. Before leaving, the Seven told her to wait there for them. As if she would dare to leave the cottage without them. They barely ever brought her outside with themselves; Mari had never imagined being in the cottage without them, much less go anywhere else without them. They would return soon; she hoped soon wasn't too far away. She understood the concept of leaving and returning, but they had never left all at once. One of them had always been with her until now.

Whatever this was, this not being with them, it made her feel ill. She did not have anything to do, what could she do when there was no one else with her? Of course, Mari could use her mind, but it was such a slow, dull almost painful thing to think, so she did not. She didn't know what else to do other than sit on the chest and stare at the window, watching the sun move.

It was late when she felt them return. Mari's heart leaped forward. They were coming back! She could feel their imminent return in such a strange way. If she had to put it into words, she would say it was like a pulling on her insides. It was strongest in her heart, but she was smart enough to realize it wasn't a physical pull. She didn't know what to call it, but it tugged on the deepest part of her, what made up her being.

The sky had turned orange and red when the Seven appeared in the cottage. They looked like people in some ways, but she was old enough to know they were not. They were not human, but she was, whatever human was Mari did not know, only that it was different from them.

"Oh," the tallest said. Her voice hit Mari's ears with a familiar lofty twinge. With long, clean hair and a pristine dress, Rekema never looked like she belonged in the cottage unlike Mari who nearly blended into the filthy floors and rotted walls. Rekema beamed from across the room. "Come here, doll, there is so much to tell you."

She noticed the other six were quite pleased as well. The air was warm and thrumming with their energy.

She stood up and obeyed. As she walked, she asked, "What is it Rekema?"

The leader of them, Rekema, set a hand on her shoulder, commanding her full attention. "Mari, we have finally received the order from Underneath."

Mari looked at Rekema; they had mentioned the Underneath before, but to Mari her words were meaningless. Rekema's claws dug into her shoulder; however, Mari wasn't one to complain. Before Mari could ask a question she wasn't even sure she should ask, the two smallest of the group ran by her, squealing with laughter. Their tails bumped across the floor, hitting her in the legs. The dirty, raggedy boy reached up and jerked her arm. Mari was almost dragged around by him, but one of the others swatted him in the head forcing him to let go. He moved in front of Mari, protecting her from the twins mischief. Mari rubbed her, wrist and the boy, Meeko, laughed. The girl, Mallory, leapt off the walls, cackling in her young, high voice.

Rekema sat Mari at the table, away from the twins. She looked up at the others, standing around her, unable to contain their grins. One of them came over to Mari, the one who swatted Meeko, and he placed a hand on her head, ruffling her hair. She leaned into him. His voice was deep and smooth, drowning out all other noise. "Pet, we've been given an important job to do. We've been waiting a long time to do it. Don't mind the twins, they just don't know how to contain themselves."

"Muraad," Mari said. Her voice was soft and almost unheard because of the ruckus of the twins. "What is a job?"

One of the Seven scoffed; he was a stout figure covered in a combination of muscle and tattoos. To Mari, he was Balak, and if she was honest, he made her feel smaller than she already was. The one next to him, who looked like a woman, shushed him. Mari called her Apep. Apep was just barely taller than Balak, and wore a dark robe and hood, casting everything but her eyes into shadow. Mari liked Apep well enough, but not more than anyone else except for Balak.

Rekema shot a glare in Balak's direction, but turned and smiled sickly sweet at Mari. "Don't you worry about that now. We'll be taking care of it; no effort from you is required. What you need to know is that everything is going to change for us."

Mari squirmed in her seat, mumbling under her breath.

"What'd you say, pet?" Muraad asked with a pleasant hum as he played with her hair.

Mari tried to speak louder, but it was only enough to be heard. "What is change?"

Balak made another noise like laughter, and Mari bowed her head. Muraad said, "Change is where things become... different. Change is when things do not stay the same."

Mari turned to face Muraad. "Why are things not going to stay the way they are?"

Rekema sighed, rubbing her forehead. The twins rushed over and pulled Mari out of her seat. She stumbled as they lead her about. Meeko looked up at her with bright eyes. "Because it'll make us happy."

Mallory pulled on Mari's sleeve, forcing her to bend down to her level. She blinked and titled her head. "Don't you want us to be happy?"

Mari stuttered. Her voice faltered. It was just barely heard; no one understood.

A figure, hidden by the shadows, stepped over to Rekema. She threw up her hands. Mari called her Bidkar, and she always wore the strangest clothes. Muraad had once told her they were the clothes a warrior would wear, but Mari chose not to ask him what a warrior was. She said, "What does it matter what she's saying? Who cares?"

"No!" Mari straightened up. Silence fell for the second time ever in all of Mari's time at the cottage. "I want to do this, uh, this job."

The Seven stared at her. Under their gazes, Mari just wanted to crawl under a blanket and hide. She settled for staring at her bare feet. "I want things to... change. I want you to be pleased."

Mari glanced up. Rekema's eyes sparked. Mari was always highly aware of their nonhuman features, but never more so than at that moment. The scales on Muraad glinted in the dying light, and Rekema's claws reflected the light into Mari's eyes. Bidkar's horns and fangs sent her heart racing. Apep's face glowed with old symbols while Balak's tattoos moved across his thick inhuman skin. The twins' tails skittered across the floor, and Mari resisted the urge to jump away when they skimmed over her feet again. She had grown used to it, almost. Rekema's bright, pink eyes pierced Mari's heart, freezing any thought she might have had. Rekema motioned Mari over. Everything started to haze over. Mari stumbled forward. Rekema nodded. "Good, because I have an idea I think we're all going to like. A little fun before we officially start."

Mari's frozen heart sunk, and her stomach churned. She wasn't sure what to call the feeling, but she knew she didn't like it.