Never in my life have I been as proud as I am the moment I fight five of the men and they actually pin me. I wasn’t going all out, but I moved quicker than any Human should be able, and they still knocked me to the ground. The big blacksmith, Tom, sat on me while Leo held a sword to my throat.

They cheered above me even as I wheezed for breath beneath the giant man. I rapped on his leg, my gasping breath wholly derived. I was not just taken down by five men of one week's worth of training. 'Course not.

After they cheered to their heart's content, I sat on the ground for a minute, a slight smile on my lips. Of course, that was just to let them revel in their accomplishment. That was all. Catching my breath takes longer than it did in my youth of five weeks ago, before the jingoist. Oh, the glory days of the past.

“That was well done. Tom, I didn’t see the hammer coming. That one will leave a mark.” I wince.

He slaps me on the back, knocking me back to the dirt. Then he offers me a hand up.

I take it. He hauls me to my feet.

I straighten up, then let the wide grin I’m feeling deep in my soul split my face.

“Good job.” I utter for the first time to any of them.

There are bad apples, then there are good apples. I prefer to bite into the good, thank you very much.

They beam with pride, slapping each other on the back even as the rest of the men come and congratulate them.

My smile fades as the rest turn from me to the five champions who took down the Kursk.

I picked two soldiers and three townsmen to be the team against me. And what I hoped would happen... it did. The exercises came together, the group drills we've been doing clicked, and they overcame one skilled man. It was executed with some mistakes that I could've exploited, but that wouldn't have been the goal. As is, they overcame and performed much better than I expected, and I am truly happy with their progress.

The soldiers clap the three townsmen on the back along with their own, enfolding and finally accepting the townsmen into their pack.

And yet, most don't so much as glance at me as they celebrate, which I suppose is for the best, seeing as I leave in the morning. I stayed one more day past what I promised, because I wanted to give these men a high note for me to leave on. Some confidence in their training and their heart.

And yet, we never took them down a notch. My inner voice is quite peeved about that.

It wouldn't have suited our purpose. Remember, the goal here isn't to puff our pride, but for these men to survive.

You were just afraid.

I wince. The voice is dead on, as much as I'm loathe to admit it. I feared that if I had shown my true colors, the men would shun me even worse than they do now.

Even with as much as I’ve done, few accept me. I don’t even think they know what they are doing, but the fear in their eyes when they believe I’m not looking... it's enough. They exclude what they don’t understand, even as I train them how to defeat their enemies and protect their loved ones.

They only respect me just so long as I can give them what they need. They fear me otherwise. Just the same as everyone else.

I don’t belong with the Shifters, but neither do I belong with the Humans. I am both. And I am neither. I look up at the sky, wondering where the stars are in the silky blue expanse.

Am I like the stars, as my adopted father once said? Am I shining? Or am I so dim from my past that no one can see me?

I look back at the men, and a grim certainty grips me. One that I knew from the very beginning.

~~~

“You won’t be able to hold.” I say softly that night as Shasta helps take the dishes into the kitchen.

David nods to Heather, who excuses herself and takes Shasta outside to play.

David leans back in his chair, puffing on a pipe. “I know.” His brown eyes watch me, missing little.

“Then what’s your aim?” I’m a little peeved.

I could already have left to chase after my family’s trail if not for the compassion I have for these small town folks who saved my life. Compassion I thought was long gone invaded my cold, hard soul.

“I need men and a plan. I need them to cover the town as we evacuate.”

“Where will you go?”

He puffs on his pipe again, and then his eyes crinkle. “I’m not spreading all my secrets, Shifter.”

I give a wry chuckle. “Smart.”

He shrugs. “With what you’ve been through, boy, I would have pegged you as a broken creature with no soul left. But instead, I find a young man with a heart of gold—it’s not you I don’t trust.”

My brows furrow, but I sense steel in his gaze. Even if the curious part of me doesn’t like being kept in the dark, wisdom says now is not the time to push for answers as to where they'd be going.

“Why not evacuate now? You would have no need of a fighting force.”

He looks out the window. Shasta races from one tree to the next, then hides behind a bush. Heather lopes around the side of the house, her pure white fur kissed by the rising moon, the Harvest Epoch almost upon us.

The villagers have been gathering fronds of feathers and leaves for decorating the main square, and the local Tutor Mother has been gathering the young children for a play. Even as most of the common folk have darting eyes and typically move from place to place quicker than conventional from fear, they continue with life per usual as the leaders and soldiers prepare for battle. Such is the way of war and life. Sometimes our existence is determined by others, and all we can do is continue to live with hope and love our families.

We never know the day or the hour, all we can do is appreciate each moment we are given. And be thankful for what we have in the meantime.

Quit it. I hate when you get philosophical.

I thought you'd be used to that by now.

I do not believe I will ever be used to that.

I hide a smile behind a sip of tea.

David nods at his daughter and grand. “That there is the reason we don't leave now. Where I’m thinking will not accept them... not wholly. They will be safe, but shunned. I will not have that if I can help it. Plus, evacuating this entire town and making the folk here leave their livelihoods? It will be a disaster... it can only come as a last resort.”

I nod in acceptance, even as I rankle.

A hand on my shoulder makes me flinch. Kind brown eyes meet mine. “You also needed to heal. I’m sorry, but the honest truth is you would’ve died if you ran off half cocked and got into a fight. It was not the time, and we needed you. It worked out for both sides.”

It makes my pride bristle, but I am also forced to acknowledge the truth of his words. I would’ve done my family no good had I died of infection. For now, I’m their best chance, and I have to stay that way. Perhaps that's the true reason I didn't buck so against their manipulations—while somewhat true they needed me here, it would also be true that David, Jace, and Tim could've put together a fighting force without me. They already had the city guard and General Brackenridge.

I was just an unpredictability they had dropped into their laps that they were wise enough to take advantage of. Our common enemy, my skills as a killer, and my race was all they knew of me... and they stuck me in charge. When put like that... what kind of hair-brained idiots are these people?

I nod in acceptance once more, and he puts out the pipe. “We needed you for as long as we could have you.” He gives me one last lingering glance, then goes out the back door.

He scares the little munchkin half to death by sneaking up on her while she watched her mama. The tike jumped three feet in the air before running away with a squeal that pierces my ears from here.

I smile even as my heart hurts. I wonder; I worry; I doubt. I will leave these kind, stubborn, highly manipulative (for my own good) folks tomorrow.

David will lead the fighting forces while Heather and Morgana evacuate... should it come to that.

The letter I sent will be of help to these people… if the person I once knew is still alive.