Prologue
As the sun began to rise, we knew things were not going to plan. I had this feeling of dread within myself that something very bad was going to happen to one of us and soon. I couldn't explain what it was that I felt; I just knew that it was fact.
I looked around at the faces of those I call my family and wondered where the casualty would be falling within us. I was also aware that if one of us were to fall, shortly after, a second would follow. Today our family would crumble into pieces. We could have walked away; we could still be living a perfectly happy, normal life. We were taking the sacrifices for both our family and friends, and even those who had no awareness of our existence, but we wished to help anyway.
From the look on everyone's faces I knew I was not alone in my thoughts. We were all aware of the sacrifice we were about to make and still found it our obligation to help.
At that moment, all our minds were perfectly in sync. The predator's eyes narrowed and a snarl escaped from its lips. This growl echoed out around us, surrounding us and preparing us for what we were about to embrace, as at least fifteen others emerged from the trees.
We made a circle formation, our backs facing the inner of the ring. I squeezed my love's hand one last time, knowing that it could be the last, and let my love flow through in this one small gesture. We let go and all crouched down simultaneously.
And then, without a word from any of our lips, we knew what we had to do and we all lunged forward.