Chapter 4. And I thank you Winter Oak for reviewing and giving my feedback!

Hikari's mind had trouble comprehending what was in front of her. She rubbed her eyes with a hand. Nope. Owen was still there. Thankfully he had clothes on. She'd seen and read some werewolf things where they lost their clothes. Wait. Why was she thinking this? Owen couldn't be a werewolf!

"Are you okay?" asked Owen. He slowly stepped towards her, his palms out in front of him to show that he was unarmed. That didn't make Hikari feel any safer. He could turn into a wolf for crying out loud!

"What are you?" asked Hikari, backing up another step. "How can you turn into that?"

Owen seemed to want to say something but he didn't. Instead he walked over to the base of the dying tree and sat down. He patted the ground next to him. "Don't worry. I won't hurt you, I promise."

Hikari wanted to run in the opposite direction but her feet betrayed her and took her over to the dying tree to sit down next to him. She arranged her dress in a way so it covered her legs and then checked to make sure her annoying long hair wouldn't bother her as she positioned it around her. She had tried to cut it in the past but it didn't work. No scissors could cut that hair of hers. She turned her head to see what Owen was doing and she leaned back when she saw he was staring at her.

"You're someone on the island aren't you?"

Hikari's eyes widen and she looked away. How to answer that?

"Don't worry," replied Owen. "A lot of people on this island have secrets that they do not want others to know. If it makes you feel better, I'll tell you mine."

"You don't have to Owen," said Hikari quickly. She looked down at her lap. The shimmery blue dress reflected the moonlight weird. Was there something in the fabric to make it act like that?

"So, you are from the island."

Hikari stiffened. She had called Owen by name without realizing it. Darn. She shut her eyes tight.

"Don't worry," Owen laughed. "I figured as much. You smell like the island. Only the islanders smell like that."

"Could you tell more from my scent?" asked Hikari trying to make it sound like she was just curious.

"No," replied Owen. "I couldn't recognize it."

"Oh," said Hikari. Inwardly she breathed a sigh in relief. Owen didn't know who she was. Good.

"Did you have any idea what that thing was that attacked you?" asked Owen.

Hikari shook her head. "No." She thought it would be better to not mention the incident in the Watery Cave. "Do you?"

Owen shook his head. "No. It tasted nasty though," he made a face at the thought. "It was like I was eating darkness itself if that makes any sense."

It didn't make much sense to Hikari. She didn't even understand why this thing was after her to begin with. She pulled her legs close and hugged her knees. Why did this have to happen to her? She was finally getting used to her new life on the island and this had to happen. And what about Owen. "Ummm," she spoke. "You being a werewolf. Is it…uh, normal on this island?"

Owen laughed. "Not really. As far as I know my family is the only werewolf pack. And you are one of the few people on the island that knows that, whoever you are."

"Oh," said Hikari. "And you don't mind me asking if…"

Owen laughed. "No. I was not bitten. Werewolves are usually born not made. In fact it has been hundreds of years since that has been practiced. I don't even think anyone really knows how to do it anymore since it involves rituals and such."

"Oh," repeated Hikari. What else could she say? Owen was a werewolf. "What about Chloe and Ramsey? Are they?"

"Yup," confirmed Owen. "Grandpa hasn't transformed in years after leaving the pack to move here but he probably still can. Chloe is still too young but she should be able to do so soon."

Hikari couldn't believe it. All this time she had been conversing with werewolves and she didn't know it. "What about the other islanders? Are there are supernatural things?"

Owen shrugged. "Don't know. The island is a known refugee for supernatural beings if they want to get away from the bustle of the human world. However humans also come here and no one asks what anyone else is. It's rude."

Hikari tightened her fists. Did this mean there were more people like Owen out there? Could there be fairies, vampires and other beings lurking around Castanet that she didn't know about?

Wait. Why was she judging everyone? Look at herself! At night she turned into someone else. She wouldn't want other people to find out her secret.

"So?" asked Owen. "Are you going to tell me a bit about yourself?"

Hikari flinched. She had to give Owen something for telling her about his werewolf family. "Ever since I was a baby this happened," she said slowly. "At night I turned into this person. I don't know how or why but…" She buried her head into her knees.

She felt a reassuring hand on her shoulder and she looked up at Owen. "Don't beat yourself over it," he said.

Anything else Owen said after that was lost to her. In the distance she could see the sky was beginning to get lighter in color. Oh no. It was almost morning. "Sorry," said Hikari as she scrambled to her feet.

"Wait!" cried Owen but Hikari was already running into the forest. She had to get away before the sun appeared on the horizon. Owen could not see her transform!

Her bare feet slapped the ground as she ran, her long fingers holding up her dress so she wouldn't trip. Behind her she could hear Owen tearing through the undergrowth after her.

"Don't follow me!" she screeched as she picked up her pace. The low branches clung to her hair trying to stop her but nothing could hold her back. She had to get back. She had to!

"Wait!" came Owen's voice from behind her. "Hikari! Wait!"

Hikari stopped and whirled around to face Owen who also stopped. He was breathing heavily but he looked at her steadily. "I was right," he said. "You're Hikari aren't you?"

Linelinline

The young woman almost dropped the flask she had been holding.

The robed man was sitting at her table, arms crossed with a thoughtful expression on his face.

She still couldn't believe what he had just said. She carefully got down the stool before her cauldron and put the flash down before stepping over to where the man was. "What you said, it's true right? You aren't lying right?"

The man looked up at her like she was stupid and she had the urge to rip his little braid off. "Of course I am not," he said slowly. "I saw her ride away."

"We have to tell him!" exclaimed the woman. She ran to get her traveling potion but he stopped her with a word.

"Don't. I think we should wait longer before we do."

The woman whipped around her white hair almost slapping her face. "What are you talking about!? We have to tell him! It's been twenty years since that battle. Gale…"

Gale shook his head. "Vivi. We need to make sure this isn't a trap. We have to make sure it's really her."

Vivi bit her lip and looked away. "Fine."

"You know I am right," said Gale. "Remember how upset he was after she disappeared? The island was almost wiped out! If it wasn't for her last wish for the island to be alive then this island wouldn't be here today. We need to wait and make sure."

"I know that," said Vivi. She gritted her teeth. Gale never let her do anything! "This island is my home too. I owe a lot to her."

"Good," Gale got up. "I'll follow her with my crystal ball. I'll be back soon to give you a report."

Vivi turned her back to Gale and waited she heard the sound of her door being closed before turning around. "Like heck, I'm going to wait around," she said before walking to her cupboard and throwing the wooden doors open.

Inside, lined on the many shelves were many different potion bottles in many different shapes and sizes. The liquid in every one of them was as varied as the bottles themselves. She grabbed a bunch and stuffed them in a small bag. She was going to see this girl. To confirm with her own eyes that this was who they were looking for.