I don't even know, how we arrived home. I was in a daze and sobbing uncontrollably, mom's arm around my shoulders, shushing me.

Right after arrival father stuck the rabbit into my brother's arms, instructing him how to hold it, and sent him to Jack. The boy protested, but after a glare he turned and went, head down. He took one last glance back with a worried expression, then trotted on.

Me and mother waited for him in the kitchen; I was stroking Scarlet's head. She was purring, having sensed Ater's scent on me, but her ears were up and eyes wide open, she knew something was amiss.

,,What is the meaning of this?" mother cried out. ,,Why did they accuse our own child of being a changeling?"

,,I'll explain," father replied calmly, sitting down across the table.

,,She… IS ours, is she?"

That stung a little, but I remembered they didn't know, how They looked like when little.

,,Yes, yes she is. And yet… the changeling tale is not so far from truth."

,,I… don't understand now," I piped up, mother frowned as well. We looked at the other for some clarification, but both of us were confused.

,,I didn't want to tell you, in fear that maybe you wouldn't understand. I thought it was long lost, that… nobody would be born with their color. We hoped nothing would ever come of it."

,,What." She now didn't even ask, just sat there openly staring on father.

,,My grandmother, she was the child of… ah, how to put it…" father twirled around with his back to us to face the window, fingers locking behind his head. He sighed heavily, as if still not sure if to explain the inevitable. ,,She was a half-breed."

Silence fell in the kitchen save for a gasp that came from mother, and hitched in her throat.

It took all my willpower not to start panicking, not to start looking down and checking even though there really wasn't anything to check. But the revelation… that our kinds could actually… that scared me nearly shitless. So I did nothing but tremble. His voice sounding again nearly startled me.

,,I don't know the full story; but, apparently, great-grandmother was a very free spirit and a very brave one at that. She wasn't afraid to run into the forest even if it was forbidden, she looked like a fairy either way, golden-haired, green-eyed… I don't know if others knew of her – if they did, they didn't consider her a threat, as she didn't take anything from the forest, but one in particular took a big liking to her. I don't know, if she was willing or not."

I bet she was, but really just did not want to consider the other implications. I shut my eyes tightly.

,,But either way, once she discovered she's pregnant it was scandalous, she got married right away, but… that couldn't hide the fact the child was born red-haired, black eyed and with fangs."

He again let out breath and I realized I wasn't the only one on the edge. We sat in stunned silence. ,,From what I've heard, she died a few hours after giving birth, it was too exhausting for her. They could blame the red hair and black eyes on her husband who was colored close to it, but they hid the fangs. He took responsibility and raised the child as his own even though he knew it wasn't, good soul. Everyone suspected it, but only our family line knew.

But she blended into the society very well, with no trouble whatsoever maybe apart that she liked meat very much, fresh or little cooked. None of her kids had red hair or were abnormal in any way, nor grandchildren…" He trailed off, looking at me. ,,But this wasn't forgotten. And the genes seemed to stay in the family through generations."

He smiled melancholically, letting us take it in and digest it.

I guess that me and mother had about the same expression, and that was fright, wonder and shock; questions raced through my head.

,,Did he… know?" mother asked quietly then.

,,Know? He came for the child. The night it was born was in the middle of summer, and he came under the window and demanded that they give over both her and the child. They obviously refused even though he waited there for seven hours straight."

,,Didn't he try to take it?"

,,He wanted to, but he couldn't break the Truce. Taking a human child, even if it was half his, would be a serious crime. They can't take anyone by force from their home ground, so he let it be. Who knows? Maybe she would've lived if they handed her over."

,,And what was the message meant to be?" I asked, voice shaking. ,,Do… were They… talking about me?"

His voice was gravely when he looked me straight in the eye and said; ,,Most likely."

,,But, but… what do They…?"

He sighed heavily. ,,That's what I don't know, but maybe… maybe They really do want you to come with them… for one of Them."

I felt heat going up to my cheeks. That was actually a plausible explanation, at least compared to everything else that came to the front of my mind.

Mother then spoke up lowly, barely above a whisper.

,,I. Am NOT. Giving her over. Their line or not, she's still my daughter."

Her tone was very new and I would never have guessed such a gentle lady that I knew her to be could muster up such venom. And it was for me.

,,Thanks, mom," I choked out, hugging her waist. She wrapped an arm around me, pulling me close, and buried her nose in my hair.

,,And mine too," father added far more softly. "Even though They can't demand you, but I'm afraid that WAS a demand. Well either way, Gwen, there is nothing we can do at the moment. There is nothing in the village other that they could possibly both want and already claim theirs. We will need to keep you close."

But if it was a demand…

I did not want to think of it.

I was excused from working that day, which I barely registered, because the full weight of what all happened crashed down on me only the moment I locked the door of my room behind me.

I sat down and my hands sprung up of their own accord to cover my head at the nape - I didn't realize I was shaking so much. Scarlet came in after me, loudly demanding to know what was wrong while crawling into my lap and nudging my chin, and I instinctively pulled her close to shae off the panic that was threatening to take over. So instead of hysterical cries for help to the Heavens, only a small - and a little mad - laugh came out followed by sobs.

…..

The next few days I was locked up in the house. It wasn't because parents told me to stay inside (although they warned me not to show myself too much until the situation calmed down), but of my own accord, because I needed the peace to sort out my thoughts. That, and a smaller part of me - maybe the survival instinct of a hunted animal, such as the ones They struck down so often - feared to set foot out of the safe haven, out of our land, out of home.

For maybe the first time I understood why, when mother first came to live in this house, she was so terrified - it was so close, too close. I couldn't bear to look out the window, because there it was - the forest line! Everywhere, all around like a wall from which there was no escape! The suddenly very dark and ominous border that could be safely parted by that cursed color anytime, because what were we to do? - but for us it meant mortal danger. The rustles when children stood meters away... did they truly care so much?

I thought of all the times I happily ran straight past it as if I was some kind of exception, because I had a connection to one of Them. I thought I was safe. I thought, I really hoped they would sipmly ignore me because of that, at least.

When I was smaller, I've always had the knowledge that I was doing something forbidden on the edge of my consciousness, constantly alert, always in fear and awe that over and over they let me go through the border without consequences even though I was breaking a rule.

(Almost nature' s law.)

But lately, it has been more of a casual matter than forbidden fruit, I have begun to see it as part of my background rather than a secret; because where he was (my longest friend, that dear companion), so was I almost at home, right?

But apparently, Ater's kin didn't think so.

I briefly pondered (while peeling small and sorta dry potetoes for dinner) whether or not was it this way with that girl- or woman? - some time ago whose blood I shared. Did she, too, think nothing could happen to her?

(Had they really talked about me? Was it me instead of her child?)

While some of the time was spent caring for our new bunny (returned a day after the message), playing with Scarlet who refused to part with my side, I also spent it repairing my clothes in secret (barely- I wasn't as good as my mother and the seams were visible, but I still thanked God that I spent so much time perfecting my craft that it could pass only as a simple tear rather than a slash from a claw).

And on that line of thought, when I managed to hide them, I treated the wounds locked safely in my room with the drapes closed while my family was out in the fields.

I worried about my back, but the longest scratch really just looked worse than it was. It stung, but healed quite fast as far as I could see over my shoulder in the mirror. I remembered to clean it often and the other scratches? Barely visible, and so were the bruises.

But then there was the middle matter.

I cannot claim it hurt for long - in the evening of the first day it was already barely an ache, different from what I expected, and then it was gone entirely - and those remains...

I had to take care to wash more thoroughly than what I was used to (a quick sweep of the hand between my thighs with a sponge), and I mid-way I had to stop, cover my face and sit silently for a while because of how embarrassed I was.

I had to clean it. I REALLY had to get those remains away from around it and from inside (now doubly because of what I learned), but I could not do it without thinking of how I got so messy in the first place. I twitched at recalling the pain, then twitched even more and couldn't even face my cat when I recalled how incredible it felt when that passed - just as abrupt and just as shocking as the pain, but nevertheless- I tried to push the thoughts away to focus on making myself presentable.

And either way, what business did I have to have such thoughts? And after such a nerve-wrecking experience as with the dog, no less!

Indeed, when I finished the memory got a much darker undertone.

Was that particular night the reason They told so? ...but maybe not. Maybe that was a coincidence. I shouldn't think too highly of myself.

I had no way of knowing either way and it was driving me crazy, which the confined space didn't help. And there was only one who could explain this to me... and I was afraid to ask. Nah, I'd say outright terrified of what I could find out, and extremely torn between curiosity and that dread.

No, I HAD to know. I had to find out somehow- but every time I thought about the outside, I couldn't bring myself to move my feet.

Thankfully, the problem solved itself.

About a week and something after that a slight drizzle fell at night, coaxing the village into a deep sleep - well, except for me, I wasn't sleeping so well for that week - and through that I heard soft taps I recognized even in sleep and which made me bolt awake and stare into the pitch black in front of me. Oh god, oh god, oh god, I hope it weren't- I hope they weren't going to-

"Gwen... hey. Wake up."

When I recognized the lone voice I nearly started crying in relief and it took me a while to compose myself before I could get up and go quickly open the window to see a familiar otherworldly face, frowning.

Ater slipped in like a ghost, adjusting his cape in a almost professional way before he straightened and crossed claws in front of him, looking me up and down. I stared on him,not moving.

"What?" he finally said in a nervous drawl when I didn't say anything for a while.

"What was that? Why did you do that and what was it supposed to mean?!" I blurted out all at once gesturing wildly and barely managing to keep my voice down to a whisper out of the nerves.

Ater at once looked guilty and he averted eyes. Then he said slowly: "I don't know."

I could only gape. "What do you mean you 'don't know'? It looked so clear and yet you don't know?!"

"Don't YOUR elders have secrets?!" he snapped. "They don't tell us everything. I can guess as much as you can! You might even know more because you've actually been there, I've just... heard about it. Been informed about it."

"Well how much did they tell you?"

"Only that there's some old matter to be settled because it finally can be and... I don't know... Are you alright?"

I must've visibly gone pale, because right after he jumped to my side to catch me when my knees went weak. We both sat on the ground. I was unable to stand up again.

"You don't know what I know," I choked out then, turning to him and gripping his cloak tight. He was visibly appaled.

"What do you mean? W-what'd they tell YOU?"

"Not the Elders, but my father."

I looked him in the eye and then in a low voice I re-told him what little I got from dad, watching his chin drop in shock and breathing grow shallow. The grip he had to support me tightened slightly, but not so much it was uncomfortable

Then he looked away when I finished, looking out into space. I nudged his side.

"Well," he said. "I think I need a drink."

Despite myself I chuckled. "Yes, if I could get one myself, I think I would."

I never drank before, but it was said to help, and I definitely would need that. But we had nothing so we simply sat there side by side, his arm around me and claws on my back gently and my head rested on his shoulder.

I heard him turning head to me and sniffing slightly. The sound was calming.

"You have nothing to worry about," he murmured, mouth pressed into the top of my head.

"How do you know that? They didn't tell you anything specific..."

"No, I mean... about this."

I was startled by his other claw tapping just above my lap and rapidly felt heat goig into my cheeks and neck when I recalled.

"I... oh. W-well, good to know. How do you...?"

"I'm able to tell how it smells. Besides, you weren't... uh, the probability was low at the time."

I was glad I did not have to look at him.

"And now?"

The question left my mouth without my conscious effort and it made him recoil slightly. I did the same thing after.

"I mean, I-! I'm just curious?! It's not like I... I'm not suggesting..."

With a amused and slightly cocky grin he pressed a claw to his mouth and I realized I was speaking in a high pitch and a bit loudly. With a groan I covered my face with palms.

"If you..." he seemed to be picking words carefully. "If you're still interested another time, then... but I need to know. We can't be that careless again."

I looked at him through a small gap in my fingers.

"It wasn't so bad you know," I shrugged. "everything healed very quickly. You didn't hurt me so bad."

"I'd be happy if I didn't hurt you at all, you know," Ater replied dryly. "but that was... well, that was a first, and I didn't know how to control myself."

This time it was him who looked away. I was amazed at how we managed to change the mood entirely and yet not really strayed far from the topic. I pondered how to tell him in a polite way that I liked that, but then decided against it. How would THAT sound?

"I don't want to go into the forest though," I whimpered.

Instead of being hurt or angry though, as I expected, he simply looked at me and nodded sympathetically. "I don't blame you. I will come here instead, then- same difference. I know how to be unseen by now."

I felt such a rush of gratitude that I would both see him and stay inside that I practically threw myself around his neck, burrying my nose in his hair. I could feel the heat, but it was moderate now. Calmer. I truly did feel safe and warm so close and from then I knew that he would not hurt me again, even unwittingly.

"Thank you. Thank you so much, you have no idea..."

"Oh no, I do, I do. I understand. It's alright," he shushed me. "Should I stay for a while?"

"Oh do, please."

And so he curled up on the end of my bed, careful not to get it dirty, and I laid down with my head in his lap, still shaking slightly but now content. He did not make a move to get away and I was glad for that; in a cheery voice he then told me of how his day had been, not once mentioning that incident but rather of that new fur he had from a bear and that his peers had digging race like chidlren and many other little things he could recall. I did not remember even one of the names he told me, but still realized I had little of such stories and then I drifted into a (finally) deep, healthy sleep.