Over the years Byron grew. He grew up at a normal, human rate. At age five after he learned to control his shifting talents, and how to hide them, he started attending school on the reservation.
"Ok class, since today is your very first day of school, let's go around and introduce our selves!" said the very perky old teacher. "Come on now don't be shy! We're going ta have lots of fun together! I'll start off first. I'm Mrs. Marry. So who wants to go first? Anyone? Beular?" Mrs. Marry sighed. "Fine, you, go, now." She said as she pointed at Byron.
Byron stood up in the circle of about fourteen kids and grumbled, "I'm Byron," and sat back down.
"Come on hun. Tell us what you like to do, where you're from." Mrs. Marry prompted.
"Look I'm just here because I'm forced to be, so all you really need to know is my name," Byron said hotly.
"Young man I will not be spoken to like that. Now I suggest you say you're sorry or-"
"Or what Mrs. Marry? You'll put me in the corner on time out? Please." Byron scoffed.
"Sit down and don't say another word or I will be forced to call your parents!" Mrs. Marry said, all traces of perk gone.
"Thank you. That's all I wanted," Byron said with a triumphant grin, making some of the other children laugh.
"Go have your recess children…" Mrs. Marry said in a soft, unintentionally menacing tone, causing some of the kids to shrink back. Byron just shrugged and walked out to the playground with his peers.
Byron sat down on a bench and was about to doze when he heard a shrill cry. "NO! Gimme back my dolly!"
Byron opened his eyes and saw the source of his disturbed sleep. "Please, give it back!" It was a girl, with long hair so dark it almost looked purple, skin was a light, caramel shade, and eyes that were as blue as the ocean, but right now her eyes were filled with tears for the doll that some boys decided to take and tease her with. This concerned Byron for a reason unfathomable to him. He had to help her.
"Give her the doll back," Byron commanded.
The three boys look at Byron, then at each other and started laughing. "Look at the big, bad, loner sticking up for his girlfriend," the largest of the boys said as the others continued to laugh.
Byron just stood there looking bored and unamused.
"Hey, did you hear me?" said the same large kid, "or did you get your paleface mother's hearing?" This caused the boy's lackeys to laugh even harder.
This just made Byron's face twitch. Byron slowly and deliberately walked over to the bullies.
"Do something," said the leader, the large one, "I dare you."
Byron moved again with the slow deliberate manner he used while walking. He grabbed the doll out of the bully's hands and walked over to the girl. "Here," he said as he handed her the doll. He turned and said to the bullies, "don't ever pick on anyone ever again, got it?" Byron then turns around to leave.
"Hey, get back here!" The leader of the bullies called, "you leave when I say you leave got that?"
Byron let out a sigh that helped him control his anger. He turned around and said, "Look I really don't like what you are doing her, and if you do it again, I will stop you ok?"
Byron could tell he was very close to danger. He wasn't as fast or as strong as his family, but he was still stronger and faster than most adult humans, . He knew he could have not only defended himself, but rip the bullies apart as well. He knew, however, that he needed to keep a low profile and hated every second of it.
"Boy, I'm goin' to teach you, and I'm goin' to teach you fast," said the leader, "nobody, but nobody talks to Darien Murseloch that way!"
"Well apparently I'm either nobody, or you're an idiot," Byron scoffed.
Darien took a swing at Byron's face, but before he could connect, Byron blocked his punch. Byron looked Darien directly in the eyes and said, "Don't." and turned away.
Byron was immediately jumped by all three bullies, and through effort of will alone, kept from ripping them to shreds. When they finally left him alone, he limped over to the bench he was previously sitting on and sat back down.
"he- hey…" said the girl he was originally helping. "th- thank you for helping me. My name is Raven."
"It's no problem… my name is Byron."
"Nice to meet you," said Raven with a smile. For some reason unknown to him, Raven's smile made Byron feel warm, and pleasant all over.
Byron just smiled and with a little bow, said, "It was my pleasure."
"We should probably get back inside now," Raven said, "It's nice to have a friend that I know now."
"Ya it is," Byron said with a smile on his face that was so like his father's. "Let's go."
They walked in and together would face the unknowns of the world that would now be their lives.