The Defector

The Seer of Truth.

Ever since my father was killed in a midnight raid when I was so little, I've held a deep resentment toward humans.

There was a prophecy, spoken to us by the previous clan elder, Hearer.

"There will come one man of hair like coal and eyes like the fiery sky at dusk.

This man will save us, our clan, and secure our future forevermore.

He will be taken from another universe and brought to this one by the humans.

Do not fear him as he will only seek true justice for any and all people.

Human and Fox.

When he comes, he will listen and look at all that is to be heard and seen.

He will gain a great wisdom and obtain a secret lost to history.

He will make a judgement and a decision based on the knowledge he collects and we will know peace and freedom beyond fear and helplessness."

To know him is to hear him."

Those last words confused me throughout my lifetime.

That is to say until now.

Hearing his voice without seeing him, I can't identify him as not being one of us.

His appearance, while human, is pleasant and refreshing, instead of the dreadful appearance of the ashen white flesh, pale blue eyes and golden hair of the other humans.

His skin is colored like that of light earth. His eyes are like fire and his black hair is like the midnight sky.

He is a fox in human form, for lack of a better understanding.

He understands us, so well, that I wonder if he wasn't one of us and became a human.

Even if I know that cannot be, I still find myself entertaining those thoughts.

He can find vegetables, herbs, berries, spices and mushrooms just as easily as Keely does.

His talent and skill with a sword is more efficient than our best archer with his bow and Donovan has brought in much food.

After his arrival, I rescinded the clan law that required females to become pregnant during their oestrus cycles.

It was not my doing.

With much anger and indignation, he told me that he would be forced to overthrow my leadership if I didn't do so, as it violated the basic rights of every female of the clan and would lead to a depletion of genetic diversity.

After he explained further, by describing the decline in the birth rate of the other humans, along with various defects and mental instabilities caused by inbreeding, I couldn't have agreed more wholeheartedly.

I publicly apologized, to the entire clan, for my narrow thinking and foolhardy vision for the future of the clan.

I have never seen so many people cry all at once.

The sheer relief from the burden that I had forced upon them terrified me and I tried to hand the title of clan elder to Donovan.

He refused and told me that he wouldn't allow me to get out of cleaning up my own mess.

Then, he said this.:

"To be a good leader, one must try to understand his or her citizens.

To be a great leader, the citizens must have a say in all aspects of society.

If no agreement can be reached, then the benefits must be weighed against the consequences of any decisions.

After doing so, explain it to the people and then, if an agreement still cannot be reached, take no action on the matter unless people might die."

His words resonated with those of the clan's founder. Elder Seeker.

She was a truly honorable leader. The people loved her and she loved them.

Upon realizing this, I finally awakened to my calling as Seer and I am now able to perceive the souls of the living.

Every single person's soul is visible to me, except for one.

Donovan. While I cannot see his soul, I can see his skills and talents. Among other things.

He is blessed with soul guardian. That being the reason that I am unable to see his soul.

Another blessing that I saw was soul affinity.

He will only fall in love when his soul loves the soul of another being.

When the two souls come together, they're made as one and are forever inseparable.

I cannot wait to see who he falls in love with.

I feel as though I know but, until there is a sign, I'll remain silent.

He seems completely disinterested with the other humans, as he never leaves the forest except to visit our village and those others that are close to the human kingdom, so I do know that she will be one of our kind.

Keely dotes on him and he doesn't reject her attentions.

I wonder if it will be her.

Then again, he is constantly garnering the attentions of many females, though he doesn't go any further than being cordial.

His resolve is astounding and almost terrifying.

I wish that I could see his soul. I would know who his perfect match would be.

My frustration grows endlessly.