The Defector

Better Times Draw Near.

The nobles children were, mostly, well mannered and I enjoyed looking after them.

They understood the situation, for as inexperienced as they were.

I watched as Donovan shot the arrows from the village square.

Then, he disappeared and not too long after, one of our captured entered with three strangers.

"I'm stepping out, children. I'll return shortly, alright?" I said, looking at them.

They seemed disappointed that I was leaving but they didn't make a fuss.

I ran to the four who'd come to see the Elder.

As I neared them, I heard ours say that she saw a human with black hair.

"Elder. May I?" I asked and she looked to me before nodding.

"His name is Donovan. He's been helping us and providing food and services.

He's already repaired so many of our buildings.

He is the man mentioned by the previous clan elder." I said, smiling brightly.

Tasha stepped over to me and sniffed me.

"She's telling the truth and... I can smell traces of his scent on you." She said, much to the surprise of the other three.

"You have a human living in the Vul-Chad fox clan village?

Young lady. You said that the previous elder spoke of this man. Do you know when she last drew breath?"

"One thousand years ago. Long before I was born." I said.

"I see and, how long has he been here?" He asked.

"The kingdom of Schachrüt summoned him from his universe four days ago." The elder stated.

"Four days!?

It is true, then!

Years ago, our elder said that four arrows would free four souls on the fourth day of a great Hero's welcome!

I never thought that I would call any human a hero." He said smiling.

He then sat down.

"My name is Garvand. I'm not moving from this spot until I meet the hero."

The other two sat down, leaving Tasha as the only one standing.

I was curious and asked what her plan was.

"Me? I'm going to mate with him." She said.

My heart pounded upon hearing that.

I didn't know what he meant to me until those vile words slipped from her tongue.

I steeled my nerves and said.

"Oh? Well, I need to get back to watching the human children." I said, walking away.

I did start heading for the house with the children but, then, I found myself running through the field toward the forest.

I was so distraught that I took to my feral form and was running as fast as I could.

Then, something hit me in my side, knocking me to the ground.

I stood up and felt a sharp pain as the spear had cut so deeply into me that I could just barely breathe without searing pain.

I found myself surrounded by a group of humans and one laughed.

"If you'd just stayed at home like a good little bitch, this wouldn't be happening.

Now? I'm gonna tie you up, heal you and sell you.

It's almost impossible to change back from a feral once you're injured and, especially once healed from said injury.

That means that your kind, in feral form, are exceedingly rare and valuable." He sneered and kicked me.

No sooner had he done so did his head fly free from his body.

It landed behind me and the body dropped, seized and beginning to thrash.

The other men were looking away from me when Donovan appeared, catching a strange curved flat steel blade.

We appeared in the elder's home and she immediately began treating me as I passed out.

When I came to, Donovan still sat there.

I looked around and saw that I'd been forced back into a sapient form.

I sighed which seemed to be enough to awaken Donovan.

He nodded, stood up and said.

"I'll make sure that you're always safe." He said.

"Really?" I hopefully asked.

"Geez! Try not to sound so desperate!" Tasha snickered.

I glared at her.

"You. You're the reason I'm here!" I growled and Donovan appeared next to her before vanishing with her.

I don't know what happened while they were gone but, when they reappeared, she fell to the floor, shaking like a leaf and begging me to forgive her.

"What did you do?" I asked Donovan.

"I asked her what she did that would cause you to act as you did.

She gets points for honesty, I guess.

I then destroyed a mountain in one of the desert regions."

"What was it? I don't remember?" I pled.

"She said that she provoked you by toying with your emotions." Donovan said.

I placed my hand on Tasha's head and bowed low.

"Thank you." I whispered.

"You're welcome, miss.

I am so sorry.

I didn't know that you would do something to nearly get yourself killed." She whispered.

"Um. Guys, I can hear you." Donovan said.

We both flinched.

"Now.

I realize that Tasha was wrong to toy with your emotions, Keely.

However, you need to explain why you thanked her."

Elder Seer stepped forward.

"Actually, Donovan. It may be better that you wait.

Tasha may have told you the truth in a way as to not compromise certain details and those details may be private to Keeley." She said.

I am grateful to her as Donovan seemed to understand that.

"Alright. I won't press the issue." He said, stepping out.

"No... don't....go." I said but he'd already stepped out.

Elder Seer knelt down.

"If you're already at this stage, Keely.

Why didn't you go after him?" She asked.

Something snapped inside me and I jumped up and ran after Donovan.

However, when I stepped outside, he was gone.

I couldn't help it, I began tracking him but, his smell simply vanished.

I thought back to when I nearly went completely feral but Tasha put her hand on my shoulder.

"He'll be back.

The elder said that he is still negotiating with the Schachrüt kingdom for the release of the eight children." She said.

The elder was with her.

"Since the release of the fox people was unintended on their part, Donavan is negotiating terms with the king and the parents, for the return of their children." Seer explained.

"Oh..."