The inside of the Chief's house was fancy. At least, fancy for what I had seen. It was still pretty bland and spare, but the wooden floors were clean and shone with a relatively new coat of lacquer. I took in everything; the old furniture, the fraying rugs, the ring stained coffee table, and I was overwhelmed by feelings of home and love.

  "Excuse me, Chief?" I called out, pushing the feelings of love and familiarity from my mind. "May Rosie come in?" The wolf had been patiently waiting on the porch, tail wagging.

  "Of course she may." Kiltont responded. "I will see if Marin has any steak for her."

  "Thank you, but I can handle her food."

  "You can?" he asked as we entered the kitchen.

  "Yes." I said, following after him, and my mouth fell open. The person in the kitchen was a bird, but a person. She had feathers instead of hair and wings instead of arms. Her hands were still hands and they chopped carrots with surprising accuracy. When she looked up at us, her bright orange eyes went wide with shock. She squawked and whirled away from me, hiding her face. There was a poof of feathers, and a normal human woman turned back to face me.

  "Dear husband," she asked with barely contained anger. "why didn't you warn me we were having company?"

  "It was a last minute decision, love." Kiltont said, walking up to his wife and giving her a hug. "Will you forgive me?" They continued their conversation in hushed tones and I stood there awkwardly. Finally, the two separated and looked back at me. "Marshall, this is my wife, Marin. Marin, Marshall."

  "It's nice to meet you, ma'am." I said, holding out my hand for her to shake. She looked at it questioningly and I retracted it. "Thank you for having us." Marin's brow furrowed.

  "Us?" she asked, confused. Just then, Rosie walked into the kitchen, sniffing at the air. Marin squee'd and I swore her amber eyes turned into hearts. She raced forward and knelt in front of Rosie, holding her hand out for he wolf to sniff.

  "You're so pretty!" Marin gasped as Rosie licked her hand. She laughed and pet the wolf gently. "And smooth, too! I've never seen a dog like you." Rosie sat and held her head high, leaning into the woman's pets. She growled half-heartedly, her eyes closed and a smile on her face.

  "Love, Lady Rosie here is a Cave Wolf, not a dog." Marin's hand froze, and she turned her head slowly to look at her husband.

  "I'm sorry, I thought you just said Cave Wolf." she said. Her face retained its joyous smile, though her voice was shot through with fear.

  "I did. Rosie is a Cave Wolf through and through. Probably the same one that battled the Steban we found this morning, if Marshall is to be believed."

  "What's a Steban?" I asked.

  "A large herbivore with plates extending from its back and two sets of spikes on its tail. It is powerful, but not very smart, with a small head compared to the size of its body." I frowned. Something about that sounded familiar. I could have sworn that I've seen a creature like that somewhere before.

  "Do you still have the body?" I asked. Kiltont tilted his head in confusion.

  "We do. It takes a while to process something that big."

  "May I see it in the morning?"

  "I don't see why not." he replied. "Marin, your stew is burning." Marin swore and dashed for the stove, grabbing a ladle and stirring the pot. "Come, Marshall. Help me set the table." I nodded and followed the Chief into the dinning room. It was big, with a large wooden table in the middle and a small table to the side that held a few bottles of liquor, but that was it. It was nice, but basic.

  "Vartin, you're needed!" I heard Marin call from the kitchen. The high, crisp sound of flesh meeting flesh echoed through the house followed by hissed words I couldn't understand, and I shot Kiltont a concerned look. He paid the noises no mind, continuing to set the table, so I did as well. A few minutes later, we had three seats prepped and ready with spoons, napkins, and tea. Marin came around the corner, holding two bowls of steaming stew. Behind her came the red-head from earlier, the girl who healed my ankle. She was carrying two more bowls and a plate of bread balanced precariously on her arm. The bread plate wobbled, almost coming free, and she tried to right it but without her hands, it was a challenge to say the least. The plate slipped from her arm and I watched it fall, my vision zooming in again and sense of time slowing down a tad. Without thinking, I stepped forward quickly and caught the plate, saving the round loaf from hitting the wooden floor.

  "I've got ya." I said, smiling down at Vartin. She stammered, her mouth flapping, but no sound coming out. I set the bread on the table and took my seat as Kiltont and Marin did the same. Vartin placed a bowl before me and one before Kiltont, and Marin put one on the ground next to me and one in front of her own seat. I frowned, confused as to why she put one on the floor.

  "Ms. Marin, why'd you put a bowl on the floor?" I asked as politely as I could. These people were strange, but seemed kind and I didn't want to offend them. "It seems a little mean to make Vartin sit on the floor."

  "It's for the pretty Lady." Marin responded, staring at Rosie with pure love and sighing deeply. "Vartin don't eat with their betters." She picked up her spoon, beginning to eat and Kiltont followed suit. Rosie looked up at me, waiting for permission. I, however, was dumbstruck by the blatant abuse I had just witnessed. How could Marin, who gave me the impression of being a kind, loving person, be so cruel to someone? I could see it from douchebag 'Grandfather', but her? I shot a look at Vartin, who was standing between the dining room and the kitchen, staring at the floor and hands clasped together in front of her waist. She looked like she was waiting for orders.

  "Marshall?" Kiltont asked.

  "Hmm?" I whipped my head back to face the man. "What'd you say?"

  "Are you not hungry?" He gestured with his spoon at my stew, which sat untouched and still steaming slightly. I smiled awkwardly and picked up my spoon, taking a bite of the stew. It was terrific. The deep, hearty flavor of beef filled my mouth followed by the punch of an onion. The meat was a little bit more game-y than beef, but it fell apart in my mouth and didn't detract from the meal. The carrots offered a slight resistance and even more flavor from the broth which held a hint of pepper and herbs, and far too soon the stew was gone. I looked up at Marin, a huge smile on my face.

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  "That was amazing." I sighed. Rosie barked her agreement and the woman smiled.

  "Thank you. I made it with the chuck from the Steban you were talking about earlier." Wood rattled against wood as Rosie licked her bowl clean and I chuckled.

  "May we have seconds, Mrs. Marin?" I asked. She nodded.

  "Of course. Eat your fill, both of you." I smiled at her.

  "Thank you. You are too kind." I stood and picked up the two bowls, turning back towards the kitchen. Vartin still stood there, trying to make herself as small as possible.

  "Would you like some?" I asked as I passed her. Her sharp face and bright, emerald eyes snapped onto mine, boring into me and holding me in place. Now that I was looking, I could see a little red circle on the outside of her irises that pulsed in time with her heartbeat. The irises themselves were a deep emerald, almost forrest green but bright, shinning like a hidden star. The circle of fire around the forrest bleed into it at irregular intervals. She was gorgeous.

  "I'm alright." she whispered, dropping her eyes from mine.

  "Have you eaten yet?" I asked, continuing to the stove and ladling some more soup into the two bowls. Vartin shook her head no. "You gotta eat, sister. Keep your strength up."

  "You would feed a Vartin?" Marin asked, disgust in her voice. A Vartin? Is Vartin not her name?

  "She's a human." I snapped, turning a dark look on the lady. "So, yes, I would. I'd do the same for you." I said, turning back towards the girl. "Is Vartin your name?"

  "What?" she asked, confused. She looked around uncertainly, probably wondering why I was speaking to her.

  "What's your name?"

  "Lia." I smiled and handed Lia a full bowl of soup.

  "Here, Lia. You can have my share. I'm full as it is." The small woman, she didn't even come up to my pecs, took the bowl from me gently, like she was afraid it would burn her. Lia glanced up at me then over at Marin who shook her head violently. She handed the bowl back to me.

  "Thank you, sir, but I am not allowed to eat. Mistress has forbidden it." I fought to keep the scowl from my face, accepting the bowl back.

  "As you wish." I said with a slight nod and returned to the table, setting Rosie's bowl before her. She panted happily and dug into the stew with gusto as I sat back down, my mood ruined. I looked around, trying to find a window and see the ocean, but found nothing. We finished the meal in silence, Lia standing between the kitchen and dining room the whole time. I'd occasionally catch her leaning closer towards me, but not enough for concern. After we had finished eating and Lia cleared the table, (I'd offered to help but both women shut me down), Kiltont pulled me aside.

  "May I speak with you? Alone?" he asked.

  "Suuure." I replied hesitantly. "What's up?" Kiltont handed me a mug of amber liquid with white foam and gestured for me to follow him. I smiled. Some things never change. Rosie lifted her head as we walked by, but I held out my hand. "Stay, Rosie." She whined, but didn't move from her spot in front of the fire place. "Good girl." Kiltont scoffed, shaking his head as I slipped by him and out the front door.

  "I am amazed that she listens to you." he said, leaning against the railing. I followed suit. The sun had set, but the night air still held its warmth.

  "She's always been that way, as far as I know. I just met her this morning." Kiltont choked on his drink. He coughed and spluttered a bit, wiping the back of his hand across his mouth.

  "You're kidding? This morning?"

  "Yes. I found her by the river when I stopped for water. She was injured, so I approached slowly and found this huge spike sticking out of her paw." I reached into the pouch and pulled out the spike, holding it up for Kiltont to see. He took it from me gently, like even touching it would hurt him. I guess it would. I mean, it hurt me when I touched it. "I bandaged her wound then gave her some steak, and we rested for a minute. Then we got up, and we could talk. Well, not talk, but we can communicate." Kiltont laughed aloud, taking another sip of his drink and handing me back the spike. I returned it to the pouch.

  "Of course you did. You make it sound so simple. If any one of us had tried what you did, 'Rosie' would have slaughtered us without a second thought. The Terrors you outran should have killed you twice over before you even made it to the walls. That crash broke your neck, and yet you were up walking and talking in just a few minutes." I went silent, staring out over the strange city. The Chief's house was on a slight rise and over looked the rest of the village. Smoke rose from most of the chimneys and lamps were ignited, illuminating the front of the houses. I could hear the sounds of joy and revelry coming from somewhere out in the night and I looked at the amber fluid in the wooden mug. An image of me drinking with my brothers flashed in my mind, and tears welled. I took a sip of the drink and furrowed my brow in disgust, the thoughts of home rudely thrust from my mind.

  "Ugh, that's awful." Kiltont laughed again, loud and boisterous.

  "You'll grow to love it." he said. We were silent for a moment, just enjoying the drink and the night, when Kiltont took a breath, then a sip of his beer. I did as well, and found that the taste really wasn't that bad. It was still bitter and warm, but not awful. "If I were to sell you some land outside the city, would you consider staying?" Kiltont said out of the blue. I cocked my head to the side in confusion.

  "Didn't you say I had to leave in the morning?"

  "You don't need to answer tonight. Rest on it, and give me your answer in the morning. Regardless, that is not what I wished to speak of. The Lord of this province, Andesis, is Lord Parvo Mortil. He is a greedy, selfish, entitled, scummy piece of shit, and there is nothing I can do about it. He skims from the city's earnings, calling it a 'hospitality tax'. He lets only the worst of the trade goods reach us and refuses to listen to reason. He adamantly refuses to send more guards and still hasn't handled the bandit problem." Kiltont drained his mug and slammed it on the railing. "I need your help, Marshall. I cannot protect this city on my own, and the guards are useless against anything but the lowest beasts. We have lost too many people already and are loosing more by the day. Parvo hasn't sent any Hunters and we are going to die if I don't do something. Please, help me." Kiltont ran out of steam at the end, and when he looked at me, all I saw was a tired, beaten man. For a split second, he showed his age. Dark shadows circled his eyes and deep lines drew themselves on his forehead, holding the weight of the world. I sighed and set my drink on the railing, turning towards him.

  "Chief Kiltont, can I trust you?" I asked, staring him in the eyes. He gazed back and nodded firmly.

  "Of course. Whatever you say to me now, I will tell no one else. I swear on my mother's grave."

  "Good, good." I nodded, picked up my drink and drained it, and took a deep breath. "I have no idea what is going on. My body can do things no human should be able to do, my wolf is smarter than some people I've met, and your wife is a fucking racist bird person. You own slaves?! What the fuck, bro? I'm not entirely convinced this ain't my dying brain playing tricks on me. And now you're asking for my help? Brother, I can barely keep myself alive."

  "And that is why I am offering for you to stay here. You've just recently Awoken, yes?"

  "What's that?"

  "You have the Spark, Marshall. Close your eyes for me. Look within and find your Spark."

  "That's stupid, I'm not..."

  "Just humor me. Please." I sighed and closed my eyes, searching for my 'Spark'. "Do you feel it? An energy circling within you, interacting with the world around you." I searched for the warmth that gave me the gauze and found it with ease. The core of my body pulsed faintly, tiredly.

  "It feels... warm, comforting, but small. Tired."

  "Good, you're on the right track. That warmth is your Spark. It's what makes you a Hunter. Not all Hunter's have the Spark, but all Sparks are Hunters." I let the warmth go and opened my eyes. Kiltont was grinning at me. "You're a natural." The Chief stretched, groaning as his muscles shook. He shivered slightly and feathers grew from his skin. His face sprouted a beak and his jade eyes sunk, becoming bird-like. I stood there, mouth open in shock and eyes wide. Kiltont chuckled and placed a feathered hand on my shoulder as he walked by.

  "Get some sleep, Marshall. You used a lot of energy saving your life today, and what a fine scar it gave you. We start bright and early tomorrow morning." With that, he went inside, leaving me alone on the porch. I sighed and turned back to the village. The moon shone down on an unfamiliar world and unfamiliar, terrifying sounds came from outside the walls. Rosie padded outside the house and came up next to me, whining softly. I pet her head and stared at the strange moon, wondering what the hell I was going to do next.