Night fell before I emerged from my hiding spot and climbed down the tree. Thankfully, I had not heard any angry villagers near my position. I sensed a distant Stellan a few times during my wait, but they never neared this part of the forest. However, I knew it was only a matter of time before someone discovered me if I stayed this close to the town. My light-colored fur poorly camouflaged me among the green trees. If Saki is coming with me, then we need to leave town now.

I slowly crept through the underbrush until I reached the grassy pathway that separated the forest from the field. After I checked to make sure the path was empty, I crossed and entered the fields of golden grain and slowly walked through the rows of drying plants until voices reached my ears.

I listened as I slowly approached, and soon, I could hear what the deep voices were saying.

"Until we're sure the monster is gone, we suggest that you stay in your home, madam." The male voice rang with subdued urgency.

"Of course, and I trust that you'll find it and keep us safe." Mrs. Hanna resonated with a faux worry as I stopped at the edge of the field and looked through the last bit of tall plants before the open grass.

"Sleep well, ma'am," the man dressed in shades of green nodded his head, then stepped off of her doorstep. "We will make sure the town is safe."

"Thank you," Mrs. Hanna nodded in return, then closed the door.

I watched the man get into a vehicle parked a few paces from the door and caused it to roar before he rode the object away in a small puff of smoke.

I waited several moments before I emerged from my hiding spot and ran towards the back of the house. Once I arrived, I pawed the flimsy wooden object and froze as it rattled louder than I expected.

A startled old Stellan opened the door. "What are you doing here? Half the army is looking for you!" She moved aside, "hurry! Come in if you can!"

I eyed the doorway, then partially raised my wings as I squeezed through the door frame. The edges of the narrow gap painfully rubbed against my ribs, but it was manageable. Once inside, I resettled my wings against my sides and remained in the open center of the room.

"I know there's not much space, but this will have to do." Mrs. Hanna carefully walked around me. "rest here for the night and leave before sunup to escape notice." She picked up a piece of white cloth from a table next to a padded structure. "I made this for you," she unfolded the white fabric loop.

"I doubt that is going to fit me," I restrained a growl as I thought of the collars the U.F.O.s placed around my neck. "I don't want a control collar or anything else around my neck." I suspected a slight glare formed on my face.

"It's a bit of dimensional cloth, so it will change to fit you, and it won't control you; it's more to signify that you're less of a monster than you believe." Mrs. Hanna smiled gently and tried to hide her nervousness.

I hesitated, then snorted as I slowly bowed my head to be within her reach, "I'll allow it."

She placed the loop over my nose, and true to her word, the fabric ring expanded as it slid over my ears. The cloth loosely settled around the base of my neck. The old Stellan released the white material and stepped back. "See? It's not bad." She flashed a nervous smile as I studied my new accessory,

I shook my front half slightly. I can barely feel it around my neck. Before she remarked on the white cloth, Saki ran over and hugged me. "I think you look very handsome."

Mrs. Hanna smiled with a bit more confidence, and I snorted. "Fine, I'll keep it." I laid down, which moved Saki's hug up my neck and closer to my face.

The child Stellan of silver eyes giggled, then released her hold on my neck. "I like it, I think it looks good on you." She widely grinned as she continued to hug me. "White looks good on you."

Since I couldn't think of a better response, I snorted.

"It's not the best quality cloth, but it does have limited extra-dimensional storage. I sewed a harness into it that I made from the same cape, so you shouldn't feel it." The older woman smiled a bit. "Think of what you want as you reach into the cloth, and it should magically appear in your hand, err, paw, as long as it is within the storage space of the cloth. Saki's new cape is the same material, and I showed her how to use it. I've loaded both with supplies for you that should last a long time. Food, clothes, a tent, medical supplies, books on survival, exedra. There's a little space left inside both your scarf and her cape, so use it wisely."

"Yes, ma'am!" Saki grinned as she released me from the embrace and excitedly smiled at her elder. "I'm ready for adventure!" I noticed she wore a new tan cape that had replaced her tattered old one.

"In the morning," Mrs. Hanna gently took her hand and led her to the back room. "The army is too alert looking for your friend. Best to leave early in the morning." Her voice faded as she walked down a hall with Saki in tow.

I ignored my growling stomach as I laid down and closed my eyes. However, after a few moments, I heard footsteps approach. My eyes burst open and I gazed at the green-dressed Mrs. Hanna.

"Here," she set a plate down and slid it towards me as I lifted my head, "You should eat. I know this isn't much, but at least it's something."

I gazed down to the small plate with a scattered pile of green spheres and orange cubes, along with a few tiny nuggets of meat. A meager meal, but I wordlessly began to eat. Though it wasn't filling, it was still food.

After a silent moment, the Stellan muttered as she slowly eased herself to the floor, "I guess monsters don't know manners." She watched me eat, then spoke at a full volume only after I finished the small amount of food. "I think that you can live longer if you separate the two types of magic within you." A frown spread across her face. Dark and light magic cannot easily exist together. I suggest you try to separate the two energies within you as much as you can. Teach yourself to use the gold magic as your armor, and the dark magic to live."

"Why do you care?" I huff, "I'm a monster, or did you forget?"

"I didn't forget," the farmer responded, "I don't want you to leave that poor girl alone if you die. I lost both my husband and my sons to this war. I don't want Saki to be alone because of this conflict, as I am alone. You are all she has left, and I wish for both of you to survive." She sighed softly. "Perhaps I'm too hopeful and trusting in my old age, but we all want to live. I want a reason to live, and helping you has become it." She looked straight into my eyes. "I know you will travel wide and far to escape bounty hunters, but consider this place a haven for both of you."

I had no answer as Mrs. Hanna stood to her feet. "I am taking these old bones to bed, and you should sleep as well. I will wake you early so you can escape before dawn illuminates your escape. I will try to have a better place for you to take shelter next time you are here." She picked up my plate, then left the small room.

Stellans are stranger than I thought. I stared at the doorway through which the farm-owning woman had disappeared. I want to live, just like her.

I closed my eyes and focused on the swirling magic within me and tried to follow her advice. Initially, the two types of magic seemed impossible to separate, but with a bit of persistence, I slowly peeled a bit of the dark magic away from the rest.

I did it! In my unfocused moment, the energy returned to his natural, unfocused state. At least I know it's possible.

On that note, I settled down and fell asleep. However, burning pain and nightmares swiftly consumed me.

I tensed as the pain radiated and Master's voice bellowed into my head. "WEAK! USELESS! FAILURE! STELLAN-LIKE!"

I know! I mentally screamed into the dark void that swirled around me. I felt frozen in pain, unable to move. I had no idea how long I spent in that space in constant pain. You won't take my back! You've proven that! I fruitlessly fought against the agony, the void, and the voices that consumed my mind. If I am like the enemy, then you are my enemy!

The pain and the void faltered and faded slightly before both returned. Though anger simmered within the black, no voice accompanied the return of darkness. I was paralyzed and helpless for an unknowable amount of time.

"Hey! Get up!" My mind woke up to the sudden feminine voice, but my eyes refused to open, my muscles refused to move.

"Hoshi?" A girlish whimper reached my ears.

I tried to reclaim my body, but it refused to respond.

"He's breathing, don't worry," the calmer older voice assured. Suddenly, I felt a jolt of a magic tear through my form, and my reflexes responded.

"Ow!" I suddenly found myself on my feet, hackles raised and claws extended. For a few moments, I remain frozen in that state. After a few moments, I blinked, then sat and slowly calmed my ragged breathing.

Saki tackled me in a hug the second I began to relax. "YOU'RE OK!" She buried her face in my fur.

"I suggest you work on my suggestion as soon as possible. Seclude the dark magic within you before it causes even more problems." Mrs. Hanna frowned, "But now, you must get out of here." She walked to the door and opened it. "Fly as far as you can. Neither one of you is ready, but this will have to do."

Saki used my shoulder to scramble onto my back before I squeezed through the door and emerged into the predawn land.

"Please never forget who is the real enemy," Mrs. Hanna breathed as I jumped into the sky and began a long journey.

Author Notes!

We are finally getting to the real meat of the story! Not that anything before this was not important, but this is where I think the story really jumps off!