Chapter 5

As night falls, the two return to their village while back in the town, a young woman is running from someone chasing her and ends up in the woods. Hearing the voices calling her a witch and demanding she show herself, the woman hides behind a tree. Several men armed with rifles and torches search for her. While she remains where she is, they split apart in an attempt to cover more ground. Pressing her back against a tree, she looks around to see if any of them are near. Once the coast is clear, she takes off running only to get knocked to the ground by one of the men that was hiding himself to lure her out. They restrain the woman and take her back to the town's courthouse, where she is charged of witchcraft and sentenced to death by burning at the stake. She is led to the stake, tied to it and lit ablaze to be gruesomely burned alive in front of the taunting townspeople calling her cruel insults. She screams into the night as the flames consume her.

As a newly dawned day arrives, Hybreed, Konnor, Nikita and Jasper train on their fighting skills while practicing self defense and to always focus on their opponent. Hybreed arrives at the border between the woods and the town after the training session to meet with Katherine, whom he can see is upset.

Hybreed: What has you troubled, young Katherine?

She looks up at him with tears in her eyes then takes his hand into hers.

Katherine Connors: There are things in this town that I haven't told you about.

Hybreed: I'm afraid I don't understand.

Katherine Connors: Meet me at our spot, where I first met you. I'll explain everything.

Hybreed watches as Katherine returns to the town and later returns to his village. There, Hybreed meets with his parents before heading to see Katherine regarding what she was troubled about.

Kargan: We may receive offerings from the townspeople, but don't let that deceive you, my son.

Renee: They cannot be trusted.

Hybreed: I'm confused.

Kargan: Humans only see us as some kind of demon, and they think that by giving us offerings, they are pleasing us.

Renee: A tragedy befell this town years ago. Before the trials.

Hybreed: They killed one of our own.

Kargan: It was an accident waiting to happen. My father, your grandfather, startled a hunter and ended up being shot with a rifle containing silver gun powder. Since then, the town believes they are cursed and by making offerings, we won't harm them.

Hybreed: We haven't hurt anyone for a hundred years, why start now? I mean, unless, of course, they give us a reason to.

Renee: That is why we want you to be careful with this human friend of yours. The girl?

Hybreed: I have watched over her since she was a little girl. I- I saved her from the hungry wolves that roam these same woods. The same ones that tried to kill Gregory. I think we have earned their trust.

Kargan: You've always had faith in them and us, but don't let that faith blind you, my son.

Renee: Just be careful, is all we are saying.