Dak was flushed with elation. They had just ended their last concert on Raegwilde for a long time, and the sizeable crowd had made heroes of the group. All were shaking hands, signing autographs, (“On the off chance you all actually get famous,” Nari had laughed), and drinking plenty of well-aged, heady cider. All around, people were socializing, laughing, and generally partying as they hadn’t in years. He thought he saw Alba and Nari telling a story animatedly, with many broad gestures, each getting roars of laughter from those watching. What he didn’t notice was four figures making their way purposefully through the crowd. Suddenly, a hand clamped on his shoulder. He spun around to face a quartet of strangers.

           “Where is Cheno?” asked the one whose hand gripped Dak’s shoulder, ice-blue eyes piercing Dak’s green.

           Dak looked around. “I don’t know, I thought she was with us, but I guess she left. Must have been tired or something. Should I know you?”

           “No, but she does. We,” he gestured to his companions, “are from a town called Periwinkle. She lived among us for a while, but left. She killed ten men.”

           Dak gaped. Kind, beautiful Cheno, a psychotic serial killer? It didn’t seem to add up.

           “She’s…a murderer?”

           “No!” One of the four strangers spoke vehemently, flashing an apologetic glance at the leader. It was a mid-height female, with a fresh, athletic look to her. “It wasn’t like that. She saved our lives.”

           “Sumea, she practically liquefied those guys!”

           “Yeah, and what do you think would have happened to us if she hadn’t? We were outnumbered two to one. Worse odds, two half-grown guys and three young women against ten cruel, tough, grown men. We aren’t helpless, but that’s a fight we wouldn’t have won.”

           The dark-haired leader didn’t look convinced, but he kept his mouth shut.

           “So how did Cheno manage to…did you say liquefy???…ten grown men?”

           The shorter, fair-haired guy broke in excitedly. “Cap, it was amazing! This big guy, I guess he was the leader, he was being all threatening and stuff, and she got all growly and her eyes went red and she just…wow. Ripped through them so quick they barely had time to scream. They weren’t really U>liquid, but they might as well have been. Definitely dead. Then she ran off. By the time we’d stopped gaping, she was gone.”

           Dak shook his head in bewilderment. “I can hardly believe it of Cheno. She’s so…”

           “Yes. I thought so too.” The swarthy one grumbled. “I loved her…how could I know she was an Odd?”

           “Odd? What do you mean, an Odd?”

           “An Odd is…someone different. Most of them look different too. But Cheno…Caprice, how could I have known?”

           The last member of the group, a compact, slender girl with short dark hair, put her hand on his shoulder.

           “Easy, Tad. You couldn’t have known. Cheno is not an Odd…well, maybe she is, but she’s not a monster. Maybe none of them are. She’s our friend, the same person she ever was. That’s why we came after her. The way the Council in Periwinkle acted…like she wasn’t even human! They didn’t care that she saved us, or that she got rid of ten guys who would have brutalized others. All they see is her Odd-ness…We couldn’t stay in a place like that. So we figured our best bet would be to find her and explain, that we don’t think she’s a freak or anything. She’s still our friend.”

           “All right…let’s see if we can find her for you. Hey, Cheno!” Dak called, gazing around the room inquiringly.

           A few people turned towards him, but there was no answering shout. Dura and Brujo sidled up. “What’s the matter, Dak?”

           “These guys are friends of Cheno, from the mainland. Have you seen her?”

           “Nah, not since the concert.”

           Indigo ran up to the group, panting. “Guys! Guys!”

           “What? What?”

           “Cheno! The boat! She’s gone!”