Aries, who was at the juke box hangin’ with the other Norns, laughed. “You and Kalin have a thing going or what?”

“He’s my friend,” said Monica indignantly.

“Whatever you say,” said Aries. Then he burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?!” Monica said angrily. But he did not get to reply, because suddenly Aries’ girlfriend Zoe appeared.

“Hi,” said Zoe cheerfully to Aries.

‘Zoe is punky looking, but she’s pretty,’ Monica mused to herself. Zoe had the face and slim body of a Horse Norn but her arms and legs were that of a Forest Norn. It was whispered that she had been born with the power of prophesy, but of course Monica did not believe that.

The prophet Norns had become less and less common until they dwindled into a legend. Now there had been no prophets for generations. Some, like Kalin, didn’t believe in prophets. Some, like Aries, did. And some, like Monica, didn’t know what to think anymore. But she decided it was in her best interest to ignore the rumors about Zoe.

“Zoe!” exclaimed Aries happily. “Come and meet Monica! She’s an old friend,” he explained.

“Hi, nice t’meet ya,” said Zoe, thrusting out a hand. Monica shook it, and found that her arm was bore three green bands. Monica stared at it.

“What?!” said Zoe suspiciously, yanking her hand away.

“I’m sorry,” said Monica politely. “It’s just that since you have not two green bands but three…. It’s very unusual. It’s the sign of a… a Norn prophetess.”

“I know what you’re thinking, so don’t ask,” said Zoe curtly.

Monica felt she had offended the Norn, somehow, so she said hastily, “Oh, I didn’t mean to assume… I mean, I’m sorry, I—“

“It’s okay,” said Zoe kindly. “I guess I did sound a little frosty. I just don’t like it when people keep asking me questions.”

Suddenly, the chugging of the lift told them that Kalin and Bilbo had arrived. The rims around their eyes informed them that they hadn’t got much sleep.

“So, I guess everyone’s here?” asked Aries.

“Yeah,” said Kalin groggily. He rubbed his eyes and then blinked several times, as if he were just waking up.

“Um, shall we begin?” asked Crystal, Marie’s mother.

“Yeah, I guess so,” said Aries. He looked at the crowd of Norns staring at him and felt as if butterflies were in his stomach. He had been the leadernorn for a long time now, but he still couldn’t get used to making speeches. A little nervously, he cleared his throat and began.

“As you all know, we’re hear to discuss what should be done about Dark,” he told the crowd. “And I want you to feel free to express your opinions, even if you think they are dumb…”

“I’ll tell y’all MY opinions,” snarled Gordan. “Who put that young’un Aries in charge of this rescue committee?”

“Mr. Everglade, please restrain yourself…” said Aries politely but firmly. “Hmmph,” muttered Gordan. “I think that’s what we’ve been doin’ wrong all this time now. The Grendels have been strutting around as if they owned the place. Sure, it started out with ‘em just stealing a carrot or two here an’ there, but then they started going TOO FAR.”

Gordan looked at the Norns staring at him and smiled slyly. “The big, ugly brutes started stealing Norns, that's what. Yeah, sure, they stopped doin’ that so much after th’ Big War, but NOW look. They’re at it again. First that little kid… whats her name… Calissa, and now Dark! We gotta DO something, I’m telling ya.”

“My gosh, he’s right,” said Treeton, Marie’s father.

“What do you think we should do?” asked another Norn.

Gordan frowned. “I think,” he sputtered. “That we gotta show them Grendels who’s boss!! I say, we all get together and attack the trees! We can rescue Dark and show those Grendels a thing or two! I mean, who do they think they are?! The Shee?!”

The Norns cheered. “Yeah, Gordan! Yeah!”

“Mr. Everglade,” said Aries plaintively, “I respect your opinion, but it’s not very well-thought. We Norns don’t know much about fighting, and the Grendels have an immediate advantage. Back when you fought in the Big War you had the Hand to guide you. We don’t have that anymore.”

“Well ain’t that special,” sneered Gordan. “A sissy-Norn. Pah! You don’t have any faith in your people!”

“I do too have faith!” objected Aries, standing up. “I just don’t think we’ re ready to fight!”

A murmer rose from the crowd. “Fight! Fight!” some of the Norns began to shout.

Then Kalin pushed his way into the crowd to stand by his friend. “Aries is right,” Kalin shouted, to be heard over the voices. “If we’re going to rescue Dark, we have to do it by other means. And think about it. We don’t really want to have another Big War, do we? This is the kind of thinking that started it. And look what we got from it! Half the Norn population dead, the remaining prophet Norns fleeing, and the Hand mysteriously vanishing. Do we really want that again?”

The Norns settled down. Silently, they all drew back.

“All right, Aries, you win,” said Gordan. “But mark my words, you haven’t heard the end of this.”

“I assure you, we haven’t,” said Aries, clenching his fists and narrowing his eyes.

-------

Dark and Nell spent a long afternoon chatting about their different lives. Nell told him about growing up with the Grendels, and Dark told her about being a Norn guard.

A sea of homesickness went over him when Dark told her about Kalin, and Bilbo, and Monica and Aries.

“You really want to go back, don’t you?” Nell asked.

“Nell, I don’t belong here,” Dark sighed. “I’m just waiting for Aries and the other Norns to think of something.”

“You can belong here,” coaxed Nell. “Galywag told me about when you punched Doris. You enjoyed it, didn’t you?”

“No!” snapped Dark, a little too quickly.

“You did,” acknowledged Nell.

“No, I didn’t,” protested Dark.

“Yes, you did!” Nell said. “You enjoyed it, Dark! And you want to do it again!”

“No!” shouted Dark. He jumped up.

“You can’t help it!” snapped Nell.

“What is that supposed to mean?” sputtered Dark. “I don’t suppose you go around thinking evil things, now do you?”

“I wouldn’t call them ‘evil,’” said Nell tensely, “If I were you. All Grendels have a instinct to kill, harm, distroy, whatever. Even I have it.”

“But we’re not Grendels!” wailed Dark.

“Oh for crying out loud, will you quit whining?!” yelled Nell. She ripped a loose piece of wood off of a branch and threw it at him. It hit the ground with a clatter. “How am I ever going to finish talking if you keep interrupting me?!”

Dark froze with surprise.

“I hate you,” said Nell. She looked like it, too.

“Now why in the world do you hate me just because I was stating the obvious?” said Dark indignantly.

“Of course we’re not Grendels, you idiot,” Nell muttered. “But after being around Grendels for all my life, well, I sort of act like one. As for you… well…”

“Well?!” snapped Dark.

“I can’t say,” said Nell, lowering her eyes.

“What do you mean you can’t say?!” shouted Dark.

“I CAN’T SAY.” She said it so ferociously that Dark decided not to ask her again.

“You really are a Grendel, aren’t you?” he said angrily. He felt betrayed, somehow, even though he had expected her to act something like this.

“I’m sorry, Dark,” said Nell quietly, and for the first time, she actually sounded like a Norn. "I really am." Tears glistened in her eyes. Dark was able to see past the Grendel Nell to see a very tired, very abused Calissa.

Then, a sort of connection came between them. They were both Norns trapped in a Grendel world… Dark by force, Nell by her past. Nell sensed it, too. Neither of them spoke, for fear of destroying this bond they had just created.

Dark looked at Nell. For the first time, he noticed how beautiful her eyes were. They were a darker violet then most Fox Norn eyes, and they shone like stones. Nell was unlike any other female Norn he had ever met. And, he liked her more then any other female Norn he had met. He felt himself edge a little closer. Nell didn't move away. Gently, he kissed her. And his heart filled with longing. Longing to let himself love Nell and longing for Nell to love him back. But he couldn’t ask her to betray her Grendel life to follow him. The fleeting idea of a life with her quickly disappeared. It was a stupid, false hope.

Nell hesitated, as if she were weighing a large decision. “Dark, maybe it’s better if we don’t see each other anymore,” she sniffled, turning around so she wouldn’t have to face him.

“I understand,” said Dark quietly.

Nell glanced at him for a minute, then ran away. She looked sad, Dark thought.