The Outlaws

"I thought so. Montelo was the last family of shapeshifting Elves. That started mating with humans to save they're ability. Are you good with your power?"

"I can change pretty fast."

"By my guess you be the 5th generation away. Your sister be the 4th generaton away. By the time the 7th generation came the ability will almost be wilted away. My lineage be from the Elves of Speed, River be the same. You'll be good in battle trust me."

"I know that, i haven't been sheltered from battle." She smiled. "In fact i seem to attract it." He laughed at that.

Molton looked up as Caden Came down the stairs. "Where have you been?" he asked calmly.

"Out stealing," Caden replied casually, lying easily. "Just because a war's coming doesn't mean i have to quit my job."

Molton glanced down at Caden's belt where the new knife was sitting. "Where'd you get that?"

Caden swore silently. the old man saw everything. "Stole it."

"What happened to your old one?"

"Lost it, obviously. Otherwise I would've had it."

"How did you lose it?"

Caden threw his hands. "Does it matter?"

"Yes," Molton said, still calm. "You've had that knife since before you disappeared, and I can't help but wonder what happened to it."

Caden thought quickly. "I was by the river, thinking, when it slipped from my hands and fell into the water."

Molton nodded slowly, gazing at him intently. "What was it doing in your hands?"

"I always pull it out when I'm alone on the surface, to discourage any bold attackers."

"Ah," Molton said quietly. Then he leaned forward and said, "Now quit lying and tell me what happened."

Grey came up from the cellar at that moment. "Molton, we'll have to collapse this tunnel."

Molton shrugged and nodded. "Very well, but you'll have to keep the manhole open. Otherwise Outlwaws wouldn't be able to get here."

Caden turned to stare at him. "You're going to let them collapse this tunnle?" He cried.

"The soldiers obviously know there's one here," Molton said calmly. "They'll come through here for sure."

Grey nodded and turned back to the cellar. "Good. "we'll get everything ready so that it will be easy to collapse when they come."

Caden started to follow her. "i'll help," he said quickly.

Molton grabbed his collar and pulled him back. "Not until you tell me where you were," he growled.

Grey looked up. "What happened?"

"Ask Caden," Molton said, nodding in his direction.

Caden sighed in frustration. "I told you, nothing happened," he snapped, exasperated. "I went out to rob, that's all. i lost my knife and got a new one. I don't see why you're so upset about it; you weren't before!"

"It just seems strange to me that you have a new knife," Molton said. "and that you've sudenly taken to lying to me."

"I'm not--"

"It may work on the soldiers, Caden, but it certainly doesn't work on me.

Grey gave Caden an odd look. "Charcol's dead," she said. "With your knife in him."

Alex walked into the hotel after talking to Liskano, she wanted to see if she could figure out just what was going on and maybe get to know these people better. No one saw her slip in so she shape shifted into a small fly and flew over onto Caden's shoulder so that she could hear what was going on, he couldn't feel or see her though.

Caden sighed and ran a hand over his face. "It wasn't supposed to happen," He said quietly. "He was going to kill me, and i only wanted to hurt him a little to get him off..."

"It's a knife, Caden," Molton said grimly. "And if you want to just hurt someone a little, you don't jab something sharp into their stomach."

"It was a dull knife! I didn't think it would do any real damage!"

"The trouble is, it did," Molton said quickly. "And I can't beleive you just picked up another knife!"

Caden threw his hands. "It was given to me by someone you wouldn't say no to, either."

Alex flew off and landed in the corner of the room and changed back to her normal form. She sat down on the window seal and pulled some dried meat out of her pocket and stuck it in her mouth while she watched the group. She saw Caden glance behind him and he almost jumped when he saw her.

"Where did you come from?" he asked tersely. "It's bad enough to have Liskano do this; don't you start, too?"

"Outside." She said smiling, Caden didn't like that, but Alex was in a good mood.

"Thats not an answer." Caden hissed.

"Yes it is, I came in from outside so now here i am." She smiled. She bit into another peice of meat and glanced at the door, Terenso was supposed to be here soon. He was the pack leader of the werewolves.

Caden scowled. "I would've noticed if you walked past me, and that window is always locked. How did you get in here?"

Before she could answer, though, the door flew open.

Alex smiled when she saw Terenso and his son; Resno, walk in. Caden stiffened. Resno looked at Alex and smiled walking over to her.

"Sorry i'm late." He said in his gruff voice.

"Caden, how i got in doesn't matter." Alex said smiling at Terenso and Resno.

Caden grunted, but he backed off as the Werewolf came near. He'd heard rumors about theses monsters, and he didnt' want to be a part of them.

"They aren't gonna hurt you." Alex said smilng. Resno sat next to Alex while Teseno sat across from her his face unchanging.

"Who is the leader of the theives?" He asked,

"I don't know it is Caden or Molton." She said as if asking Caden who was the leader of the theives.