Not once did she reconsider dashing from that wretched house.  She tore through the corn field, past tall yellow grass and giant flowers of similar height, and finally collapsed, breathless, in a meadow.  Soft footsteps sounded from behind, and surrounded her.  The band of boys that stood over her appeared just as wild as the beasts their clothing came from.  Each carried an animal skull cleaned of flesh.  No child appeared to surpass fifteen years of age.
They spoke in an unfamiliar tongue, their language gruff and distinct, like a low growl of hostility.  The girl searched for a way to escape and accidently met the eyes of the youngest boy.  They were gentle and golden and somewhat mesmerizing.  His expression tensed with a peculiar certainty.  She swore he nodded slightly at her then.  She felt she could trust this stranger, so when he reached out to her, she immediately took his hand.  When he commanded very clearly, without hesitation, “Run,” she did.
They ran for hours.  He was far faster than her, traveling several paces ahead.  She struggled to follow him.  The two arrived at a spring of water, where they drank and rested for a while in silence.  She decided it was time she disrupted the peace.  “You speak the common tongue,” she stated.  “Why were you with those savages?  They act like animals.  You’re so unlike them.”
“Maybe we’re not so different.  Maybe,” he sighed heavily, “we’re exactly the same.” His gaze shifted toward the setting sun.  It highlighted his figure, making his copper skin glow, almost. 
“I’ve got this constant feeling of wanting to leave no matter where I am.  Do you ever get that feeling?”
“Always.”  He said it like she could never really understand.  Then, he stood abruptly and faced her, just before guns went off in the distance.  It could be poachers, or worse.  His irises were electrified, like lightning ran through them.  His pupils were rectangular and empty black like those of a horse or deer. His nostrils flared.  “We have to go. Quickly.”  He tugged her arm. 
“You’re a shapeshifter.”  His horned animal skull was nowhere in sight, she observed.  “Are all of them like you?” 
“There’s no time.”  He bent and fully transformed into a young antelope.  She understood his wishes without explanation, and mounted the creature.  With that, they were off again.  As she rode, it occurred to her that all they have done is flee as prey does, and they would again if they had to.  She was overwhelmed with doubt, suddenly.  They wouldn’t be able to run forever.  For the first time, she remembered what she the life she abandoned.  However much she despised them, they were of the same blood; they were all the family that remained.  The young girl felt the first chill of the changing seasons then and nestled against the furry back of the strange boy in search of warmth.