“Running . . . hiding . . . trying to forget," Red said by way of reply.

“What happened to her arm?"

“Long story."

Jane had stopped at another grave. This one was much better maintained. The headstone read, "William Collier: Loving Husband and Father: Soldier." It had been too long since she had been there.

“Hi Dad," Jane whimpered.

“It's me. I'm sorry I haven't been by, but... things have gotten complicated." She put her face in her hands.

“Why did you leave me here? Things were fine until you... you... until you died. He hurt me Dad. He hurt me, and you're supposed to protect me!" She took a step away and turned her back on the tombstone. Then she turned back.

“I'm sorry," she whispered.

"It's not your fault. I shouldn't have yelled at you." Jane stared at her feet.

“I'm sorry I let you down.”

Red slowly walked over and put a hand on Jane's shoulder.

“You didn't let him down," she murmured.

"You were just a kid"

“Who was afraid to say anything," Jane replied in a tear-choked voice.

“If I had just said something . . . but I didn't. I just hid and ran. I let people . . . do things to me and tried to pretend it was love. Red, he," she said, pointing towards her father's grave, “was a fighter. He protected people with his life. I'm a quitter and a coward and a worthless whore and ©

"Stop it!" Red shouted. She was tired of where that rant was heading.

"Don't you get it?! Do you really think I would've risked my ass TRYING to rescue the kind of person you're talking about? You really think the Strays would've walked into hell for the sake of a coward?

Okay, I get it . . . you're scared. You're angry at Jack for what he did, and you're angry at yourself. For what? Because someone three times your size forced himself on you and you couldn't stop it? Damn it, I've been getting my ass kicked a lot recently. I didn't think I stood a chance against the Dark One, but I was willing to fight it.

I was willing to fight because I thought what I was fighting for was worth it." Red put her forehead against Jane's.

"I still do. I just wish you did. You keep showing that you want to fight. You've shown that you can." She looked down at the grave of William Collier.

“Being a soldier isn't about winning," she added.

"It's about fighting. It's about serving something bigger than yourself."

Sheriff Horton was confused. He had been trying not to eavesdrop, but he hadn't been trying very successfully. ‘What does ‘Dark One’ mean?" he thought. ‘Is this some kinda new slang the kids are using?’

Jane pressed her cheek against Red's chest as the lycanthrope's arms encircled those trembling shoulders.