When the strangers first arrived on our shores we thought they were just passing through. They were weak, disoriented, and had few supplies. Our council decided to take pity on them, and allow them to stay for the time being. It was believed that after being given the opportunity to regain their strength and reorient themselves, they would leave.
It didn’t take too long to realize that that was not the case.
But there were still those in our midst who remembered the great wars of years past. It was them that urged us to continue as we had, for they never wanted to see war in these forests again. So we continued. Hiding. For we learned long ago that those with only one form, like these strangers, find it easy to fear and hate us who have two.
So we continued hiding.
It’s been ten years now though, and ten years is an awful lot of hiding. Those who have never faced war itch to start one. Who knows how much longer their elders will be able to stop them?