The Changeling Exchanges

The time came when we needed to make a new sacrifice, but we couldn't bring ourselves to sacrifice one of our own. Not again.

Instead, we hatched a plan; one of ours would take the place of a human infant. We'd take the child for sacrifice, and leave one of our kin with the unsuspecting parents, until they could escape their host family and return home. We didn't used to do these swaps in the early days, but simply taking human children led to the parents seeking them out in our territories, leading to tension and damaged homes.

Since then, one of ours has always been left in place of the baby. For a little while.

"I'll go," says my grandfather. It isn't the first time he's agreed to spend a year, or five, under the watch of human parents.

He transforms as we reach the target's home. Crawling through the window, we spot our next sacrifice. Grandpa makes a few small changes to his appearance to better fool the adults.

We say our goodbyes, and I slowly turn to follow the rest rushing off with the infant in tow.

"Be safe," I say. He chuckles darkly.

"We are changelings!"