You fear us, but we were once as you.
Once we breathed, once hearts beat in our chests.
Once we saw the sun rise and the sun set.
Once we knew the warmth of love.

Shuttered away from the glare of the day.
Hidden in some dank refuge, alone.
Praying for a day's safety, as we slip into torpor.
You fear us, but we were once as you.

Unchanging as a fly trapped in amber.
Perfectly preserved throughout the ages.
Pale reflections of the life we once enjoyed.
Do you fear that we are so like you?

We take of your blood and your flesh
And you hunt and revile us, with blade and fire.
Yet you also take the flesh of "lesser" beings.
You fear us, but are we not like you?

We are what we are and we cannot change.
For many of us, we did not choose this "life".
We seek only to survive, in the only way we can
And still you fear us, though we but act as you.

So the struggle continues, light and dark
And we will die and you will die, and some live again.
In the end of all things, we will prevail.
Fear us, for we are you, and more.

Penned by my hand on the 23rd of Scarlatan, in the year 386 AF.