I always thought this scar marked me; the mark of the banished prince, cursed to chase the Avatar forever. But lately, I've realized I'm free to determine my own destiny, even if I'll never be free of my mark.

Three tours in Nigeria, not a scratch. I come out here? Day one. Think I felt like a shavetail louie? They could fix me up, if I rotated back. Make me pretty again. But you know what? I kinda like it. It reminds me every day what's waiting out there.

Dane had been lucky. Just one bad gash along his front hairline that took forty stitches, all the other trauma happening in back of his head, where nobody could see so long as he grew his hair long . . . Vinny hadn't been quite as fortunate. He'd landed face-first against the curb, shattering his nose and taking out most of his teeth. Crushed one cheek, burst his right eye, and caused a long dent in his brow.