AN: So this is a Black-Water fic I was working on. It is set in the much older days of the Makah and Quileute tribe when Europeans had started to discover America. I didn't do much research into Native tribes back then, this is all just based on my imagination and what we see on television in miniseries. So don't hold it against me if some things are wrong :)I tried to use Native names except for Stephenie Meyer's characters since back then they wouldn't have had these Biblical and European names. I have become a huge shipper of Leah-Jacob thanks to writers like sentinel10 and riverriver. So I hope that you all find this one good. Can't say I will update this as often as usual since I still have some editing and adding to do but I just wanted to grasp if you thought this was any good. Thanks for reading and reviewing!

No copyright infringement intended on Stephenie Meyer's characters

PART ONE - DUTY

The sun was fading and the air pregnant with smoke from a forest fire not far away. Time was running out.

Leah stood at the babbling brook, her bow and arrow cocked and ready to fire as soon as the hare dared to move out of hiding. She had been waiting for three minutes, not moving, barely even breathing, determined to make this final catch of the day. She held her breath, her instincts telling her that the animal would move any second now. Sure enough, the poor creature, deeming that the hunter had gone, hopped out from beneath the berry bush and met a quick and unexpected death.

Leah grunted with satisfaction and quickly pulled her prize up by its hind legs, yanking the bloodied arrow out with one swift tug. She carried it over to her sack which was now full with fowls and other unlucky hares, and after securing her bag and bow, mounted the animal on her shoulders.

The hunt had been satisfactory.

Now she could return to the village.

Now she could willingly give up her freedom.


Leah dumped her things onto the earth just outside her mother's mud hut and went in search of Rebecca. Of course her brother's wife was sitting just outside her own hut, tending to her family's dinner. Her tiny son Ahote Clearwater ran in circles, giggling happily.

"Lee!" Ahote screamed, launching himself into the young woman's waiting arms. Leah smothered him with kisses before setting him down again. His game resumed as soon as Ahote's feet touched the ground again.

"Where have you been all day sister?" Rebecca asked as she threw carrots into the pot of rabbit stew. She knew it was a silly question judging from the other woman's smell and the smeared blood on her skin, but it was all in jest. "Your brother thought you had run away again."

Leah rolled her eyes and sat on the mat next to her best friend. "Seth should know better by now. As much as I might hate this arrangement, I will not disgrace my family. And I only ran away one time - and I was twelve, so that doesn't count."

"You ran away because Ahanu Littlewell kissed you, so you can't blame your brother for thinking the worst."

Leah snorted and grabbed a piece of warm bread from the basket of fresh rolls. Ahanu was the fattest, ugliest, most disgusting boy in the Makah tribe, how could one expect her not to have been mortified when he told everyone she would be his bride? She did not have a problem with men, only men who tried to claim her when she didn't want to be claimed.

Which was why her brother, the Makah chief, did have good reason to be worried that she would run off to avoid her upcoming marriage. But at nineteen, Leah Clearwater had long realized that it was not about what she wanted anymore, it was about her duty to her people, to keep their honor. She had been granted her freedom to hunt and run wild with the tribal warriors for many years, now it was time to become a woman and bring honor to her family's name.

It was what her late father would have wanted.

Chief Harry Clearwater had died two years ago of a heart attack. It was sudden and devastating to say the least. It had left a gaping hole in Leah's heart, one she believed would never be filled by another man. As his only daughter, Harry had loved Leah fiercely, spoiling his firstborn in every way imaginable. He treated her like a son, grooming her to be a good leader, capable of protecting and providing for the people. He believed that she would be a help unto her little brother, the heir; that with her guidance, the gentle-spirited boy would grow into a man capable of fulfilling his duty. Her father had told her that it was important that Leah be strong and fierce unlike other girls, because one day she would be the Black Wolf's wife and need to earn the respect of his people.

And so it was. Leah helped her brother (who was only a year younger) in every way, never saying no, never falling short of being what he needed her to be. And her upcoming marriage was no different.

"I've been hunting," Leah informed her.

"I can see that."

Leah couldn't help but be defensive, picking up in Rebecca's tone that she believed the hunting to be unnecessary. "I want to leave you all with good meat, winter is coming."

"I know sister, and that is why I love you," Rebecca reached out and squeezed Leah's hand, before cupping her growing stomach with a sigh. "It pains me that you will not be here for the birth."

"I know, me too. But don't worry, she will be strong and graceful like her auntie, you shall not miss me anymore."

Rebecca chuckled as she stirred the thickening stew. "I think if this isn't a girl, you will be more disappointed than me."

Leah shook her head and swallowed the last bite of bread. "I told you, your stomach is different than with the boy, so it is a girl, I am certain of it."

"I pray that our daughters will meet one day and love each other as much as I love you, sister." Rebecca smiled radiantly even as tears filled her eyes.

"It will be a wonderful thing, sister." Leah felt the burn of tears tighten her own throat and stood with haste. "I must go tend to my catch. Tomorrow Brady and Colin are to hunt for deer. Let's hope they bring back more than one this time."

Rebecca smiled and watched Leah run off to her hut. "Wash and come back for supper, it will be ready soon!" she called.

Leah hated to cry or any situation that caused her to. She had wept for her father only at night when she was sure her mother was asleep. Leah was not one to show weakness or sorrow. It simply just was not in her nature. She had the heart of a warrior before anything else.

She grabbed her bag and went around the back of her hut to the bloodstained wooden table where she always prepared meat. The light was almost gone but she was determined to complete her task.

"You should have come back earlier, there is too much to prepare before nightfall, daughter." Sue Clearwater's firm yet caring tone disturbed the silence in which Leah preferred to work.

"It was a good hunt, mother", she said.

"I can see that." Sue placed a kiss on her daughter's temple before grabbing her own knife and helping with the fowl. She knew Leah hated to deal with feathers, so Sue carefully plucked them and set them into a clay pot of water. They would come in handy to finish Leah's wedding garments.

They worked quickly and quietly together, their hands moving with such skill and elegance that one could sit and watch them for hours. Not even the stench of blood and guts could take away from the poise and grace of the Clearwater women. Leah with her tall frame and lean muscle, her dark hair plaited with feathers and shells, falling to her waist. She exuded power and determination, she was a force to be reckoned with, and Sue couldn't be more proud of the woman she was becoming.

"Five more days and you will begin your journey south," Sue said in a bare whisper as she and her daughter washed themselves inside of their hut. Colin and the other boys had come to take the deer and hares to their own huts where they would skin the pelts and cure the meat.

"I know."

"Are you ready?"

Leah shrugged her shoulders. "I don't think I ever will be ready to leave my family, but I am ready to do my duty."

As she always was.

"That is all we can ask of you my child. Your father would be proud. But surely won't you reconsider taking your cousins with you? It is not safe, and you must carry your bride price."

"When it is time for the wedding, I will send for them mother, and they will bring back word of my happiness." Once her mind was made up, it could not be changed. Leah wanted to do this her way. As stubborn as she was, she had wanted to meet her betrothed and get to know him before there was any talk of marriage. She knew she had no choice but to marry the Black Wolf, but still, she wanted to pretend that she had the upper hand in this situation.

Leah and Sue made the short walk to her brother's hut where he and his family were settled around the fire for dinner.

"Rebecca tells me you spent the day hunting again, sister," Seth said, sending a broad smile over to his older sibling.

"You know Leah," their mother answered as she kissed the raven hair of her grandson.

"You've been hunting everyday now for the past week, if I didn't know better I'd say you've gotten cold feet."

"It will be winter soon brother, let me care for my family one last time," Leah answered with a look that bade him not to press the matter any further.

Seth nodded and dipped his bread into the delicious stew his wife had made. He knew his sister couldn't help but hunt when she was nervous. The truth was that he owed Leah everything. With her gone he would be forced to rule without her guidance. She was wise and a constant well of ideas, never running out of thoughts to share on matters. She was the best hunter of the tribe and had taught many of their young men to provide for their families. Her absence would be a loss to their people and though it was scary, her marriage could not be avoided any longer.

Vows had to be kept, it was time. Upon the death of their father, Seth had been unprepared to become chief so suddenly and at such a young age of sixteen. He had sent word to the Black Wolf, Billy Black, asking for two more years with his sister before she was to marry his son. The chief had allowed it, and though Seth longed for more time, he had to let Leah go. It was a standing oath between Harry and Billy that their children would marry. It was not tradition, it was just the desire of two friends. Rebecca Black had come over and married Seth, and now Leah had to do the same. It was their father's wish, and Seth had no intention of breaking that promise, even though he knew his sister would rather stay with them.

"Is the Kwiyute Chief weally a bwack wolf?" Little Ahote asked, his mouth full of bread and meat. He was currently perched on his aunt's knee, eating from her bowl.

"Ahote, don't talk with your mouth full," Sue admonished, while Leah stroked the back of his head lovingly.

"No son, that is just a legend. The wolf is their totem like the raven is ours. The chiefs all come from the Black bloodline, that is why the chief is called Black Wolf." Rebecca answered her son, the pride evident in her tone and the way her lips turned into a smile. Although she would miss Leah, she was excited that her best friend would be marrying her brother, Jacob Black. Now they would be true sisters. Rebecca missed her people, but this way, Seth could no longer provide a reason not to visit.


Leah spent the next three days preparing her things for the journey. She had been making a new pelt coat for months now and it was finally finished. She relished the texture of the soft fur, a mixture of fox, bear and rabbit pelts, she had even sewn a hood to protect her from rain and wind. Her grandmother had gifted her new deer skin skirts and tops, while Sue had woven blankets for her bed and sewn new flaxen tunics. Everything Leah would take with her was brand new.

Leah knew the forest like the back of her hand. She had many years of training in survival skills under her belt. That was why she wasn't scared to make the journey - or to camp overnight - on her own. Although she didn't have to, she preferred it that way. Leaving would be much so harder than it had to be if her cousins accompanied her south. She just wanted time alone to prepare herself for the next chapter in her life. She saw this as a rite of passage, of gaining strength from the earth and guidance from the stars.

The night before she was due to leave, the tribe held a bonfire and feast in her honor. Many of the men and women spoke kinds words of Leah's life as a Makah, a life that in her heart, was now ending forever.

As they laid on their stuffed mats for rest, Sue asked Leah if she was ready to be someone's wife, if she was ready to be one half of a whole.

"I do not know what to expect mother, but I hope that I will not lose myself just to make someone else happy."

"It is not about losing yourself, but rather knowing yourself well enough to give him what he needs when he needs it."

Leah rolled over and closed her eyes. When was she never prepared to meet a challenge?