Celebwen Telcontar: This is a new story. It's a very slight crossover, but not a major one. If anyone guesses what it is, they get a special mention in the next chapter!
Balrog: I know what it is! It's—
Celebwen Telcontar: Balrog! I'm asking the readers, not you!
Balrog: I also know why you're publishing this now! It's because the—
Celebwen Telcontar: BALROG!
Balrog: Uh-oh...
Celebwen Telcontar: Please review, people. Again, if anyone can guess what the crossover is, and why I published this now, they get a special mention in the next chapter!
Leah Clearwater stopped her car and stared at the accident ahead of her in the opposite lane on the freeway. It was a mess of cars, a couple of motorcycles, and a sideways tanker truck leaking oil and blocking all but a single lane in her direction. The Quilliute Shifter cursed before pulling over and exiting her car. She was currently a practicing physician, having earned her medical degree at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. She grabbed her First Aid kit and rushed over to the scene of the accident. The oil tanker's driver was obviously dead, his chest crushed by the steering wheel. Beside him was mute evidence of the cause: a half-dozen empty beer cans, one having spilled its contents in the cab. Behind the truck she found a large black Harley Davidson motorcycle, probably a relatively new model, its owner pinned under it and nearly crushed by another car. She removed the motorcycle, trying her best not to be seen, then pulled the unconscious biker onto the verge and removed the helmet. His black hair was cut short, as was his thick black beard. He had a nosebleed and his neck was a mass of black and blue bruising, surprising Leah that it wasn't broken. The Shifter carefully set his head on her knee, using an inflatable neck brace she kept in her First-Aid kit to make sure she didn't cause any more damage. His eyes flicked open, meeting hers, black for black, and in that moment, everything Leah knew was eradicated. The Pack didn't matter anymore. The people in the accident didn't matter. Seth didn't matter. Only this man, her Imprinted, mattered in any way at all.
"Danke schoen," he rumbled, trying to st up.
"Sprechen zie Englisch?" she asked him in her rudimentary German.
"Ja, little bit."
"Are you alright?"
"Mien head..."
"You're lucky you were wearing your helmet. What ist ihr name?" she asked, using what little German she knew.
"Mein Name ist Siegfried. Und sie?"
"Leah. Mein Name ist Leah Clearwater." She moved a lock of his slightly bloody hair from his eyes, which held her captive. They both jumped as her phone went off. She dug it out of her jeans pocket, turning it on to hear her Alpha.
"Leah, are you alright? I heard about the accident on I-70."
"I'm fine. I'll talk to you later." She turned off the phone and stuffed it back in her pocket before holding up her hand to let the recently arrived paramedics know she had someone injured.
"Broken arm, injured neck, possibly a broken clavicle, broken nose, and what looks to be a dislocated hip-joint. I used an inflatable neck brace, as I wasn't sure how injured his neck was," Leah said as a paramedic approached. "I'm a trauma surgeon practicing at Boulder Community Hospital." He nodded to her.
"Excellent. You alright, Ma'am?" he asked as they strapped Siegfried onto the portable orange stretcher. She took the other end.
"I'm fine. I arrived on the scene after the accident. I can help you move him, I'm stronger than I look."
"Alright," the paramedic said as he took one end and she took the other to lift the motorcyclist to the ambulance.
"Do you mind if I ride with him?"
"I'd be glad of the help. He related to you, Ma'am?" the paramedic asked as he inserted an IV needle into Siegfried's arm.
"No, but he's a close friend." The paramedic nodded and jumped in behind her, another paramedic putting an unconscious woman in a stretcher beside Siegfried and Leah. The Quilliute woman quickly provided her credentials and helped the other paramedic keep the woman alive, one eye on Siegfried the entire time.
The young bronze-haired woman walked into the hospital room, her husband and parents following her.
"Nessie!" Leah cried, running to hug the vampire hybrid before attacking Jake in a hug as well before returning to Siegfried's side.
"Congrats, Leah!" Renesmee said with a brilliant smile.
"Thanks. This is Siegfried." Edward greeted Siegfried in German, and soon the two were in a conversation, Bella and Renesmee putting in a few words here and there, as they both had picked up on all the languages Edward knew.
"Glad you Imprinted, Leah," Jacob said after taking her aside. Leah couldn't keep her eyes off of Siegfried. "We'll make him welcome."
"He's got a sister named Brunhilde going to CU Boulder, and he was borrowing her motorcycle when the accident happened," Leah said.
"She's welcome, too."
"Thanks. Her name is Brunhilde Schwarzenbaren."
"That's a mouthful. I wouldn't want to be caught dead with that last name."
"It's a good name, and it's going to be mine soon."
"Ugh. Leah Schwarzenegger."
"Schwarzenbaren," Leah corrected irritably.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Leah glared at Jacob then returned to her Imprinted, taking his hand in hers. He had already asked her out on a date, and she was having fun feeding him his dinner since his left collarbone and right arm were broken. With Bella translating, they learned a lot about one another, and Edward kept an eye on the hospital staff so Leah could show him her wolf form. He commented that his family had a legend of them being shape shifters long ago, though in the form of bears instead of wolves, and of being beekepers and friends to all animals. Leah told him about Imprinting, which explained his phenomenal attraction to her.
A young, tall, burly woman came in, her long black hair done in a braid down her back. Her swarthy skin matched Siegfried's, and her black eyes were the same shape. She introduced herself as Brunhilde, Siegfried's sister, and was introduced to the family and told about the Shifters. She knew several Schwarzenbaren legends, and told several of them after Leah Shifted into her wolf form and back.
"Many millenia ago, the first Schwarzenbaren was a loner. He lived between what is today the Black Forest and a river, and kept the land safe. He had several beehives and all animals loved him. His name was Bjorn the Black Bear. Several legends have him hunting what can only be described as demons and werewolves, and of him waging war against an entire army of werewolves and demons and killing a dragon. Other legends say that he didn't kill the dragon, but a friend of his did, the Mad Sorcerer, a sort of Robin Hood figure, who was able to teleport with a flash and a bang. There are several other legends, including one where he invites the Mad Sorcerer and his men to stay the night."
"Who is this Mad Sorcerer?"
"A Robin Hood figure who is never actually given a name, who steals from the rich, especially dragons, and gives to the poor. He is able to teleport with a flash and a bang, and can turn people into stone. He is often depicted as traveling with a giant and twenty or so burly men. He fights with a sword instead of a bow, but he rarely needs to fight, as he is able to walk softer than a cat and slip into places no human can. Legend has it that when one of his men died, he stole a star from the very skies to decorate his tomb. The myths say that the Mad Sorcerer and Bjorn the Black Bear were great friends."
"Interesting." A nurse poked her head in.
"Visiting hours are over. Please come back in the morning."
"We need to be getting home. It was good talking to you, Brunhilde. I'll see you tomorrow, as soon a visiting hours start, Siegfried."
"Ja. Ich werde Ihnen in den Morgen zu sehen. Ich liebe dich, Leah." Brunhilde rolled her eyes at her brother.
"He's never this demonstrative. You've brought something good out in him, Leah. Stick around, I like you." Brunhilde held out a hand for Leah, and as the Quilliute woman took it, she pulled Leah into a tight, fierce bear hug.
"Can't... breathe..."
"Ha! Welcome to the family, Leah Clearwater," Brunhilde said, releasing Leah. The younger woman had trouble getting her breath back.
"Um... thanks, I think?"
"Don't worry! It's a good thing!" Brunhilde laughed, black eyes sparkling.
Leah kissed Seigfried right before she left with Brunhilde, Jacob, Nessie, Bella and Edward.
Celebwen Telcontar: Well, what do you think?
Balrog: Sounds good so far, and I like that the Schwarzenbaren family is really—
Celebwen Telcontar: Balrog! How many times do I have to stop you from giving spoilers?!
Balrog: Sorry. Please review people!
