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Prologue

In the shady outskirts of the forest surrounding La Push and Forks, a group of massive wolves were circled in a clearing. The moon, full and illuminating, shone down on them, offering unneeded light, a sign of optimism for some of the wolves. They were supposed to be patrolling- or, rather, should have been. But after hours of finding nothing useful for the umpteenth time this week, Sam called for a meeting.

We should ask the Cullens, growled Paul. He was as tired and cranky as his pack-mates but he was less hopeful.

It isn't a vampire, though, protested ever-faithful Seth, whimpering as he trotted to keep up with the other wolves.

It doesn't smell like one, no, bu-

But nothing, protested Leah, who snarled at the dark gray wolf that snapped at her brother.

Something had been killing and snatching people from Forks and La Push. It had been going on for a couple of weeks now and the entire pack was getting more and more frustrated as time went on and they hadn't a single trace. Not even the bodies, if there were any found, could tell the pack much.

It didn't smell like vampires. There was no acidic, overpoweringly sweet stench covering what was left of the bodies, but more of a bitter, barnyard smell. It didn't even look like vampires had done it. More like buzzards had come and pecked at and devoured the unfortunate victims. It was a gruesome sight.

Do you smell any trace of vampire? demanded Leah, subconsciously moving in front of her brother. The sand-colored wolf growled softly in protest but let her. No! There hasn't been a vampire, other than the Cullens, since those other bloodsuckers have been around.

And that was half a year ago! Seth couldn't help but chime in. Leash snapped at him for his trouble.

ENOUGH, boomed the alpha's voice, making the pack whine. They all looked expectantly at him as he gazed back with an authoritative air. He was going to say more, tell the pack that instead of bickering and fighting, they needed to put that energy into finding the foe.

But then the screeching started.

Deep within the forest, perched on tree tops, three sisters balanced on mossy limbs. Tabor, the oldest, tapped a crooked talon impatiently as she waited for the youngest sister to finish her screeching. When Guthrie finished, bursting into giggles after, Tabor rolled her black eyes. She couldn't make herself be too cross with her sister, however, because Guthrie was only a nestling.

"Oh, Tabor, I do love it here," she cheeped. Before the oldest sister could reply, Patia cut in.

"It doesn't matter," the middle sister, snapped, vibrant green feathers rustling. Guthrie crooned gently at Patia. Tabor squawked in warning.

"What I mean," amended the middle sister, "is that we're here for one thing and one thing only. It doesn't matter if we like it here."

"But the humans taste delicious, Patia," Guthrie whined. "Can't we just sett-"

"No!" crowed the oldest, flapping her black wings angrily. "We can't. There's too many supernatural beings here… can't you smell them?"

Dumbly, Guthrie blinked before putting her beak-like nose into the hair to sniff. She slowly shook her head.

"I only smell the rain… wait… wet dog and… and… is that… is that vampire?" she squeaked, snapping her head back straight to star wide-eyed at her sisters. Guthrie had heard stories of them, of course, of how vampires would rip humans and harpies limb from limb. All harpies had. Or, at least, the young black-haired nestling assumed so because her sisters took turns scaring her with the stories.

"Vampires especially like Harpies," Tabor had said, her black eyes glowering at her little sister.

"Because they taste like chicken!" Patia had chimed in, jumping out at poor Guthrie, making her fall out of their nest. That was a long time ago, however, the nestling thought, turning her attention back to the present.

"Yes, it is, Guthrie. And if they find out about us being in their territory…" All three sisters shuttered.

"But I'm tired of moving," the youngest muttered, hardy audible from under the rain. The other sisters shared a look before flapping over to Guthrie's tree, landing gracefully on either side of her. They both wrapped their wings around the nestling in a warm embrace.

"So are we…" whispered Tabor in her sister's pointed ear. "But we need to find it… we need to find the Silver Feather."

The image of the object in question flashed in Guthrie's mind, so beautiful and mysterious that she could only hope to see it again. The object had been in their flock for centuries and each new generation of sisters had to take special care of it.

The Silver Feather, according to legend, came from Podarge, herself, the sister of the Harpies. Or, as she was more commonly known as, Iris. The Silver Feather was given to the Harpy Sisters Aello, Celaeno, and Ocypete as reward for returning to Iris unharmed after being hunted by the winged Boreades.

And it was gone.

Stolen, as their mothers had told the Tabor, Patia, and Guthrie. A human huntress, as that story went, tricked the harpies and took of with the Silver Feather and now it was up to the current sisters to find it.

A choked whimper took the sisters out of their reveries. Unanimously, eyes flashing gold, they turned their attention to the battered and bruised man huddled beneath their tree. He was just waking up, they noted, whimpering as he began to feel the wet cold and the pain that would soon turn excruciating. Soon enough, the whimpering gradually turned to whines and moans.

The harpy sister crooned in different, disjointed pitches, making him look up just as their beak-like noses molded into actual beaks and their wings and talons grew. They fluttered down to the damp earth , circling him.

By now the man was screaming, pleading for anyone to come and help him.

The last thing he saw was the third harpy sister, with her generous black hair and wide, almost innocent, blue eyes smile from under her beak, raising her talons-

and lunging for the kill.

PLEASE READ:

Hello and welcome.
As you may have noticed, I've introduced new foe for our buddies. The folklore about the Silver Feather was complete bullshit- so I can disclaim that right here and now. As well as the recognizable characters or whatever. You know how this disclaiming stuff goes...
I also want to make you all aware that this entire fanfiction is based mostly around Blue October songs. If you have any suggestions (doesn't have to be about Blue October), please feel free to let me know? Also, the title and the rating might change... haha.

~Lindsey Marie