"Tauren! You're here, thank you!" Bella Swan wrapped her older sister in a careful hug, mindful of her newborn strength and the one-year-old that was propped on Tauren Swan's hip.
"Of course, Bella." Tauren Swan disentangled herself from Bella's grip, unused to the sisterly affection, and walked towards the Cullen house. "I would like to meet her."
"She's waiting with Edward. Alice saw you coming," Bella told her, quickly taking the lead as they walked into the house.
Instantly they were under the scrutiny of a good number of vampires, red- and golden-eyed alike. It was clear to them that Tauren Swan was not a vampire, though her scent held no trace of humanity, either. She was an enigma, and the question of what she was hung in the air.
Tauren completely ignored the vampires, greeting Edward with a polite smile. "Edward, it's good to see you again."
"You as well. I'm sorry to have you come back to Forks, under your current circumstances," Her brother-in-law said, his hand resting on the shoulder of a young girl who looked to be around nine years old. "This is Renesmee."
"Hold Adira for me please, Bella," Tauren requested, passing the baby to her younger sister before kneeling in front of her niece. "Hello, little one. I'm Tauren, your aunt."
"Hi Auntie," Renesmee's voice was soft and pleasing, like bell chimes. "Mommy says you have magic."
Tauren's lips curled upwards into a smile. "She would be right, then."
"Can I show you something?" Her niece asked, small hand reaching towards her cheek.
"Of course," Tauren said. Vampiric abilities were null to her unless she allowed it, so her permission was more than just words as Renesmee placed a warm hand against Tauren's cheek and showed Tauren her life.
"You are extraordinary, aren't you," Tauren murmured. "There's someone I would like you to meet as well, Renesmee."
Bella passed Adira back to Tauren, and the baby babbled happily. "This is Adira. She's a bit like you."
"Is she part vampire too?" Renesmee asked curiously.
"No. She has magic, like me. She's part trickster, one of the fae," Tauren said.
Renesmee's eyes widened. "You're a fairy?"
"I'm a fae. We're chaos causers, protectors of the natural world. One day, when it's not so late perhaps, I will show you," Tauren said, bouncing Adira on her hip. "But as it is, Adira needs sleep, as do I. And you too, I'm sure."
"We got out Renesmee's old crib for you," Carlisle said, joining Edward's side. "We're grateful to have you here, Tauren."
"Of course. Bella and I may not be best of friends, but family comes first," Tauren said with an easy smile.
Edward snorted. "That, and you just couldn't resist seeing the Volturi's faces when we show up with a fae."
"Guilty as charged," She said with a shrug. "Though really I'm more excited for what leads up to that."
"Please don't cause too much trouble," Bella pleaded. "Things are bad enough as it is."
Tauren's smile was playful and full of mischief. "I am a fae, Bella. Trouble is in my nature."
"Tauren-"
"Bella, don't mix my propensity for mischief with recklessness. I will do nothing to endanger my niece," Tauren said coolly. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've had a long trip, and Adira needs a diaper change."
Tauren's arrival marked the last before the Cullens and their witnesses would face the Volturi. Unease was mounting, especially now that a fae was in their midst. While they were protectors of nature and incredibly powerful, fae were also notorious for causing trouble for their own amusement, and even Edward questioned the wisdom of Bella calling her sister to their aid.
"Auntie!" Renesmee exclaimed happily when Tauren stepped outside the following morning, Adira drinking contentedly from a sippy cup from where she was held to her adoptive mother's hip.
"Good morning, Renesmee," Tauren said with a smile, once again ignoring the multitude of other vampires present. "Did you sleep well?"
"I did! Can you show me your magic?" The girl requested, hope brimming in her voice.
Tauren smiled, amused by Renesmee's youth, and nodded. "Very well. Someone will have to hold Adira, however."
"I'll do it," Rosalie volunteered, appearing by Tauren's side. "It's good to see you again, Tauren."
"You as well, Rosalie. If Adira gets fussy she probably needs changed, she just ate," Tauren said, before gently transferring the baby into Rose's arms. Rose cooed happily at Adira, and Tauren felt that she was in good hands.
"Come, Renesmee. I will show you some of the power of the fae," Tauren said with a mischievous smile, stretching out a hand to her niece.
Renesmee slipped her hand into Tauren's, skipping merrily beside her. "What sort of things can you do?"
"For starters, we fae are invulnerable to the talents of vampires. We are superior to them, whether they choose to acknowledge it or not. We can allow them to use their gifts on us, like I allowed you to do last night, but otherwise we are invulnerable to them," Tauren said. "While useful, such an ability is perhaps the least amount of fun."
"What else can you do? And where are we going?" She asked, bouncing in excitement.
"We're going deeper into the forest, where I can show you without wreaking too much havoc. Plus, it allows me to give you a bigger display." Tauren flashed Renesmee a playful grin.
"Are you as fast and strong as vampires?" She asked curiously.
"Close, but not quite. Fae rely on our magic to compensate for the difference."
"Tell me about magic!"
Tauren chuckled. "Well, it surrounds you. But only we natural creatures can truly harness it - fae, shape-changers, and other beings of that nature. There are witches, and they can utilize magic, but they require special rituals and channeling talismen in order to do so. Our magic is wild and untamed, and we are one with it."
"That's so cool! I wish I could use magic," Renesmee said wistfully, as Tauren finally stopped them deep within the forest.
"I think this is far enough," Tauren decided after a moment, her fingers trailing over the bark of one of the towering trees. "The trees here are very old, and tell many stories."
"You can understand them?"
"Sort of. It's hard to describe. But yes, I suppose," She acknowledged. "What's your favorite flower, Renesmee?"
"Uh…" She pondered this question. "Tiger lilies!"
"Those are beautiful. Give me your hands, hmm?" Tauren asked, cradling Renesmee's hands within her own. "Life is very fragile, though I'm sure you know this. Every life is to be cherished and protected, even one's as inconsequential as a lily's."
A small plant appeared in their hands, rich green and not yet blooming. Renesmee gasped. "Is that a lily?"
"It will be, once it blooms. But it must be nurtured first, placed somewhere it can grow. The magic it sprang from protects it, but it must be planted somewhere before it can thrive and bloom," Tauren said. "Can you hold the plant for me?"
"Yes," Renesmee said, still gazing at her aunt through round, awed eyes.
"We are creatures that protect nature, we fae. There are two different kinds: selkies, who protect the sea, and sprites, who protect the land. We share power but employ it to protect the two facets of the earth. I am a sprite, protector of nature, and my kin the selkies protect the water. Both kinds of fae enjoy a good prank, however. After all, we all can ride the wind."
"You can fly?" Renesmee asked.
Tauren grinned. "Yes, by manipulating the magic of the air. It's also how we create storms. We are guardians of nature and nature is often characterized by unpredictability and chaos. It only makes sense that we are the same."
"Can you show me?"
"In due time. First, our lily," Tauren said. She reached down, pressing her hand to the earth. The dirt moved of its own accord, forming a hole for the young plant to grow. "Plant it here, where it will grow."
Renesmee knelt down beside her aunt, carefully planting the lily into the hole in the earth. "Can I cover it?"
"Go ahead," Tauren said, and together they pushed the dirt back into the hole, covering the roots of the young plant. "Tell me, Nessie, what else does a plant need to grow?"
"Water!" She said brightly. "But there's none around."
"There is always water present, if you look in the right place," Tauren said. She spun her hand in a lazy circle, a cloud the size of an orange forming over the flower seedling. It began to rain gently, showering the plant with water.
"That's so cool," Renesmee said, her voice hushed.
The cloud quickly dissipated, and Tauren nodded her agreement. "These are only the tamest facets of my power. I can do many things that are not quite as pretty or calm as this."
"When will the flower bloom?"
"Now, perhaps, if you ask politely," Tauren teased.
Renesmee brightened. "Can you make the flower bloom? Please?"
"Now how could I refuse such a request?" Her aunt asked, and moments later the small seedling shot upwards, growing and maturing, the blossom on the end unfolding into a stunning orange tiger lily.
"It's so pretty!" Nessie squealed.
"It is, isn't it? This is a good spot for it, until a curious herbivore decides to use it as food. Such is the order of things. Now, I believe you wanted to see me fly?"
"Yes, please!"
They returned to the Cullen home a little over an hour after they left, finding most of the vampires training for a fight.
"I thought you weren't planning on duking it out? Not that I'd say no to a little pow-wow, but…" Tauren trailed off with a shrug.
"It's a precautionary measure," Carlisle said, lifting Renesmee into his arms. "Did you have fun with your aunt?"
"Yes, lots! She showed me magic!" Renesmee said happily.
Carlisle smiled at his granddaughter. "I'm glad. Are you hungry?"
"A little. Can I eat with Auntie Tauren?" She asked.
Carlisle glanced questioningly at Tauren, who shrugged. "Sure, Ness. I have to get Adira, though."
"Rose has enjoyed watching her, but she's trouble already," Carlisle said with a chuckle. "I've never seen a livelier one year old."
"Then you never saw me as a kid. I pity what Dad had to go through with me. There's a reason Renee ditched me with him when she left," Tauren said with a grin.
Carlisle looked surprised. "Your mother left you and took Bella?"
"Bella has always been her favorite, but it's never really bothered me," Tauren said with a shrug. "It's not like we're actually related anyway."
"Because you're a changeling," He realized. "Does Charlie know?"
"Yes. He doesn't love me any less, though. He's a great man," She said. "It was a privilege to be raised by him."
"What's a changeling?" Nessie asked curiously.
"A changeling is a fae child that's been swapped with a human one, typically because the fae child couldn't survive without human care for one reason or another," Tauren explained. "The real Tauren Swan wasn't strong enough to survive, and the fae knew this, so they swapped us out as the original Tauren died."
"Oh." Renesmee seemed satisfied by this answer.
"Tauren, I didn't get to say hello last night. It's so good to see you again!" Esme greeted her inside with a motherly smile.
"It's good to see you too, Esme. Sorry again about your table," Tauren said, referring to the last time she had visited the Cullens. Her and Emmett had gotten into a bit of a competition that ended with a broken dining room table.
"Oh, it was nothing, dear. Emmett and Jasper break them all the time," She said. "Rose is around here somewhere with Adira. She's such a darling, so sweet."
"I dread when she starts walking, I'll never be able to find her, and she's only half-fae," Tauren laughed. "I don't know how Dad did it. Speaking of, I need to call him. Tell him I'm in town and find out if he can watch Adira on fight night."
"Mommy says there won't be a fight," Nessie said.
"That would be disappointing," Tauren mused. "Relax, I'm kidding."
"No you're not. You want trouble and you know it. You're as bad as the Romanians," Esme tsked with a knowing smile.
"Ah, you caught me. Hey, baby girl!" Tauren's attention turned to Adira as Rose entered with the baby in her arms.
Adira squealed happily, reaching out for Tauren. Rose carefully passed her over. "She's a little mischief maker, you know that?"
"Oh, I know. You put her down for one minute and she's gone," Tauren said. "Was she good for you?"
"Oh, she was fine. Fortunately there's a house full of vampires to look after her," Rose sai with a smile.
"You know, I'd probably stick around if it weren't for the fact that my people want to kill me," Tauren said with a grin, bouncing Adira on her knee.
"Did you want something to eat, Tauren?" Esme asked as she set a plate of fruit and waffles in front of Renesmee.
"If it isn't too much trouble. I can always make myself something," She responded.
Esme smiled. "Oh, don't worry about it. What would you like?"
"I'll have the same as Renesmee, if you're able," She said. "I'm going to put Adira down, let her crawl around. Stay in the room, would you?"
Adira giggled, blue eyes bright and understanding, and she crawled away as soon as Tauren set her down. Rose followed after her. "I'll keep an eye on her."
"Thanks, Rose. Little tyke," Tauren chuckled.
"It was very kind of you, taking her in," Esme said.
"Adira is like my own, I was there the day she was born. I couldn't leave her to those that would treat her as lesser simply because she is not full fae," Tauren said.
"She's unheard of, isn't she? Like Nessie?"
"There are half-fae. They're few and far between, and aren't quite as powerful as full fae though they share in our immortality. They're seen as lesser because of the human blood that runs through their veins," Tauren explained. "I think it's wrong."
"It is," Esme agreed, setting her plate of fruit and waffles in front of here. "Here you go, sweetie."
"Thank you, Esme. It looks delicious," Tauren said. "I think after this I'll go and show your witnesses how it's done."
"Leave it to you to cause a stir," She said in amusement.
Tauren gave Esme and impish grin. "Like you'd take me any other way."
So yes, I've started another story. But I was having some major plot bunnies and didn't want to burn myself out by just focusing on Tenebrous, so now you've got this too. What do you think of Tauren? She's a powerful and clever character, and I'm hoping you all will enjoy her. If you liked this first part, consider following/favoriting and commenting to show your support! Merry Christmas, and I'll catch you all on the flip side!