Breaking away from Bast

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight; it is the property of Stephenie Meyer. The original characters and plot are mine. I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Italics for thoughts (Edward can hear it if he's present)

Stages of forms

Tiger: first form (actual tiger)

Tigris: second form (were-tiger, like werewolves, larger than actual animal)

Taiga: third form (cat ears, tail, more tiger musculature, fur, full canines, paws)

Tigam: fourth form (half and half, humanoid form, light fur, tail, nearly full canines, paws)

Tegamen: fifth form (mostly humanoid, no fur, stripes marking the skin and claws and longer canines)

Higar: sixth form (human but with cat senses and scent, regeneration and able streak mind)

Human: seventh form (completely human)

Chapter 1

Appointed

"We gather whole as clan. Act as clan for the clan. As children of the great mother, protectors of light we are called to action!" Renátka called over the clan, though now she was to be called Renee to match the current era. As she stood before us beautiful and strong as Taiga I envied her, she was a true leader. Her eyes gazed out but never landed on me, I was her daughter and for it she hated me. I was next in line to lead and she desired to hold her power. She had nothing to fear from me I have no desire to kill her in order to lead and she would never step down.

I listened, gathered by her summons two hours ago, and wondered what could be so important that the whole clan was needed. Most were Tigris or Taiga except for most of those of us learning our final form. Looking for those I considered my streak I locked eyes with Daniel and smiled happily as he moved to come and sit with me. Kari and Keith with Maia nodded but stayed in their places.

"We have once again crossed paths with spirited wolves." She continued and everyone growled or hissed lightly. We were not at war with them but a cat is a cat and a dog is a dog, we don't mix well. I tensed as I realised the intention of this meeting. "Their numbers are too large for us to ignore, some of us must guard over them. Once again these wolves are tied to the golden ones." She continued her speech though she had felt the ripple of the disquieted Tigers in front of her. "We shall send two so that no child should be left out of the clan alone." My eyes widened I knew at once I would be going but who would join me? Everyone nodded in agreement, it was not needed to have an elder there a child would do.

"Grant me this task!" several of us called out, my voice amongst them. I would not shame myself by refusing to assist the clan even if I knew she wished me to never return. Daniel's voice had joined mine and I smiled at him.

"My brave ones allow me to show my favouritism?" she asked with a gentle smile, "Bella?" she asked and all bowed at her selection. I moved towards the center and knelt before her. "Daniel?" her voice calm and he joined me in front of her. "Bring light to the darkness children." She said laying her hands on our shoulders. Her hand was light on me and left quickly, I held myself still and tried to will away my sorrow. Perhaps this task will prove to her my dedication to her, though I doubted it greatly. I would be gone from our lands for a long time on this task and I knew she was pleased to have me go.

****

"Wow! Renátka choose us! That is so cool! I mean what an honour and we're both so young. I mean it's a big deal!" Daniel rambled happily, I nodded but I was worried that there was more to this than an honour. She chose me to have me leave but Daniel is not a warrior he's not trained to greatly in war. He is protective but loyal to the clan before anything else. Sure he's my friend and we're close but that wasn't a motivation to her, she could careless if I got along with someone or not.

"Yes our first tasks as humans. It is truly very generous of her to give us this honour." I said my tone showed my mind going in a very different direction then his. He rolled his eyes but continued to smile as he thought about this trip.

"Its summer so we can go and get set up before going to school as our age suggests of us." He said thinking about what we would be playing. "We'll need money too... hey how about you paint and we open a gallery and live off of the profits?" I nodded it was a good plan as the clan would only pay for the building and travel, Tigers are self sufficient creatures. I enjoy painting and humans enjoyed buying them to look at or hang on their wall.

"It might look odd that a well known artist is so young." I stated plotting out the best cover as to not raise notice with the golden eyed vampires that currently dwelled in Forks near the spirited wolves. "But then again it's not like I have to tell people I painted them." I hated that my work was well known amongst humans, but it assisted the clan so I sold them through an agent to the world and made a lot of money for it. My face wasn't known that was all that mattered.

****

We arrived in this town in a forest two days later. It had taken time to arrange accommodations and transit as well as travel from Lake Rose Tead near Kodiak Alaska to Forks Washington. It was safest for the clan to be isolated when training and none of us minded the cold. It was one of the few gatherings that weren't a nesting area for those that were in transition. It was one of the warrior clans where the soldiers learned their duties before moving to nests to protect the youngest of us, Daniel was there as one of the few workers that built and maintained the camp. I on the other hand was here to follow my mother and learn from her, it wasn't working out so well.

My uncle had raised me and I would have rather followed him but females do not follow males they are beneath us. Cue eye roll. It was supposed to be my father who trained me but he died in defence of a nest during the cleansing times. I honour him and my uncle for choosing to train me when my mother wrote me off. Demetri managed to have patience with me even though I had some irregular difficulties, what with my mother not screening my matches and yet still being in line to lead. I am only as I am thanks to my kind hearted uncle.

"You seem lost." Daniel commented as we walked the final portion of our journey. My mind was else where as he said this. The first thing we needed was to get a car or a bike. I would prefer the bike but it was wet here and it might make it look odd that we drove a motorcycle here.

"I am, but with you I will always find my way." I said smiling it was a common phrase to say to your match, though Daniel was not officially my mate he and I were close. Well closer than I was to most anyone else and Kari, Keith and Maia were all warriors of Renee's guard so no matter how close I was to them they were still hers then mine.

He smiled at my statement and walked on. It would take us another hour at the human pace to reach our new building; I wasn't looking forward to sleeping human or inside. But it was necessary with vampires in proximity.

The rain began as we entered town and we ran the rest of the way. It was easy considering we had little more than our clothing and my weapons on us. The sword blade is as long as my spine, the sheath comfortable and my hair hide the handle so I wore it during our travels. But the throwing knives and one of my paintings as well as the few other possessions we each had were in the small backpack that Daniel wore. Once we sold the painting we would have money for whatever else we may need. Not that we had to eat today or tomorrow but it would be easier to have money and a vehicle. Eventually we took cover in a small cafe to wait out some of the weather, as to look more human.

"Sorry." I apologised, "We opted to walk into town forgetting about the possibility of rain and don't have any money on us." She smiled at me.

"Are you the new owners of the building off Pearson Street near Martin's Grocery?" She asked I nodded and she smiled at us again. "Oh well that's lovely. If you want I can start a tab for you?" she asked and both of us shook our heads.

"Not needed but thank you for your kindness. We just want to arrive at our new home slightly dry." Daniel answered beaming at her and for a moment interrupting her thoughts. I kicked him and his gaze shifted back to me.

"Okay." She said before leaving the table flustered. I glared at him as he chuckled.

"I didn't do it on purpose. I forget humans feel our essences and react so strongly to them." He said shrugging. I shook my head and flicked him laughing when he dodged and the flick war began.