What if Bella never came to Forks? What if Charlie found someone else? Well he did, my mother.
We were visiting my cousin. It was a surprise visit to see Billy and Jacob Black. Unfortunately, our car broke down, about a mile away from his house. I told Mom to go ahead and see Uncle Billy and Jacob, while I fixed the truck. I was wearing my hair in my hat, a tank top, and jeans. It wasn't the best attire for Washington, but I liked it, and could handle the cold.
"Hey dude, do you need help with your truck?" Why did everyone insist I was a guy when I'm wearing my hat?
"Hey dude," I said ever so mockingly, "I'm not a dude, I'm a chick, and I know how to put together an engine that you very much," I said as I turned around. I was shocked to see this boy. He was huge, six feet at lest, and only looked about sixteen.
"Jayme? Jayme Black, is that you?" he asked trying to sound all surprised.
"Ya, what's it to you?" I said confused.
"It's me, Jacob!" I looked at him with wide eyes. It really was him, so much for being taller than he was. He helped me with the truck, even though I said he didn't have to. And he criticized me for not wearing any shoes. I didn't like shoes, I found them uncomfortable. I called him a hypocrite, because he wasn't wearing any shoes either, he just laughed at me.
When we finished the truck, he drove. I noticed Billy was having a party. I told Jacob to tell Billy I said hi. I never liked party's, especially party's with people who knew me, but I hardly remember them. Jacob knew me to well; he told me that I wasn't going to bale on this party. I waved my hand at him and began to walk off, but he grabbed me. He threw me over his shoulder and began walking to the house. I hit his back with my fists and told him to put me down. I gave up when we walked into the house.
When we walked in, the room was silent, but then some boy began making comments. He was so immature; he began harassing Jacob, telling him he should save that for his room. I was tempted to hit him after Jacob put me down. Luckily, Jacob hit him after he put me down, explaining that I was his cousin. Then he made another comment, saying how sick that he was. This time I hit him and told him to shut his mouth, or I'd do it for him. Jacob and everyone began laughing. Jacob explain that his name was Paul, and that he was dropped on his head as a baby, multiple times. Some how, I didn't find that to be a lie.
Jacob introduced me to his friends. There was Sam, Embry, Quil, Jared, Paul, and Seth. I like Seth, he was really sweet. I heard Sam and Jacob talking about a bond fire over by the cliffs. Seth asked me if I wanted to go, I said that I would love to. I was about to ask my Mom, but I saw her talking to some guy. I decided that she wouldn't mind, she would know I was with Jacob. I was bored, so I decided to make the trip to the cliffs fun. I managed to get everyone to join a race.
Everyone, except Jacob and Seth laughed. Jacob was the only one who knew how fast I could run, and Seth was just being nice. On Sam's count of three we all ran for the cliffs. At first it was Jacob in the lead and behind him Sam and Seth. I decided to speed up, I ran in front of Seth, who just smiled, then Sam, and I was right next to Jacob. I ran up in front of him when the cliffs came into view. I was the first one to the cliffs, next was Jacob, and then Seth. After that were Sam, Embry, Jared, Paul, and then Quil. Jacob and Seth both congratulated me, while the others set up the bonfire.
After the fire was set up, everyone else began to show up. Billy, Mom, the guy she was with, a girl, and another mom. The girl sat down next to Seth, who was sitting next to me. Then the mom came over and sat next to the girl. Jacob was on the other side of me, and next to him some guy, and then Mom. Then guys were sitting next to each other on another log, while Billy was parked between the two logs.
Jacob leaned over to me and explained that Billy was going to tell us an old Quileute legend.
"The Quileutes have been a small people from the beginning," Billy said. "And we are a small people still, but we have never disappeared. This is because there has always been magic in our blood. It wasn't always the magic of shape-shifting --- that came later. First, we were spirit warriors."
That's when I really got into the story, and I began as a movie playing inside my head.
"In the beginning, the tribe settled in this harbor and became skilled ship builders and fishermen. But the tribe was small. And the harbor was rich with fish. There were others who coveted our land, and we were too small to hold it. A larger tribe moved against us, and we took to our ships to escape them.
"Kaheleha was not the first spirit warrior, but we do not remember the stories that came before his. We do not remember who was the first to discover this power, or how it had been used before this crisis. Kaheleha was the fist great Spirit Chief in our history. In this emergency, Kaheleha used the magic to defend our land.
"He and all his warriors left the ship --- not their bodies, but their spirits. The women watched over the bodies and the waves, and the men took their spirits back to the harbor.
"They could not physically touch the enemy tribe, but they had other ways. The stories tell us that they could blow fierce winds into their enemy's camps; they could make a great screaming in the wind that terrified their foes. The stories also tell us that the animals would do their bidding.
"Kaheleha took his spirit army and wreaked havoc on the intruders. This invading tribe had packs of big, thick-furred dogs that they used to pull their sleds in the frozen north. The spirit warriors turned the dogs against their masters and then brought a mighty infestation of bats up from the cliff caverns. They used the screaming wind to aid the dogs in confusing the men. The dogs and bats won. The survivors scattered, calling our harbor a cursed place. The dogs ran wild when the spirit warriors released them. The Quileutes returned to their bodies and their wives, victorious.
"The other nearby tribes, the Hohs and the Makahs, made treaties with the Quileutes. They wanted nothing to do with our magic. We lived in peace with them. When an enemy came against us, the spirit warriors would drive them off.
"Generations passed. Then came the last great Spirit Chief, Taha Aki. He was known for his wisdom, and for being a man of peace. The people lived well and content in his care.
"But there was on man. Utlapa, who was not content." A low hiss ran around the fire, interrupted Billy, and my mind movie. He ignored it and went on with the legend.
"Utlapa was one of Chief Taha Aki's strongest spirit warriors --- a powerful man, but a grasping man too. He thought the people should use their magic to expand their lands, to enslave the Hohs and the Makahs and build an empire.
"Now, when the warriors were their spirit selves, they knew each other's thoughts. Taha Aki saw what Utlapa dreamed, and was angry with Utlapa. Utlapa was commanded to leave the people, and never use his spirit self again. Utlapa was a strong man, but the chief's warriors outnumbered him. He had no choice but to leave. The furious outcast hid in the forest nearby, waiting for a chance to get revenge against the chief.
"Even in times of peace, the Spirit Chief was vigilant in protecting his people. Often, he would go to a sacred, secret place in the mountains. He would leave his body behind and sweep down through the forests and along the coast, making sure no threat approached.
"One day when Taha Aki left to perform this duty, Utlapa followed. At first, Utlapa simply planned to kill the chief, but this plan had its drawbacks. Surely the spirit warriors would seek to destroy him, and they could follow faster than he could escape. As he hid in the rocks and watched the chief prepare to leave his body, another plan occurred to him.
"Taha Aki knew it the instant the Utlapa had joined him in the spirit world, and he also knew Utlapa's murderous plan. He raced back to his secret place, but even the winds weren't fast enough to save him. When he returned, his body was already gone. Utlapa's body lay abandoned, but Utlapa had not left Taha Aki with and escape --- he had cut his own body's throat with Taha Aki's hands.
"Taha Aki followed his body down the mountain. He screamed at Utlapa, but Utlapa ignored him as if he were mere wind.
"Taha Aki watched with despair as Utlapa took his place as chief of the Quileutes. For a few weeks, Utlapa did nothing but make sure that everyone believed he was Taha Aki. Then the changes began --- Utlapa's first edict was to forbid any warrior to enter the spirit world. He claimed that he'd had a vision of danger, but really was afraid. He knew that Taha Aki would be waiting for the chance to tell his story. Utlapa was also afraid to enter the spirit world himself, knowing Taha Aki would quickly claim his body. So his dreams of conquest with a spirit warrior army were impossible, and he sought to content himself with ruling over the tribe. He became a burden --- seeking privileges that Taha Aki had never requested, refusing to work alongside his warriors, taking a young second wife and then a third, thought Taha Aki's wife lived on --- something unheard of in the tribe. Taha Aki watched in helpless fury.
"Eventually, Taha Aki tried to kill his body to save the tribe from Utlapa's excesses. He brought a fierce wolf down from the mountains, but Utlapa hid behind his warriors. When the wolf killed a young man who was protecting the false chief, Taha Aki felt horrible grief. He ordered the wolf away.
"All the stories tell us that it was no easy thing to be a spirit warrior. It was more frightening than exhilarating to be freed from one's body. This is why they only used their magic in times of need. The chief's solitary journeys to keep watch were a burden and a sacrifice. Being bodiless was disorienting, uncomfortable, horrifying. Taha Aki had been away from his body for so long at this point that he was in agony. He felt he was doomed --- never to cross over to the final land where his ancestors waited, stuck in this torturous nothingness forever.
"The great wolf followed Taha Aki's spirit as he twisted and writhed in agony thorough the woods. The wolf was very large for its kind, and beautiful. Taha Aki was suddenly jealous of the dumb animal. At least it had a body. At least it had a life. Even life as an animal would be better than horrible empty consciousness.
"And then Taha Aki had the idea that changed us all. He asked the great wolf to make room for him, to share. The wolf complied. Taha Aki entered the wolf's body with relief and gratitude. It was not his human body, but it was better than the void of the spirit world.
"As one, the man and the wolf returned to the village on the harbor. The people ran in fear, shouting for the warriors to come. The warriors ran to meet the wolf with their spears. Utlapa, of course, stayed safely hidden.
"Taha Aki did not attack his warriors. He retreated slowly from them, speaking with his eyes and trying to yelp the songs of his people. The warriors began to realize that the wolf was no ordinary animal, that there was a spirit influencing it. One older warrior, a man name Yut, decided to disobey the false chief's order and try to communicate with the wolf.
"As soon as Yut crossed to the spirit world, Taha Aki left the wolf --- the animal waited tamely for his return --- to speak to him. Yut gathered the truth in an instant, and welcomed his true chief home.
"At this time, Utlapa came to see if the wolf had been defeated. When he saw Yut lying lifeless on the ground, surrounded by protective warriors, he realized what was happening. He drew his knife and raced forward to kill Yut before he could return to his body.
" 'Traitor,' he screamed, and the warriors did not know what to do. The chief had forbidden spirit journeys, and it was the chief's decision how to punish those who disobeyed.
"Yut jumped back into his body, but Utlapa had his knife at his throat and a hand covering his mouth. Taha Aki's body was strong, and Yut was weak with age. Yut could not say even one word to warn the others before Utlapa silenced him forever.
"Taha Aki watched as Yut's spirit slipped away to the final lands that were barred to Taha Aki for all eternity. He felt a rage, more powerful than anything he'd before. He entered the big wolf again, meaning to rip Utlapa's throat out. But, as he joined the wolf, the greatest magic happened.
"Taha Aki's anger was the anger of a man. The love he had for his people and the hatred he had for their oppressor were too vast for the wolf's body, too human. The wolf shuddered, and --- before the eyes of the shocked warriors and Utlapa --- transformed into a man.
"Then new man did not look like Taha Aki's body. He was far more glorious. He was the flesh interpretation of Taha Aki's spirit. The warriors recognized him at once, though, for they had flown with Taha Aki's spirit.
"Utlapa tried to run, but Taha Aki had the strength of the wolf in his new body. He caught the thief and crushed the spirit form him before he could jump out of the stolen body.
"The people rejoiced when they understood what had happened. Taha Aki quickly set everything right, working again with his people and gibing the young wives back to their families. The only change he kept in place was the end of the spirit travels. He knew that it was too dangerous now that the idea of stealing a life was there. The spirit warriors were no more.
"From that point on, Taha Aki was more than either wolf or man. They called him Taha Aki the Great Wolf, or Taha Aki the Spirit Man. He led the tribe for many, many years, for he did not age. When danger threatened, he would resume his wolf-self to fight or frighten the enemy. The people dwelt in peace. Taha Aki fathered many sons, and some of these found that, after they had reached the age of manhood, they, too, could transform into wolves. The wolves were all different, because they were spirit wolves and reflected the man they were inside.
Billy paused for a moment. I came back to earth, and noticed that the fire had died down a lot. Also the boy's were making faces at each other. Had I missed something while changing the story into a movie? Before I got an answer, Billy continued with the story.
"Some of the sons became warriors with Taha Aki, and they no longer aged. Others, how did not like the transformation, refused to join the pack of wolf-man. These began to age again, and the tribe discovered that the wolf-men could grow old like anyone else if they gave up their spirit wolves. Taha Aki had lived the span of three old men's lives. He had married a third wife after the deaths of the first two, and found in her his true spirit wife. Though he had loved the others, this was something else. He decided to give up his spirit wolf so that he would die when she did.
"That's how the magic came to us, but it is not the end of the story. . . ."
Billy turned over to a man, about his age, maybe older, and nodded. I didn't even know that he was here. As Billy took a drink of water and wiped his forehead, he cleared his throat, to pick up where Billy left off.
"Many years after Taha Aki gave up his spirit wolf, when he was an old man, trouble began in the north, with the Makahs. Several young woman of their tribe had disappeared, and blamed it on the neighboring wolves, who they feared and mistrusted. The wolf-men could still read each other's thoughts while in their wolf forms, just like their ancestors had while in their spirit forms. They knew that none of their numbers was to blame. Taha Aki tried to pacify the Makah chief, but there was too much fear. Taha Aki did not want to have a war on his people. He charged his oldest wolf-son, Taha Wi, with finding the true culprit before hostilities began.
"Taha Wi led the five other wolves in his pack on a search through the mountains, looking for any evidence of the missing Makahs. They came across something they had never encountered before --- a strange, sweet scent in the forest that burned their noses to the point of pain.
"They did not know what creature would leave such a sent, but they followed it. They found faint traces of human scent, and human blood, along the trail. They were sure this was the enemy they were searching for.
"The journey took them so far north that Taha Wi sent half the pack, the younger ones, back to the harbor to report to Taha Aki
"Taha Wi and his two brothers did not return.
"The younger brothers searched for their elders, but found only silence. Taha Aki mourned for his sons. He wished to avenge his sons' death, but he was old. He went to the Makah chief in his mourning clothes and told him everything that had happened. The Makah chief believed his grief, and tensions ended between the tribes.
"A year later, two Makah maidens disappeared from their homes on the same night. The Makahs called on the Quileute wolves at once, who found the same sweet stink all through the Makah village. The wolves went on the hunt again.
"Only one came back. He was Yaha Uta, the oldest son of Taka Aki's third wife, and the youngest in the pack. He brought something with him that had never been seen in all the days of Quileutes --- a strange, cold, stony corpse that he carried in pieces. All who were of Taha Aki's blood even those who had never been wolves, could smell the piercing smell of the dead creature. This was the enemy of the Makahs.
"Yaha Uta described what had happened: he and his brothers had found the creature, who looked like a man but was hard as a granite rock, with the two Makah daughters. One girl was already dead, white and bloodless on the ground. The other was in the creature's arms, his mouth at her throat. She may have been alive when they came upon the hideous scene, but the creature quickly snapped her neck and tossed her lifeless body to the ground when they approached. His white lips were covered in her blood, and his eyes glowed red.
"Yuha Uta described the fierce strength and speed of the creature. One of his brothers quickly became a victim when he underestimated the strength. The creature ripped him apart like a doll. Yuha Uta and his other brother were more wary. They worked together, coming at the creature from the sides, outmaneuvering it. They had to reach the very limits of their wolf strength and speed, was hard as stone and cold as ice. They began to rip small pieces of the creature apart while it fought them.
"But the creature learned quickly, and soon was matching their maneuvers. It got its hands on Yaha Uta's brother. Yaha Uta found an opening in the creature's throat, and he lunged. His teeth tore the head off the creature, but the hands continued to mangle his brother.
"Yaha Uta ripped the creature into unrecognizable chunks, tearing pieces apart in a desperate attempt to save his brother. He was too late, but, in the end, the creature was destroyed.
"Or so he thought. Yaha Uta laid the reeking remains out to be examined by the elders. One severed hand lay beside a piece of the creature's granite arm. The two pieces touched when the elders poked them with sticks, and the hand reached out towards the arm piece, trying to reassemble itself.
"Horrified, the elders set fire to the remains. A great cloud of choking, vile smoke polluted the air. When there was nothing but ashes, they separated the ashes into many small bags and spread them far and wide --- some in the ocean, some in the forest, some in the cliff caverns. Taha Aki wore one bag around his neck, so he would be warned if the creature ever tried to put himself together again."
The old man paused and looked at Billy. Billy pulled out a leather thong from around his neck. Hanging from the end was a small bag, blackened with age. I was staring at the bag with aw. Out of no where, Jacob grabbed my waist and made me scream. Everyone began staring at me. I slapped Jacob on the back of his head, and the old man continued.
"They called it The Cold One, the Blood Drinker, and lived in fear that it was not alone. They only had one wolf protector left, young Yuha Uta.
"They did not have long to wait. The creature had a mate, another blood drinker, who came to the Quileutes seeking revenge.
"The stories say that the Cold Woman was the most beautiful thing human eyes had ever seen. She looked like the goddess of the dawn when she entered the village that morning; the sun was shining for once, and it glittered off her white skin and lit the golden hair that flowed down to her knees. Her face was magical in its beauty, her eyes black in her white face. Some fell to their knees to worship her.
"She asked something in a high, piercing voice, in a language no one had ever heard. The people were dumbfounded, not knowing how to answer her. There was none of Taha Aki's blood among the witnesses but one small boy. He clung to his mother and screamed that the smell was hurting his nose. One of the elders, on his way to council, heard the boy and realized what had come among them. He yelled for the people to fun. She killed first.
"There were twenty witnesses to the Cold Woman's approach. Two survived, only because she grew distracted by the blood, and paused to sate her thirst. They ran to Taha Aki, who sat in counsel with the other elders, his sons, and his third wife.
"Yaha Uta transformed into his spirit wolf as soon as he heard the news. He went to destroy the blood drinker alone. Taha Aki, his third wife, and his elders followed behind him.
"At first they could not find the creature, only the evidence of her attack. Bodies lay broken, a few drained of blood, strewn across the road where she'd appeared. Then they heard the screams and hurried to the harbor.
"A hand full of Quileutes had run to the ships for refuge. She swam after them like a shark, and broke the bow of their boat with her incredible strength. When the ship sank, she caught those trying to swim away and broke them, too.
"She saw the great wolf on the shore, and she forgot the fleeing swimmers. She swam so fast she was a blur and came, dripping and glorious, to stand before Yaha Uta. She pointed at him with one white finger and asked another incomprehensible question. Yaha Uta waited.
"It was a close fight. She was not the warrior her mate had been. But Yaha Uta was alone --- there was no one to distract her fury from him.
"When Yaha Uta lost, Taha Aki screamed in defiance. He limped forward and shifted into an ancient, white-muzzled wolf. The wolf was old, but this was Taha Aki the Spirit Man, and his rage made him strong. The fight began again.
"Taha Aki's third wife had just seen her son die before her. Now her husband fought, and she had no hope that he could win. She'd heard every word the witnesses to the slaughter had told the council. She'd heard the story of Yaha Uta's first victory, and knew that his brother's diversion had saved him.
"The third wife grabbed a knife from the belt of one of the sons who stood beside her. They were all young sons, not yet men, and she knew they would die when their father failed.
"The third wife ran toward the Cold Woman with the dagger raised high. The Cold Woman smiled, barely distracted from her fight with the old wolf. She had no fear of the weak human woman or the knife that would not even scratch her skin, and she was about to deliver the death blow to Taha Aki.
"And then the third did something the Cold Woman did not expect. She fell to her knees at the drinker's feet and plunged the knife into her own heart.
"Blood spurted through the third wife's fingers and splashed against the Cold Woman. The blood drinker could not resist the lure of the fresh blood leaving the third wife's body. Instinctively, she turned to the dying woman, for one second entirely consumed by thirst.
"Taha Aki's teeth closed around her neck.
"That was not the end of fight, but Taha Aki was not alone now. Watching their mother die, two young sons felt such rage that they sprang forth as their spirit wolves, though they were not yet men. With their father, they finished the creature.
"Taha Aki never rejoined the tribe. He never changed back to a man again. He lay for one day beside the body of the third wife, growling whenever anyone tried to touch her, and then he went into the forest and never returned.
"Trouble with the cold ones was rare from that time on. Taha Aki's sons guarded the tribe until their sons were old enough to take their places. There were never more than three wolves at a time. It was enough. Occasionally a blood drinker would come through these lands, but they were taken by surprise, not expecting the wolves. Sometimes a wolf would die, but never were they decimated again like hat first time. They'd learned how to fight the cold ones, and they passed the knowledge on, wolf mind to wolf mind, spirit to spirit, father to son.
"Time passed, and the descendant of Taha Aki no longer became wolves when they reached manhood. Only in a great while, if a cold one was near, would the wolves return. The cold ones always came in ones and twos, and the pack stayed small.
"A bigger coven came, and your own great-grandfathers," there was a pause, "or great-uncles, prepared to fight them off. But the leader spoke to Ephraim Black as if he were a man, and promised not to harm the Quileutes. His strange yellow eyes gave some proof to his claim that they were not the same as other blood drinkers. The wolves were outnumbered; there was no need for the cold on sot offer a treaty when they could have won the fight. Ephraim accepted. They've stayed true to their side, though their presence does tend to draw in others.
"And their numbers have forced a larger pack than the tribe has ever seen. Except, of course, in Taha Aki's time.
The story was over, and my eye lids felt very heavy. The last image that I remember was the diming fire, and the last crackle before it was out