Don't Talk To Strangers

I do not own any part of Twilight... First fan fiction please be kind...

I heard her scream for help as if I were under water. The pain racked across my chest as I tried to place my feet under my prone body. Light fractured my vision as the world tilted on its axes.

"Quil!" My name was cut off by the most piercing scream from my most hideous nightmare. Oh God help me! Once again I unsteadily shift to my feet. The pain was making it difficult to phase. I must really be out of it,to be caught off guard by the leech. As the forest view shimmered the pain receded slightly."Jake , man I need you. Where is she? I turned around, scanning the dense canopy of the forest looking for Claire's location.

"Help me Quil!" My heart stopped as I saw the bloodsucker's figure hunched over Claire's crouched one, vainly trying to escape.

"Quil, man where are you?" " Thank god, Jake. " I quickly sent him a picture of the area and the situation. "We're on our way!" I launch myself toward the leech before she noticed my approach. She screeched as I sank my teeth into her icy steel neck. The putridly sweet smell almost gagged me as I whipped my head back, taking a nice chunk of the vampire's neck along with me. It turned toward me with a vicious growl, with teeth and claws extended. In the back of my mind, all I could hear was Claire's fragile whimpers that were getting fainter by the second. But I couldn't spare a moment to glance her way as the creature shifted to her feet and leaped over my head, forcing me further away from my girl. As I turned to face her, she leaped. Midway, I met her and found my mark. Once again my teeth found purchase in her marble throat, this time snapping her neck like a snap bean. I watched as the dense forest exploded with five menacing wolves flew to circled clearing. The head slowly rolled to a stop as the first wolf made to my feet. I tuned and frantically made my way to Claire.

"Claire, baby! Are you ok? Belatedly I realized she couldn't hear me in wolf form. I felt the pain return in full force as I phased back, as I ran my frantic hands over Claire. There were no open wounds or broken bones that I could detect, but I was no doctor. Claire continued to whimper as she stared at the lifeless husk that the boys were taking great pleasure in tearing into smaller and smaller pieces. "Come here baby." I picked her up and pressed her unbending head into my shoulder. Her little body stiff with the paralyzing fear pulsing through her body. "Get that thing out of here and take care of it." The boys howled as they grabbed pieces and dragged them deeper into the forest. Two of the wolves fought over the biggest piece, likely the torso, each winning it from the other as they disappeared into the foliage.

"Quil," Claire trembled into Quil's shoulder. "Claire- bear, its ok. I've got you.

"No more mmonnster?" The words stumbling from her blue lips. Quil lifted her chin up toward his face. His chocolate brown eyes forcing hers to focus away from the now empty clearing. "The monster is gone forever. I swear to you Claire, I will always protect you." For a moment Claire's eyes stared into Quils, her own hazel eyes, shining with further unshed tears, found what she was looking for and grabbed his neck with all the force her 5 year old body could exert.

" Whoa there Claire-bear!, You are as strong as a bear." Quil patted her back and rocked her back and forth for a moment. His breath slowed as his heart resumed a more sedate pace. Then his frazzled mind picked up an important thread. "Hey Claire, look at me." Quil lifted her chin up and tried to give her the stern look, that always failed so miserably with her. Eagerly she looked into his eyes. "Yes Quil?" Claire hiccuped. Quil smoothed Claire's curls, removing a leaf. Claire's mom was going to kill him when she saw the damage to her new outfit. "Baby, why did you run away from the house? I told you I would get you a drink, and when I came back you were gone." Again shivers ran down his spine when he first noticed she was gone. " But, but Quil she told me that you were waiting for me in the woods." Quil gripped Claire as if she were slipping from his grip. "What baby? Who told you?'' Claire pointed to the trees where the boys backed into the forest. "Oh Claire!, Baby," Once again he gripped her chin, " What have I told you about strangers? Hmmm?" Both Quil and Claire repeated in unison as if for the hundredth time, " Don't talk to strangers." "Andddd?' Quil asked.

"And don't go anywhere with strangers and don't take candy from strangers and don't give your name to strangers and..." Quil placed a finger to Claire's little lips, " ok, ok," " I know I know Quil." "Then why did you go?" Quil waited as Claire stared back at him, not wanting to disappoint him. " I Don't know." With a shaky breath, and the first smile " You don't know?" "Hey Quil?" "What Claire?"

"Why are you naked?" Quil looked down with mortification. "Uhhh I must have forgot my pants?" Claire's chirping laugh rang through the trees as the newcomers smashed through the foliage. Suddenly she froze. Her eyes focused on a point, as if through Quil. Claire's lips moved as if she were reciting something but he could not hear. "What honey?" He leaned closer as she repeated in a sing song voice. " The gold bridge, coffee cup, main portman, " Her eyes seemed to come back to life as she cupped his cheek, " my birthday, Quil, remember my birthday. Quil blinked, "What baby? I don't understand?

"Jake is that you?" Charlie, the town sheriff asked as he pointed the piercing light of the flash light into his reflective eyes.

"Quil." Edward corrected as the rest of the search party entered the clearing. "Claire!" A slender woman, with long black hair, rushed toward Claire with her arms stretched open wide, tears streaming down her face. Emily following close beside her.

"Mommy!" Claire's arms reaching as mother and daughter were reunited. Quil felt as if a part of his heart was pulled from his body and gravity shifted. A rough brown blanket was draped across his hunched shoulders. "Quil, man remember your clothes before you shift." Jacob met Quil's eyes, both took in a sigh of relief.

"Exactly what I expected to see, " said an angry man pushing his way through the crowd building around the group. Ted Madison snatched his daughter from her mother's arms and swung toward Charlie. "This is what I told you! That young man is sick and I do not want him anywhere near my daughter. I want the pervert arrested. Come on baby, we're going home."

"Wait a minute Ted!" Charlie grabbed his sleeve, " Just slow down for one cotton picking minute. We don't know what going on." Charlie turned to Quil. The boy was shaking, Charlie took in his undressed state. Upon looking closer, he noticed the dark bruises that covered most of his torso. There was blood as well but he could not tell from where. He knew Quil all of the boys life and knew beyond any doubt the kid would never harm the little girl. But why was the man naked ?

"Son what the hell happened here?" As Quil looked up and opened his mouth, Carlisle stepped forward and blocked Charlie's view. "This conversation can continue at the hospital. Can't you see that this man needs medical attention?"

At the mention of hospital, Quil and Jacob's objections were shouted over the throng of the groups outbursts. Carlisle pierced Quil's gaze. "Trust me," he said low for Quil's benefit only. " I can take him in my car. Can you make it out of the clearing, it's a mile or so to the car."

Quil swallowed his retort and replied solemnly "I'll try to manage." Ted was suddenly in his face, "This isn't over, not by a long shot." Both men stood facing each other. Quil six foot four towered over Ted's meager five foot nine, but the menace in the older man's eyes was icy rage, and Quil's frustration veered toward panic. "Mr Madison, I love Claire and I would protect her with my life. I only want her safety." Claire reached for Quil. He clutched the little hand that anchored his feet to this earth. Ted swung the little girl to his hip and with the other free hand he pushed Quil with all his might. The quileute was not moved an inch. "I will make sure she's safe! You hear me boy!"

"Alright, alright, let's just get out of this clearing and we can sort out all of the details." Charlie pulled the father and mother along. Carlisle's cold arm drapped around Quil causing him to shiver as they made their way behind them. Edward and the other Cullens in the group held back. "What's up?" Jacob looked to Edward question in his eyes. "She was not alone." The Quileutes and the Cullens looked around the clearing. "He was watching from a distance but he's gone now."

"Doesn't mean we can't catch up." Embry said anticipation dripping in his voice. " Search the perimeter," Sam commanded the pack. " Jerad, you and Seth take care of the body. We'll keep in touch, tell Carlisle thanks." "I will, said Edward shaking Sam's hand as he made his way out of the clearing.