Hello and welcome to The Outsider. For new readers and old you should know I have recently taken up the endeavor of revising and reformatting, chapter by chapter, and hope to eventually get back to writing Chapter 41. Thank you so much for reading and please leave a comment, I love to hear from everyone; constructive criticism is also welcome. ~A
I pulled into the small lot and turned off the engine. Looking out my windshield I could see about a half dozen or so, small, two story houses, spread out over 10 acres of land. I looked at the house almost directly in front of me. When I researched this reservation this house was marked as the elder's home. The Elder… Would he, or she, know anything about my… problem? I leaned forward and rested my forehead on the steering wheel. What if he/she thinks I'm crazy, what if the legend isn't true after all, I thought to myself; What if I am crazy, just like Jared! NO, I can't think about that! Suppressed panic and fear bubble to the surface and I let a few tears fall from my green eyes before I pulled myself together.
"He can't hurt me anymore" I said to myself, almost sobbing, "He's locked up, I am safe, I am safe, I am safe…".
I looked back up at the house wiping my eyes. I need to do this I told myself; I have to know. I opened the car door and stepped out into a cool summer breeze that ruffled my long red hair. It was colder here in La Push then it was in Winthrop. I could smell the ocean from here. Slowly I made my way up the dirt drive toward the house. I walked around to the front thinking it would be more polite to knock on the front door. Taking a deep breath I knocked twice on the door, harder maybe than I would have in other circumstances.
A woman's voice answered, calling "I'll be right there just let yourself in".
So, hesitating slightly, I opened the door and stepped inside.
Immediately I was bombarded with the strong smell of herbs; which I noticed were hanging from the high ceiling in bunches. A tall, skinny older woman with long grey hair, shot with black, braided down her back came bustling into the hall and looked at me a little taken aback.
"Oh, I thought you were Sam" she said looking me up and down.
"I'm sorry" I said because what else am I supposed to say.
She smiled warmly, "No it's fine, is there something I can do for you" she asked, as she wiped her hands on a small green cloth she took from her jeans pocket.
"Ummm…" I said not sure where to begin, "I needed some…. Ummmm…. help"; and by the way I said it I sound like I need serious help! Mental Help!
She looked curiously at me, looking me up and down again as if she would be able to tell if I was an axe murderer looking to steal her herbs or something by just looking at me.
"Come in and sit and we can… talk" she said, a question in her voice as if to say, "You do want to talk, right?"
I followed her into a large kitchen. There was a large hearth instead of a stove set into the wall to my right, a small wood burning oven next to it, and lots of pots and pans of all shapes and sizes hanging from the ceiling; along with the herbs. Large cabinets lined one wall, one open revealed baking supplies.
She pointed to a wooden chair that was at one side of a small round table under a window and said "Please sit down".
I did as I was told and watched as she took a large pot off of the flames. As she worked I looked around the kitchen some more from where I sat. The round table I was sitting at was not the only table in the room. A long rectangular table was in the center, large enough for a 6 foot man to lie on and take a nice nap. But he would have to either clear it first or lie on top of all the mixing bowls, herbs, and small chopping knives that now clutter it; not exactly a comfy night's sleep. She placed the pot on a large cooling rack next to the hearth; it was tall enough for her to stir the pot on without bending over too much. She turned back to me wiping her hands again on that green cloth and walked towards me. Taking a seat across the table from me, she sat, waiting. What was I supposed to say, it was going to sound crazy and I said so.
"This is going to sound crazy, and I mean like really nuts, but I wanted to know… I need to know if…" and I stopped, thinking.
How the hell was I going to explain to this old woman that I wanted to know if her tribe's legends were true? She looked at me with curiosity and puzzlement in those deep brown eyes All of a sudden I wanted to spill my guts to her, because in that dark-chocolaty brown stare I saw understanding and true, unflinching trust. I could trust this woman with my deepest secrets and she would never tell a soul, she would help me.
"I want to know if your tribe's legend about the men being able to turn into wolves is true" I blurted out not even stopping to think anymore.
She looked at me with those brown eyes, searching for an explanation to my question but I was not going to give it, not yet.
"Many of my people believe them to be true" she said without taking her eyes from me.
"Yes" I said, "But are they really?"
She hesitated, looking at me with calculating eyes. Then and there I wonder if she really did think I was nuts.
My eyes welled with tears, "Please" I whispered "I'm not crazy…" but she held her hands up and said "I never said I thought you were crazy did I?"
"No" I said "But…"
"But nothing, I need you to trust me when I say I do not think you are crazy" she said in a firm tone.
"Why do you want to know about our legends and specifically, the men to wolf story?" she asked still looking firm.
"I…" I stuttered, twisting my hands together in my lap. "I need…"
"Why do you need to know" she interrupted.
She didn't sound impatient but what I had asked had obviously gotten her attention. I could tell her, I told myself.
I took a deep breath, "OK, but you have to promise you won't call the police".
I knew it sounded stupid and clearly she did too but she said "I promise" anyway.
I took another deep breath. How should I say this?!
"OK, I want… I need to know because…" I said and then the next part came out in a rush I couldn't stop, "Ever since I was 14 I've been able to transform into a wolf, just like the men in that story; I was perpetually sick as a child and then when I was 14 I got mono and then one day my parents were out shopping and I was at home lying in bed and all of a sudden I was 40 feet tall and I was on the floor. I had fallen out of bed and I was furry! I didn't know what to do so I focused really hard on being human again and I turned back. I never told my parents but I've been able to transform ever since."
I cringed, hoping to God she wouldn't take one of her pans down from the ceiling and start hitting me over the top of the head with it screaming "OUT, OUT". I snuck a peek at her and she looked mildly surprised, but otherwise, she was not moving for a pan; yet.
"You can turn into a wolf, really, you aren't just pulling my leg" she asked and it was her turn to sound disbelieving.
"Yes" I said, a small quiver in my voice, "Yes" I said again this time stronger as I lifted my head. "Indeed" she said, still disbelieving.
"I knew you would think I was crazy" I said, feeling like an idiot.
"I don't think you're crazy" she said, "Just… well, curious, I've never heard of anyone outside of the tribe being able to transform.
"Wait, what? You believe me" I asked in astonishment.
"Yes, I believe you; no one would get that worked up over a lie even if they were a good actor," she said with a small smile.
I doubted this very highly, thinking how bad of an actor I was, and how many people could have totally pulled that off as a lie.
"That and I can feel your heat from here; all the others have a high body temperature, though you don't seem to be as warm as them," she said pretending to fan herself as if a sudden heat wave had just blown through the open window.
I smiled a little at her joke and she smiled back. All of a sudden the front door opened and a tall, totally buff guy came striding into the room. I say buff because he had no shirt on, only shorts and some worn out looking sneakers. His hair was jet black and his eyes a light green flecked with a copper.
"Oh, there you are Sam" said the old woman.
Sam looked at me, curiosity clearly etched on his face. Then he looked over my shoulder at the old woman.
"Who is this Burdette" he asked?
Burdette, so that's what her name was, I didn't even stop to ask.
"I was just talking with… I'm sorry I haven't even asked your name, or introduced myself" she said looking apologetic.
"My name is Arianna" I said quickly, "Arianna Spade".
"My name is Burdette Black" she said "I am the Elder of the Quileute Tribe."
She is the Elder, good job rushing into an explanation of your darkest secret without checking that fact first Arianna, I thought to myself.
"How old are you Arianna" she asked looking me up and down once more.
"I'm 17" I told her, wondering how old she was; probably in her late 60's; but I thought it too impolite to ask.
Burdette looked up at Sam, "I have two things for you today Sam" she said.
Sam looked puzzled, "But I only need the soup for Emily" he said.
"Oh, I have the broth all ready for her," she corrected him, gesturing toward the pot on the cooling rack with her hand, "But... Arianna, may I tell him?"
I looked at her in horror. "I… NO" I almost yell.
"Arianna, please, he will not think you are crazy, I trust Sam with my life, he will not tell a soul" she said to me, a plea in her voice.