A/N: Hey people! I've had this story sitting in my computer and I've finally gotten around to posting it. Let me know what you think, and if this story is worth continuing. The more reviews I get the better I can write and the faster I can post. Thanks!
~violet eyed dreamer~
It was late, getting close to midnight, when Charlie's snores began. Finally! I couldn't wait to go out. Now, I'll have you know that even though I'm a weird, hormonal, 17 year old teenage girl I am not sneaking out. At least, not in the way your thinking.
I'm Isabella Swan but I like to be called Bella or Izzy. I'm not normal, never have been since I turned 13. People say that being thirteen is awkward, which it most definitely was, but it was even harder for me when my mother told me I wasn't completely human. That was an awkward conversation for sure. Let me start from the beginning.
I was staring out the window in my room at the pavement on our driveway, you could see the heat rising up and fading away. It was during a heat wave in Phoenix that I finally decided to confront my mother on her curious behavior. Ever since I turned thirteen about a week ago she's been acting strangely, constantly watching me and asking if I'm feeling ok. Every time I tell her I'm fine she just goes back to her normal crazy self, but she is still a little cautious. She never gets mad at me anymore, never argues, and when something does come up she pushes it aside. Almost as if I'll just snap if I get too mad.
I walked down the stairs slowly, deciding how to say what I've been thinking, but before I reached the bottom step I was greeted by my mother.
"Hey sweets! How're you? Sleep well? I'm making chocolate chip pancakes, your favorite." Renee chirped sweetly. She really was always full of energy.
"Hey mom. I'm… okay. I slept fine." I hoped she wouldn't notice my slight hesitation, but with how she's been acting lately that wasn't very likely.
"Bella, honey, what's wrong?" She asked worriedly.
"Nothing." I said, annoyed at her for asking again, but thought better of it. "You've been acting strange."
She didn't say anything, just shrugged and went back to flip the pancakes. Her nonchalant shrug made me furious. She could've at least said why she was acting weird. Did she think I didn't notice her watching me all the time and checking to see if I was alright? These thoughts just added to the flame, making me so angry I was shaking. Renee turned her head around, her mouth half open and the corners tilted upwards as if she was about to tell a great joke. She saw me and the look vanished, replaced by determination. She turned off the stove and grabbed my arm gently, I was so angry I almost didn't notice her leading me to the backyard. I let her lead me, I knew that I might break something if I was inside, but as soon as I was outside my anger consumed me.
It felt like I was being torn apart. My limbs were twisting and stretching in unnatural ways and I heard several cracks and pops, each one accompanied with a high pitch scream of pure agony. It took me a moment to realize that the noises were coming from me. My body shifted and changed, still stretching impossibly more causing me unimaginable pain that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Then it stopped. I was still as I tried to figure out what just happened. I was angry, I started shaking, I was shredded into a million pieces, put back together, and now I'm on the ground.
I opened my eyes and saw the world for the first time. I could see everything there was to see, every leaf on a tree, every stick on the ground, and I barely had to think about it. I started to get up when I realized something was very wrong. I looked down and saw a pair of golden paws. I looked up at my mother.
"Honey, I think there is some thing I should tell you…"
She went on to tell me about Shifters, the Council, and other supernatural creatures. I was told I took the news well, and that's definitely saying something because I freaked out. Shifters are immortals who can shift into a specific creature connected with their personality. Also, every animal has a special ability associated with it, like dogs can sense emotions, wolves are more observant, and you get the point. The Council is made up of ten respected elders, who are also shifters, that create the laws and penalties for other shifters. I'm a shifter, but I'm also what the council calls "gifted" because I can shift into any form I want. There are many other supernatural creatures like vampires, children of the moon (werewolves), witches, psychics, ect. Shifters are usually peaceful with other races, but some shifters are violent and hard to control. The violent ones, though few, managed to start a war with the vampires about a decade ago. The war only lasted a few years, the Volturi and the Council of Shifters managed to stop it, but there is still hostility between the two races.
When I first shifted, my mother knew Phoenix was not the place for me. She used to be a shifter, but stopped shifting to be with Charlie and have me. Anyway, she kept me in Phoenix for a few years to train me and show me how to hide, lie, act, and other things to conceal what I truly was. When I turned seventeen she decided I would be happier in Forks and asked if I wanted to go. I was torn between living where there were forests or where my mother and mentor lived. Eventually she convinced me to leave, but told me to call Charlie and make sure there weren't any shifters in the area. Charlie didn't know about shifters, so it would be a little tricky. I told him I was doing an essay about animals out of their habitats. He told me there were some rumors of giant wolves, but wolves weren't exactly uncommon so close to Alaska, so I dismissed it.
I packed my bags, two suitcases and a backpack with extra clothes and things for when I shifted. After a few 'don't remember to's and an 'I love you. Don't forget to call.' I was on the plane to Forks, WA.
The plane landed in Port Angeles and I waited in the long line extending the length of the plane until I could breathe fresh air again. I was thankful that to get out of that tin can, the animal in me didn't like to be crowded into such a small, unnatural space.
I followed all the arrows to the baggage claim. If it weren't for my luggage, and Charlie, I could've flown here as a hawk or something. I sighed as the bags started circulating around on the conveyor belt, I knew this would take a while. I decided to eavesdrop on some other peoples conversations to keep me busy, but I still kept half my mind on finding my bag. I know, I know, eavesdropping is bad, blah, blah, blah. I don't think it counts when you're a shape-shifter.
There was a suspicious looking group of three tall, muscular, tanned men whispering not too far away. I decided they would be a good way to pass the time.
"Sam, you need to get back to La Push. Now. The pack as well as the entire tribe is in danger. Emily will be fine, call her and tell her to get a cab. The leeches are back! How can you be so calm while there is a chance they changed their minds and broke the treaty. Became murderers!" Angry man number one whisper-yelled. He was talking to a slightly taller man, Sam, who looked very calm on the outside but I could tell was annoyed. What were they talking about? Leeches, pack, tribe, murderers… La Push. They all added up to wolf-shifters, vampires, and a war. A war near Forks. No! Not another war. We've been peaceful with those damn fangs for so long. I thought. I growled, too softly for anyone but them to hear. They looked up. Oops.
"What was that? A growl, coming from over there. You hear it, Embry?" Sam, apparently the Alpha, asked mysterious man number three.
"Yeah. Not a machine, definitely… something else. Paul, lets go check it out." Embry looked to Sam for the ok. He nodded. Sam was definitely the alpha.
"Maybe there was a good reason to come." Paul mumbled to himself.
I grinned. It was dangerous to enter another shifter's land, but it was nice to meet more people like me. Plus, I thought the land was unclaimed. The only downside was that they were a pack, of wolves I assume from Charlie's help with my 'essay', and they were in danger from fangs. I don't like to get mixed up with fangs, they kill innocents. Some are good, "vegetarians" as they call themselves, and I guess that's why the wolves had a treaty with them.
I saw my bags and picked them up with ease. They were light to me, my body was built like a warrior so I could fight anything that threatened me or innocent people. I guess I forgot to act because I heard more whispers from the trio.
"What about her, she's so tiny yet she's carrying two suitcases like it's nothing." Embry suggested.
"Guilty" I whispered to them as I turned around. I looked right at them as I whispered "Meet you in La Push, wolf boys."
I left before they had time to think, moving through the crowd gracefully toward the door. I saw Charlie and smiled. He was scanning the crowd when he noticed me.
"Bella!" He said, happily surprised. He came over and pulled me into an awkward hug. We leaned back and walked out to the cruiser. I almost forgot he was the police chief of Forks. We sat in a comfortable silence on the way to my new home. I noticed how much greener it was here, and how much forest there was to explore.
We arrived at the house, and Charlie took my suitcases like a gentleman while I took my backpack. The only problem was that I'm stronger than him, and he struggled to carry them up the steps. He dropped them at the front door, unlocked it, picked up the bags and began lugging them into the house. He showed me around and I noted that there wasn't much food in the pantry. I had to eat a lot so I learned how to cook, but without food, I can't cook. I sighed, I guess I would have to go food shopping.
My room hadn't changed much, the crib had been replaced with a bed and a desk was added. On the desk was a silver cell phone, a white laptop, and a key to the house. I thanked Charlie a thousand times before he got sick of it and went to watch TV. I noticed that the rocking chair from when I was little was there. I looked at the window and remembered the wolves. Looking at my watch I realized it was only one o'clock. I decided to pay them a visit.
I grabbed my pack and walked downstairs.
"Charlie, I'm going out to… explore." I called out to him. It was partly true. I left before he could say anything.
I jogged into the woods and stopped out of sight from the roads or houses. I stripped and shifted into my wolf form. It felt weird, I usually didn't use my wolf form. Wolves travel in packs, and I have no pack so I feel kind of empty. I was automatically mega-alpha, though, which was useful. I came up with the name mega-alpha when I realized I could order an alpha without taking his place.
I stretched, felling excited to be able to explore and learn about this new place. Wolves gave the ability of learning, the alpha was the teacher, his pack the pupils. I sniffed around a little, catching at least ten different wolf scent, two fangs, and some of Charlie's too. It was taking to long to investigate, I needed to run.
I ran, feeling like I got more energy the more I ran than less. I slowed as I smelled something odd. A line, where the trails of fangs stop, and some of the pack's too. A border? But the wolves crossed it. I could discuss this with them later. I jogged lightly, almost trotting, through the forest. It really was beautiful. I stopped.
Hello? I called telepathically through the wolf mind link. I could send thoughts and hear theirs, but they couldn't hear anything but what I sent.
Wha? Hello? Geez, now I'm really going insane. It's bad enough I have actual voices in my head, now I have fake ones too? Grr! A wolf thought.
I giggled, and I let him hear it. Your not insane, silly wolf-boy. I need to talk to Sam, your alpha. I'm Bella, a shifter, I just moved from Phoenix. I'm living with Charlie Swan in Forks. What's your name?
Uhmmm… Quil. What's a shifter? And how are you a wolf. You're a pale face. It's a Quileute
gene. I need to tell Sam. Quil thought worriedly.
Whoa there, cowboy. A shifter is a shape shifter. That's what you are, isn't it? Oh crap your one of those Native American tribes the Council lost track of. Ugh. You obviously know about fangs, what about witches, werewolves, psychics…?
The Council? What council are you talking about? Well obviously not the La Push council… We are werewolves… Witches? Psychics? Crazy talk… Hate my life… Gonna kill Sam… His thoughts were all jumbled. I searched through and found where Sam lived, and headed that way. I phased, dressed, and walked out. I knocked on the door.
The house was nice, it was grey with a white trim. There were small flower boxes filled with tiny yet fragrant yellow flowers below the front windows. I waited for a few seconds, then the door flew open. The woman in front of me was beautiful, but half of her face was marred by scars. To any human they would look like bear scars, but I knew she had been scarred by a wolf.
"Hello. I'm Emily. I don't think I know you." She said sweetly.
"I'm Bella, Charlie Swans daughter. I need to speak with Sam. It's urgent." I said, trying to ignore the scars. She looked at me curiously.
"Why?"
"I can't tell you that. I'm sorry." I didn't have time for a cover story.
"Alright. Wait here." She closed the door. I took a few steps back from the porch. Didn't want to make the alpha feel threatened. I heard Emily call Sam's name and have a brief conversation with him. Emily obviously knew about the pack. The door opened.
"You…" Sam murmured as he shut the door behind him.
"You need to take me to your council so I can discuss some matters with your Elders." I said, without the alpha voice.
"Who are you? How do you know about-"
"Take me to your elders." I repeated, an order this time. He was shocked.
"How did you-"
"For the love of God! Take me to your freaking Elders!"
He made a few calls, and in an hour I met them. Billy Black, an old family friend, Harry Clearwater, my dad's other close friend, Quil Sr., Quil's grandfather, and Sam Uley, alpha of the La Push wolf pack. They were all shocked, to say the least, when I asked for them to come with me to Seattle so they could learn about shifters. They only agreed after they saw my shift into a bird, a wolf, and a horse. I didn't have much time left, so I called Charlie and said I was camping. Lame excuse, but it was believable. We drove in Billy's old truck, the three eldest elders in the cab, me and alpha in the back. I called James on the way there.
Ring. Ring, Ri-
"Hello, how may I be of assistance?"
"It's Izzy Dwyer."
"Oh, Ms. Dwyer, how are you? I heard you moved in with your father."
"Yes, I'm okay. I need your help. The Quileute tribe in La Push has the shifter gene, wolves. They don't know much about supernatural happenings."
"Ahhh. One of those lost tribes. Where are you bringing them?"
"Seattle."
"That is the closest office, but I'm afraid it might take me a while to get there."
"How fast can you fly?"
"Not fast enough, but I could call Kaz, she'd teleport me."
"Alright. But tell her I said thanks. Oh, and bring Vicky. She's good at explaining the whole thing."
"Anything else, your highness?"
"Ha ha, very funny."
"See you soon, Ms. Dwyer."
Before I could respond, there was a beeping noise signaling the end of the call. James. He was the council's secretary in a way, and he was really nice. He was also very formal and had the smoothest British accent.
Sam looked at me funny.
"What?" I asked.
"Ms. Dwyer?" I sighed. Definitely not in the mood to explain.
"Long story."
The rest of the ride was spent in silence apart from the wind swirling around us, making my hair fly in different directions. Tonight was going to be a long night.