Ok I know the first chapter is short but bear with me. That was just the intro and usually epilogues aren't that long anyway.

On with the story. Don't forget to read and review!

Blue xox

The stars were so beautiful. I could just stare at them all night and sleep in this clearing for all I care.

"Come Maya, it's getting dark"

My thoughts were interrupted. "Coming!" I yelled as I got up from staring at the stars. I looked at them again; they were so beautiful; I was entranced by their beauty. I was hoping to see a shooting star so I can actually make a wish, but unfortunately for me there weren't any sightings of such.

"Maya! Last time, we don't want to be late for the Tribal meeting"

"Ok Nida" I sighed in frustration. We ran through the meadow without a care, my
sister and I.

"Are you going to the meeting today?"

"Not today" I shook my head "I'm not up for another story that I heard for the thousandth time, even though it's going to be first for a couple of new people"

"True" she nodded "but what about Dad?"

"He'll be fine about it," I nodded "what's missing one tribal meeting going to cost me?"

"Uh, freedom to go out? Tribal leader's daughter can get into big trouble for many moons" Nida said imitating an elder as she pointed to me, well…imitating Dad. He didn't sound like that; she has a weird interpretation of people.

"Doubt it" I looked at her with confidence "me being the baby, I can get away with murder. You however darling sister, aren't so lucky"

"Sometimes I think you're not a Makah, with that attitude" she laughed "you're more suited to be Quileute…you have such an attitude"

"I'm flattered that you think of me that way, they are quite admirable" I sighed in awe.

"Lets not get into the subject of tribes please, it gives me a headache" Nida said rubbing her temples.

"You're right; we should stop and talk about something better…how's Josh?" I asked her purposely prying.

"Ok fine, tribes it is" Nida immediately answered.

"You are such dag" I laughed at Nida as I pushed her lightly on her left shoulder. A hoarse, harsh, painful howl immediately pierced my hearing as I immediately twitched my attention to the woods where Nida was closest to.

"Wolf" Nida swapping sides with me.

"Hey!" I said hitting her on the shoulder "what's with the act of courage?" I asked in sarcasm.

"You're braver than I am" she whimpered "and taller"

Usually I would run at the sound of a wolf, but this was different, there was something human sounding about this sound. It sounded like, pain almost. "You head back home I'm gonna go check it out"

"Oh yeah that's smart" Nida said grabbing my arm "what do I say to dad and the other elders when I come back and you're not with me? And the morning after when we find your carcass in the forest basically ripped apart by wolves. Who's the blame going to lie on? Me that's who, for letting you go into the forest!"

"Wow" I looked at my sister "you've thought about this pretty thoroughly, are you sure you're not planning to commit a murder or some kind and pretend it was some sort of accident?"

"Perhaps, there have been a couple of temptations" Nida smiled slyly.

"Don't make me throw something at you Nida. Look I'll be fine. There are rocks in the forest." The moment I said that I felt like crushing my head against one. That was the most 'intelligent' thing I've said all day.

"Rocks? Oh yeah, great implement of defence right there"

"Will you shut up with the sarcasm?" I answered back irritably "and you say I'm the one suited to the Quileute tribe? You're off your nut" I said as I walked toward the forest again. Another howl emerged as I came closer. I jumped back in fright, my heart was beating so hard and fast I felt like it was going to implode in my body. I turned to look at Nida who was standing there waiting for me to turn around and walk back to her. Probably most likely, she was definitely going to laugh at me if I walked back to her, probably call me a coward too by my prediction. I looked back at her and continued to walk into the forest.

"Are you crazy? Did someone throw a tomahawk at your head or something?"

"If I'm not back in ten minutes, then you can go to the tribe and proclaim that I am dead ok?" I walked in, not listening to the babble that Nida was going on about. I heard some faint grumbles and said whimpers from the distance; I stepped lightly, hoping that I wouldn't startle the animal to run away.

With every step I took it lead me closer to the sound, but deeper into the forest. The whimpers grew louder, until I saw this reddish brown animal in the distance, whimpering and lying down on a flat rock. I see wolves all the time, but what lead me to this one in particular? I couldn't turn around because I didn't want to, I was intrigued. The beast suddenly looked up in my direction but luckily, I managed to swiftly hide myself against the trunk of an oak. Bless them for being so large and old. I looked back, and I caught its gaze. My eyes widened and I was preparing to run away, but instead; the wolf didn't growl at me, it got up and walked away. I was curious to see where it was headed off to but my better judgement got the better of me Yeah that's right, just follow the wolf and get torn apart into shreds, it was the voice of my sister that had engaged my thoughts. Trust her, to be the nagging voice at the back of my head when I want to prevent myself from doing something. I made a mental note to tell her that later and would gladly want to see her reaction after. I stared into the distance, almost waiting for the wolf to come back, but it didn't. The night was getting cold, it was getting dark and I could just imagine Nida standing outside at the clearing, staring at her watch and looking around restlessly like the panic stricken woman she was. I decided to head back, to give up on my escapade for the wolf that sounded like it was in pain. Nida was going to get a good laugh out of this. I put my hands in the pockets of my jacket and headed off back to the clearing where surely Nida was awaiting to give me a lecture on giving her, the tribe and my father a simultaneous heart-attack. I prepared myself for it. I started to take a couple of quiet steps and was readying myself to start running back.

*snap*

It sounded like a twig just broke as it was being stepped upon. I stared down at my feet, but there were no twigs to be seen. I froze in place, slowly and anxiously turned around to see what was behind me, what could possibly be stalking me, and what could possibly be the end of my time on earth. I expected to see the wolf, stalking me, like prey but instead I see this…boy. Was I hallucinating? Was Nida right about the tomahawk? I didn't know if I was hallucinating or not, whether one minute I was staring at this wolf and then a split-second later I see this boy. Had this boy scared the wolf off and made it run away? It was too dark to see anything, the trees created a shadow on his face as the moonlight shone through the leaves. I couldn't decipher what he looked like, but regardless; I was intrigued. What was he doing on his own, in the middle of the woods, at night and half-naked. Half-naked! It's freezing! I was about to open my mouth and say something, we were still staring at each other in silence.

"Ok, I don't care if that was ten minutes or less than. Get out of there before I come over there and drag you out Maya!"

I wanted to tell her what I saw and what was standing before me. I opened my mouth "Ok, Nida!" I answered with my gaze still on him. I was about to continue but he put his finger to his lips to indicate that he didn't want me to say anything and that I shouldn't tell anyone about this, not yet at least. I wanted to know who he was. I slowly nodded in agreement, turned my back and headed back to the clearing where Nida would be waiting. I took a few steps forward and turned around to look at him again. "I wouldn't go running off if I were you, the forests here are dangerous. I won't tell anyone you're here but in return, I expect you answer some questions I have for you tomorrow.

He didn't say anything. All he did was nod once.

"In that case stranger, goodnight" I said as I headed out to the clearing.

"Finally, for a minute there I would've been leaping into the sky with joy that I had finally gotten rid of the one hindrance in my life"

"One; you didn't get rid of me, I voluntary went into the forest. Two; Im a blessing. Three; shut up Nida before I hurt you" I said poking my tongue out at her as I approached her.

"So what was in the forest there?" Nida laughed at me "Enchanted beings?"

"Nah, nothing too flash" I replied "come on, let's get going. Better you getting into trouble than me"

"More like you getting us into trouble. Not only you made us late, you're not going to go to the bon fire and the tribal meeting; triple threat my sister"

"I'm tired" I yawned "cut me some slack here, I need my rest"

"No you don't, what about all those nights when you would lie here and then go to a party straight afterwards? Don't pull that excuse on me"

"God, you sound like mum" I sighed sadly at the thought.

"She's all around, you know. Like dad said"

"I know" I nodded "but isn't it a little bit hard to believe at this day and age?"

"Well, don't listen to what people think this day and age" Nida nudged me on the shoulder. I smiled as I rocked back to gain my balance. She had to learn how to control her strength.

We had made it to the tribal grounds where the tribal meeting had begun.

"Ah Nida, Maya" my father got up and hugged us both. I gazed at the new faces, probably terrified and shy. "My brothers; for those of you who do not know them, these are my two darling daughters: Nida, like the gentle elk so graceful and strong; and my beautiful Maya, like the fire that roars before us, powerful, warm and very feisty at times" he said with his arms around us both. Nida beamed in pride about being called graceful and strong. "Will you two be staying for the rest of the meeting?"

"Not tonight dad, I'm kinda really tired" I yawned. My father looked in my eyes and slightly smiled. "What is it?"

"Had a big day today little one?"

"Not really, why?"

"Meet anyone interesting?" he asked.

My heart began to beat faster and I sensed that the pupils of my eyes dilated. "No" I shook my head. I wonder if he meant that boy I saw today…I drifted off and immediately shook my head. "I'm just tired that's all"

"Ok, go rest; Nida, sit" he said as he sat down. Nida did as she was told and began to listen intently to the story that was being told. I headed back to the house that was a couple of metres away, no big deal, just a short walk. I headed straight to my room to get ready for bed. I looked at myself in the mirror, still the same ol' Maya.

Long black hair, that reached my elbows, dark brown eyes, the distinctive Native-American skin colour yet I was a little lighter than most.

"Yep, still the same" I laughed to myself as I checked. I wanted to make sure I wasn't hallucinating that what I saw in the forest wasn't a figment of my imagination; I pinched myself and of course, I flinched. "Good, I'm not dreaming" I said as I brushed my hair and walked over to my bed. I looked at the picture of my mother, said goodnight to her; placed my brush down on my night table, turned off the light and layed down. In the distance I heard father talking about the story of the wolf brethren; the story of the Quileutes. That was the last thing I heard before I slowly drifted off into my subconsciousness.