A/N: Now, before I begin, I would like to say that this is a mini-story – something I have never done before. So, hopefully it'll work out the way I planned. Also, this mini-story is an offshoot of my main story–Dwelling in the Dusk–which is a Jacob story.
Now, I'm also deciding on whether to write an Embry Call & Angela Weber pairing mini-story/offshoot and Renessmee Cullen & Seth Clearwater pairing mini-story/offshoot, since they are paired in DITD as well.
I decided to write a Leah mini-story because Leah and her Imprint are actually quite important in my main story – DITD. There needs to be a few explanations, reasons behind my main plot and I feel a good way to save time and put things right is to make a few chapters of the past, before my main character comes into the lives of these people.
WARNING/DISCLAIMER: Well, I do not own any of Stephenie Meyer's characters – only my own. And, warning, I am not a linguist and I have only recently been able to find a few good websites that provide good Maori words and phrases. So, if any readers come from New Zealand–or you happen to be able to speak and write Maori–please forgive me if I've wrongly used a phrase or word. I'm only using what I've gotten off the internet.
Though, considering my two best friends are Maori, it is a bit of an embarrassment on my part.
Anyway...
Offshoot: Dwelling in the Dusk
Mini Story: Me Te Aroha (with love)
Leah Clearwater's POV: 2008, March, 3rd
Now here we stay, it's all that we're worth.
I've been through the pain, been dragged through the dirt.
Whatever they tell you, we're bigger than words.
I've been where you're standing, I know how it hurts.
His deep voice played through my mind, forcing me to lean into his beautifully warm embrace, leaving tingles gliding up and down my spine. "Stay, Leah. I'll care for you me te aroha nui (with all my love). Chose me, Leah, chose aroha (love). Aroha, I'll never let you forget that word."
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I breathed in his musky scent. I felt the bond I shared with him tighten as I clung to him for some sort of reassurance that I would never have to leave his side. "I...I can't," I sobbed, feeling so awfully weak and vulnerable. This was not Leah Clearwater! "I have to go back. I belong to my tribe, not yours."
"You were made for me, Leah, you were made for a chief," His arms tightened around me and I felt his Pack watching us curiously. I knew his Pack respected him more than anything – they looked up to him for guidance, support and brotherly trust. Yet, those six young shape-shifters had never seen their Alpha plead with a woman so desperately.
I finally gathered the courage to look up into his deep brown eyes, seeing nothing but sorrow and distress. His arms tightened all the more around me and I suddenly became very aware of his immense strength. Clasping his beautiful face between my hands, I noticed our skin tones blending in perfectly, as well as our temperatures and strong heartbeats. "My family need me more than ever now...I can't leave them in the dark – they would never do that to me."
He remained silent for a long moment, staring at me with a very intense gaze which I couldn't look away from. His power over me was beginning to strengthen and, with every heartbeat, I felt the imprint feeding on our intimacy and I was finding it incredibly hard to ignore. Closing his eyes, he remained silent, as if trying to telepathically plead with me as well as verbally.
"My Pack and I are the Kaitiaki(guardians/protector) of our people and our lands. I was born as a leader, as the Ariki (Alpha)...but I cannot continue without you. Don't you see, Leah? You have the mauri (hidden essential life force), it's drawn to you and it will only obey you. We need to work together to destroy the immortals and save our people," His voice sounded so determined and his hatred was so fierce.
"I can't kill them," I breathed harshly. "It's my brother, a coven of them are his family and I can't betray their trust."
His eyes darkened and his grip on me loosened greatly. "You'll leave me then?" He demanded, his whole figure trembling against mine. "You'll choose the enemy."
"I've waited so long for you," I murmured as I leaned into his static embrace once more but he refused to put his arms around me again. "And I have fought so many battles. Do you know the people who kept me stable through my, seemingly, damned life? It was my family...and I can't leave them in the dark."
His cavernous eyes narrowed and he asked gruffly, "So you'll leave me in the dark instead?"
My eyes flew open as the ground beneath me shook tremendously and I startled, clinging to my seat for dear life. "Holy crap, did you feel that?" I demanded as soon as I was conscious enough to contemplate the world around me was shaky, instead of me shaking around the world...about to phase into a bloody werewolf!
I felt Emily, Kim, Rachel and Angela's concerned eyes on me. "It was just turbulence, Leah," Rachel soothed with a gentle smile.
"No, it wasn't," I snapped frantically. "The freaking ground just bloody moved."
"Of course it did, we're on a plane," Angela chuckled, rolling her eyes. "And can you stop swearing? Claire's in the seat behind you.
My heartbeat skipped as my wide-eyes swiftly scanned our surroundings. Rachel Black sat beside me, placing her tan hand on my trembling forearm. Emily Young and Angela Weber sat in the seats in front, reading something on the laptop they shared. Kim Connweller sat in the seat behind Rachel and me, cradling Claire Young in her arms as they slept peacefully.
It seemed this fourteen hour flight was taking its toll on everyone!
I let out an unsteady breath, looking around the cabin nervously, feeling the confined space of this airplane creeping and boxing me in. I couldn't breathe; I wasn't made to sit still for nearly fourteen hours – it totally contradicted my way of living! Ugh, I should've stayed in La Push and gone to Sam's stupid bachelor-party, which my Pack-brothers had invited me to, since they considered me 'one of the guys'.
It was either a boys' night out weekend in New York for Sam, which entailed getting smashed or probably leaving me to clean a stranger's vomit out of my hair. Or the bachelorette week for Emily, which included seven nights in New Zealand, where the girls would endure the Maori festivities and indigenous ways. I chose the latter – a relaxing week, learning about different tribes and cultures, didn't sound so bad...at first.
Besides, I was never much of a drinker and we couldn't be on this trip, not since we decided to take little five-year-old Claire Young with us. We practically had to drag her out of Quil's protective arms. But he finally let Claire go when I called him an obsessive, lovesick puppy. Unfortunately, that earned me a week's worth of growling, nothing I hadn't experienced before, though.
It was two weeks before Sam and Emily's wedding and I felt absolutely horrible. I had agreed to become one of Emily's bridesmaids when I found out about werewolves...and imprinting, and how it truly wasn't Sam's fault. I saw no reason of hating Emily, or blaming them for my heartbreak, so I agreed to the role of a bridesmaid – strictly on obligation, of course.
Claire, Emily's five-year-old cousin, was a flower-girl and my little half-brother, Zach, was ring-bearer. Zachery didn't really know what he was doing or why Aunty Emily and Uncle Sam were standing on a windy beach, wearing fancy clothes and smiling brightly. Though, when my mother demonstrated walking down the aisle, holding a small pillow with two shiny objects on them, Zach immediately loved the idea of having that special job.
Claire took on her job with mighty courage, keeping a very cheery and pretty face whenever we rehearsed the wedding. Kim was Emily's maid-of-honour and Angela, Rachel, Francesca (Emily's fourteen-year-old shape-shifter cousin) and I were her three bridesmaids and we led the beautiful bride down the aisle. Jared was Sam's best-man and Embry, Paul, Jacob and Quil were the three groomsmen while Collin guided Claire down the aisle and Brady guided Zachery.
It seemed the two Packs had a vital job in the wedding. Well, everyone except Seth, who Sam refused to invite, even with the begging and pleading from Emily's part. Emily was quite content with having Seth at the wedding and she seemed prepared to invite the Cullens, since Seth was now a part of their clan because he imprinted on the idiotically named hybrid, Renessmee Carlie Cullen.
I held no prejudice towards my brother, I honestly could've imagined him imprinting on some sort of immortal before. He was always the most open-minded of the Pack; he gave every creature a chance and saw no evil in the ones who saved innocents. I respected him for the man he's, so suddenly, transformed into. He's realised his reason for living and, with that, he has taken his place as protector, and brother, of the youngest Cullen.
Though, it seems Jacob – my ex-Alpha – has totally disowned Seth and violently threw him out of the Pack, leaving Seth alone in the world. Jacob never forgave the hybrid for killing his Bella, for transforming her into something his was made to destroy. The situation worsened the moment Jacob went in to kill the hybrid after Bella died on the 11th of September, 2006. I remember Seth running in to stop his Alpha, knowing the Cullens would never forgive him for killing their child.
Seth saw no logic in killing an innocent little being and tried shoving him away. Jacob furiously roared that Seth were to look into its eyes, to look into the eyes of a murderer and sinner. Though, when Seth finally obeyed, he saw no killer or evil creature in the hybrid. He saw a young soul with a knowing smile, gentle eyes and untainted thoughts. He saw his Imprint and Jacob was enraged at what Seth had done.
Jacob refused to listen to Seth and disowned him immediately, calling him a traitor. Seth's life transformed into a rollercoaster of anguish, sorrow and I vowed I'd stand by him. My pure act of sisterly kindness caused Jacob to naively see this as a threat to overpower his authority. Jacob threw me out of the Pack as well and ordered me to never return. I took an oath of protecting my brother – I'd stand in the storm, watching as the rest of my Pack took shelter, as long as this battle continued.
With one last look into Jacob's eyes, I promised he'd lose control of his Pack if he continued to persecute his brothers because of fate's choices. I promised him that I'd never forgive him for what he's done to his most loyal brother. Jacob looked hurt when I spat out that unbreakable promise, yet my emotions were merciless and vicious.
I would never forgive Jacob and it's remained that way for the two years since.
My thoughts were abruptly smashed down by another bout of turbulence that made me gasp as the world became unstable and unclear. Everything around my vibrated and I felt it strangely soak into my system, causing me to try and calm myself when I wasn't angry whatsoever.
"Leah, calm down," Angela frowned worriedly.
"Everything's okay," Emily reached over and placed her hand on my knee. "Try and get some more sleep, you look very pale. Maybe resting will take your mind off the airplane trip. I know it is for Claire," She gestured to Claire and Kim, watching as the two sleepily snuggled into each other's embraces. "She isn't crying anymore and that was after a good rest."
After taking in my terrified expression, as my whole body tensed and shrunk down into my seat fearfully, I could sense these women's wariness and I saw their pursuit to try to calm my nerves. "First of all, I'm not a five-year-old little girl, who is craving the presence of her werewolf. Secondly, I've already had a good rest and found no peacefulness in it," I replied sourly.
"Well, you were crying in your sleep, something I find extremely unusual...and that's when you're awake!" Angela raised her eyes.
"I was not," I snapped with narrowed eyes, trying to keep my cheeks the same colour. Rachel leaned forward, wiping his index finger across my cheek casually. I swatted it away in annoyance, though not before she could lose her evidence. There, on her index finger, was a single drop of liquid crystal. I stared at it with a raised eyebrow, my eyes narrowing all the more.
For some reason, I felt another one of those liquid crystals cascade down my cheeks. I closed my eyes, feeling his protective arms around me for a heavenly split second. What was that dream? Was fate trying to tell me something? Or had I become so desperate that I'm making up attractive men to be my imprint in my dreams?
Rachel's soft voice drew me out of my bewildered state of mind, "Leah, do you want to talk about it?"
"No," I blurted out, wiping away the tear immediately. "No, I'm fine."
"What are you thinking of?" Emily asked calmly. "What's troubling you, Cousin?"
"Is that really any of your business?" I snapped heatedly. Emily's eyes flashed of hurt and I immediately felt guilty for damaging my friend's feelings. "I'm sorry," I breathed, looking down at my hands. "I, uh...that was rude of me, Em."
Emily's cool skinned hand touched my own and smiled sweetly. "You don't need to be sorry."
"We know this must be a hard time for you," Angela added with a sad nod.
"Pardon me?" I looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, we can't imagine what you must be going through you at the moment, Leah. First, with Emily and Sam's wedding...and, now, Seth leaving Jake's Pack for a lee-I mean, a Cullen," Angela replied, looking at me with understanding eyes.
"What? Oh, you have got to be kidding me," I snorted incredulously and I rolled my eyes with a grimace. "Ladies, I am fine with the wedding of Sam and Emily," I looked into Emily's eyes and saw the relief flood into her creamy brown irises. "Trust me, my feelings can't hurt me now that there's nothing left in them. Besides, you should know I work pretty well under pressure, girls. When Seth and I left Jacob's Pack, it was distressing for everyone. Though, now, we're doing fine as it is. You don't need to pity me in any way, you know."
The women looked at me with a sense of respect in their eyes. "Well, if it isn't Sam and Emily or Seth and the Pack...what is it then?" Rachel questioned curiously.
Angela and Rachel stared at me with raised eyebrows, their expressions expectant. I looked into their eyes nervously, not intending on telling them about my dream. I wasn't ready to include them into everything about my life and they knew I was a very reclusive person, I didn't share my feelings intentionally. I bit my lip, looking down at my hands again.
"Ladies, that's none of our concern," Emily ushered along the subject, noticing my reluctance on the whole matter. Emily knew about my introverted moods ever since we were young and I was pleased to know that she remained prepared to leave my business alone. "Leah will tell us when she's ready."
I will never be ready to tell you, I thought miserably.
Auckland Airport: New Zealand – Autumn
"Ladies, I'm going to take Claire to the bathroom," Kim stated with a yawn, holding Claire's hand affectionately. "Do any of you need to use the toilet as well?" She asked as the six of us walked into the main part of Auckland Airport, a busy area which resembled an oversized mall.
The rest of us shook our heads wordlessly, presently too tired to respond.
Claire snuggled into Kim's side, seeming the most exhausted after the long flight. Her eyes were closed and she was covering her ears with her hands, making an attempt to block out all of the crazy noise humming around Auckland Airport. "I want Quil, Aunty Kim," She sobbed, clinging to Kim's legs.
"I know, baby girl," Kim soothed, weaving her fingers threw Claire's soft curls. "I'm going to call him for you and then we'll call your mummy and daddy."
"I just want Quil," She mumbled into Kim quietly.
"Hopefully he's not drunk when you call him," I muttered with a roll of my eyes.
Rachel and Angela chuckled, though Kim and Emily glared at me quite comically, forcing a laugh out of my lips. Emily only rolled her eyes, in the similar fashion as I did, reminding me that we really were related. "Alright, sweetheart," Kim answered Claire gently and glanced at the rest of us momentarily, giving us a small smile. "I'll be right back, girls."
Kim led Claire away from our group, fetching her mobile out of her denim pocket as she pushed the public toilet doors open and entered with Claire on her trail. I sighed and glanced at Emily, Angela and Rachel with a weary expression. "I don't know about you girls, but I'm famished," I grimaced, hearing my tummy grumble on perfect cue.
"We'll get something to eat for the car trip," Emily nodded with a weary yawn.
"Car trip?" Angela and Rachel gasped in surprise, yet I only groaned with annoyance, slapping my palm over my forehead in agony.
"Of course there's a car trip," Emily stated matter-of-factly, laughing nervously. "We're not going to walk all the way to Cape Reinga, are we?"
"Emily, I went onto Google and I researched New Zealand," Angela began calmly, "I found that Cape Reinga is in the most isolated part of North New Zealand – it's at the very top! Are you telling me that we're going all the way from Auckland to Cape Reinga by car?"
"Never let Emily pick the holiday house," Rachel muttered, shooting Emily a frustrated glance.
"Hey, I did my own research!" Emily argued with her hands on her hips. "And it all went to very good use, might I add. I found out that one of Taha Aki's werewolf sons left the Quileute lands and migrated to New Zealand, near Cape Reinga. Do you know what that could mean, ladies?"
I raised my eyebrow, staring at my cousin sceptically, "So, you're saying that one of Taha Aki's sons set off, in a tiny canoe, braving the world's oceans...and settled all the way over in the Southern Hemisphere?"
"It's possible!" Emily insister eagerly, smiling brightly. "The tribe we're going to be visiting, Ngāti Kurī , is one of six tribes made up of the Muriwhenua people. The Muriwhenuas are the ones Taha Aki's son met when he arrived."
"Why did you choose Curry Curry tribe out of all six, Em?" I questioned, clearly knowing that I had pronounced the tribe's name wrongly.
Emily shot me an agitated glance because she hated when people didn't articulate indigenous tribal names correctly. She always went on a rampage on how the government should provide more lessons om the native people of every continent. "It's Ngāti Kurī, Leah. And I chose it because Kuri translates into a fascinating word."
"And what might that be?"
"It means dog in the Muriwhenua language," Emily squealed excitedly, jumping up and down. "And dogs have descended from wolves...and we descend from wolves, too!"
"No, I don't think so, Em. We've descended from wolves and you've descended from a dodo," I bit back with a smirk.
"You chose our holiday house based on the possibility that we might have a long line of ancestors in a small country that is stationed half the way across the world, Em?" Rachel grumbled with a highly raised eyebrow.
"You look so much like Jacob when you do that, Rach," Angela snorted, pointing to her friend accusingly.
"That's offensive, Ang!" Rachel snapped playfully, smirking, her eyebrow remaining high and pompously proud.
Emily rolled her eyes and demanded with a giggle, "Seriously, where do you get the knack to make the simplest things sound like the most ridiculous pieces of information, girls? Besides, that's not the point! I've read their legends and one is about a woman who fell in love with a wolf-spirited man."
"Again with the wolves, Em?" Angela groaned.
Emily ignored us and continued, "Now, on their wedding night, the woman wanted to give him a wedding present and the gift was a spear, small enough to fit into your palm."
I raised my eyebrow. "Well, that's a stupid wedding present," I snorted. "What's he going to do with a toy spear?"
Emily shot me an angry glare. "The man was so in love with the woman that he didn't care about the size of the spear or the price. His love for the spear, from his future wife, was so strong that a piece of his soul slipped into the spear...causing Quileute magic it weave into it."
"Emily, we're in an airport, not a bonfire," Rachel reminded my cousin, yawning.
"Just let me finish," Emily snapped. "Okay, days after their wedding, the village was attacked by a group of cold ones...or shadow dwellers, as the Muriwhenuas called them. Now, a cold one/shadow dweller was about to attack the Muriwhenua woman and the wolf-spirited man was terrified. But, he couldn't attack the cold one with his wolf because his feared his wife would be alarmed and not love him anymore. He held the small spear in his hands, dreading he'd lose his wife to his mortal enemy.
"Legend says, the wolf-spirited man decided he'd have to turn into a giant dog and destroy the immortal killer. Apparently, he started running towards the shadow dweller, shaking with a fierce look in his eyes. But, before he transformed, his small spear suddenly became as large as him. The shadow dweller had never seen such a thing, for the tiny toy spear had turned into a large and mighty stake. The man felt the power within the spear and, trusting his instincts, he threw the spear towards the cold one's heart...stabbing it through his marble skin."
"Isn't that impossible?" Rachel tsked.
"In our tribe, it is. Though, when that small spear enlarged, the thin piercer became as strong and tough as a shape-shifter's tooth. When the tooth was forced through the cold one's heart, he immediately fell to his knees and died instantly."
"Like a vampire stake?" Angela queried in confusion.
"Yes," Emily chirped excitedly. "Exactly like a stake! Except, it's made out of a wolf's tooth."
"How strange..."
"The Ngāti Kurī tribe have a mini museum in their territory. They say they have two of the three stakes/spears ever left in the world."
"What happened to the other one?" I asked with a frown.
"Legends say that three spears were created each decade. Though, they stopped being made after a group of cold ones stole the three spears last century, planning to use them to their own advantage."
"And what was that?" Rachel queried.
Emily shrugged. "Who knows?"
"So there's only two left in the world?" I asked.
"One of the three spears as been used already, killing a cold one in their land and now there are still two left. One mauri for the chief and another mauri for the chief's wife."
I immediately recognised the word from my dream as soon as Emily spoke it. "Mauri?" I choked out. "A mauri is the name of this so-called vampire's stake?"
Emily nodded, confused by my disbelief. "Yes, a mauri. That was what the Muriwhenuas called it after it saved them from the shadow dwellers."
A/N: Okay, this isn't the exciting chapter...obviously. I'm trying to get this up speedily while I'm writing my core story – DITD. Please leave a review, they are extremely appreciated!