Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight; it is the property of Stephenie Meyer. The original characters and plot are mine. I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Italics for thoughts (Edward can hear it if he's present)

Stages of forms

Tiger: first form (actual tiger)

Tigris: second form (were-tiger, like werewolves, larger than actual animal)

Taiga: third form (cat ears, tail, more tiger musculature, fur, full canines, paws)

Tigam: fourth form (half and half, humanoid form, light fur, tail, nearly full canines, paws)

Tegamen: fifth form (mostly humanoid, no fur, stripes marking the skin and claws and longer canines)

Higar: sixth form (human but with cat senses and scent, regeneration and able streak mind)

Human: seventh form (completely human)

Chapter 10

Guilty Glee

Daniel POV

"NO!" I screamed unable to check myself against it. Tears streamed down my face and I buried my face in my hands. She... Meira abandoned the clan! She had killed herself! I tried desperately to control myself while I sat in my seat on the plane to Kodiak it was a small flight and I had all eyes on me.

"Are you alright sir?" the stewardess asked looking alarmed and pitying I nodded but refused to verbally respond. I sat there for the rest of the flight with tears streaming down my face, it was the smallest reaction that showed my pain.

Would Renátka be pleased that her daughter had killed herself because she refused to be reasonable and allowed her to return for trial? I could imagine nothing more than her smug face telling the clan that Meira had killed herself in guilt for her actions. Even knowing the truth it would be hard to deny what this looked like. There was no point in me returning home now. I could go back and morn the loss of my best friend and resume the fake life I had begun there. At least in that small town I could be close to the last place that I had Meira.

****

As I walked back into camp I knew that they were as aware as I that Meira... Bella was no longer alive. I was surprised by how many seemed distraught and lost. Meira was a force in this camp her strength and compassion was well known and loved here. There was no other like her. Not just because she held her form even in death, though that made her unique all on its own. But because she was fierce in her protection of others, she risked her life many times to prevent the death of an innocent.

Many brushed me in greeting and acknowledgement of my pain. I made no move to hide my pain though the tears had stopped hours ago. Renátka stood around a fire with her guards and didn't even have the grace to look saddened at her daughter's death. It infuriated me, how dare she think so little of one so missed!

"She is not worth your anger young one." Cade stated placing his hand on my shoulder; I looked at my brother and nodded. I turned and rested my hand over his and took the little comfort I could from him. "She meant much to you I morn with you brother. It is only through loosing her that we realise she was great and good. We have dishonoured her by reacting like children when she told those that are good of us." His style of speech should his pain normally Cade spoke with current slang. I nodded but weighed his words.

"She deserved better, she knew that she would never again return to the clan. That Renátka would prolong the trial and no matter the outcome she would no longer be welcomed home." I said and Cade stiffened under my hand shocked and outraged. "It is only at the thought of loosing us that she let go of us." I finished and tears once again licked my face.

"I see your pain and know it is the worse amongst us. What can be done to render it and her well?" he asked and I looked him in the eye. He truly meant that if I wanted to go to war over this that he would follow me willingly. Casting my gaze to those close to us I knew then that many would have left their queen if Meira had but asked it of them.

"If she walked with us still I would wish war, now I wish for her to be remember well, and thought of as the Tiger she was." I answered there was no purpose to war over the dead it only made the number no longer with us larger. I walked to my false queen and knelt without bowing my head and stared into her darkened heart. "I will return to my post and any other you wish to send shall be welcomed by my side." I spoke knowing she would not fight me on this or I would begin a division of the clan.

"You speak above your place child." She answered her voice cold and harsh many eyes flicked to us. None of them judged me harshly merely sadly. I had lost much and no one would mind my anger for many years.

"Do I?" I asked rising to stand before her. "You who sent your daughter, and your only heir, out of the clan and then refused to bring her back to us, even in disgrace. You who hated the one that loved most you." I cursed her in old sayings that held weight even today. "I know you desire to keep your power Queen..." I sneered the word, "But never would Bella of taken it from you. But still you had to cast her out from us. Make her hated; when all you did was make your clan question its queen. In your hatred you failed only yourself!"

I knew she had every right to kill me for my words but also that it would bring truth to them even more so than my saying them. She growled at me but as those around us tensed the numbers were matched and she knew that I could break the clan easily if she tried to dishonour Meira. Many whispers pressed on my ears many had thought the same as I and it broke my heart that Meira had been right that her mother was so weak and greedy.

Turning my back on Renátka and stalked to the fire furthest from her. It was the fire regarded as the lowest, my common fire but it was the only fire I desired to sit at. Anything closer to the false queen and I would much too close. That night nearly the whole clan paid me respect, the respect they in any other situation would pay to mate or mother of the dead. I knew that those that were quick in the task were the ones most allied with me but fearful of Renátka's anger.

"Perhaps a division of the clan is for the best." Maia said as she sat down beside me. It was startling both that she would sit close to me and that she suggested war. She was not of the high guard but her loyalty had never before even wavered from the queen. "I love my queen but this is foolishness we were meant to have Bella as our queen. To have prevented that has prevented the clan from moving forward as Bella would have led us." I nodded Maia was protective of the clan I should have realised she would do anything to continue the clan as it is meant to be.

"She may not be dead yet." I said finally voicing my deepest desire, "She is a queen whether her mother choose to see that or not. I hate that we morn without true knowledge. I have to know that she is no longer with us, only then will I know what the best action is. Everyone seems to be looking to a builder for guidance." Maia smiled and wrapped her arms over my shoulders.

"It is because you know her best." She said sadness in her voice, "If she is lost to us then it is through you that we shall have at least a part of her." She kissed my temple as a mother would a new tiger, it was a kindness I had not often been given. "I will go with you to either find our new queen or bury our most honoured dead as she deserves. If I thought it would not be war I would say that Renátka should be cast out as queen before we leave. But she has wrapped many tigers to her in order to prevent such an action. Too many of the warriors here will follow her unless Bella is returned."

I had not thought of this showing how little I knew of war. Though many of the clan here would follow Bella the strongest ten would follow Renátka which would mean a blood war of children against soldiers. Many would die and it would be a huge toll to pay. A good queen prevents death and all that Renátka was doing was bringing war it says much against her.

"I leave tomorrow but another will come with me. You are needed here to make sure she doesn't begin a war against children." I said and Maia flinched beside me she knew that Renátka was not above it. She nodded and then called to one of the older warriors, one who merely because she was current queen would fight for Renátka.

"I am worried over this child. He will go bravely to find our lost little queen but I do not believe that a child should do this task alone. Do you agree Tam?" Maia asked and he bowed and nodded.

"It is a heavy burden, I would be honour to walk with you little builder." Tam said his low gruff voice but a whisper. I fought to keep the amusement off my face when they used old terms like little queen and little builder. It is the best way to describe us but it sounded odd coming from those not physically older than me. If Tam's voice didn't show his age I would think him not more then 25 years of age human.

"I am the one honoured to have you walk with me." I answered formally and then thought better of it. "I owe her so much that to not look for her myself would be an insult against her. She was much too kind and loving to all of us that I will do anything to bring her honour and a good remembrance." He smiled at me and patted me on the shoulder.

"You are good to her, as she was to us all though none of us thought highly of her. We must do much to return what she gave us, Daniel." Tam spoke and I was startled that he both knew and used my name. It is an honour to have an elder use a personal name in reference but it simple dialogue it spoke volumes. Maia and Tam left me after a few moments and I settled to watch the flames dance at my crowded fire.

Note: My first POV shift in Bast! Its been a long time coming as I got a little lost on the plot front. Sorry.