Disclaimer: I do not own anything or anyone you recognize.
It's been a long time since I've published anything, so this is just a little taste to get back into the swing of writing. Please RxR. I love comments, questions, and constructive criticism!
Sierra knew she should go back to the Clearwater's. She hadn't spoken to Sue since running out, and not everyone was as forgiving as Quil and Jacob. She wasn't even sure she had a place to sleep that night. But she couldn't bring herself to leave Jacob when he looked so awful and weak. There was something unnerving about his unnaturally clean bedroom that didn't seem like a sick person had been sleeping there for four days. She shook off her suspicion and refocused on Jacob. At least he seemed to have his appetite back. Quil's statement that he would make 'snacks' didn't seem to quite cover the enormous volume of food he prepared. Jake had eaten three overflowing plates of spaghetti and meatballs, and Sierra thought she could smell something more cooking down in the kitchen.
As Sierra picked at her own plate, she realized how tired she felt. It was as if all the tension and anxiety that had been building over the past week had completely drained from her body leaving nothing but exhaustion. She struggle to keep her eyes open as as Jake continued to make jokes and talk as if he didn't look like he was recovering from the plague. She smiled to herself as she felt her body and mind relax back into their comfortable routine.
Just as Sierra felt herself drifting toward sleep, they heard a distant howl from the woods behind the house. A shiver of alarm ran down Sierra's spine. But it wasn't like the fear she felt at the community center on poker night. She could feel the terror, fury, and agony contained in the animal's cry. Something was wrong.
Jacob straightened up, every last trace of humor gone from his expression. Sierra could see her fears confirmed in the horror reflected in Jacob's eyes. "I have to go," he said, pushing himself up to a sitting position, and faltering as he tried to stand.
"Jake," Sierra said, supporting his weight as he stumbled, and attempting to guide him back to the bed. "Don't be ridiculous. You can barely stand up."
"I promise you I will explain everything later," he said, still deadly serious. Sierra didn't quite understand the lump that rose in her throat as Jacob's warm eyes bore into hers, and he said "I'm so glad you're here." He pressed his face against the top of her head and kissed her hair before taking off down the stairs.
Pain and fury washed over Jacob the moment he phased. It took him a second to readjust to the pack mind and get his bearings. He didn't have time to notice the strength coming back into his muscles after four days of atrophying in his bed. The pack had his full focus. There was so much chaos in his mind it took him several seconds to notice one voice was missing.
Where's Brady?
Oh - now you're interested? came the scathing reply in his mind. I told you something like this was going to -
That's enough, Leah, he interrupted. You have the rest of your life to be angry at me. Right now I need to know what happened. He could feel the mortification and guilt as Noah's memory of the event flashed through his mind. Confusion colored the memory of Leah, Noah, and Brady splitting up to surround a small, lone vampire. It seemed like it should have been a simple enough kill, but two more of the creatures appeared seemingly out of nowhere on either side of Brady. He felt a flood of disorientation, and a jolt as Brady's train of thought disappeared.
In the present, Jacob registered that Leah and Noah had continued to follow the bloodsucker's scent south and that they were already halfway to Portland. Jacob could feel the sickly sweet scent burn his nose through Leah's nostrils, mingling with the scent of his brother. He accelerated after them, tuning into Leah's senses to follow her as she pursued the bloodsuckers, who seemed to somehow be carrying Brady with them. He noticed something strange about the scent. Seth, Jared, Adrian, go back to where we first lost Brady. I feel like we're missing something.
A stream of curses called Jacob back to Leah's mind, where her pursuit led out into the ocean, losing the scent. Since Sam had resigned as alpha and stopped phasing, Leah had gained much better control over her emotions and thoughts, but the guilt and rage she felt now could not be contained. They washed over her so completely, there was a collective wince from the rest of the pack. He knew she would blame herself since she was running point on this patrol. Fuck you, Jacob! She directed her anger toward him in response to his thoughts.
We'll talk about this later, Leah.
Though he continued to hurtle toward her through the forest, Jacob did a mental pause to consider a number of factors that just didn't seem to add up. This vampire behavior seemed highly unusual. Vampires were rarely organized enough to establish this type of ambush. Not to mention, they had Brady alive and were going to a considerable effort to transport him away from the Olympic Peninsula.
So what does it mean, Jacob? Paul's sharp question pierced through Jacob's reverie.
Jacob could tell that most of them were trying not to blame him for what had happened, but no one could quite hide the frustration and resentment in their minds as they waited for Jacob to process the information they had been trying to sift through without him for the past several days. But he could also feel the sense of calm, organization, and relief his presence restored to the group. He sighed inwardly, unable to make any more sense of the situation than the rest of them had. I don't know. But I don't think there's much more we can do without finding out.
There is something off about this scent, Seth interjected, as they arrived at the site of the ambush. He, Adrian, and Jared sniffed around the area, picking up three different trails coming from three different directions, all with a hint of something none of them had ever smelled before. The trail where Noah had pursued the leech into what should have been a flawless attack was clear. But the trails of the two others who had surrounded Brady from the other side were masked somehow. They tried to follow the trails, but they were diluted and dissipated in a way that made it impossible.
Jacob made a mental note of the strangeness of the scents of all three creatures, as well as the precise quality of the scent and the scene that made the origins of the creatures impossible to track. If something had been able to sneak up on Brady without any of them being aware…
Noah winced with guilt. I should have gotten there faster to back him up. We weren't expecting those other two, and I just wasn't sure what was going on. I hesitated.
It's not your fault Noah, Jeremy reassured him. You couldn't have known this was coming.
Yeah, Jared added, continuing to survey the scene, I don't think this is something we've ever dealt with before.
Collin's mind involuntarily fluttered back to the story of the first time Taha Aki's son's encountered the Cold Ones. He tried not to think about the slaughter that had ensued when their ancestors had been faced with the unknown.
No one is going to die. Jacob's voice rang strong through the pack. We're going to find Brady and bring him home. But we can't just rush into the situation without knowing what we're up against. We have to go home and regroup.
We can't just leave him out there, Leah argued.
We'll consult with the council of tribal elders and see if they have any insight or information that may help. Then we'll figure out our next steps. In the meantime, no one runs alone. Seth, Jared, and Adrian, you guys stay out and patrol our Southwestern border. Quil and Embry, you guys cover the coastline, just incase. Everyone else, get home.
Jacob, I think we should call -
Don't finish that thought, Seth, I swear… Leah interrupted, though that rest of the pack knew exactly how the sentence would end.
I don't like it either, Leah, Jacob responded to Seth's unfinished thought. But they might be the only ones with information that can help us.
I hope you liked it! Plot is developing! RxR, please! I love your thoughts and ideas!
