Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author-mama4dukes. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Intensity 39

Carlisle's POV

It was the year 1819. After spending two decades living with the Volturi—the vampire world's self-proclaimed leaders—I found my way to the New World. I wandered the Americas as a nomad, attempting to discover a purpose for my existence. I was alone and lonely; finding companionship wasn't easy as a vampire. Living with the Volturi was not an option. Although they were cultured, their inhumane ways did not sit well with me, and I had left them with a distraught heart—knowing I needed to forge my own path in the world.

I was on a solitary walk in the wilderness, somewhere in Oregon, when I witnessed something extraordinary. There was a large wolf, almost the size of a horse, foraging in the forest. I did a double-take when the wolf transformed into a tall, muscular man with long, jet black hair. I stood transfixed as he picked some berries from a tree to eat.

Suddenly, the wind blew from behind me towards him, sending my scent his way. He turned and noticed my presence, and in an instant, he had transformed back into his wolf form, but this time, he was growling and snarling, ready to attack me. I immediately dropped my satchel of belongings, put my hands up, and fell to my knees.

"I mean no harm," I called out. "I walk this land in peace."

After a few minutes of circling around me suspiciously, the wolf transformed back to his human form again. "What are you? Your scent is foul like that of a bloodsucker, yet your eyes are golden."

"My name is Carlisle Cullen. I am a vampire, what you call a bloodsucker. I do not harm humans. I cannot imagine ever taking away the precious lifeblood of innocents just so I can walk the earth. The lifeblood which sustains me comes from animals.'

"I can sense your honesty, vampire, but be aware that I will not hesitate to kill you if I find you have deceived me. I am Taha Aki, spirit warrior and protector of the Quileute Tribe."

"It is an honor to meet you, sir," I replied with a bow. There was something about the man's carriage that demanded respect.

Taha Aki simply grunted and acknowledged me with a nod. "Why are you here?"

"I don't know," I replied honestly. "I know I have a greater purpose in life than simply wandering this world aimlessly, but I am still in search of it."

"You are educated—a scholar. You can read and write."

"I am." I nodded. I was educated before my change in London. I became a vampire in 1663."

"If you are educated, why did you choose to become a vampire?"

"Why did you choose to become a spirit warrior?" I countered.

He tilted his head in a perplexed way. "I did not choose to become a spirit warrior; I simply became one because I needed to protect my tribe from bloodsuckers, ones with red eyes. They nearly decimated my people, my family." A look of pain flashed across his face. "I lost my entire family, my sons, my wife…'

"I am sorry," I replied sincerely. "I've witnessed the atrocities committed by vampires. The fact that they take human life repulses me."

"Now, tell me. If you feel this way, why did you choose to become a vampire?"

"I never chose… No one, at least no one I've met, ever chooses this life. I was turned into one while hunting one in the sewers of London."

"Where is this London?"

"London is east of here, across the ocean, in a country called England."

Taha Aki simply nodded. I realized he was a regal man but not very well-read. Perhaps he could not read at all. At the time, I didn't know.

"How old are you?" he asked me.

"I am twenty-three years old permanently, but I have walked the earth as a vampire for over one-hundred-forty years.

"You are still young—a child. You have much to learn."

I was taken aback by that statement. "Sir?" I questioned.

"I am over six-hundred-years old."

"Heavens! You really are old!" I blurted out without thinking.

And then something astonishing happened. Taha Aki emitted a full belly laugh and patted me on my shoulder. "I haven't laughed in centuries. Come. We will walk together."

And so I picked up my satchel to walk alongside the man. We got to know each other well while exploring the earth, hunted, and shared our meal together. I drained the animal of its blood while he ate the meat. We never wasted and shared any extra food with the needy. Taha Aki taught me to always consider mankind as a whole and have compassion for those most in need.

I opened up to him about my dreams and my fears. He shared stories with me about his many families. Over six hundred years, he had twelve wives and countless children, all of whom pre-deceased him. I asked him why he didn't remarry again. He replied he could no longer watch his loved ones die and added that the twelfth wife was a pain in the neck, and he didn't want to tempt fate with a thirteenth.

He became more like a father to me than my own austere father had ever been, and he thought of me as a son. We trusted each other implicitly and became confidants. He asked me to teach him to read and write. He understood the importance of literacy and wanted his descendants to become educated, so I taught him. His determination was impressive, and he eventually became an extremely well-read man.

One evening, about sixty years after we began our travels while hiking along the Gila River under the new moon, we witnessed something unbelievable. Out of the river walked three men. Naturally, Taha Aki and I stopped—entirely astonished by what we were seeing. The three men stepped onto the riverbank and approached us. They identified themselves as Aha, Daka, and Hala.

Aha spoke directly to us. "You have served us well, spirit warrior. You may now rest with your heart at ease." He then turned to me. "You will keep his secrets and his teachings in your heart, and you will listen to our prophecies."

"What are you?" I asked.

"I am the spirit shaman of the Quileutes."

Taha Aki crossed his arms in front of his chest. "But I've never met you. How could I not have met you?"

"Of course, you have not met us. We're as old as the stars and only make an appearance when necessary. My friend Daka is the spirit shaman for the Wa-Ya, and Hala is the spirit shaman for the Wanagi. We have an important communication for you."

"For him or for me?"

"You aren't very smart, are you? Don't you think we would have you while you were by yourself if we wanted to speak to you alone? No, this concerns both of you."

"What exactly is a spirit shaman?" Taha Aki asked.

"A spirit shaman is the one who looks after your tribe and tribal members from the spirit world."

My mouth flew open upon hearing this. "Do you mean you are not of this earth?"

"No, we are not, but we can appear on earth in human form at critical times."

Taha Aki donned an expression of worry. "Are we in critical times? What is going to happen to my tribe? Will there be more cold ones?"

"You must listen to our tale. It is the only way."

Taha Aki and I nodded and let the men speak. What else could we do?

The spirit shaman named Daka spoke next. "My tribe, the Cina Ahuwipi, known as the Wa-Ya, has always been peaceful and prosperous due to the ability to cultivate crops using the water from the Gila River, which runs alongside our land. About three hundred years ago, our land was invaded by slave traders who forcefully took our people, shooting anyone who interfered. The men started praying desperately to the gods; no one responded except for one—the god of the underworld. He agreed to help, but future generations of the five men destined to protect the tribe would forever be afflicted with the condition he gave them. They would be tribal protectors and have great strength, but future generations would have to sacrifice their eldest sons to the god of the underworld to be afflicted with the same condition. Their families would be representatives of the underworld on this earth. The men agreed and were turned into giant coyotes. The slave traders were instantly destroyed, and our tribe worked to restore the peaceful agrarian society they had created prior to the arrival of the slave traders."

"Are you saying there is another tribe of shape-shifters?"

"I just told you there was. Is there something wrong with your listening skills?" Daka questioned.

"No, there is not." Taha Aki put his hands on his hips, clearly offended.

"I wasn't sure because you asked an obvious question."

I wanted to laugh because I'm sure Taha Aki hasn't been scolded like a schoolboy in centuries, but I managed to maintain my composure.

"I'm ready to listen to more," Taha Aki stated.

"Good. It is Hala's turn."

The next spirit shaman nodded his head in acknowledgment before speaking. "My name is Hala, spirit shaman of the Wanagi. Our story is simple. Four hundred years ago, our tribal members suffered from a terrible famine—our members were dying, one by one, beginning with the youngest. Mothers were so malnourished; they were unable to produce breastmilk to feed their babies. As a last resort, tribal members prayed to the god of the underworld, who promised they would never experience famine again if the current members agreed to be the last of their generation. Their children would be afflicted with the same condition once they reached the age of eighteen. In addition, they must also continue to grow crops for the surrounding villages."

"And what is the condition they were afflicted with?" I asked curiously.'

"They were turned into vampires. They are much like you, Carlisle Cullen. They have no bloodlust, have never harmed a human, and survive only on the blood of animals."

"I didn't realize there were others like me."

Hala nodded to me and then motioned to the spirit shaman of the Quileute Tribe, who fixed his eyes on Taha Aki. "My name is Aha. You are aware magic resides in the blood of every Quileute. You did not need to pray to the god of the underworld for help when your people were under attack from bloodthirsty vampires. You were able to summon the spirits on your own. You are known by your tribe as the Great Wolf, but you are not the greatest. There will be another—he will be stronger and more powerful than any spirit warrior of the past. He will possess intelligence and an innate sense of kindness which he will use to help the tribe overcome the darkness that will befall them."

Taha Aki had a concerned look on his face. "What darkness? What will happen to my tribe?"

"That—we cannot say, but we do know it will require the combined forces of the Quileute, Wa-Ya, and Wanagi Nations to overcome the darkness."

"When will it happen?"

"Not in your time."

"But how am I to provide guidance to my people?"

"The man you look upon as a son will pass along the pertinent information to the Great Protector. He will provide guidance to our people and stand in solidarity with the Wa-Ya and Wanagi."

"What is his name?" Taha Aki asked.

"Do I look like a seer to you?"

"Well, you are imparting about the future to us," I pointed out.

"I do not know his name. The Great Protector will emerge from The Great Coming of the Wolves."

"The Great Coming of the Wolves? How will we know when it is time?"

"Amongst the pack, there will be a she-wolf. The only she-wolf ever to exist in history."

"A she-wolf? I resisted marrying again because I didn't want to tempt fate with a thirteenth wife. I wonder if she will be related to the twelfth wife? That one had a mean streak in her," Taha Aki noted.

"I do not know; however, I will tell you that the Great Protector will have suffered significant personal adversity as a child and young adult. He will come from extremely reduced circumstances—more so than others in the pack. As a spirit warrior, he will go on a lone journey to find balance in his soul, overcome his inner turmoil and struggles, and emerge with great strength of mind. He will do this away from his people.

His imprint will be a healer with prior knowledge of our world and that of the Cold Ones. The mark of a Cold One will be forced upon her, and then she will be marked as a mate by the Great Protector at a great distance from our lands during their first joining. His imprint has a similar inner strength as he does. While she does not have the ability to shift, she can heal, and she has inner goodness most do not possess. Those who come in contact with the healer trust her with their greatest inner secrets. Together, they will heal the Quileute Nation, and those who follow him will achieve eternal salvation and become spirit warriors along with their Alpha. His imprint is the lost part of his soul, and he is the most powerful and complete wolf of the pack. Together, they will bring peace, prosperity, and justice to our people, and they will do so from their land far away."

"And when is the Great Protector to come? How will I know it is him?"

"He will come after your time, Taha Aki. His arrival will come at a time of great turmoil and unrest for our people, and he will bring unity and stability back to the Quileute people upon his return."

"And the healer? Who will she be?"

"She will not be one of our people but a Hok'wat woman who will have prior knowledge of the Cold Ones and of our people." Aha focused on me. "Carlisle Cullen, you will cross paths with the healer first, and in her darkest hour, you will protect her humanity. She must remain human. You will know how to keep her human."

I gaped at him. "Me? But I'm a pacifist. I do not fight, nor do I know how."

"Not every fight is physical, young one. You will protect the healer's humanity. It is written in the stars."

"Aha nodded to Daka, who took over. "The Great Protector will befriend a spirit warrior from the land of the Cina Ahuwipi. Together, they will form an alliance with the people of the Cina Ahuwipi—the Wa-Ya. They will run together as a pack and protect their tribes and mates from those who threaten to harm them. The god of the underworld will release the Cina Ahuwipi people from their servitude, to be watched over by the spirit gods forever. The moment this happens, they will be able to feel and speak with each other as one."

"And where do the Wanagi come in?"

"The Wanagi and the Wa-Ya have always been friends. The Wanagi will follow the Wa-Ya and stand with the Quileutes. Your job, Carlisle Cullen, is to guard our secrets. For many generations, the Quileute Nation will become unstable until it all comes to a peak. It is then, and only then that the Great Protector will rise from amongst the Great Coming of the Wolves. He will have suffered great adversity and overcome it through diligence, perseverance, and sheer willpower. He will become a friend to you, as you will to him."

And then, before either of us could ask any further question, the three spirit shamans disappeared into the mist.

After a few moments of the two of us staring open-mouthed at the mist, I turned to Taha Aki and asked, "Well, that was very vague, don't you think?"

"I thought it was clear," he stated succinctly. "My time on this earth will come to an end soon. You will act as my proxy after I travel to the spirit world."

"But I thought you were immortal. There must be another meaning to the spirit shamans' message! You can't leave me here alone." I searched his face in desperation, hoping his words were a lie.

He put his strong hands on my shoulder and forced me to look into his eyes. "Carlisle, you will never be alone. The appearance of the spirit shamans is proof that we are never truly alone on this earth. After my time comes, I will be with you here." He patted my chest. "I will always be watching over you. I will always be with you, my son.: He drew me into a fatherly embrace and then sniffed. "Odd. You no longer smell foul to me."

"You ceased smelling foul to me many decades ago, Father," I admitted.

"We must record this information along with the history of my tribe on parchment." Taha Aki straightened his posture, and with a fierce expression, stated, "You must do as the spirit shamans say and pass this information on to my descendants. The future of the tribe rests on your shoulders."

And so, we began the arduous process of recording the history of the Quileute Nation. Jointly, we decided it would be best if a redacted version was stored in La Push and a full version be kept in a secret location known only to us until the emergence of the Great Protector.

Taha Aki held onto the mortal world until the year 1901, ironically the year both Edward and Alice were born. Before his death, he strongly suggested I mingle more in the human world because, as he put it, "You must not isolate yourself from society, but become part of the world at large to make an impact. I have faith in you, my son."

Following his death, I cremated his body per his request and scattered his ashes across the five major oceans because he always wanted to see the world. I walked the earth alone for roughly five years, mourning the death of the man I came to think of as my father. I realized Taha Aki would not want me to mourn forever, so I decided to further my education, eventually becoming a physician. Healing people is my way of making a small impact on the world while honoring the man I consider my father. Hopefully, Taha Aki is watching from the spirit world and approves.

Author's Note: I have a new story posted called The Magic of Heartbreak for your perusal. It is complete so there will be no waiting for updates. Enjoy!