"And when the cops closed the fair I cut my long baby hair, stole me a dog-eared map, called for you everywhere."

-Iron and Wine, Flightless Bird American Mouth

Swan

'Only six weeks till summer break then I'm all yours.'

'Can't wait.' Leah said, forcing a smile as she spoke into the phone, and hoping her best friend couldn't hear the lie in her tone.

It's not that she wanted to push Julie away, but so far her childhood friend had attributed her mood swings and constant unavailability to her father's sudden death. That excuse wouldn't hold up for long once Julietta returned to Forks. The girl was like a dog with a bone when she scented a secret, and she was more perceptive than most.

'How are you holding up ladybird?'

Well I'm a barren werewolf, I accidentally killed my father and soon I'll be bridesmaid for Sam and Emily's picture-perfect wedding. 'Can we talk about anything else?'

'My bad for asking.' Julie grumbled.

'I'm sorry,' Leah sunk into her bed, distractedly drawing lines into the linen, 'I'm just... really tired.'

Tired. Exhausted. A freak of nature. Barren. Unwanted. Pathetic. Depressed. Sleep-deprived...

'I'll say. Since when are you and Jared Cameron such BFF's anyway? Every time I call your mom says you're out hiking with him and Kim. They're not trying to steal my place in your life are they? Because I'm willing to fight to the death, and the odds are always in my favor.'

'He's been helping a lot with Seth. Him and Jacob, even Embry. They're good for him.'

'And what about what's good for you?' Julie asked before pausing. 'I know you're worried about your family ladybird, but I'm worried about you. I know something's up, talk to me.'

Leah's heart sped up, but her voice remained bland, betraying nothing. 'You mean… other than the fact that my dad just-'

'Yes Leah.' Julie said quickly, 'I know there's something else.'

Leah Clearwater frowned, raking her hand nervously through the short strands of her messy new pixie cut. For a moment she wondered what would happen if Julie knew the truth. Would her best friend think her shapeshifting heritage was as cool as Seth and Quil believed? Or would Julie see the curse for the horror story that it was and run screaming for the hills? Her friend would be back soon. The girl was bound to notice the tattoo on her arm and the way Leah spent all of her free following her least-favorite ex around. Julie would start asking questions, and then Sam would order her to end the only friendship in her life that still meant something.

'Seriously Jules I'm fine. Drop it alright?'

'Fine.'

On the other side of the line Leah heard Julie sigh. She knew her friend was unconvinced, but the girl didn't press her further. Which was great, because Leah was sick of souring their conversations with lies.

The blazing air was thick with dust, the trek uphill unbearable. Coated in grime and sweat, Leah glanced sideways to her tall, long haired companion. A brilliant pink scarf was wrapped around his head, a stunning contrast against eyes of jade so startling she wanted to pain it, and she wondered how he could look so cool and refreshed, with the golden sun beating down on the dessert so harshly.

Why am I the one who has to suffer? Leah grumbled, licking her chapped lips and tasting blood.

Leah my darling, Kaheleha said, did our last vision teach you nothing? A warrior must always suffer, that is how he learns strength. But after the drowning, you find the lily.

'Leah!' Jared said with a wild gesture of his arms, blowing out his exasperation with enough force to start a windstorm. The young woman in question blinked awake with a sudden snort, eyes flying open as her arms swung out, no doubt to maim whoever had stirred her from her sleep. 'Finally! Isn't it, oh I don't know, a punishable offense to sleep at work?'

Leah rubbed the slumber from her eyes before glaring at her third least favorite wolf. All the long nights with the pack were taking a toll on her, and after two weeks of patrol her human body was struggling to adapt to the physiological effects of phasing so often. She roughly wiped the drool from her cheek. 'It's my lunch break.'

Summer Loving was playing in the bowling ring, and a group of old women were laughing too loudly not too far from them. Nothing urgent needed her attention. What was it to Jared if she lost her job anyway?

Leah glanced back to the boy and found him staring at his Imprint Kim. A dull girl with a dull face and a dull life story except for the fact that she was Jared Cameron's reason for existing. For some reason, Leah couldn't be sure why, the girl waved at her in a friendly gesture, shooting her a toothy grin. 'Hi Leah!'

Leah grunted in response and turned back to Jared. 'Ya?'

Jared sighed, pinching his nose with his fingers. 'Yes… Be a good doll and press the green button on your phone every fifth ring or so, will you? Sam actually does need to be able to communicate with you every once in a blue moon.'

Ah yes, of course, Sam. Sam with his incessant, never-ending Shakespearean monologues about the perfect perfection that was perfect Emily. Leah's left eye twitched. 'Anything else?'

'Yes,' Jared said, drum-rolling on the counter as his face grew into an excited grin. 'Initiation! Bonfire Friday night, clear your schedule.'

'We're already doing a morning run, and I have a life outside the pack you know, unlike most of you schoolkids.'

'Alpha's orders unfortunately,' Jared lifted his shoulder's in an oh-well gesture, 'That's what it is.'

Leah wondered how long Jared would take to heal if she threw a bowling ball at his head. The boy stalked back to his mate, muttering something to himself about bad customer service as he pressed an adoring kiss onto his mate's cheek.

Her customer service would be much better, Leah thought, if she didn't have to serve the whims of stupid wolves and their moronic, fertile Imprints.

Her mother's face was pale as death, Sue's lips parted as she stared at the TV screen. Over two dozen bodies and counting in the neighboring town of Seattle, that's what the newslady said. Leah did the only thing she could to lower her mother's blood pressure and magicked the television to a Black Mirror with the flick of her wrist.

'No more of that mom.' She ordered. 'I mean it.'

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Her mom and dad's best friend Charlie the Police Chief was standing outside the front door with a box of doughnuts (oh such a stereotype). Leah stole one baked goodie and took a bite before saying good morning. Charlie, already accustomed to the brash manners of Harry and Sue Clearwater's only daughter, grinned at her.

'Your mom around kid?'

'Living room,' Leah mumbled, shimmying around him and heading towards the woods, 'Keep her away from the TV.'

'Stay out of the woo-'

Charlie stopped yelling when he realized that the girl had disappeared.

'Damn,' he said, 'That girl is fast.'

With Seth at school, Leah usually made her way to boring, eventless, unnecessary patrols alone. She headed north towards Jared, more than slightly irritated to feel Paul's mental presence. Within seconds Embry joined the shared consciousness of the wolves too, his head swirling with thoughts about his latest argument with his mother.

Where did you sneak off to last night Embry? What are you doing with your life? You had good grades! When are you going to go get a job? Leah's head hurt just listening to his memories.

You should just tell her.

Mind your business Leah.

It wasn't like Embry to bite back about anything, so Leah let him have that one without destroying him. Race ya!

She hadn't expected him to follow her into the woods, but within seconds the pale grey wolf was giving her a run for her worth. He was fast, not as fast as Leah or even Jacob, but Embry had a knack for improvisation that made him a good challenged. He wasn't afraid to play dirty either. The two soared over branches and twisted though trees, flinging around boulders and scaring off animals caught in the way of the chase. Leah narrowly avoided a cliff as she came to a halt, and Embry bumped slightly into her. With some surprise, she noticed that his coat felt hot against her own.

Alright, alright, he conceded with a laugh, you win!

I love to hear it, opera boy!

Enough, Jared sighed. You're both late. And you're supposed to be on the lookout, not racing.

I don't see why we can't do both. Leah rolled her eyes.

Because Jared says, Paul leered. Surely can comprehend the concept of a Second.

We found a fresh scent. Jared interrupted, failing to hide his panic about it. Imprinted wolves panicked about leeches more than the others. It's not even a day old.

Leah snickered. I wouldn't worry about it Second. Anytime a bloodsucker comes through these woods it has something to do with Jacob's precious Bella. That girl just strings him along, and he's so stupid he lets her.

Harsh. Jared noted.

True. She said. If he was smart he'd just get over it already. No use waiting on someone who prefers sticking their tongue into a corpse's mouth to kissing him.

Eeesh! Paul leered. Tough words for a chick still moping after someone who's imprinted.

You're just mad the closest you'll ever get to kissing the one you want is when I sink my teeth into your neck!

Enough. Embry rolled his eyes. Can we all just stop acting like we're five?

By all he means you, Paul snarled.

I don't care about your stupid love lives, Jared snapped impatiently as Embry and Leah arrived to the forest clearing.

Sam and Jacob joined the link. Listen up, Jacob said, we have another bloodsucker in town. His reek was all over Bella's house this morning.

Told you. Leah rolled her eyes.

Why Bella? Embry frowned. And Charlie?

Saw him this morning, Leah answered. He's fine. But Bella fucking Swan needs to figure out her priorities. There's a thousand things I'd rather be doing than being a bodyguard for her dumb ass too.

Leah could admit that the Swan girl was beautiful. In that pale-skinned, dark-eyed damsel in distress kind of way male wolves seemed to be attracted to. But that didn't mean she was happy about the girl joining the pack on the night of Quil, her and Seth's initiation. These bonfires were supposed to be secret and sacred, not open to outsiders. But the clan didn't seem to share Leah's wary sentiments.

Emily squeezed Swan's hand and Jacob kept her warm, even Embry scooted over to give the girl a seat. Leah disliked Bella. Scratch that, Leah despised Bella. Bella was a lot like Sam. Bella thought that it was enough to be sorry on the grounds of what you had intended to do, without being sorry about the actual devastation your actions had caused. And of course, if leech-loving clutzy little Bella had never moved back to Forks, if the pale-faced girl had possessed the very human, very common sense to stay away from a bloodsucking corpse, then Leah's life would have never turned into a nightmare.

Leah sighed.

It was harder than usual forcing her face into an indifferent mask tonight. Bonfires reminded her of her father.

Seth took a seat beside her, nudging Leah's side in a vain attempt to draw out her smile. But even her favorite human's attempts did little to improve her mood. Her Bella and Sam induced mood. Her werewolf curse induced mood. Her heart hung heavy like and old wet quilt.

Leah stared into the fire and thought of Harry, wondering if he had been the one to tell these stories to the other wolves when they had phased. Wondering if Sam, Jared and Paul had heard the way Harry could bring life to a story with his voice. She hoped that he had. He had been such a beautiful storyteller, and she didn't want to be the only one who remembered how his voice could feel like salve over the weary soul.

'Ours was not always the magic of shapeshifting…' Chief Billy said, drawing her out of her memories. His voice rung with an ancient kind of majesty. 'First we were spirit warriors...'

Leah heard another voice - one that was becoming increasingly familiar - calling her name in the wind.

Young hurricane, Kaheleha said, are you finally willing to see?

Leah inhaled deeply as she stared into the fire, and she let the breeze carry her into a dream.