The silence was deafening and all eyes were on me they were strange standing there looking at each other as if they were speaking yet words did not leave their lips. "It is important that I speak with him a promise is a promise" the man in the wheelchair spoke again "My grandfather has passed from this life many years ago, his spirit and blood is all that is left of him now"
I didn't understand what he meant his scent is here I sense his wolf is here as well "why do you speak as if he is not here anymore. I feel his wolf he is present" with that I could hear growls and heavy breathing and "Enough you will calm yourselves and not create a seen. Those who are not part of the council leave" said the man in the wheelchair. With that everyone around us who was not council had begun to return to land further away from the circle and the shore. Another man stepped forward "Why have you asked for Ephraim he no longer breathes the same air as us and a girl as young as you would not have met him in this time why do you speak of a wolf we know not what you speak of nor will we entertain a white skinned girl and her strangeness" he spoke with such calm yet with clear indifference "I have slumbered long and am in need of guidance I saved his tribe and he swore an oath to me under the old willow tree for all to witness. Do not speak to me as if I am a child, I am as old as the moss that has grown beneath the oldest tree in the forest I have witnessed men do great and terrible things. I am not strange I am one whose words will be heard"
With that the young men in the circle took a stance in front of the older men as if to guard them from me. One man with piercing dark eyes stepped forward I assume to be the speaker of this group "I am Sam Uley who are you and what do you want" they did not know who I was they saw me as a stranger "Do you not remember me little wolf when your spirit wolf came to you, you were frightened and scared and so full of anger. Do you not remember my whispered words to you" as I continued to speak I stepped closer to him and held his gaze as he stood as still as the cliffs of La push "I told you to remember who you were to feel the dirt beneath your paws to feel the forest air in your lungs" I said as I cupped his cheek "Do you remember what else I said" his gaze intense trying to remember a time not to long ago "You are safe and you are home welcome" he said so quietly you could barely hear him? With that all the others present were confused and lost and did not know what to say next
"I ask again who are you. We do not know of you nor what your purpose is, how do you know about the wolves" said the man in the wheel chair "You ask many questions but have yet to give me your name" he stared intensely "I am Billy Black" with that memories flashed before my eyes of a little boy who would wonder through the forest and speak to the trees and tell stories of warriors and creatures so great and terrible.
I remembered sitting high above in the treetops listening to his grand stories and took great joy in every word spoken. "I remember you now, a little boy of 10 summers who would perch himself under a red alder tree and tell your tales to the trees and the birds" shock was clear across his face "Did they not tell stories of me in your tribe the guardian from the forest" many gasps were taken once I announced this.
I held out my hand as swirls of green like flames appeared hovering above my palm and in it the face of Ephraim kneeling before me under a willow tree "I am the chief of my tribe I am a father and a warrior I swear on my honour and life that I will forever come to your aid so long as my blood runs on this land so long as my wolf paws the ground. When you call my tribe will come, when you are in need I will stand by your side till the end of time. This I swear under the ancient willow tree and before all the spirits of the forest I Ephraim Black of the Quileute Tribe swear allegiance to Isabella guardian and protector of this sacred forest" As I lowered my hand to my side I saw each and everyone of there faces change to that of wonder and curiosity. "I have come in hopes that his vowel still holds true for the sake of this tribe and many more people. I have come to claim that allegiance"
With that said the man whose indifference was clear had broken away to that of a man curious and intrigued "There is a tale told in our tribe of people with skin as hard as rocks and eyes as red as blood and teeth as white as snow. It speaks of a women who came to the aid of small child playing in the forest when the sun was hidden by clouds she appeared above the trees and incased the child in a glittering shield and fought the one with red eyes and brought the child back to her people. It tells of a being who lived among our tribe and learned our ways and in turn she taught us what the forest can give us which plants could heal even the most dangerous of illnesses she taught the tribe what the different tastes in the air represent she would teach us how to walk with the spirits and how to join with the animals. She taught us how to become one with the wolf" with that all sound was silent except for the crashing waves on the shore line.