For the next week Claire kept everything that she remembered hidden. She couldn't freak out because she wasn't even sure what she would freak out again. A feeling she got? Watching the men freak out themselves? No, no she would just keep it quiet for now. Quil was hanging around her more though since she saw that strange lady in the parking lot. He would stop by in the morning for a cup of tea which she knew wasn't anything special but he still did it. He would stop by after work before Claire would go on her night jog. He would even sometimes jog with her. Quil was losing his mind trying to make sure she was safe but at the same time not learn anything new.
A week later Claire was sitting in front of Miss Sarlo once more. She waited until the leaves were burning and their hands were joined again. Claire was still nervous around the old lady but she had to trust her. She was knocking the wall down that she put up when she was young and she was grateful for some clarity even if it was all still confusing. Claire spent nights researching imprinting and learned that animals do it, like baby ducks and their mothers. That in itself confused her more of why Quil had imprinted on her but she would have to wait to ask. She would have to keep acting normal until she remembered more to have leverage with. She knew they had a deal to wait until May but she still felt like she was being watched and she wanted to know why.
"Are you ready dear?" Miss Sarlo inhaled deeply before closing her eyes. Claire did the same and waited for her to be catapulted into another memory. They waited for what seemed like forever until finally something happened.
"Quil are you always with me?" Young Claire asked on her fathers couch as Pocahontas played in the background. Adult Claire stood in the kitchen and looked at the mess that was everywhere. Was anything ever clean here?
"What do you mean?" Quil asked as he looked up from his chip bag. He sat on the floor with a sleeping Ben on his lap. He was babysitting while Maxwell and Mary took Sarah to a parent teacher conference.
"Why are you always here? Why are you the babysitter now and not Emily?" Claire asked as she took a sip out of her apple juice box. She knew her mother wasn't a fan of Quil but Maxwell liked him and kept trying to fight for him to be around.
"Oh, because I love you," Quil shrugged like it was the simplest answer he ever had to give. Quil loved Claire more than steak night at Emily's house. Quil needed Claire more than he needed air.
"But...why are you always here?" Claire asked again with much more volume. Quil looked at her now with concern. Why was she acting like this?
"Claire, what's going on?" Quil paused the movie and sat his chips down. He gave Claire his full attention now.
"Mommy doesn't like you. She says that you're weird and that you shouldn't hang around a kid so much. Daddy loves you though and I love you," Claire got up and went over to stand in front of him now. She had tears in her eyes which broke his heart.
"Sam is going to kill me for this but he never obeyed me not to tell you...Claire you've heard of the legends? The wolves? The wolves...special person?" Quil knew he had to lower what he was talking about so a child would understand.
"The wolves who protect us and the special person is like...tied to that wolf...right?" Claire's little eyebrows were pulled together. Complete concentration on her face. Quil chuckled and reached out a thumb to smooth her face back out. Older Claire crept closer to hear better as Quil leaned in and whispered in the child's ear.
"I am a wolf and you are my special person," Quil whispered in the girls ear before pulling back and placing a finger on his lips telling her it was a secret. Claire quickly acted liked like she was zipping her lips and throwing away the eye.
"So that's why I love you and I'm around so much. I protect you, I'm made to protect you," Quils eyes were so kind they made adult Claire almost melt. Before anything else could happen though the front door opened and Mary stood there with her hands on her hips. Obviously not happy with how close Quil was to her youngest daughter. She could care less that Ben was asleep on his lap.
"We're back so time for you to go Quail," Mary purposely got his name wrong to toy with him. Quil winked at Claire before Claire went to go greet her parents who were now both inside. Maxwell gave a kind apologetic look that made Claire wish she tried harder to get to know him when she was old enough.
"That's all for today sweetheart," Miss Sarlo patted Claire's hands before breaking their connection. Claire kept her eyes closed as she cradled her head in her hands. All the new information was hurting her. She was racking her brain trying to remember the legends but couldn't. What were they?
"Miss Sarlo, do you have anything about the legends? I think that would help me," Claire asked before watching the old lady stand out of her chair and run her hands along with walls until she reached a bookcase by a desk. What happened at that desk since the old woman was blind, Claire wasn't sure. Miss Sarlo felt around for a moment before pulling down a brown leather book. It was worn out and old with no writing on it.
"These are the legends. Maybe these will help soothe your mind," Miss Sarlo handed it to her before pointing to the door for Claire to go. Claire believed that the memory unblocking took a lot of energy from her too. She left with only a simple goodbye before heading home. It was bit chillier then normal tonight but thankfully no rain. Claire held the book close to her chest as she started down the main road to her house. It was only about a two mile walk but the something felt strange. Normally she didn't mind walking or running in the dark but something was off. The air was still. No animals made noise in the woods next to her. It felt like everything was frozen. Claire kept moving though, she needed to get home and open this book. When she had about a mile left she heard something snap in the tree line next to her. She stopped for only a spilt second before picking up her pace. Why didn't she just get Emily to drop her off? Why hide the fact that she was going to the woman Emily recommended? Another snap and this time Claire stopped. She listened until another snap went off directly behind her. Claire whirled around to look behind her when she saw the same red eyes as before. This time though the person was close enough she could see what it looked like.
She was beautiful. The woman was undeniably stunning. Pale skin that looked like stone. Red eyes that looked like rubies. Long blonde hair that looked like something out of a Disney movie. She wore a rain coat that was too big for her, the same one from the other day but underneath was a pair of tight pants and a black shirt. The woman was gorgeous and scary. Claire took a step back, she tried to look away but couldn't.
"I thought I'd see you again but it's very hard to get you alone when all of you're friends are mutts," the woman spoke beautifully, it sounded like music even if Claire thought she was just insulted. Claire opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out.
"What? Cat got your tongue?" The woman laughed as she watched Claire open her mouth again. No sound was coming out. Claire was trying her best but nothing. No words or screams escaped even though she was inside her mind. Claire began to panic. She held the book tighter before backing up more. What was going on?
"I do love this little game of cat and mouse...so run mouse," the woman gave a wicked smile before Claire took off into the woods. She knew the woods now like the back hand. Claire didn't have to look behind her to know the woman was following. She knew she was. All Claire could do was hold the book right, pay attention to the trails below her feet and run. Claire tried to scream again but nothing came out.
"No sound will come out dear. It's a great gift to have...to silence your prey," the woman let out a laugh. It sounded like she was right her next to Claire. She kept moving though. She would not be caught. She would not be killed. Then she heard the growls. The same growls as before. Claire stopped knowing what was to come next.
"Oh, come on!" The woman was right in front of Claire now. She was right, the woman was right next to her the whole time. Claire opened her mouth again and finally a scream escaped. The growls intensified.
"Claire!" Quil was the one coming out of the woods this time in only shorts to rescue her. He pulled her behind him quickly and stared down the woman in front. He would not let anything happen to her, not if his life depended on it.
"Until next time," the woman laughed before taking off. The growls around them hidden in the woods turned into howls and heavy paws could be heard.
"Claire, are you okay?" Quil turned and asked finally when no other sounds could be heard in the woods except an owl. Claire just stared straight ahead at where the woman was. What was going on?