Legends never die
When the world is calling you
Can you hear them screaming out your name?
Legends never die
They become a part of you
Every time you bleed for reaching greatness
Relentless you survive
They never lose hope when everything's cold
And the fighting's near
It's deep in their bones they'll run into smoke
When the fire is fierce
Oh, pick yourself up, 'cause
Legends never die
Legends Never Die, by Against the Current, from the album Legends Never Die, released in 2017
Y'know, it's quite hard to judge the passage of time when your unconscious. Even more so, when you end up sitting, watching your wolf's memories like it's a film at the cinema. It could've been days, hours, minutes, I don't know. It could've been mere seconds for all I knew. The fact that what little outside input we had muted while we were watching her memories, and well, there was hardly any tells.
I'd comforted her for as long as I could, but I'd never had much experience with death, outside of well, Edward, and comforting Jake after his Mom died. Even then, my tactic had been as simple as mourn with him, hug him, and distract him. Of course, I could do all of them now, but I didn't want to invade her privacy any further then I'd been forced to. Apparently, watching her memory and causing her to have an emotional outburst wasn't enough, because also apparently, it was my turn.
Running my hands through her coarse fur, that was somehow silky smooth at the same time, our surroundings blurred once again. Around us, there was a navy blue carpeted floor, but not the shaggy kind, there was a sofa in the corner, with a TV directly adjacent to it. The walls were neatly wallpapered, with abstract swirls of colour every so often. This room was familiar to me, and the two figures sitting cross legged on the carpet was even more so.
Little sweet innocent Bella sat there, with a navy blue pinafore with a flower on the pocket that I remembered all too well. Renee had forced me into that abomination of a piece of fabric, when I'd have much rather have been wearing scruffy jeans and a loose shirt. But no, 'Little girls have to look pretty, and you're a little girl aren't you?'. Can you tell I'm just a little resentful of her for that? Little Jacob was in his dungarees, blue, with a carefully stitched patch in the knee.
Despite the age gap, we were pretty close, even if the boundary was evident with the language and things similar. At that age, we were always being rough one another, that kind of play fighting that was common with siblings. And at that age, we might as well have been. Perhaps even at that age the would-be Imprint had an effect on us, drawing us together. Between the two of us, there were a series of lego bricks, and Jacob was smashing a particularly bright red and blue block together.
"Bewa, When is Mommy and Daddy coming back?"
Little me, two years Jacob's senior, shrugged, with gangly limbs reaching out and almost tapping him upside the head. She was invested in a little house that she'd been building, yellow bricked and red thatched, with a little lego figure waving it's cusped hand in greeting. She smoothed out the skirt on the pinafore, sticking her tongue out in disgust before turning to look at Jacob with brown gazed eyes.
"I don't know Jacob! I'm sure our Mommy's and Daddy's will be back soon."
The ever knowledgeable seven year old me reassured Jacob to the best of her ability. Which, funnily enough, wasn't an ability I had, at all. The thing is, upon reflection, I had a sinking feeling that day. Momm- Mom, had stepped out the room at the time of this scene, to take a phone call. It was unusual, because she had tended to answer it in front of the two of us.
As kids, we didn't particularly care for phone calls after all. Didn't understand the significance, nor did we care. At that age, we just cared for our family and our toys, and things similar. We continued on, playing together with the lego bricks, and babbling in barely cohesive English. But hey, from what little I can recall from that age, we seemed to understand one another well enough, and our respective families let it be. Again… that could've been the Imprint.. if it were even a proper thing back then.
Wolves were genetic, in my case, not, and I knew that the phasing was to do with exposure to vampires. But what if that wasn't true? What if it came across by something different? Renee stepped back into the room, small tears running down her face as she walked towards the two of us, and crouched down, teetering carefully on her shoes.
As if I was psychic- which no, wasn't a secret ability of mine- baby Bella turned to face Renee, her head turning ever so slightly, as she looked in question at her face.
"Mommy? What's wrong?"
Her hands were running through Baby Me's hair, fingers intertwining with various strands as she twisted it and tangled it. I knew better then most that it would end up being severely knotted the day after. Renee paused for a minute, before resuming her actions, with hardly a murmur in between.
The awkwardness of the whole situation ended up catching even naive little Jacob, who was just past the sucking my thumb age, and leaning towards the inquisitive, climb everywhere stage, turned to face Renee, his own eyes shining curiously.
"We just need to wait for Charlie sweetheart."
Her breath hitched halfway through the sentence, and that should've been the first notice that something wasn't right. Still, more absorbed in our little game of lego houses, we took it at her word, turning away to instead build another house to add to our little cul-de-sac. We'd make a whole village if we had enough bricks, but while we had a lot, we didn't have that many.
What is this 'legos?' What do you mean you should have caught on sooner?'
I turned to face my wolf, who had since sat back up into a sitting movement, and was looking at me, with a sense of unease and curiosity. I sighed, as I rubbed my right hand through her fur, my left rubbing underneath my eyelids. Was it possible to be tired while being unconscious? Apparently so.
So the lady behind us- me and little Jacob- is my Mom. Renee. A little eccentric and keen on the idea of me being a girly girl. She.. doesn't know about wolves yet, as you might've picked up, and I'm not planning to tell her. The two little kids are me and Jake. This memory.. is from the day where his Mom and Dad were in an accident. His Mom died.. but his Dad survived, which is why he's paralysed now. Jake was supposed to be in the car that day, but he ended up staying with us after having a tantrum.
My wolf nodded her head, a soft croon emerging in her voice. I continued rubbing my right hand through her fur, as the scene seemed to skip time a little, the soft blues of the sky in the window becoming a dusky black. Renee had since moved to settle down on the sofa, settling back and watching us with an odd sense of disbelief. Charlie appeared out of nowhere, his cap nestled down over his eyes, shrouding them from us.
His whole form was slumped, defeated, as he blinked heavily, slowly. Renee moved to his side, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him on the cheek. In a peculiar way, it was nice to see them so close together, acting like my Mom and Dad, and not arguing- the only way I can really remember them acting. Charlie moved towards us, kneeling down with his cap in his hand, in that stereotypical policeman pose.
"Jake, son, I've.. got something to tell you."
"What is it Unkle Charlie?"
I suppressed a smile. That was back when he couldn't pronounce his 'cul' sound, so it sounded more like 'Kuhl'. So very similar, but not the same. Little me seemed to realise that something wasn't quite right, because she shuffled closer to Jacob, almost forcing Charlie away from his crouched position.
Charlie looked deep in thought, his eyes watering, as he took a breath in. I didn't blame him- how were you supposed to explain to a five year old that his Mom wasn't coming home, despite being well the last time he saw her?
"So, you know how your Mommy and Daddy went out? And how you didn't want to go, so we looked after you?"
"And I played with Bewa!"
Jacob took until he was six to realise that two "l's" do not equal the 'w' sound. Sometimes if we reminisced, I would tease him about that, in fondness. He knows I meant well. Although we had less and less time reminiscing.. between pack duties and everything else going on.. well, we didn't get as much time as we would have liked.
I know that we had responsibilities to the pack, and it had never bothered me once before, but after all of what's happened.. I yearned for even a small vacation. Or a date night. But the thing is, I felt so selfish for even thinking the thought. A small smile flickered across Charlie's face, before it disappeared just as quickly.
"Yeah. You did. Well, you know when people get sick, and they go to the hospital?"
Jacob's little head bobbed up and down, his hair going wild much like it did nowadays. The similarities between Jacob and young Jacob helped me feel nostalgic, and all the more grateful for what I had now, even though I hadn't lost anything that day. Or I did.. an Auntie, but not to the same extent as Jacob. I don't think it's even possible to even interpret grief at that age.
"Hospwital?"
"Yeah Jakey. Remember when I broke my arm when I fell down the stairs? That's where I went to get my arm fixed, and look!"
Little Bella rotated her arm in demonstration, a toothy grin emerging on her face. Ugh. I feel like I'm narrating in third person. It's weird because it's me, but if I use 'I' then you have no idea if I'm referring to myself or the girl in the memory. Okay Bella, no more narrating or monologuing.
On little Bella's face, the toothy smile was wiped clean as she turned to face Charlie and Renee once again. I may be clumsy, and several other things, but I was quick on the uptake, even back then. Although, not when it came to creepy Vampires apparently. Funny, you'd think that would be the one that would get my attention on the old warning bells.
"Who's hurt?"
The flinch of pain on Charlie's face was visible to even me. I could practically feel it, and yet again I found myself wondering how I'd missed it back then. Charlie was known for many things, but subtlety wasn't one of them. Nor was he known for cooking. There was a reason I learned to cook from a young age, and it was because I wasn't exactly keen on food poisoning.
Renee hushed me, and moved to grab my arm, trying to pull me away, but as Jacob stood up on wobbly legs, I tugged back, going backwards and almost overbalancing. Despite the height difference, he managed to prop little Bella up a bit, and she caught her own balance from there. I'd had enough rug burns to learn it hurt like a bugger when they happened. She channelled her inner stubbornness that I got from Charlie, she straight up refused to move.
"Jake, your Mommy and Daddy were in an accident."
Charlie received a swift kick- gentle, more like a nudge then anything- in the ribs from Renee from that, as he bit his lip in a very 'me' action. She'd probably done that because she couldn't elbow him from where she was standing. Jacob turned his head, a smile still on his face.
The truth hadn't hit him.. and it didn't until a good few months after the funeral. The reason I knew that was because I was there.. it was before we left for Phoenix, and before I was left to be away from Jacob.
"So when will they be home?"
"We're going to see your Dad at the hospital. Your Mom.. she's going to be away for a while."
Jacob accepted that without much question. Little Bella turned to look at him with an analytical glance, before she turned back to Jacob, grasping his hand and guiding him towards the door.
"Come on Jake- we'll get ready and go see your Mommy."
Our surroundings faded to black once again, and I went on to try and relax. I was getting sick of being unconscious, y'know. Was it because I was such an awful; terrible; lacklustre?.. wolf that I ended up being unconscious at least once a month? The drive I had before about defending myself was only enhanced tenfold, because I didn't want to be taken unawares again.
I didn't want to be kidnapped and hurt, and chained up, without being able to stop it in any way or form. An urge to protect myself, protect those I loved, and protect my pack to the best of my ability. My wolf stood up abruptly, her fur spiking on edge like electricity coursed through it, and approached me, her ears perked and her eyes narrowed. She bowed her head, before looking back up at me.
Alpha. You are ready to take the mantle of Alpha Female- and your Mate is ready to take his title of Alpha Male. You will lead the Pack through tough times, good or bad, and through your united bond, you will prosper together. That is the job of the Alpha Wolf.
When she said that, my inner part of me was telling me that I was probably going to wake up. It would be a cliché kind of thing wouldn't it, to wake after a rousing speech like that. But I thought Jake had no intention to take the role of Alpha? Rather then waking up, our surroundings blurred once more, as similar trees and mantles of rocks emerged.
The surrounding plant life seemed much younger, the grass greener, and there was no plumes of smoke. A much younger Russet (the wolf, remember him?) was in an aggressive position, fur up on end, ears in the back, and narrowed his eyes. Claws dug deep into the ground, and his tail was high, no sign of submission anywhere. He was standing up against a sandy coloured wolf, fur so light that it was, well, the colour of literal sand.
"I challenge you for the right of Alpha!"
Russet snarled viciously, upper fangs showing from out-width his lip. The other wolf dropped into his own stance, hackles raised and tail raised. He was trying to puff himself up so he looked more intimidating. A deep guttural roar emerged from the unnamed wolf, but along his pelt there was a multitude of scars, zigzagging across his body like stripes on a tiger.
Perhaps the two predators were just as vicious as one another. To compare, Russet had only a few, but patches of his fur seemed a different colour to the rest. Had it regrown recently?
"So be it! This will be a duel to the death- the victor shall become Alpha, without any question of authority from the pack!"
With that, he kicked off from the ground, and the two wolves lunged at one another, the surrounding pack forming a circle. It reminded me of those stereotypical school-yard fights, where everyone would form a circle around the two fighters. The older, more experienced Alpha got in a good bite on Russet's scruff, throwing him to the side like a rag doll. But what he had in experience, Russet had in youth.
He landed on all fours, before charging back towards the Alpha, his head down like he was prepared to headbutt him. A vicious, absolutely demented roar emerged from Russet as he skidded to a stop, biting into his flank like a crazed dog. This time, the Alpha hissed, whipping his head around to bite the nippy little wolf, but missed, Russet ending up behind him.
As they charged towards one another in a bloody fight, I couldn't help but wonder why Russet was fighting for Alpha, so to speak.
He was not a good Alpha. He hurt Pack- not to punish, but for fun. None of us were strong enough to fight for the claim to Alpha: I had tried, but was beaten mercilessly, and made Omega of the Pack as a result.
I could assume from the way she sounded, angered and yet somehow disheartened, that the title was not a good one. I had done some research on wild wolf packs.. and I knew exactly what happened to the poor Omegas. It also made me look at my wolf, who looked away, more timid then she'd ever been before. She obviously didn't like the memory.
Curved-Loyal-Tree went away to train. To this day, I do not know where he went. He simply refused to tell me. He left the pack, branded a traitor, and re-emerged, challenging the current Alpha.
Turning my attention back to the ensuing fight, I watched with enrapturing attention as the current Alpha clawed at Russet's fur, a large wave of blood going flying at the impact, and landed with a wet slap on the grass, tinged with red. A yelp emerged from Russet's throat, but instead of pulling away, he slammed into the Alpha's side. Despite the difference in size, he managed to off balance him enough to be able to bite his paw, and clench down on it, hard.
The screech that emerged from the Alpha was overruled by the sickening crack of bone, as he threw his head to the side, the paw most definitely broken. He stepped delicately back, avoiding a crazed, blinded strike, before lunging in with a sideswipe, forcing him onto the backs of his paws. For all of Russet's efforts, the Alpha managed to grab a hold of his jugular, and my breath caught in my throat.
If a wolf could smirk, the Alpha did, as his teeth sank deeply into the throat of Russet. Russet twitched in pain, howling, as the Alpha sunk his teeth deeper, and eventually, the wolf went limp. But, there was something odd. From my research, I had learned that as a last minute resort, a wolf's body would go limp when in a fight.
It was an instinctive thing, meant to try and save the wolf when they were unconscious. But, Russet didn't. I swallowed harshly, as he dug his teeth deeper and deeper, but I caught my breath when I saw Russet move. The Alpha wolf was beginning to regain his stance from his knelt down position, but Russet suddenly dropped harder then a rock, causing the Alpha to be dragged downwards as his whole body weight was forced downwards.
Russet's jaw opened wide, and snapped shut like a crocodile around his muzzle, several dagger like fangs digging into the flesh. Russet threw him so he landed on his ribs in a show of supernatural strength, before pouncing on him, his own jaws going around the Alpha's jugular.
I looked away, averting my eyes, as I heard a distinct gush of blood and a tearing sound, as I instinctively knew that the wolf was no more. As I turned my head back towards Russet, ignoring the very not nice body of the former Alpha, I saw all the other wolves circling around him, before bowing, in a yet again Lion King-esque situation. With that image in my head, the surroundings blurred to a white, as my wolf moved in front of me, washing her face with a paw.
That day, he became our Alpha, and kept the position until.. what you saw happened. We were happy. I had my magic, but he had his own power, much more subtle then my own. He had the power to sense whether a decision would turn out in his favour. But, there were flaws. He could not tell the future, not in the sense the Vampire could, and he had no idea whether it would turn out in his favour now, or hundreds of years in the future.
That was surprising. I didn't know if Jacob had that ability or not.. I'd love to find out. Especially since an ability like that would come in handy. It reminded me of a certain decision that I wasn't happy with though..
It's likely that he will have at least a form of it, because he holds my Mate's soul. This is why you have the shield ability- that was my primary ability.
I had that power long before I became a wolf though. My wolf had a small smile on her face, as she butted her head against my leg, the bright white light increasing in intensity.
We were always meant to be one. Whether what Leech did or not, we would always come together. It is your birthright, no matter how distant the hold may be. The Vampire only fastened the process.
With that bit of information, she walked into me, and the immediate surroundings started to spin, and I felt like I was falling through a giant hole, one that was never ending. With a small pressure building on my head, and the fresh air like someone breathing for the first time, I jolted awake, greeted by pain and several sets of worried eyes, most of all being Jacob.
I blinked my eyes rapidly, huffing, before moving to go to Jacob, only to be stopped by several hands and a burst of pain. Huh. Who'd of guessed that my time unconscious didn't miraculously heal me. Go figure.
Author's Note
So hello all! How are you all today? I'm significantly better then before, my tests are out of the way, and while I don't have my results back yet, I think I did okay, all things to be considered.
And I've gotten back into an TV show I used to watch, called Grimm. You might know it, you might not. The point being I love it. I started, on Saturday, from Season 1, and at the time of writing, am on Season 2, episode 19.
Now, onto the questions I received! I'll add a few more on for the fun of it.
Q1. From Windwoman: What is your major?
This is a difficult question to answer. Technically, I'm not doing a major, because I'm not in University or College. I'm still in Secondary school.
The subjects I did take however, all at a 'Higher' level (basically the step above GSCE for England, but I'm not sure what the American equivalent is) are: Computing Science, Chemistry, English, Maths, and Business Management.
Now, I can answer what I want to take. I think we call a major a degree here? I'm not too sure, Scotland is pretty different to the USA. Anyway, I want to take a degree in Computing Science, and hopefully go on to get a job in IT, like a software programmer.
I hope this answers your question!
Q2. From Catgrl: Do you plan to write another Twilight story after you finish this one?
That's a very good question. Honestly? I'm not sure. I have an idea about a crossover fic that I'm planning out, but I'm not sure whether I will go ahead with it or not. But I definitely wouldn't argue no.
I have another Twilight story written, my second for the fandom. But it's so much alike to this story that I doubt I'll ever publish it. But I love Twilight as a fandom, so while I probably won't write one for the fandom for my next story, I will definitely revisit it some time!
Q1 of Cait's Commonly Wondered Questions that aren't commonly wondered at all: Where are you from?
Scotland. I won't specify where, but basically that's why I'm so unknowledgeable about American culture.
Q2 of Cait's Commonly Wondered Questions that aren't commonly wondered at all: Favourite Sport?
Football. British Football, au foot, soccer, fútbol, Fußball, etc etc.
Q3 of Cait's Commonly Wondered Questions that aren't commonly wondered at all: Why do I like Twilight? Book or Film?
It's sort of like a fantasy book, despite not being an actual fantasy novel. I love that kind of thing, and the aspect of magical creatures, good or bad, is an intriguing one to me. Hence, I like it.
Also Book. Every goddamn time. Movies are okay but... book. *Shrugs*. That's all I have to say.
Q4, the final question of Cait's Commonly Wondered Questions that aren't commonly wondered at all: What is my full first name, what does it mean, and where does it come from?
Caitlin. Cait is just what my family call me, and since I'm a bookworm, well, the name speaks for itself.
It means 'Pure' in Irish, but my family is from England, so the name itself is English, especially that spelling.
Right, with that done, I'll ask my question of the week, and then skedaddle. I do love that word. Anyway: The question is, and it's quite a boring one I'm afraid, but what is everyone's favourite fairy tale? Whether it's in native English or not, I'd love to hear it.
Brüderchen und Schwesterchen is my one. Well, technically, the one I read was the English translation, and is called Brother and Sister, originally by the Grimm Brother's, who wrote it in German, hence why the title I put was in German. But since the only German I can say is 'Sie Sprechen Deutsch?', I know it by the English translation.
Anyhow, I've got to go now. Got stories to write, school stuff to prepare, and that's about it.
See you next time, and have a great week!
~Cait