Chapter Five

"Kassuq." The woman's voice held the power of Alpha, of leader. She wasn't looking at the bear though; her eyes were focused directly on Jacob's and he gave a slight shudder. It was as if she could see things he couldn't. "Your pride and eagerness to battle will get you killed, boy."

Ah, she had stopped refering to Jake as wolf. He was crouching a bit, ready for the bear. His eyes were still locked with hers though. "What? I liked the name wolf. Sort of fitting."

"Trust me when I tell you that boy makes more sense. You're an ignorant child." Her eyes flashed with anger, and she gave him a cool smile. "You do not deserve the title of wolf. You don't even deserve to be called puppy. So instead, I will call you boy. It is after all, what you are." She turned away from him the slightest bit, and it was like a slap to the face. A dismissal. "Kassuq, go and fetch Grandmother."

The bears quiet growling spluttered to a stop. He snorted angrily, rising once more to his hind legs. He towered above the woman, white body dwarfing her in his shadow. It was clear to all of them that the bear was not impressed with the command.

The woman flicked the bear in one of his massive paws, ignoring his grunt of pained irritation. "Go. Get Grandmother."

Grumbling in complaint, the bear lumbered off into the woods.

The woman settled in the dirt, cross legged. "I trust you'll wait here with me, boy?" She asked Jacob, inclining her head in invitation. The alpha sat in front of her, looking confused. "We can't finish this until you speak with Grandmother." She explained, yawning boredly.

The female bear, the smaller one, crept around the pack to stretch out against the womans back. She snuffled at the womans hair, against her ear, quiet growls filling the air.

"One of your puppies is dying, boy." The woman closed her eyes and leaned on the mass of muscle behind her. "I suggest going to it."

The alpha's head whipped to the side so he could stare at Leah. The she-wolf was finally free of the webs that had gripped at her legs, but her eyes were half asleep. She was fine.

"Not that puppy, boy." The woman still hadn't opened her eyes. "The one further into the woods. Kassuq did a bit of damage."

Paul.

Jacob leapt to his feet, Carlisle at his heels, when the woman called out softly, "Make sure you don't move his head too much." The alpha froze long enough to look back at her in concern and confusion.

"Spinal damage, Jacob. We can't move his head until we know his spine is fine." Carlisle murmured. He hadn't stopped, he had sped up, and he was finally at Paul's side. He quietly lowered himself to his knees by the wolf's head. "Paul. I need to -"

"Don't bother." He grunted, turning his head to the side. "That - that bear put my head in the right place." He struggled to sit up, two sets of hands helping him. One cold, one hot. He shuddered at the cold, despite it being a welcoming difference to his burning skin.

Jacob really wished he knew what the hell was going on.

ZZZ

Someone was whistling. Whistling and crunching the thick under growth of the woods. Someone was making as much noise as possible as they wandered towards the tree-cave.

The bear and woman hadn't moved yet, creating a sort of...line across their small clearing. The wolves and vampires stayed firmly on the other side, standing close enough to touch. It was putting the vampires on edge.

Paul and Leah were the only two wolves sitting. Human once more, and fully dressed. Neither of them were in any shape to be fighting. It would be up to the rest of the pack if things turned south.

"Why are you so far from home, boy?" The woman looked as if she were asleep, breathing soft, eyes closed.

"We're looking for something that's killing humans."

She paused in her breathing - and really, that was just so weird, they needed to breathe, Leah thought - and opened on eye. Her lips parted, closed, then opened again. "I see."

Crunch.

He was over seven feet tall. His hair was cut short, just below his ears. It was tucked behind his ears, black as ink. His skin was a lighter russet than their own, and he was whistling as he walked. A small, content smile graced his face.

Atop his shoulders was a little girl.

She couldn't have been older than eight, dark dark hair tied into a thick braid over her right shoulder. Her legs were wrapped around his neck, suffocatingly tight, and she was shaking with fear.

"Kassuq." The woman smiled at the man...bear. Her smile wasn't friendly like his own, though.

"Cha'tima." He responded, his sparkling with silent laughter. He tightened his grip on the small girls ankles, bouncing his shoulders to jostle her up and down. "I have done as you have asked." He rumbled.

"Yes. Set her down."

A murmur fell upon the pack as they eyed the little girl warily.

"I thought you were bringing your grandma?" Leah asked, lips curved back from her teeth the smallest bit.

Kassuq, the bear-man, settled the girl on the ground. She came up to his hips, which was still tall for her age. Hands fluttered to her braid, nervous and scared, before she dropped it back to her side. "I am Grandmother. Or, Unktomi if you prefer. They call my Grandmother." She pointed at both bears, before turning to Jacob. She stared at his mouth, rather than meeting his gaze. "I am sorry I tried to eat your wolf. The thing is, you're in my territory. If I were to enter yours, would you not kill me?"

She definately didn't sound like a little girl.

"No. I wouldn't."

"Is that a lie, alpha?" She smiled, nervously. "Or is it truth? You travel with their kind, so I'm inclined to think of it as truth." She nodded at Carlisle. "You go willingly with the gold-eyed cold ones." She pointed out.

Jacob shifted, moving his body in front of Bella.

"Don't worry, boy. We have no interest in harming those that can't control who they are." Cha'tima said calmly. "Your cold ones don't drink from the flesh of humans; and even if they did, a quick death to ones food isn't something we have the right to judge. Just keep them on a tight leash."

"Is this all of you?" Jake asked, letting his eyes roam over the other...group.

"No." Unktomi said briskly, turning to the forest. "This isn't all of us. Mother, will you make them leave?" She glanced at Embry, looking uncomfortable.

Cha'tima followed the childs line of sight, a look of unease crossing her own face. "You are hunting a human killer. We will join you. These are our woods, we'll get through them faster. Once you find your killer, you will leave. Am I understood?"

The alpha and coven leader nodded, grateful to have more help.

Cha'tima turned her back on them, quietly watching her spider child smile.