Chapter One: Kumiho Shumiho

Vampire Crayons

"What the hell is that thing?" shouted the dog angrily as he clenched both upper and bottom halves of his shaking jaw together. I suppose it was to prevent his self from cutting his tongue off, which would have been an improvement. Even with his teeth forced together he still managed to fling out a long chain of very offending and loud profanities.

Of course, I was in no better shape. Members of my own kind had a natural aversion to those of his species. "Vile dog-beast!" I screeched with just as much venom in my words. Truth be told I was scared stiff in his presence, unlike him who was nearly overtaken by his instincts to kill me. Stupid dog.

"Jacob, calm yourself," Esme, the kindest of the vampires told him in her soft voice, which probably irked him more than calmed him. "You know how my granddaughter feels about you controlling your temper. If Renesmee was here to see this instead of going on that hunt with her father…" she trailed off suggestively.

Finally quiet however it wasn't welcome; silence put all of us remaining in the house in an awkward position. The dog and I struggled to remain as far from one another and yet remain in the same room, even going as far as to crane our necks in opposing directions. My legs twitched to run but idiotic pride kept me seated, not willing to let him win whatever game we were playing. If only the ones that we were waiting for would hurry home this wouldn't be too much of an issue.

"Hana, dear, may I get you something to drink?" Esme offered kindly. Still I bristled at hearing my name being called in such a familiar way. I would have to remind myself that westerners didn't use titles when they addressed someone, and possibly I would have to learn to do the same.

I smiled tightly, let out a pathetic squeak from my mouth in an attempt to talk, and resolved to decline with a head shake. I doubted even vampires kept what I would have wanted in their fridge.

"Ah, well… okay…" without anything better to do she sat down gracefully on the couch separating the two partitions of the room that became the territories of the dog and I, and flicked the television on to the cooking channel. Fascinated and vaguely disgusted by the process of making human foods I tuned in as well, hoping to pass sometime.

After awhile we finally heard the door open and close and several extremely graceful people march through the front hall. "Esme, we're home—."

Yes I'm sure the scene in the living room was quite the spectacle for them.

"Who's this?" the lead blonde vampire asked, not directly to me, but to his mate on the couch. Esme seemed to be ignoring him and focusing more on how to make your own lasagna noodles from scratch. Cooking, although not for her, seemed like a strange hobby for blood drinkers to be interested in.

"Rather, don't you mean: What it is?" The dog stressed, the trembling resurfacing and causing a sour expression to appear on one of the she-vamps face's.

"Jacob Black, you apologize to her this instant!" The severely pissed vampire commanded like a drill sergeant. "And fix that attitude of yours! How many times to I have to tell you to monitor your anger? I won't have it! Do you understand me?"

The dog, Jacob-Baka, bowed his head in defeat.

"I am curious about that myself, among other things," mused the blonde vampire, who was now giving me a helpful hand up from my defensive squat position. At least I told myself it was a defensive position. I'd rather not lie and say I was a brave person, that's not in my nature. That move might have been pulled by a possum if he was scared shitless and literally died while pissing.

"I will be happy to answer any questions if it is in exchange for a minimum of one hour of your hospitality." I shook his hand while I still held onto it, in western tradition, then bowed respectfully in mine. "My name is Hana."

"And I am Carlisle Cullen, head of my coven. Please, come sit in the dining room."

I complied with his request and soon found myself sitting at one end of a very long dining table. But it seemed there still wasn't enough seating, and I think maybe other's had joined us since Carlisle's hunting party had returned. More dogs and other peoples- vampires and humans alike, crowded around the room like it was story time at the campfire.

"ooh, your story is very interesting," said one vampire with very small features, almost childlike but majestic at the same time. I presume she was the one named Alice infamous for her clairvoyant talent. The redheaded male staring at her intensely was the one I noticed next. "Edward," Alice chided. "Stay out of my head and wait to hear the story just like everyone else."

"You two, it's not fair that you always get to see everything first!" Complained a relatively newborn vamp. Edward grinned and slid her name between one of his chuckles 'Bella', obviously not taking her seriously.

Carlisle began the meet quietly but firmly. "Ahem… Hana, any time you are ready we are listening."

I sucked on my tongue for a moment to wet it, kind of as a nervous action. "M-my name is… is Hana," I stuttered, keeping a wary eye on the dogs, who were also edgy, that were sprinkled throughout the room. "I'm a… a Kumiho; a fox shape-shifter. And I need your protection."

"Bet she needs protection," said one dog maliciously to the other. "Look at that little foxy. Doesn't look like she could even hurt a fly. Look at her quaking in her shoes. She wants our protection but she's almost too scared to ask." Their whispered laughs were knives whittling away at my already picked at sanity. Staying calm around men that made getting angry part of their everyday life was a great feat.

I spoke up again. "I need shelter from the Volturi. Please, Cullen family, there is no one else to turn to."