Happy New Year to all! This is the product of me being holed up, internetless on the English/Welsh border for slightly longer then I expected...
A few days later was an unusual bright sunny day, and Sam thought, and many agreed, that all would enjoy a hefty run, especially as the Cullens would be holed up inside their glass house and wouldn't bother them. Leah, already phased, wandered around the treeline listening out for any of her packmates. She was surprised at how much she was looking forwards to running. Since she had begun shielding her thoughts runs became easier and, if she dared to think it, more fun.
You're up early Jacob's voice rang through her head as his scent reached her, and she turned to see his large form appearing through the trees
It's a gorgeous day. She retorted with a smile You think Swarhi and Jonty'll join us today?
Hopefully. Swarhi had not run with them since before Edward attacked her. Another motive of Sam's invitation was to show the Cullen's just how many wolves he thought he had at his command. It was unspoken, yet acknowledged by Leah and Jacob that they would fall back and allow Sam to lead, no interruptions. It was Leah's patrol they were running on, and she didn't mind the company.
Two new scents reached them a few minutes later and Jonty and Swarhi passed into view.
Morning all! Swarhi chirped, clearly much happier than the previous nights.
Hi,
Hey, Came the greetings from Leah and Jacob as more wolves appeared and were greeted in a similar vein. The wolves started to wander through the forest, catching up and chatting when they found more wolves swelling their ranks. Mari was the most noticeable in her vastness and copper hide, and walked besides Jonty. Jacob and Leah fell further back, observing the way Mari's wolves reacted with the pack. Odette bounded with Paul and Embry, her pure white coat a stark contrast to their darker colours, and Opher (a grey wolf), Toro (a black wolf) and Anya (copper) moved together. There was the sense of communication between them, and the medic and her apprentice had joined them too, making it a large amount of lupines that began to pick up speed as the wandering turned into something slightly more agile.
You can see why the Cullens are scared Leah muttered to Jacob
Yeah, the forests happy though.
Softy.
No He frowned at her Come on you can admitted you can feel it He quickly pushed down his memories of the garage
I guess She grudgingly admitted. They were aware of the conversations going on between the various wolves before them, some audible, some a mere feeling of communication. There was a degree of happiness radiating off Swarhi as they turned their internal ears towards her. Though her barriers were up they were weakened slightly by her enjoyment of the run, allowing her emotions through.
A half-mile further on the idea rippled through the packs that they should race, and the speed picked up pace and the conversations lessened. Jacob shot a smile to Leah
Go on, show 'em what you can do
Leah grinned, and began to sprint, racing past the other wolves, feelings Mari's packs' surprise at her speed and ability.
Care to join me Swarhi? she sent out over the packs, and felt a grin in return
On your tail Clearwater Came the response, Leah could hear the smile in her voice.
Are you sure that's wise Swarhianna? The clipped voice of the medic chipped in
It's just running.
It's undue strain on your already weakened body. I strongly advise against it. You probably shouldn't even be phased. The medic stated. Swarhi didn't respond, but sped up, quickly catching up Leah
Come on Swarhi stated, and the shewolves sprinted deep into the forest, leaving the pack in their dust.
The pair ran in silence, Leah listening to the waves of fury rolling off Swarhi and the odd loud, yet muttered thought that generally involving creative swear words. They covered the ground easily, Leah had slowed up very slightly, remembering how out of breath Swarhi had been when they last sprinted. She didn't think the other wolf noticed, but after a while her pace visibly slowed, and as the anger, which Leah assumed had been at least partly fueling Swarhi's speed, started to dissipate they settled into a jog, and they began to chat.
You've been a lot happier recently Swarhi said to Leah. Leah was very pleased to know she was still faster than any of Mari's wolves, especially that Odette.
Odette's not so bad. It's bloody Mari you need to watch out for. Swarhi commented, Your barriers still need some work sweetie.
I know Leah responded.
You have made great progress though, I've never seen them built so fast
Thank you, it's a lot easier without the pack commenting on everything I think
I can imagine. They ran quietly for a few minutes. Then Leah asked something that had been playing on her mind.
What's it like, running with…
Running whilst pregnant? Swarhi finished for her Weird, I can tell you that much. Follow me. Swarhi led her off the beaten track and to the tree-line surrounding a meadow full of small blue flowers. There was the faint smell of Cullens, but it was an old scent, and Swarhi sat down on her haunches, Leah doing the same.
Leah, I trust you. I trust you not to pry, and I trust you not to abuse this.
Ok?
Close your eyes, and look into my mind.
Leah did, feeling the barriers move away and Swarhi's thoughts and feelings trickle out into the accessible subconscious. Suddenly all of Swarhi was on display, a dense and complex matrix of images, sounds and smells and above all feelings. Emotions hovered over everything, and to Leah's surprise she saw a memory of her and, bewilderingly, a sense of pride that accompanied it.
This is me Swarhi thought, and Leah had the most peculiar feeling of inhabiting someone else's body, physically being them. She felt the new body and it's longer limbs, shaggier coat and it's working knowledge. She felt the heavy pit of the stomach and the baby's constant movements. It was such a alien feeling, a new being, dependent, heavy, and very, very alive. Steadily Leah felt she was being drawn back, and opened her eyes, once more in her own body in the pretty meadow. Swarhi was regarding her through deep brown eyes, so similar to her human eyes.
Wow. Was the only word Leah could come up with. That is….just…
I know Swarhi said with a smile And you'll have that too, one day.
How do you know?
I just do. The older wolf said slightly smugly, and got to her feet Come on, we'd best find the others. Hope they haven't torn each other apart without our calming influence.
Leah laughed, and the pair sprinted back to the enlarged pack, who had stopped by a stream and were sat down, flanks heaving. Swarhi padded over to Jonty and sat down heavily at his side, and Leah sat down vaguely near them and was soon joined by Jacob, who casually let his head against her flank and ignored the slight spike in her heartbeat.
It's all about to kick off Leah warned, and he looked past her to see the pale medic, Aponi, walk over to where Swarhi slouched besides her husband. Jonty's ears went flat against his head in worry as Swarhi let out a visible sigh.
Swarhi I-
Don't Aponi.
You shouldn't have done that. You may have caused a relapse.
Aponi-
She's right Swarhi Mari had now joined in. The two standing wolves were making their thoughts heard loud and clear. Swarhi's the pack could hear anyway. I am going to have to put my foot down if you don't start following orders.
Beg pardon?
Leah leant her head closure to Jacob's This is not going to end well.
Nope Came his reply, with a slight smile fight, fight fight….
I said if you are not going to take the health of yourself and this baby seriously I will have to put my foot down! Mari repeated. Swarhi looked to her husband
Have I torn any stitches? She asked
No.
Am I bleeding?
No.
Have I reopened any wounds?
No.
I am experiencing anything that would be unusual for a shewolf of my condition?
Not that I know of.
She turned back to Mari and Aponi Then I think that settles it.
With all due respect your husband is only a paramedic-
Aponi-
-And if you further injure yourself you would have to return home.
Silence rang through the meadow, and Swarhi drew back her gums to expose her teeth.
Home? Home? Your pack isn't my home Aponi.
You share a bond-
We share a bond with every pack we meet!
Our pack is the best place for you- Mari began
-Oh you'd like that wouldn't you? Swarhi snarled Getting me and Jonty back into your precious tribe and keeping us there.
I mean for your health!
You mean to contain us! Swarhi got to her feet, teeth still bared, snarling at the large copper wolf. Aponi had slunk back to her apprentice. You always try and make us stay, we travel Marianna, that's what nomads DO!
How can you think you could bring up a child this way-
It is our choice! Swarhi yelled and Jonty had got to his feet and stood next to his wife, teeth also bared, radiating anger.
As your alpha-
Oooooh stop right there Mari. Just stop it. Swarhi hissed Don't even think about finishing that sentence.
Mari -remarkably- didn't say anything else, but leveled them with a glare Leah didn't want to be on the end of. Unsurprisingly Swarhi appeared to be used to it, and turning with Jonty the pair ran off into the trees, completely blocking their thoughts from all and sundry, meaning they vanished very adequately into the undergrowth.
In the tense silence that followed it was Jacob who got to his feet (Leah following suit) and addressed them.
Come on guys, lunch time and without looking back ran back towards the reservation with Leah by his side, hearing the footfalls of the rest of the pack following him, and leaving Mari and her wolves fuming in the clearing.
Swarhi spent the rest of the day out of sight, but the pack could feel the anger emulating from the room and the occasional thump as she kicked something.
"Why doesn't she go outside?" Emily asked. Jacob had joined her in the kitchen, he was washing up whilst she worked on a lesson plan.
"Take a look." Jacob said, pulling the curtain back. Mari and her wolves (all in human form) were stationed around the house.
"Urgh, this is stupid." Emily iterated. Jacob nodded and there was another thump from upstairs and muted swearing. Emily raised her eyes to the ceiling. "I think she just kicked the door." There was a creak and and the sound of something heavy landing on the bed. "Where's Jonty anyway?"
"Swarhi sent him away, he's out running in the forest." That particularly loud argument had been heard by almost the entire street, Emily had only missed it as she had been teaching. Jonty had left to let off some steam and Swarhi had started kicking the furniture soon after.
"She doesn't know where to direct her anger, does she?" Emily said, looking back at her notes and writing something in the margin "Jonty's on her side."
"Guess she feels threatened." Jacob said with a shrug, drying the last plate and replacing it in the cupboard by his head. Emily joined him by the window as he drained the suds.
"It feels weird having those lot here. I think they're just adding to Swarhi and Jonty's stress."
"Ume." Jacob agreed
"Although I can understand why they'd want to keep an eye on them. Pretty powerful, aren't they?"
"What?"
"They travelled all over, met loads of different packs. Said they'd been to Europe too. I reckon Mari thinks they're going to stay with us, and keep all that knowledge from her pack." Jacob looked at Emily in astonishment.
"How..?"
"I listen Jake," She said with a smile, turning and sitting back down at the table "and I'm not as dumb as I look."
"You don't look dumb." Jacob said immediately
"Alright. Thank you for your help with the dishes."
"No worries"
Her voice reached him as he opened the door "Have fun with Leah!"
He laughed, and stepped out into the sunshine.
As Jonty opened his door that evening he saw his wife asleep in the bed, and smiled softly, coming in and closing the door behind him. He changed into a pair of loose pajama trousers before sliding under the covers and snuggling up to Swarhi hugged himself to her as she murmured, waking up from her doze with his movements.
"You ok?" He whispered, her breathing was shallow, and whilst this was usual in the last months of pregnancy it seemed shallower than normal.
"'M sick of being pregnant" came the sleepy reply "he's been kicking my ribs for an hour." Jonty's hand found her bump and slid under her hands, massaging the area under her ribs where their son pushed against her lungs. Swarhi let out a grunt, and under his fingers he felt the baby move and kick her ribs again.
"Come on baby," Jonty crooned quietly "let your mum sleep." He continued to massage for a few minutes, until the baby finally moved further down and Swarhi took a slightly deeper, shaky breath. He could feel the baby move until he appeared to settle, and Swarhi sighed in relief, snuggling into the pillow. He felt she had put a pillow between her knees, and replaced it by sliding his leg in between hers, pulling himself into her back. She turned her head and he leant over and kissed her lingeringly on the lips before she sighed and turned back. Jonty nudged the hair away from her neck and pressed a kiss to the hot skin before closing his eyes. After such an eventful day he slid easily into a deep, dark sleep, and saw nothing of the nightmares he expected.
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