Only a few weeks after Claire's tenth birthday in the end of September, Jacob and Renesmee were officially in a romantic relationship. Quil was happy for them, and Claire loved both Nessie and Jake, whom she used to, and still had seen as an uncle. She had seen most of the pack members as uncles. They all loved when she came around- she made the bonfires not only interesting, but fun as well. She had questions now- what did the wolves look like? She wanted to draw them. What did Taha Aki's wolf figure look like? She wanted to draw the scene in which he had tried to yelp and howl their peoples' songs. Why did the Cold one hurt so many of their people? She began to dislike the cold ones. They seemed so mean, she had said. And scary. She looked up to the Third Wife for her sacrifice, and felt nothing more than understanding as to why Taha Aki left and never returned. Her questions never annoyed any of the pack members- in fact, Old Quil loved someone taking such interest in the stories. As a member of the Makah tribe, she had every right to be interested.

"Old Quil?" The young girl, seated next to Quil, got the elder's attention.

"Yes, Claire?" He couldn't help but crack a small smile. Regardless of the odd instance of Quil's imprint on Claire, the whole pack loved her. Even Leah didn't mind the young girl.

"Do you think Taha Aki's still out there?" She questioned. Quil could almost see through her light hazel eyes, how she was visualizing a large wolf, still roaming the world, probably still in agony from his loss. "I mean, if he didn't age after he turned into a wolf, wouldn't he still be out there? Unless he stopped being a wolf, of course.." she caught herself rambling, and stopped, looking up at the elder in almost embarrassment. She held a high amount of respect for Old Quil, who was now grinning at her curiosity.

"Hm.." his older voice rasped, as he truly sat in thought. "You do have a point there. The legends say that he was searched for, for some time, but that he was never found. That certainly is a possibility, Claire." Claire's eyes almost visually sparkled.

While she knew of the pack members not aging, Renesmee's fast growth and her gift, she still was unaware of exactly what the two species were.

"Do you think that there's real wolves out there, like Taha Aki and the others?" She questioned, her mouth slightly agape in amazement. Quil could easily see what her next art project would be- wolves, of course. However, after her question, the whole ring of shape-shifters- and Renesmee- remained silent. They all knew that it hadn't been decided when she was allowed to know. The pack, Quil included, knew that she was probably ready to know the secret, but it was ultimately up to Jenna Young to decide when Claire would be allowed to know.

Old Quil only smiled.

"There very possibly could be, young lady," the old man chuckled.

Before Quil took Claire home, who had remained silent after the elder's last comment, Old Quil stopped her. Quil could hear his grandfather telling his imprint what he had wanted to:

"You keep that imagination of yours, sweetheart. It's a gift, and it shouldn't be wasted."

It was only that Spring when Quil and Claire had heard the news. Quil had taken Claire for a walk on the beach, which was one of her favorite activities once it had started getting warmer out, when they ran into Jake and Nessie, who seemed happier and more calm than ever. Their hands were clasped together as they walked towards the two. Claire immediately ran to the two, Quil watching her carefully as she ran and following only shortly behind.

"Nessie! Uncle Jake!" The girl shouted as she halted in front of them, giving the two their own separate, killer bear hugs.

"Hey, Claire! How's everything been? School, your art?" Renesmee knelt so she was at Claire's height, only a little shorter as the kid had gotten taller. Claire was about to answer until she was what was on Renesmee's left hand.

"Woah!" Claire explained, her eyes widening visibly. "It's so pretty, Nessie! Where'd you get that?" The young girl stared at the small silver ring on Nessie's ring finger- it had a few small, yet intricately designed diamonds on the silver band. Quil knew exactly what had happened. He could see the pride and happiness in Jacob's face.

"Claire, Jacob and I are getting married this Fall." Renesmee smiled, happier than Quil had seen before, as did Jacob. The two were helplessly and madly in love, obviously. Quil couldn't help but shake Jake's hand, happy for him.

The happy couple informed Claire and Quil then that they were- of course- not only invited to the wedding, but that they had wanted them to be a part of it as well. Jake wanted Quil for his best man, and Claire was more than overjoyed to accept the title of flower girl.

The ride home, Claire couldn't hide her excitement for her best friend.

"I wonder where they're gonna have it!" She exclaimed, and Quil was simply happy to see her so happy.

"Not sure. Maybe the beach? Or the woods. They always liked more natural things like that," Quil joined in, curious himself.

"Ooh! The beach would be perfect! So would the woods." Quil chuckled, amused with how excited his best friend was.

"I've never been in a wedding before, Quil! Do I need make-up for that? I hope not. Lipstick is so gross. Jessie made me try it once. I looked like I drew on my lips with red crayon." The girl grimaced. Jessie was her new friend from school. Quil couldn't help but laugh a bit, and Claire joined in.

"No, I don't think you'll need make-up, Claire. Renesmee herself probably won't even wear any- although that one, Alice, or Rosalie might make her wear some."

"Who's that?" Claire asked, absent-minded as she watched the trees fly by the window.

"Oh- those are Renesmee's aunts." And he left it at that. He couldn't tell her about them being vampires, the very same from the legend that she knew by heart, or that Renesmee was half of one. He would talk to Jenna about it when he took Claire home.. and he did.

Quil took his chance to relay what had happened at the bonfire to Jenna while Claire took a shower upstairs. After he finished telling her what took place, she sighed, putting her hand on her forehead.

"Shit," the woman breathed. She rarely swore, but she knew that they couldn't hide something like that from Claire for much longer. She wasn't a dumb, oblivious kid.

"Yeah.." Quil agreed to her simple statement. Shit was right. The wasn't any exact age that an imprint had to be to know their secret.. he just didn't know how she would take it all. While Claire was, indeed, a calm and understanding kid, he was worried about how she would react to knowing about what Renesmee and her family were.

"I really think you should tell her tonight, Quil. I don't want to lie to her, and you don't either. Maybe just tell her enough for her to know what she has to for now- about you, and the pack." She mumbled, and Quil agreed. He tried to figure out how to explain it all as she came down the stairs.

((Claire's POV))

Quil seemed so weird on the drive home. He seemed.. a lot quieter than usual. In fact, he had seemed that way a lot lately. Did I say something to upset him? I hope not. I thought about it all, taking a longer shower than usual. I didn't need to worry about Katie being mad about me using all of the hot water- she was with her boyfriend and her friends that night.

Old Quil seemed so.. honest? If that would be the word, about his responses to her questions. I began to piece it all together as I washed my hair.

The wolves wouldn't grow, as long as they still shifted into wolf form.

Quil, and the guys never aged. Not one bit. In the six years I could remember knowing my Quil for, and even in the photos of him with me when I was younger than that, he looked the exact same. There was no way that he wouldn't have aged a little bit over the whole eight years. No way, what-so-ever. Same with the rest of the guys. Uncle Jake didn't even grow! Renesmee did, really fast, actually, but that wasn't what I was worried about. Renesmee was pale, unlike the guys. What she was didn't concern me too much. I had a strong feeling of determination as I exited the shower, dried off, and got dressed in my PJ's. I walked down the stairs, entirely silent, and took a place at the table. Mom had decided to go pick up a pizza for the three of us (I had to save some for Katie, she insisted). I sat across from Quil, his gaze not averting mine.. but he seemed to know. My Quil always knew, somehow. He seemed so hesitant, almost afraid? I took a deep breath before speaking, my hands folded in front of me on the table.

"Quil," I spoke as strongly as I could- succeeding. I had his attention immediately.

"Yeah?" He responded immediately.

"I want you to tell me what.. what's going on. What has been going on. What you and the guys.. are." I spoke the last word as if it were a question. It was my eyes to avoid Quil's. I was torn. I didn't want to admit what they had to be, but yet, I was excited! I loved the wolves in the legends that Old Quil had told. I had always secretly wished that they were real.. but for them to be real, the cold ones would have to be real as well. I shuddered. Quil looked concerned- he was easily worried with me, all the time. If I had the slightest fever, he would insist that I get my temperature taken and he would watch me carefully. He even offered to make me soup when I had colds (and it wasn't bad!). Quil waited a long few minutes before responding. I waited patiently. For years I had been slowly noticing things- how warm he, and all of the guys were. How they all had the same tribal tattoo for their Quiluete tribe, how they all listened so intently to Old Quil's stories about the wolves. A part of me always wished that my tribe was that interesting. We had a history of being good whalers- there was that. He interrupted my thoughts, speaking so softly I almost couldn't hear him.

"Claire.." he practically whispered, then speaking much clearer. "I won't lie to you- I.. can't lie to you, even if I wanted to," he chuckled softly. I watched his dark mahogany eyes as he stared at the kitchen table. "Your mom and I were trying to figure out when would be best to tell you- we thought we would have to wait a few years, but.. You're a smart kid, and you're respectful and extremely understanding. We know you could keep a secret if you had to." I took a deep breath, bracing myself for what was to come next.

"We are.. I am something a lot different from you, from the entire Makah tribe. Us Quiluetes, you know, we have our legends.." He paused, seeming to prepare himself for what he was about to say. "What if I told you they're true?" I gasped audibly. I stayed silent, letting him explain.

"We are.. like the guys that you had heard about all these years. We can turn into wolves." He seemed like he was so relieved to let all of the things out that he was saying. Like a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders. I stayed silent. I was afraid that my jaw had hit the floor at that point.

Fairytales were one of my favorite things as a little girl. Princesses, mythical creatures- all so cool. Now.. they were true. Well, one of them was.

"Cool," I breathed, a silly grin making its way onto my face. He seemed shocked, but also as though he was expecting such a reaction.

"Yeah, I guess it is, huh?" My Quil chuckled himself.

"So.. All of you guys. You, Seth, Paul, Sam.. even Leah?" He nodded in response to my question. Before he could say anything else, I blurted it out.

"Can I see?" I spoke excitedly, leaning towards him across the table, anticipating his response.

"I don't see why not. You just can't be close when I do, okay?"

"Why not?" I questioned, genuinely curious.

"Well.. of course, you've seen your aunt Em's.. scar." He seemed to wince at the word.

"Yeah.." I said slowly.

"That happened one day when she was too close to one of us. Sam, in particular." My eyes widened noticeably.

"What?" I spoke breathlessly.

"Yep," he seemed unsure of what to say for a moment. "I'd never want to hurt you, Claire," he seemed so sincere, his eyes finally fully meeting mine. I believed him, easily. I knew he was being honest. I could see it in his face, hear it in his voice, everything. He took care of me. He stood slowly from his chair, the legs scratching the floor noisily as he pushed it back in.

"C'mon," he tilted his head towards the door to the back yard. Behind our yard was a thick patch of woods. I nodded, following my Quil. It was dark out as he opened the sliding door for me, letting me go out before him as he shut it behind us. As I stood in the thick grass, which was damp, as always, from the near constant clouds and rain. I stood barefoot as my best friend knelt in front of me. He held both of my hands in his easily, looking into my eyes. I could see sincerity in his- true care, concern. A soft, warm smile stretched across his lips.

"I'm going to walk into the woods back there- I'll only be gone for a few seconds. You always asked about the wolves- we're.." he paused, searching for the word. "Pretty big," Quil chuckled. He seemed relaxed for the first time in a few years. "I don't want you to be afraid, okay, kiddo?"

I couldn't help but roll my eyes, grinning. "Quil," I giggled. "I'm not gonna be afraid. I've always wanted to see one of those wolves!" I almost blushed as Quil nodded, kissing the top of my head as he stood.

"I'll be right back, okay? Stay right there," he instructed, and I did as told. I watched my best friend vanish into the darkness of the thick trees and bushes. My eyes squinted instantly, scanning the forest and darkness for him. I waited patiently for a few moments, shifting my weight from foot to foot on the damp grass, when I heard something brushing through the leaves, a few hundred yards in front of me.

My eyes weren't adjusted well to the darkness, but I could still see the outline of something big. As it slowly walked closer to me, my eyes widened. Not in fear, but rather in excitement and almost shock. I knew it was Quil, it had his eyes. As the huge wolf neared me, I could see the milk-chocolate-brown of his fur. He lowered himself to the ground, laying on his stomach with his head flat in front of me, maybe ten yards away. My Quil was leaving it up to me to come to him. I did.

I slowly walked towards the big wolf, the eyes watching me intently from under thick eyelashes. His head was almost as big as my entire body. I stopped in front of Quil, bending down onto my knee in the damp grass. I ignored my pant leg being wet from the ground. My hand outstretched, not as shaky as I had imagined it would be, towards his big head, which he lifted, the same height as me at that time. I could have sworn that I saw a smile on the wolf's muzzle, at the exact second that I smiled, exhaling a nervous laugh. I let my hand gently stroke the side of the wolf's furry cheek. His fur was slightly lighter on his face, and I heard a soft rumbling. I glanced around us, thinking it was thunder. Quil made a slight coughing sound, which sounded more like a laugh than anything. I couldn't help but laugh with him. I realized then that he was actually purring. I sighed, my hand staying still on the wolf's cheek.

"It's really you, isn't it buddy?" The wolf nodded his big head once. "You're so pretty!" I exclaimed quietly, gently scratching the top of his furry head. The wolf made the weird laughing again as I pet him. He stood again, and I followed with him. As I began to follow him back to the woods, he turned around, shaking the big, furry head and nodding his muzzle towards my spot in the yard. I knew he was telling me to wait there.

"Okay, I'll be right here," I responded, standing back at my spot. Only two minutes later, a fully-clothed and fully-human Quil Ateara emerged from the woods. Something he hadn't done in over a year- he jogged to me, then lifted me into a big hug. My Quil shifted me onto his back, giving me a piggy back ride back into the house. I had a fit of the giggles the entire short walk back inside, even when he sat me on the couch. The human version of my Quil sat next to me, warmth radiating from him as usual.

"So, what do you think, Claire-bear?" He mused, seeming like he felt so more.. what.. free? I could tell that he was relieved for me to finally know his secret.

"I think.." I paused, grinning as I looked up to the ceiling in thought. "That you're pretty cool." Quil's face seemed to beam with joy at my response. I still had questions.

"So.. are all of the wolves brown like that?" He shook his head.

"Nope," he responded, popping the 'p'. "Jake? He's a darker brown.. more sandy, kind of. Sam is fully black, like pitch black, or, uh, he was, before he stopped shifting." I nodded, understanding. The supernatural world I had been introduced to seemed so.. well, natural. I welcomed it. "Leah is gray, Seth is a much lighter, more of a tan brown. Jared is a dark brown, almost black." Quil looked up and to the right, deep in thought of everyone's colors. "Embry is a dark gray, the newer ones are just variations of dark and light browns themselves." He nodded, looking back to me. The entire time of him explaining everything, he was gauging my reaction, as if I would scream and run away, or I would be afraid or something. I certainly wasn't.

"I think I know why you're the color of chocolate," I mused. He couldn't help but chuckle, grinning as he waited for my explanation.

"And why is that?"

"It represents how sweet you are!" He laughed, harder than I had ever really seen him laugh before. "What?" I laughed in return.

"Y'know, that's not the first time I've heard that."

Quil explained it all to me. How they defend the area from any danger, care for each other, and, well.. he said he just enjoys 'phasing' as he called it. I only had one more question for him, one that made him freeze.

"What about the cold ones?"