Disclaimer: I only wish they were mine.

Chapter 2: Be My Saving Grace

It had been almost twenty years since I had first phased. I knew I was missing something every time I turned into a wolf because I could hear their thoughts...their pity. I had never aged, I was waiting for the time when I would find her and we could grow old together. But I was useless to the pack now that new, younger wolves had emerged to protect the community. I had finally grown sick of it and run North.

Canada was one of the most beautiful places I had ever experienced aside from my own home. I sometimes wondered though if it were only beautiful to me because it was freedom from what I had become, if only for a brief moment. It was difficult, this life, when there was no one to share it with. I yearned to imprint so that I could have what my brothers had. I knew my sister felt the same and had as little hope as I did. I actually had more hope for her. A real man could handle her; she just had to find him. I guess that's what I was doing right now too, looking for the right woman.

I stared into the dense bush in front of me. I could hear my brothers as clearly as if they were next to me, though they were hundreds of miles away. They never asked me to come home, they simply checked on me every once in a while, my sister more often than the rest of them. This I didn't mind, I knew they were waiting for me, for my decision and would welcome me the moment I went back. If I went back.

I continued through the moonlit trees of the North western Ontario bush. This area was a rare gem in a province that seemed to be ruled by sprawling cities further South. I enjoyed the solitude that was filled with both the sounds of nature and civilization nearby. I knew I was going to have to change soon if I wanted to avoid hunting again. I was so sick of raw meat, I really just wanted eggs.

I knew there was a corner store about three miles East of me, so I ran nearer to it and phased. After donning my one, somewhat dirty outfit consisting of t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops, I strode across the highway and into the store. I got some surprised looks at my sudden appearance from the dark so I smiled nicely at the clerk and asked if there was a restaurant open at this hour anywhere nearby. The result was negative and I was somewhat disappointed. Instead of eggs then, I grabbed a loaf of bread, two packs of salami, chips, a two litre of coke, and a bag of chocolate chip cookies. I paid and left quietly.

I noticed that there appeared to be a small community southwards so I walked down the highway to find a place to chow down. I could hear the sounds of rushing water and let me tired feet and growling stomach propel me forward. I found myself at the top of a large bank overlooking a river with a fast current, and what I believed were called rapids. A small picnic table sat near the edge and I imagined that it wasn't too popular a place for eating, too many bears in this area.

Quickly, I spread out my food, made a dozen sandwiches, and ate it all. I finished everything off with my bottle of pop. After letting out one of the biggest burps ever I curled up contentedly on the soft, dry ground nearby and fell into a deep sleep.

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The morning sun filtered down through the trees into my face, but that wasn't what woke me. I could hear a vehicle coming towards my sleeping place so I quickly dusted myself off and climbed a nearby tree for coverage. It was very early in the morning yet, maybe about seven, and I was surprised anyone was awake in this small community, never mind coming to this desolate area. I looked around a little more carefully and noticed stairs built into the hillside leading towards the rocks in the water, but what really caught my attention was the young woman quickly descending the bank. Her black hair shone in the sun and her naturally tanned skin glowed in the rising sun. I found myself enamoured and dropped from my place in the branches to follow her.

She had reached the rocks and was picking her way closer to the swirling depths. I was nervous and had no idea why. I didn't even know her, but I was deathly afraid that she would slip and fall. I had no reason to be concerned though as she expertly seated herself and removed her shoes to dip her toes into the cool waters. I edged closer to the rocks slowly, afraid to startle this beautiful creature. I moved to the left, along the bank so that I could see her face. Crouching in the reeds where I was all but invisible, I watched the tears streak down her lovely features. She wiped them away angrily but continued to sob lightly. No human could have made out the sound, but with my sensitive hearing I could detect every hint of desolation in her cries. I wanted to take her in my arms and wipe away her tears.

As I continued to be frozen in place, watching desperately, she stood gracefully and stared into the depths of the dangerous currents. I was suddenly afraid of her falling again. Apparently there was no reason to fear her falling though, I thought as I watched her jump.

It took me less than a second to react and I was racing towards the water, hoping that it was no stronger than a hurricane current. I dove lightly into the rapids with open eyes, searching. She was already below me, and I let the water drag me towards her, I knew I would be able to fight the current now that I was in the water. I watched as she hit her spine and head on a large rock. A large fish appeared next to her as she fought unconsciousness. I began to swim. I reached her in record time and pulled her limp body against me as a reached for the surface.

The whole ordeal lasted less than thirty seconds and I resurfaced with her almost in the exact spot I had dived in. I towed us towards the rocks and could see a few people running down the bank to help me. I easily pulled us out of the water and onto a rock further inland. I laid her on her back to find her unconscious.

Frightened, I pushed her hair away from her face to listen for her breath. It was hardly there and I knew she needed help. Thank God I knew CPR. I immediately began to pump the water from her lungs and breathe life into her from my own. I could feel eyes on me as I worked but didn't look up until she was sitting upright, supported in my arms, coughing up the last of the water and pulling in her own strained breaths.

I sighed in relief and continued to hold her in an upright position until she was breathing almost normally. I finally looked up to the people around me and was surprised to see many brown faces staring back at me. I hadn't realized I was on a reserve.

A young man pushed his way through the rest, and knelt before the woman in my arms. His face was creased with worry and exultant with relief.

"Grace! What were you thinking? You could have been killed! You know better than to go that close to the rapids!"

Grace, I assumed that was her name, began to sob and reached weakly for the man in front of her. I allowed him to take her from me and watched as he carried her to the top of the rocks where a stout, elderly woman waited. The lady embraced Grace fiercely and whispered remonstrations in her ear. They obviously thought she had fallen, never thinking that she would jump.

I was distracted from this thought by the shrill siren of an ambulance at the top of the hill and a large man approaching me.

"Son, are you okay?"

I stared up at the taller man from my place on the ground. He held out his hand and I allowed him to pull me up.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Is she okay?"

"Grace is going to be fine. That was a very brave thing you did, you could have gotten yourself killed."

I continued to stare at Grace as they carried her up the hill. I wanted to run after her so badly, but first I had to deal with this man. I turned back to him, "Uh, well I'm trained for this sort of thing. You know like that movie, The Guard, or whatever, that's what I do for a living."

He stared at me, not sure whether to believe my weak lie, but he seemed to decide it was good enough, "No one has ever survived the rapids. I owe you much for saving my niece's life today. My name is Mahengun, it is an honour to meet you..."

He trailed off waiting for my name, "Seth Clearwater."

"...Seth Clearwater," he repeated.

Just then I looked back up and found Grace watching me. My eyes connected with her green orbs and the world stopped. Gravity moved. I was undone.

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A/N: Well Twilight characters finally showed up! Just so you know this story will be switching back and forth between Seth and Grace POV, but not within the same chapter and there will not be too much repetition. Please review. More to come!