If you're heard it before, you didn't hear it from me.

Enjoy!

Bad Things are Happening

"This is a terrible idea."

"It's an awesome idea."

"Dad, seriously? Have you lost your mind?" Sage argued.

"We need to test your powers in any and all means necessary."

"It probably wasn't even a real vision. Maybe it was a strange passing thought."

"Is that really the better explanation?" It was next to impossible keeping Sage's flash vision a secret, so the entire family was working to help Sage see more. She hadn't seen anything since the original flash.

"When I first started getting visions, after I turned, they were a bit unpredictable," Alice explained. "And I would only see really significant things. When I got really familiar with someone, it was easier to control the visions."

"I don't see how Sage and I battling it out will have that dramatic of an effect on our lives," Renesmee pointed out.

"The loser has to cut their hair," Jasper said pointing to Alice who had an evil grin on her face. Sage, Renesmee, Seth, Jacob, and Rosalie flew exasperated looks at them.

"I know it sounds silly, but that kind of thing should change the future enough for you to see something."

"This really is an awful, awful plan." Rosalie whispered something in her favorite niece's ear, her thoughts blocked off by Bella's shield. They planned something. Sage and Renesmee assumed their positions.

"I'm really sorry, Sage," Renesmee apologized, "but I really like my curls." With that, she violently attacked Sage who was completely caught off guard and unprepared for her attack, but reacted in time to miss it. Bella was protecting her daughter's mind so Sage couldn't read her thoughts. Renesmee lunged at her with her claws, barely missing Sage's back, but recovered and kicked her in the side. Renesmee planned her next attack, and Sage saw it, perfectly dodging it. Renesmee continued to attack, but Sage was becoming more and more attuned with her. Her movements became more fluid and more confident, until Renesmee exposed a weakness in her attack, in which Sage took advantage and jumped on her and bared her teeth to her neck, setting off an involuntary growl from Jacob.

"Man!" Renesmee whined. "Do I really have to cut them?"

"What do you think, Sage?" Alice asked. "Did this exercise help at all?"

"I think so. At first I couldn't see what Renesmee was doing at all, but then she started to really plan her moves, and I began to see them, even call them at will."

"Mission accomplished. Ness gets to keep her hair."

"Oh good," Rosalie spoke up with a smirk. "Then I won't have to kill anyone trying to get to her."

"Speaking of which, Mom, what did you tell Renesmee right before we fought?" Rosalie would have blushed if she could, partially because she loved the sound of someone calling her mom.

"I told Renesmee that it was really important for you to feel pressured, so if she put on a convincing show, I'd treat her to a trip with Jacob." She caught Edward's glare. "I cleared it with Bella, Edward, you know that."

"I think we better make sure that this vision of Sage's is really nothing before anyone goes anywhere," Edward said.

It was Seth's turn to run patrols around La Push, and Colin was checking out the area around the Cullens'. Renesmee and her family went back to their cottage for the night. Sage was exhausted trying to find Renesmee's future. She saw what clothes Renesmee would pick the next day (good choice, Ness), that would she would forget to call her grandpa like she promised (will call her to remind her), and that some time during the day, she would be sitting on the grass (Jacob must've gotten in the way.. can't see when he's there).

She was in the bathroom brushing her teeth. She wasn't looking for a vision; it came to find her. She dropped her toothbrush. Without warning, Sage's mind was filled with flashes, the same she had seen before. She saw Renesmee. Renesmee was suffering, screaming, dying, and no one could save her. She as in so much pain, screaming and clutching her head. Sage had to blink to accept who was responsible for her suffering. It was her. She was the one responsible. She saw her own face staring down at Renesmee completely emotionless. Then she lay still, her body torn up and covered in blood. As quickly as it came, the vision was gone and she found herself alone in the bathroom. A million thoughts swam through her head. Why would she do that? How could she possibly do that to her dear friend? She loved Renesmee like a sister. She didn't understand. But the vision was undeniable this time. She replayed it, freeze-framed it, zoomed in and out, and slow-motioned it. Her face, Renesmee's pain, her death were unmistakable. She didn't understand how or why she would do something so horrible, but she knew that she could, that she was physically capable of it. If she was around the right people, she could read Renesmee's mind and future and easily destroy her. Could anything drive her to that point? Could Renesmee possibly offend her to the point of murder? What if she hurt Seth? Could she forgive her?

She considered telling the family. Of course they would never consider Sage a threat. But maybe that would lead to their downfall. All kinds of what if's flooded her mind. Only one thought seemed to make sense to solve this. She had to leave. She could only see herself and Renesmee; that didn't mean she wouldn't hurt others, her family, her new parents, even Seth. She quickly rinsed her mouth and tiptoed to her room.

Seth, you need to get back to the Cullen house, Colin urged.

What's going on?

Alice had a vision that she would find some letters in Sage's room.

And?

One letter is for you. Sage is gone.

What do you mean gone?

She's not in her room. We followed her trail but she jumped into the water, so her scent is gone. Emmett and Rosalie even swam to the nearest islands and wherever else she could have swam to, but we can't find her. She didn't take anything. Seth began to shake; if he wasn't a wolf already, he would've had no control becoming one. There's more. Another vampire was here, less than a mile from the house. Their paths don't mix, so I doubt they're related events, but I don't believe in coincidences. I'm coming to relieve you. Just come. Seth sprinted to the house as fast as he could. It didn't make sense. She wouldn't leave. She wouldn't. She chose him, she loved him. But she left a letter; this couldn't be a misunderstanding or a kidnapping. He heard the other wolves phasing in, grumbling to each other of what was going on. He didn't hear them, his own mind wasn't forming coherent thoughts. He found new speed when he caught sight of the house and phased back to human in mid air to land at the Cullens' doorstep. Edward gave him enough time to throw on his shorts before opening the door for him without skipping a beat and he bolted up to Sage's room.

A piece of paper was folded in thirds on her desk labeled "Seth". On top lay the dreamcatcher necklace that he had gotten her. He heard Rosalie's tearless whimpering. He picked up the letter.

My dear Seth,

I chose you. You didn't choose me. Your free will was taken away from you so you are bound to me, even if it hurts you or others. I understand your imprinting to the fullest degree. I am not a fool; I won't leave expecting everything to turn out okay for you. So I am giving you a chance to choose. I am realizing how dangerous my gift can be, so I am going somewhere where I have and can never hurt anyone. It will take awhile, so take your time. When you're ready, find me.

Your love,

Sage

"Did she say where she went?" Rosalie asked hopefully. Sage gave him a clue where she would be, but obviously none for Emmett and Rosalie. If he was to find her and hold on to her, he knew he would have to come alone.

"No, she just said good bye," he lied. He crumpled the letter in his hand. He knew Edward was near.

She left because of that vision, Edward. If anyone finds her, she'll run. He heard Edward sigh in agreement and walked out, staying human to think. Sage knew what she was doing when she told him to choose because the choice would not be as easy as Seth would have thought it would be. She only lived in two places before Washington: with her vampire family and with Nahuel. With her father, she lived in a civilized society and hunted people and wouldn't return to that lifestyle again. With Nahuel, she lived secluded and only fed on animals. Though her home was burned down and the memories barely healed, he knew that was where she would go. But could he live like that? He'd lived on the reservation his entire life. Would he be willing to give up being part of his pack and move to a completely strange and desolate home to be with his imprintee? He already missed her. He didn't want to make this decision. He wanted her with him. He wanted to run with his pack and then come home to find Sage waiting for him with her kind smile. He missed the smell of her skin and the feel of her lips. He ran. The emptiness that he had felt for so long, she filled it completely. Now that she was gone, he felt an even bigger void. He ran harder, faster. He was shouting. Without even feeling it, or knowing when it happened, he was a wolf.

I was really unhappy with the little fight thing at the beginning, especially the hair cutting part, but I was stumped to get past that, so it is was it is. We're making our way to the climax! woo hoo!

I tried making ice coffee today.. it was goooood. But highly fattening, I'm sure. AND I went to the wretched DMV an hour early today because I thought they open at 8.. when they opened at 9! *sigh... c'est la vie.

And if you're into all human/period stories, check out my other story, "France has It's Courtesans". It starts off as a Jacob/Nessie story, but the others follow suit. :D