Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight; it is the property of Stephenie Meyer. The original characters and plot are mine. I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Italics for thoughts (Edward can hear it if he's present)

Stages of forms

Tiger: first form (actual tiger)

Tigris: second form (were-tiger, like werewolves, larger than actual animal)

Taiga: third form (cat ears, tail, more tiger musculature, fur, full canines, paws)

Tigam: fourth form (half and half, humanoid form, light fur, tail, nearly full canines, paws)

Tegamen: fifth form (mostly humanoid, no fur, stripes marking the skin and claws and longer canines)

Higar: sixth form (human but with cat senses and scent, regeneration and able streak mind)

Human: seventh form (completely human)

A/N: Hey everyone I just wanted to let you guys know that i have been uber focused on Little Archangel (written 10 chapters focused) and haven't been working on Bast as closely. This by no means means i am on hiatus just that i wont be updating as frequently until i work out the block i seem to be having on Bast. Noting that i do have two chapters finished and will update with them until i get back on the Bast story prolly a couple days spaced in case i get my act together. Sorry and thanks SO MUCH for reading you guys rule!

May


Chapter 17

Retribution

Maia POV

I could see the loss in most of the children but so many of the elders didn't seem affected in the slightest. It was only because I had gone to battle with them that I knew the difference. Many of the younger clan members seemed to be unhappy with the reactions of the elders. Even knowing that they too were mourning brought me little comfort. Any potential queen would be mourned my task was to sort out how actually felt the loss.

"Maia?" Kayla asked from behind me as I turned to look at her I knew that she felt the loss that she longed to correct it. I bowed to my aunt and smiled sadly at her. "I am glad that you asked Tam to follow him, he should not be alone in this horrible day."

"I agree Aunt I do." I told her, "there had to have been away to prevent this action." I said testing her to see if she would agree simply or react.

"Bella will be honoured that is what is important now child. It is a shame that this all began over her telling those that we view as protected." Kayla's words were precise and I smiled as she patted me on the back and we continued our walk through camp.

"Protected by some." I said and made it almost off hand. Kayla smiled and we headed for a less populated area and shifted down to Tigris and ran. It was a common act between close strikes. As we got further from the others she slowed and directed us to the water and shifted back to Higar.

"I see looks of descent Maia are you its source?" she asked and I nodded not wanting to lie to my aunt. "I always knew that you above others put clan and future before pettiness. Even after you challenge Bella again and again to duels, had to be sure she was fit to lead hmmm?" I smiled at her knowing that she saw my intentions.

"She is caring and fair but if she was dumb and arrogant she would not be fit to lead. She learned much from our duels and I would be proud to guard her and follow her fate." I answered smiling on my fond memories of Bella and watching over her. There had been many that wished to take her on merely because her mother would let them. I had dissuaded a few to look at how she learned and grew from each battle and they grew to respect the girl.

It was lovely to see her give herself to death to protect another, enemy or friend from even a small death. Since she did not revert every time it was little cost to her but much to others, it was the willingness to die again and again for others that had cemented my desire for her to lead us in this time of peace and new beginnings.

"I am glad you agree with my opinion on the young one. I must tell you a hard truth Maia. Bella is not among the dead, she lives outside this clan." Kayla watched me as my eyes widened and I understood what this meant.

"Renátka knows this and has sent others to kill her while Daniel and Tam seek her remains. What does this mean?" I asked confused by this news.

"Our queen has begun a fate that entails war, and most will follow her in that. It means a great war like the times of old. A division of clan with those supported by Renátka and those for the goddess." Kayla answered telling me which side she believed right.

"This has been coming since Renátka birthed Meira. She has led for her time and now needs to move with the goddess and allow another to lead our people. All that knows her understand that she will never concede her title. When Bella was still two hundred I thought she would fight for her right but I know she loves her mother too much to fight her and win." I spoke my thoughts and longed for them to have been truth. If Bella had hated her mother she would be queen now and there would be no war.

"It is not the way of our future to kill to lead." Kayla said and I nodded no it was not, Bella would bring new life to us through love not death. "Maia I know the elders that will fight with the children against Renátka but we are not enough to prevent the slaughter that may come. She has sent for others from her clans as I have sent word to others that wish for change."

"The only way to prevent great losses is for Bella to challenge Renátka which will cost her much. Will her new clan be enough to help her fight and win?" I asked knowing that she must be with the wolves in order to be alive.

"We can only hope that this new bond is of her heart and that it will make the loss of those too unbearable to loose. But I pray that this path comes and not war. If she can but change this Renátka will force war and we will all die. I don't know how but I feel that Bella will not fight, none of us will." Kayla said as she shifted to Tigris and turned from me. Silently I told her the names of those that will follow her and the elders if she but gives the notice to them. It was not safe for either of us to with hold knowledge when at any moment our lives could be forfeit to our war queen.

Standing there on the cliffs I wondered what would come for my people. The light changed over the waters and I stopped being aware of the time as I looked at the waves crashing against the cliffs. I heard light foot steps behind me and turn to see Cast moving towards me in Higar. I bowed to the higher ranked guard and he smirked.

"What was your business with the child Daniel?" he asked and I knew that I would die at the end of these questions so I did not answer. "It matters little; your silence tells me all I need know. You move against the queen and so you move against the clan." I stiffened and then shrugged relaxing my body as I accepted my great death. Knowing Bella lived and that she would do the best she could for our people was enough for me to die today on the edges of land that I had come to often in our time here.

"Cast you are her hands?" I asked and he smirked that evil and sadistic grin. "Know then that I go without regret and await your joining me." Making no action to stop his rapid movement towards me I waited him. Did he really think I would go without a fight? It was Cast so the answer was he was going to enjoy my death, sadly he really wouldn't have time.

As his blade cut into the flesh of my shoulder I slit his throat. He stumbled back eyes wide as blood poured down his throat. Falling to his knees I was satisfied that he had suffered some like all those that fell to him. I decapitated him swiftly and awaited another guard to come for my life. Checking my shoulder I stood looking over the water and waited for my death.

"That was foolish Maia, you had such potential then you fell in love with my daughter and destroyed your future." Renátka teased from behind me. I turned and looked at her tired and completely serene.

"I have found my peace unlovable queen. Loosing our Bella we all lost future. No longer will I follow you when you let this occur." I told her spiteful and happy that I had manage to keep my knowledge so that she would not look intensely at others for dissent.

"A shame, but you will only be the first to die." As she spoke she moved towards me, I managed to deflect her first few blows and cut her a few times when she pierced my heart and I lost control of my body and fell to the ground. I let my eyes close as her blade bit into my neck.

A/N: sorry i have a thing for offing people! and since the lead is still alive and we're well past the third chapter i had too kill someone... and well Daniel and the Cullen's are still alive people so no biggy right? *snicker* R&R