Breaking away from Bast
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)
Chapter 20
Cats and Dogs
Bella pov
The trees were bending slightly in the wind on the cloudy morning. Carlisle had told the wolves that they had someone with them that wanted to speak with them. He had told them I wasn't human and yet here we stood on a lovely cool morning arguing about cat and dog politics. Even the bright greens and playful light that seemed to dance around us could change my mood.
I stood nearly rigid tired of talking in circles with these damn dogs. There had to be a simpler way to get them to understand what I meant without getting attacked. After offering to shift for them and half of the damn dogs shifting thinking I meant to attack I was left with merely telling them what I was. They didn't seem to think that I was telling them the truth so I shifted down to Higar and they nearly attacked yet again. If it were not for the one called Jacob I'm sure there would have been a fight before now. Then again Jasper and Carlisle seemed to be calming them down also.
Edward and everyone had come with me as I stalked towards the boundary line to speak with the pack. In the hour and a half that we had been here not much of anything had been accomplished. According to them cats are of no interest to them and the vampires can go and off themselves. It was like talking to over grown children and I was beginning to loose it.
"Stop!" I shouted and everyone stared at me shocked by my outburst. I had one last plan and if this went no where I was irritated but not facing a war on two sides. "I only told you what was coming so if you wished to assist and help prevent a war on your soil you could. Since you have no interest in limiting the number of my people that die I am fine with that. I just hope that no humans stumble upon us because it would be dangerous for them." It was unlikely but I wanted to have more people behind me not on the side lines taking bets on how I would die.
I got the reaction I wanted as Sam the alpha seemed to hesitate before telling me to bugger off. I turned and motioned for us to leave as he cleared his throat and spoke.
"You have told us that you don't harm humans." He ask stated and I nodded.
"In war it is common for assassins to play human and get closer to a main target. Any human that comes near enough Renátka will die." I informed him not actually lying. It was more likely that the humans would not come that close but I needed them, even if I didn't want them.
"Let us think on this." Sam said surprisingly calm and calculating. In the last hour he had shouted sneered and acted like a small child being told no, this diplomacy was not shown before now. I nodded and began to walk back to the house pleased that they would at least think about helping. Whatever the out come I had to be ready for war and I would prepare well for it.
Only Edward remained with me as I walked at a human pace. The others had things to tend to and I needed only to sort out my plans into clear paths that led to the least amount of death. The feeling of being watched made me want to look back at the wolves but I ignored it and continued.
"If I do not survive this encounter promise me you will not go all sacrificial on me." I told Edward and he blanched at my words. "I can't bear the idea of a world without you, nor could your family."
"They are your family also, and I can promise this only if you promise me the same." He replied and I could tell that he had thought a lot about this. If the war wouldn't come to me no matter what I'm sure he would have hidden me away somewhere to wait it out.
If I had thought that (a) it would have worked (b) would have saved their lives or made any difference for them I would have demanded it. But I knew from the looks on Edward and Demetri's faces alone that it wouldn't be even close to plausible. That and it would never work; Renátka would just kill me even swifter and move on to them like the Volturi with the vampires that were out of line. Knowing that I had support within the clan gave me hope. I hadn't tried to contact anyone since Maia died; I wanted to know whether or not to warn about the assistance of wolves in the war. Tam believes that Kayla would be involved by now and most definitely on my side, I wasn't sure but trusted Tam's opinion.
"It is unlikely that I will survive this but if I do then I promise to tempt fate." I promised him and he nodded. It was a sullen and awkward moment before I stopped and took his hands in mine. "Let us plan for a way to win, not prepare for either of our deaths." I commented as I gripped his hands. I couldn't think about this and plan anything well.
"What is your plan?" he asked smiling down at me and playing with my hair. I nuzzled his hand and sighed. We had yet to truly get to know each other with all this upset and conflict. For a moment my mind went to the possibility of us never having that time and my heart sank.
"We must take the potential battle away from the humans at all costs." I told him as I began to walk again. "I figure an open field or such should work best. If the wolves join us then they may stop enough for me to challenge my mother to a duel. If she refuses then it will be a ruthless battle that we will lose alone. But if she accepts then I might be able to best her." I left out the part of the followers in the clan as I was unsure of what would happen with them. It was better to plan the battle from the worst case not the ideal.
"Sounds..." Edward started before a loud crack cut him off. His eyes were wide and he gasped for a moment before falling to his knees. I screamed and moved towards him when I heard the sharp nasal laughter that told me who my mother had sent to kill me. Kari.