A/N: Twilight and its characters are owned by Stephanie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended with the posting of this story.
A/N: I have tried to be true to S.M.'s characters, to the Native American people, and to myself. I have spent a lot of time with North East Native Americans. I have not spent time with any from the North West. So all information I give about Native's reflect that fact (though I have been doing research). Feed back would be great!
A/N: Otekah is Navajo for Sun Maiden. Otekah is oldest Quill's wife. How appropriate she is the Sun holding oldest Quill in orbit.
Chapter 4
Sam, 3 months later
I have managed to learn control. Jared started phasing about a month ago. He is learning control. The lucky bastard has also imprinted. Kim goes to school with Jared. She knows everything, Jared can keep nothing from her. They are so happy together. I am envious. I wish I had that too.
Jared and I have discovered that there are 7 cold ones living on the far side of Forks. We wonder who will be the third wolf to join us. The story says three wolves at one time. The elders have decided to hold off on telling the others that they might become wolves.
We have discovered some cool benefits to our situation. In addition to sharing thoughts, running incredibly fast, and never getting cold due to a permanent rise in body temperature we have experienced abnormal growth. If I had this build in high school I would have killed people on the football field! We also heal fast. I mean really fast. One night out on patrol Jared stepped into a bear trap. When I got to him he was trying to figure out how to get it open while still in wolf form. His right hind leg wasn't broken, but it was bloody and torn. I phased quickly and pulled the trap open. I phased back and convinced him to stay a wolf. I helped him maintain control over the pain as we headed for Grandfather Quill's home. We felt the pain recede on it's own but I thought it was due to shock. When we got to Grandfather's I phased back and told him what happen. Paul stayed a wolf – we did not know what would happen if he phased back. Grandfather looked at Paul's leg and started to laugh. We looked too. It looked like a scrape – not the bloody mess that it had been at the bear trap. The next day Grandfather told rest of the counsel what had happened. This will be added to the legend so in the future others will know it is possible. My actions have spoken to the elders and they are pleased the Alpha/Beta situation has worked it self out.
So I am the Alpha. This is a larger responsibility than caring for my mother, leading the drum, and caring for Leah. I failed my Mother, I hope I do fail in the other responsibilities. I am able to shield these thoughts and fears from Jared, he is not so lucky.
**
I have seen what it is like to imprint. To no longer be held in place by gravity, the rotation of the Earth, or the tribe. I saw and felt the shift in Jared when we were both phased. I saw how Kim looked before and after it happened. He and I spent time before going to the elders trying to figure out how to tell Kim about being a wolf. We shouldn't have worried. Kim is a Quileute tribeswoman. When she joined the elders, Jared, and I at council, I could see and smell her fear. Without seeing her through Jared's eyes I try to see if she is pretty. To me she looks like an average looking Quileute woman who is scared and lacks self-esteem, something Leah has in abundance. The elders tell her the stories. She has heard them. They tell her they are real. Kim, to her credit, does not hesitate to tell the elders that they are stories and the history of the tribe they are not the future or the present. I am glad for Jared's sake that she has shown some spunk. She is definitely more attractive when she is spunky.
The elders lead us all to a clearing. Jared looks at me and I nod. He and I move away from the group, and I stop between those I protect and Jared. Billy tells Kim the stories are true, yesterday and today. He tells her to watch Jared and he phases before Kim. Poor Kim. She screams and hides behind Billy in his wheel chair. I think I sighed out loud. Poor Jared.
Jared phases back with better control than I have ever seen. He forgets he is wearing nothing and runs to comfort Kim – he can not help himself. Kim does not look at him again until Grandfather Quill steps in. "Kim, do you see that the stories of the shape-shifters are real?"
"Y-y-yes. G-g-g-ran-d-f-f-ath-er." The fear causes her to stutter and shake. She cowers. How is this a good mate for Jared?
"Can you be a true Quileute woman and help to protect this tribe?" What crap is Grandfather pulling? How can this mouse help us?
The is a long pause. Kim is obviously considering her options. I can think of a few. 1 – continue to be the coward in the shadows and tell Grandfather "no". 2 – ask Grandfather how can she help, and really I want this answer. 3 – Accept it all for the truth it is and give Jared a chance to prove that she is now his sun.
We all wait. After about five minutes Kim announces that she will trust Grandfather and that he is to tell her how she could help. She also states she has no idea how she could possibly help defend the tribe.
Grandfather tells the story of the first wife again. He tells the story he told me about his father. He also tells Kim about his mother.
"My mother helped to protect the tribe, Kim. She was no taller than you. She did not know how to use a spear, bow, gun, or any other weapon. She could not even paddle a canoe on her own. My mother, Otekah, was raised in the traditional way of women. She knew how to cook, clean, sew, and be a helper around the tribe. She did not shirk her duty growing up. Around the time that Otekah began her moon cycles stories started in the tribe about the shape-shifters being real. She began to watch. She noticed that as the moons passed Ephriam, Quill, and Levi and did not change. One day Otekah was by the river when the three leaders came out of the woods laughing wearing only loincloths. She stood quickly and went to leave, Quill noticed her."
Grandfather paused here. I know what is coming, but how will he describe it?
"Quill looked upon Otekah and he knew. He knew this was his heart. His sun that would hold him to this Earth. The others left Quill and Otekah alone. No one knows what they spoke of. That day Quill approached her father and offered many good horses for her.
They were joined. Quill shared with Otekah the truth of the cold ones. She listened and lightened his heart. She was his reminder that the world is not full of responsibilities to the whole tribe, but that there are responsibilities to yourself as well. She gave him a son, and then a daughter. The cold ones left when I was still a young boy. Quill stopped phasing. At the time it not appear to me that they were not the same age. He stopped phasing and was able to age with my mother. Until the day he died my mother lightened his worries and helped him to see the path he must walk."
Again Grandfather pauses. I watch Kim and she looks different somehow.
"Grandfather" Her voice is soft and she is respectful, "please, why have you told me all of this? What is it you are asking me?"
Jared walks up to her and holds out his hand. "Will you walk with me, Kim? I have a lot to tell you." Kim, thankfully, takes his hand and they walk away from us. That was the moment Kim began to realize she was Jared's sun.
**
I hate seeing all of Jared's thoughts and feelings. It seems wrong, yet we both take advantage of it. Having conversations that are truly private has it's benefits. One is we are able to coordinate patrols, possibly defend each other if we were attacked and communicate as we patrol.
I know he and Kim have discussed me. I know he has told Kim that I did not imprint on Leah. I have heard it in his thoughts, along with I am sorry's. But I know he can refuse her nothing and she is trying hard to be like Otekah. To lighten his burdens.
I really want to talk with Lee-lee about this. But the answer was no. What good is being Alpha if you can not do what your soul tells you to do?
I am working hard to keep from telling Leah, but she is suspicious. I can tell.
**
"Sam, what are your plans for tomorrow?"
"I am not sure yet. Why?"
"Well, my cousin Emily is coming for a visit and my mother has invited to our house for a family barbeque. She will be making ribs."
Food. I am always so hungry now. "I would love to come. Thank your mother for me Lee-lee, OK?"
Jared and I run patrols all night. I fall asleep on the couch. I wake up to the phone ringing.
"'Ello?"
"Sam you need to get up. The barbeque is starting and Leah is going to wonder what happened to you."
"Thanks Jared."
"I'll see you there. Harry invited me and Kim yesterday."
"gotta go"
I jump up. Take a five minute shower. Throw on shorts and an Indigenous T-shirt (I love that Native American Rock group) and head out the door. I run back in to get my shoes. I only ever wear them around Leah now, it is too hot and I have only 1 pair left. Phasing has it's hazards.
I arrive at the Clearwater's home and look for Leah. Seth is getting ready to leave to find Jacob. They are going to work on Billy's old truck (OK Jacob is going to work on the truck and Seth is going to hand him tools). I nod to Harry to checking the smoker (yes – smoked pig I have not had that in a while…). Sue comes up and hugs me, she does not comment on my temperature. I am pretty sure Harry and Billy have filled her in so she can help watch for the change in the other boys…
I see Leah and approach her. I give her a hug, quickly and lightly – I don't want her to notice my temperature.
"I convinced dad that pig would be better than anything else for this barbeque." Leah knows a pig roast is my favorite barbeque style, and Harry is famous for his.
"Thanks, Lee-lee. It smells excellent" my stomach rumbles.
"C'mon. Let's get you feed."
"Why the party for this cousin?"
"Well, she just graduated with high honors and we are trying to convince her to go to university. She was accepted! The first in the family."
"Lee-lee you are going to graduate with high honors too. I know it. And you may even get a track scholarship. You outshine everyone here."
"Oh Look! There's Emily. Come on. I want you meet her."