The Twilight Series belongs to S. Meyer, no copyright infringement is intended. I'm just playing with the characters.

AN: One tiny thing later in this chapter there will be a conversation in italics and quotes - anytime you see that it means the words are being spoken in Quileute.

Now would be a nice time for you to help me out, she muttered to her wolf.

She had judged correctly when she thought her smaller size would give her an advantage. But speed wasn't enough. Not compared to Seth's mass. With her initial attack, he had merely pushed her away from him, deflecting any serious injury to himself.

Thankfully, he didn't immediately attack her. Instead he faced her off, growling and snarling. His lupine gaze taking in her measure; his snort telling her without words that she had been found wanting.

So she tried a different tactic, pushing memories to him. The ones of her first phase, what she could remember yesterday at Old Quil's house, and even the early events of the morning—before their dad's heart attack. He was seemingly unaffected by them. The wolf was her brother, but wasn't.

Le…what… Embry asked, his thoughts broken as he struggled to find a way around the order. Quil…Paul…anyone…?

Never mind. He has to remember to fix it. He doesn't remember, she replied.

But…you…can't…

She felt as he recoiled in shock. His thoughts centered on how it felt when Seth had put the order into place. The pain which echoed through their link, reverberating back to Jared and increasing his agony; the same agony remaining even after he phased back.

I don't know what else to do, but I have to try.

But…help…I'll get…help.

She laughed the sound abrasive to her ears. No one can help now. It's just me—I have to do it.

Finally, she felt her wolf and sighed as she blocked Embry from her mind. His presence was distracting and she needed all her attention on Seth. Turning back to him, she tried a different attack.

Instead of running straight towards him, she taunted him. Pacing back and forth in front of him and slinging insults his way. And though Seth's wolf didn't seem to care about the comments she made; it didn't like her body language or posture.

This time she was put on the defensive when he charged her way. Easily she darted away from him and took a chunk out of his hind leg as he ran past her. She quickly found out that not only was her speed an advantage, but her smaller size made her more agile. Even though he caught onto her game, he still was unable to stop or turn fast enough to catch her.

Soon enough, he began to tire and she taunted him a bit more, Had enough?

No, he growled back.

Only too late did she realize that the words he spoke were Quileute. Seth had never taken an interest in learning their native language. He did know some basic words and phrases, but she hadn't heard him try to speak them for years.

What the hell? Who are you… her words trailing off; her momentary distraction was just long enough for his wolf to come at her. His snapping jaws came within mere inches of her neck. Rolling away from him, she tucked her body tight and then thrust her hind legs out. Her actions coiled energy so when she kicked them out she was able to push him back, giving her enough time to get back to her feet.

Her wolf became incessant, trying to push forward and so finally Leah gave in. She really only wanted the wolf's help, but she wasn't sure how much longer she could hold him off and it wasn't like he was any closer to remembering who he was or what had happened.

'Finally,' her wolf spoke in relief. 'Now we'll get this done.'

'Do you really think you're any match for me?'

Her wolf looked at him, her gaze stony as she replied snidely, 'While you may have taught me all that I know—I have experience beyond that.'

'We'll see…we'll see,' he stated, his tone mocking.

Within seconds the two wolves went from facing each other off, to fighting for dominance. The each knew the other's weaknesses, but it didn't make it any easier. She had spoken correctly; her fighting style had changed and briefly he wondered when it had happened. Why she would ever need to fight on her own?

Embry ran hell bent for Sam's place. She needed help—Seth's order be damned. Chances were his wolf would kill or seriously injure her before it had figured out who she was, who he was.

Reaching Sam's, he phased back and ran into the house. He hadn't even taken the time to pull on his shorts. His lack of clothing was the least of his concerns at the moment.

Out of breath and bound by the order, he struggled to explain, "Le…Seth…wolves fighting."

"What?! What are you talking about," Sam thundered.

"Seth's phased…not Seth though. All wolf…fighting."

Paul walked into the kitchen and filled in the blanks, "Leah and Seth are fighting? Their wolves?"

Embry attempted to answer, but his jaw was locked down. The sudden tightness in it giving Paul the answered he needed.

"She wouldn't really do that, would she?" Paul asked softly.

The rest of the pack had joined three of them in the kitchen. Paul glanced at Sam and Jared—the two who knew Leah the best. His eyes wide as he asked, "Sam? Jared?"

A similar reaction to Embry's occurred in both of them. It seemed that she was crazy enough to do it and if most of the pack couldn't go near her—well, that left him and Quil to figure out what to do.

"Damn it," he swore. "Quil, let's go. We'll figure out a plan on the way. I take it they're at their house?"

The lack of response was enough for him. He ran out the door of Sam's house, Quil following close behind. Without another the word, the two of them had their shorts off in moments and phased. The pack mind was eerily silent as they ran toward the Clearwater house.

It took longer than she anticipated, but soon enough she was triumphant. Her muscles and bones screamed in protest. Blood matted her fur in several places and she knew Leah would carry the wounds of the day, but he didn't look any better than her.

Her jaw locked around his neck; her sharp canines piercing the delicate flesh. Instinctively, he bowed down to her. It was the way of their current nature. The bond they shared didn't have any effect on the circumstances.

Submission. She had fought him and won the right to have him acknowledge that she had bested him. She clamped down hard once more and tamped down her urge to crow in triumph. He pushed his body further down to the forest floor; their sizes so dissimilar that the scene was surreal.

Finally letting go, she walked away from him. Lying on the ground facing him, she rested her head on her paws. Her tongue lolled out as she worked to catch her breath.

He copied her pose, his voice deep and melodic as he began, 'It seems I misjudged you, daughter. Though why you are here and why I am here is a mystery to me. Perhaps, you should explain.'

'It's quite simple. We are needed. For too long there has been imbalance—one that must be corrected.'

'Humph, continue.'

She pushed the memory of only a day ago. The imprint with tainted blood; her recollection saturated by the taste and smell. The abnormal nature of the girl, but the confusion in the pack's eyes; none of them had sensed any danger.

'The girl—she's not right. The imprint, I don't understand it. How could something such as that be possible?'

'I do not know,' he replied with a shake of his head while he snorted softly. 'That doesn't explain how you came to be here. You were told to never return.'

'And I didn't, not for many years. It has been my descendants who should rule the pack. It was my right as the eldest. I kept the cold ones from destroying what was left of the tribe for many years. My sons and daughters did.'

'And you say I didn't? That my sons didn't?' he growled.

'No, but without mother—your imprint you struggled. They were too young, too inexperienced to fight. I did what was necessary to save our people. Even though you banished me—they were still my people. You had to know that we'd never be accepted. Not in his world. Though I hoped we'd be accepted in ours.'

'It took me many years to realize I had acted in haste. It wasn't until I was an old man, dying on my cot that I realized how much I wanted you there.'

'And I was…I was always close by.'

'You had to know if you returned to this existence, then so would I.'

'Yes.'

'Why then?'

'They are the closest physical representation of the original bloodline. The magic within them is strong—I don't believe that we had a choice in returning. Their spirits would call to ours. She will be able to lead the pack with a firm and just hand until the boy is ready.'

'He's a man.'

'Perhaps in our time he was, but in this time he's not. He's at the cusp of childhood and adulthood.'

'The old man mentioned lost memories.'

'I'm not sure how it works. The girl sensed everything yesterday, but began to hesitate. While I tried to maintain the balance and not over power her—she faded into the background on her own.'

'The boy has done the same. Her anger at her brother?'

'An order. One he placed and can't remember, just as he doesn't remember the events of yesterday.'

'It scares them—their nature, the duality of it all.'

'Yes.'

'What was the order about?'

The wolf pushed the memories Leah had of Sam and Jared. The pain of Sam's disappearance, the connection and love she experienced with Jared, and the agony of loss she had experienced one after the other. The love and feelings of completeness the two still shared.

'He imprinted—they both did. The boy was only protecting his sister.'

'Perhaps, but her lover's imprint is the one with the tainted blood. The imprint cannot be honored.'

'Well, she will imprint someday.'

'She won't. Neither she nor her brother will imprint. None of my descendants have. Not even my own children.'

'Their bloodlines were weakened.'

'No, they weren't,' she snapped at him.

Snippets of her life and that of her children flashed through their minds. Young children barely able to stand on their own feet trembled and shimmered until they phased into small wolves. Eagerly, she followed suit and taught them everything she had learned about tracking, hunting, and killing their only enemy. Continuing, she showed as the children grew and she taught them the ways of the people.

She stayed young and beautiful, though her lover aged. Not once did he ask her to stop phasing and grow old with him. He recognized the important role she played in keeping their family safe—the family she had left behind and the one they had created together.

He watched in fascination as she showed him glimpses of a time after her lover's death and his own. When she returned to the tribe with her children; finally, she stopped phasing and allowed herself to age. Her children picked their mates and the children produced from their unions were just as strong.

'Any of them could phase if they chose too. Most didn't because my children shared with them the burden which accompanied the phase. These two didn't have a choice though…'

FF_8756144_29 01/21/13 7:22AM