A.N. Ok guys and gals, this chapter is dedicated to 'Tiny -Chan' who I doubt even reads this story but hey, whatever. Anyway, thanks to Tiny for introducing me to Owl City beyond the Fireflies extravaganza, Lol. I am now an OWL CITIZEN. XD
Anyway, the second half of this chapter is songficified (not in the dictionary) to 'Rainbow veins' by Owl city…. Hence the title…..that is all.
Cheer up and dry your damp eyes and tell me when it rains
And I'll blend up that rainbow above you and shoot it through your veins
'Cause your heart has a lack of colour and we should've known
That we'd grow up sooner or later 'Cause we wasted all our free time alone
Chapter 18: Rainbow Veins
"Yeah?" Leah called rudely; Steph exhaled.
"It's me, Lee." She revealed before she heard Leah begin to cry again.
"….Can I come in?" She asked softly.
"Y-yeah." Steph walked in slowly; closing the door behind her.
Leah was a mess; her hair was wild and her face was drawn, she looked so sad.
Her long arms clutched tightly onto the blue tear-stained pillows; Steph walked over to her and sat at the end of the bed in silence. There was silence for a while.
"So you're Paul's imprint?" Leah asked; Steph looked up, shocked that she'd even spoken.
"No" She breathed in response; Leah's eyes snapped up.
"Then why are you with him? Do you want to get hurt?" She asked; her voice rose to an unexpected level of anger; Steph flinched a little at her words. Of course that wasn't what she wanted, what she wanted was Paul and even if it meant she'd only have him for a little while; she'd take the slot. It sounded stupid but no one could understand how 'worth it' he was.
"Paul would never hurt me." She replied surely.
"Yeah, that's what I used to think about Sam." Leah whispered; Steph shook her head and moved forward a little before pulling her short hair up and off her neck.
"You see this?" She asked, pointing to the purple marks.
"Jesus, are those teeth marks?" She asked; Steph nodded.
"Yep, Paul's wolf marked me; it basically means I belong to him." It sounded so primitive but it was true none the less.
"So, instead of imprinting, Paul picked you as his mate?" Leah was trying to understand.
"Yeah, exactly but I mean, I picked him as well." She explained; Leah's face crumbled and she began to cry again. Why couldn't Sam have done that for her? Maybe he didn't love her as much as she had believed; this thought made her even more distraught.
"So Paul won't imprint because he's got you?" Steph felt the need to scream 'hopefully' to the high heavens but she knew better; she knew that her happiness would be short-lived.
"Nobody knows what will happen, Leah; this pack, our pack, we're all just a bunch of firsts." She tried; Leah's crying let up a little but continued still.
"I mean, this is the biggest pack in history, we're the first ever female wolves, my relationship with Paul isn't exactly generic, and Sam is the first wolf to ever hurt his imprint…" Leah growled when she mentioned his name.
"Come on Lee, dry your eyes." She pleaded.
"Sam used to call me that." Leah growled as she clenched her fists and accidently pulled the pillow apart with her fingers.
"Ok, ok well I guess we have to give you another name... how about Lee- lee?" Leah looked up and sniffled, raising an eye brow.
"Ok, definitely not Lee-lee… what about LC?" Steph mentioned; Leah nodded a little and wiped her face with her pillow.
"I like it." Steph smiled and tried to pull her off the bed.
"Come on, let's go do something; I haven't got patrol till later so we've got the whole day to show you the ropes." She offered as Leah didn't move off the bed.
"But where's Paul?" she asked.
"Patrolling." Stephanie shrugged; Leah lay back down and hugged another pillow, discarding the broken one.
"No, I don't wanna leave this room." She whined as she sniffled some more.
"Come on, look the sun's shining for once." Steph stated as she pulled back the curtains; the sun was still there and rain fell from the sky like it was going out of style.
"Ok, so maybe the weather isn't good but no matter; we can find something else to do. Let's go watch TV." She proposed, already pulling her out of the room and into the main room; Jake and Embry looked up with surprised eyes.
Steph made her way over to her previous seat but she cleared one side for Leah who was frozen in the doorway. She threw the boys a dirty look each before turning and heading for the front door; she slammed it behind her and they all cringed.
"What's with her?" Jacob asked; his face a little shocked at the random outburst.
"How would you feel if you were her?" She asked, defensively; Jacob held both of his hands up in surrender.
"Whoa, whoa I was just asking." He replied; she narrowed her eyes and snatched the chips from his lap before tossing four in her mouth at once.
"Where do you think she's gone?" Embry asked; Steph shrugged.
"Well shouldn't you go check? What if she gets into trouble?" He asked her; she rolled her eyes.
"And so what? Leah's a big girl, she doesn't need babysitting; besides, I'm not my sister's keeper." She answered; Jake barked out a laugh.
"Your sister?" He asked her, she nodded, she guessed Leah was her sister now, her pack sister.
Steph thought about it more; maybe Embry was right, maybe she should try and find her. What if she did get into trouble? Or worse, she ran into Sam; now that would be a disaster.
Steph opened her front door thinking she'd probably have to search the whole rez for Leah; luckily, this wasn't the case. The new wolf was sitting on the doorstep with her head in her hands, the roof shielding her from the rain – barely.
"Why're you sitting out here alone LC?" Steph asked, using the new nickname she had come up with; Leah didn't reply so Steph decided to try a new approach.
"Come on, let's go." She demanded as she began to pull her body from the step.
"Go? Go where?" Leah asked as she tried to sit down again but Steph wouldn't let her.
"It's not about where we're going; it's about where we're gonna try to go." She replied cryptically, then laughed at Leah's confused expression.
"I don't get it." Steph rolled her eyes before standing next to her and pointing up at the sky.
"What's falling?" She asked.
"Rain?" She smiled at the answer she received.
"Yes, rain….. Now what's over there?" She asked again as she pointed to the yellowy orange sphere in the sky on their left.
"The sun." Leah was more sure of her answer this time.
"Yes the sun….. And sun plus rain equals?" Leah crossed her arms over her chest and raised an eye brow.
"A rainbow!" Steph announced as she pushed the younger wolf into the rain and turned her towards the house, just as she had suspected, a colourful arch was precariously balanced in the sky above.
"It's beautiful." Leah mused as she hugged herself; Stephanie nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, it is." The rain beat down heavily on the two girls but neither of them seemed bothered, they were too busy focusing on the rainbow.
"You know, I never really looked at a rainbow, not properly anyway; I usually just glance and pass it by." Leah disclosed, sounding quite upset with herself.
"You're not the only one." Steph reassured.
"…So, are you ready to go?" She finished; LC's eye brows furrowed.
"Go wher….Oh come on, you can't be serious. We are not doing that." Steph pouted.
"Come on, it'll be fun; I promise." She pleaded.
"It's a fool's quest." By the tone of her voice, I was obvious that she was cracking…. And fast.
"I beg to differ…. Five bucks says we find it." Steph bet with a giggle on the end, knowing that she'd probably lose.
"You know what? You're on Meyer." Leah laughed as the two of them laughed together; at that moment, Embry and Jake poked their heads out of the door. They both swore that they could hear two girls laughing but they were curious as to whom they were. One of them was Stephanie, that was for sure… but the other? It couldn't have been Leah, Leah Clearwater didn't laugh anymore.
"Er, is everything alright out here?" Jake asked unsurely; Steph rolled her eyes while Leah glared at the two boys.
"Yes, its fine; Leah and I were both leaving….. So bye." She told them as they turned and began walking towards the tree line.
"Well, where are you going?" Embry asked with a worried tone; Steph turned back and placed her hands around her mouth so the sound would travel further when she spoke.
"To find the end of the rainbow!" The two girls laughed as they walked off into the woods.
"What'swrong?" Steph asked a troubled Leah.
"I don't know how to do it; I don't know how to change." She admitted quietly; she hated saying to things like that.
"It's not hard, just let her take over. Don't resist and don't push." Steph muttered as she sucked in the air through her nose and spread her arms out; feeling the wind blow over her body. Leah didn't need to be told who she was; it had become apparent since the first time she phased that she was no longer the only guest in hotel Leah.
She tried to do as Steph said; let go and allow the wolf in her to take over, allow her to break free and run wild. Soon enough, she was standing on four legs, looking over at Stephanie who was shaking her head.
"Yeah, that was great….. Just take off your clothes next time." She laughed; Leah whined as she looked around at the tattered clothing around her.
"… and make sure you're not too close to anyone." Steph finished as she showed her arm which was covered in blood, three long gashes ran from her elbow to her shoulder; she watched as the grey wolf before her bowed her head in apology.
"No biggy, it'll heal in a while…. And as for clothes, I got you covered; I got cubby holes all over this forest." Steph removed her clothes and ted them on her ankle before phasing just in time to hear the beginning of an argument.
Shut the fuck up Ateara and learn to mind your own damn business – Leah
Steph was confused; what the hell had just happened?
I only asked where you were going? Geeze – Quil grumbled; Steph tried to hide a laugh.
Hey babe – Paul
Hey yourself – Steph replied in a flirtatious voice.
She nudged Leah on the muzzle and took off on a run, it wasn't hard for Leah to keep up, in fact they were both running at the same speed. She pouted a little, she had once enjoyed being the fastest in the pack; she barked out a laugh, a least she wasn't the smallest anymore.
I am not small – Leah grumbled.
Steph barked out a laugh again and thought about the task at hand.
No way, you're gonna find the pock of gold, man that sounds fun – Quil.
Trust him to believe there was actually treasure at the end of a rainbow.
Whatever Quill, just block us out, this is girl time and we don't need to hear your yammering…. You too Paul – Steph ordered.
The boys did as they were told and Leah was relieved that she couldn't hear their stupid voices anymore.
So they're human now, right? That's why they're gone –Leah
No, not human; they basically just blocked our voices from their heads – Steph
But what if they need help or something? – Leah
What? Is Leah Clearwater caring for her pack members? – Steph
No – Leah snapped.
I was just curious – Leah.
Steph wandered why caring was a big deal; she delved a little deeper into her new pack mate's mind and realised that it wasn't like she didn't want to care; it was that she was afraid to. Afraid to get hurt by more people who were supposedly her family.
If they need help, they howl – Steph answered stoically; a little disturbed at what she had found in the deepest parts of Leah's brains.
I see it – Leah.
She was trying to hide her excitement but it was pretty obvious; the rainbow was disappearing and reappearing again through the thick tree tops. The two girls changed direction as they picked a side to chase. They laughed as they went, exchanging funny anecdotes to keep the mood light.
Seriously? And it just crawled right into her clothes? – Leah.
Yeah, I know right, really gross - Steph.
All of a sudden Leah froze, she had been so engrossed in rainbow watching and laughing that she had forgotten how far they were allowed to run. The sickly sweet smell was burning her nostrils.
I think we may have ventured a bit too far – Leah
What? No its cool – Steph
I thought you said we weren't allowed here – Leah
Oh you mean yesterday? I just didn't wanna have to keep running after you – Steph bristled.
Bitch – Leah muttered.
Back at ya' LC – Steph.
They both ran together for a while, Steph let her large tongue flop out of her mouth as they moved; it felt good to get away for a while. This, right here was the definition of freedom.
You know I've been thinking; since you call me LC, I should give you a nickname right? – Leah
You don't have to, everybody calls me Steph, I guess that's a nickname – Steph
No, you need a new one that only I call you – Leah
That's cool I guess – Steph
I was thinking maybe Stevie? – Leah
Stevie?... I like it; it makes me sound kinda badass – Steph
Bummer – Leah grumbled as they stopped at the edge of a cliff; looking out onto the many mountains that the rainbow outstretched onto.
Not necessarily – Steph.
She tried to keep a tight lid on her thoughts.
What do you mean? – Leah
There's a place around here, I think – Steph offered cryptically as she turned from the edge of the cliff and trotted around, sniffing trees. She could smell the light scent of pollen, she tried to follow it. Leah stayed right behind her, unsure of what else to do. Eventually she sniffed out the place; Steph laughed and jumped up and down uncontrollably; she even rolled around in the flowers.
She couldn't believe she had found it, of course she knew it was real but she never expected it to be this perfect and….
It's beautiful – Leah mused as she stood before the vast field of the prettiest assorted flowers she had ever seen; even the grass was perfect.
Steph rolled around in laughter; this was it, the meadow. This is Bella and Edward's place. She pranced around like a whimsical puppy, jumping up on her hind legs and chasing bumble bees. Leah did the same and she enjoyed herself; she realised that while some part of her was human, she was mostly wolf now. A revelation that she wasn't too disappointed with either. She caught a thought from Steph's head and wondered.
What's Twilight? – Leah
Steph froze; how the hell could she let that one loose. Dear God she was stupid.
Er, nothing; just these books I wrote – Steph
You write books? - Leah asked as her large body collapsed in the grass like a log, she was officially tired; she realised that she could no longer hear any of Steph's thoughts apart from what she was being fed. What was she hiding?
Oh ok – Leah replied before screaming.
Twilight! Twilight! Twilight!- Leah.
Without warning, thoughts came spilling out into the open, all jumbled and confusing but as soon as they came, they were gone.
What was that? – Leah
Nothing, ok – Steph snapped; she was afraid, Leah's random explosion had slipped the lid on her secrets and she wasn't sure which ones the younger wolf had actually heard.
But I saw…... Wait, what as that? – Leah. The girls stood together and growled threateningly as the sound of footprints made their way towards them. Steph deflated as the smell hit her nose.
Relax Leah, it's just a Cullen – She breathed, she was a little relieved; she really wasn't looking forward to a brawl of any kind right now.
Aren't they the enemy? – Leah asked as she kept growling; Steph stepped in front of her to block her view of the incoming vampires. She knew that the wolf inside Leah was young; she wouldn't know the difference between friends and enemies right now if they smelled like leaches.
NO, no they're not so lie down – Steph
I'm not your freaking dog, don't tell me to lie down – Leah
I'm serious Leah, the wolf inside you is gonna wanna attack and we can't have that so lie the fuck down – Steph growled.
Leah did what she was told, begrudgingly.
Now roll over onto your back – Steph
Good – Steph.
She stepped over Leah's body so that her front legs were parallel to her snout; this way she couldn't get up without Steph's permission.
I feel like a fucking puppy – Leah grumbled.
You kind of are so hush… they're here – Steph looked up as Emmett and Jasper appeared in the clearing; both of their heads were cocked to the side, surprised to see them.
They approached slowly with their hands up and stood twenty feet away from them when she growled for the not to get any closer.
Urgh, they stink – Leah bristled as she used both her paws to cover her sensitive nose.
Yeah, they do – Steph snorted.
"You're a little far from home." Emmett boomed as he stepped forward, Steph nodded but growled a little. Jasper didn't take his eyes off of them as he held his brother back by the arm.
"Don't get any closer, the little one is new; she won't be able to control herself." He spoke with a southern drawl that would make any woman shiver.
Fuck off! I'm not little – Leah growled as she tried to flip over onto her belly so she could run and pounce on these stinking fuckers. Steph growled back and held her down with a paw to her chest; Leah was still struggling.
Whoa, whoa, whoa there Sally, slow your mustang – Steph barked out a laugh.
"What the hell is happening?" Emmett asked through his laughter as he watched the scene unfold before him; the whole thing was like nothing he had ever seen before.
"The chocolate brown, it isn't like the others; it's not angry or afraid." Jasper mused.
"….But the little one." He was cut off by another growl from Leah. "Sorry, the grey one, its emotions are all over the place; calm down, buddy." He drawled.
What the fuck is he doing to me- Leah slurred drowsily; she stopped struggling and just sighed contently.
Why am I so calm? – Leah
He's making you that way– Steph
She looked up at Jasper and yelped; he nodded his head like a gentleman.
"You're welcome." He answered; Emmett watched the exchange with no idea what to do.
Steph yelped and growled a little, hoping that they'd get her message.
"I think he wants us to go." Jasper said as they started to back away; Steph rolled her eyes.
I'm not a boy! – Steph
"Well see you later, chocolate flavour." Emmett laughed as if it was the best joke ever heard as he turned and ran; Jasper mentally face-palmed as he followed. A few seconds later, Steph removed her paw from Leah's body and she stood up, shaking out her fur a little.
So that was your first encounter with leeches – Steph mused as they began to run back towards La Push.
I didn't like em' – Leah
Of course you didn't LC – Steph laughed; Leah joined in too….
But all traces of boisterous merriment ceased as the girls approached the treaty line; the whole pack stood there growling murderously. Uh oh, Steph knew that they were both in serious trouble.
Where the hell have you been all day? – Sam
Thoughts?
Dun dun duuuunn, they're in trouble; other than that, is anyone else wandering how much Leah saw in Steph's mind? I know I am ^0^
Ok, this are picking up now…
Anyway, tell me what you think.
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