AN: Two days again, sowwie. You all will notice that this chapter is longer, I broke my four page rule and made this chapter five pages long. My OCD tendencies are screaming at me, but it had to be done, I couldn't fit what I wanted in four pages along with the legends. And, from popular demand, the next chapter will be from Quil's POV(point of view for those who aren't familiar with the slang). It may take longer since I'll probably rewrite it eight times a day, but I will get it out within a week, promise! :D Oh, and I wrote the legends as Claire is explaining them in her mind because I didn't want to copy everything from Eclipse word for word, hope you all don't mind. And again, thank you all for the support, love ya! Enjoy!

Chapter Thirteen

Old Legends

I couldn't help but notice that everyone settled when Billy started his speech. He seemed to take over all attention without really trying. Even my attention was drawn to him, even though I was trying to see were everyone was, because I had lost Nessie and Jacob when everyone settled around the fire.

"We're all here tonight because a lost member of our family has come back." Billy said smiling over at me. I smiled back and tried to ignore all of the eyes that fell upon me for a slight second. "And to welcome her back I've decided to retell the legends of our tribe." He said looking back to the rest of the group.

Billy started the tale about spirit warriors and I was instantly enthralled. He told the story of Kaheleha, the first Spirit Chief. Kaheleha used magic to defend the land and the chief and his men could separate their spirit from their bodies and hear each others thoughts collectively while on a spirit journey. Their great powers devastated their enemies, and the nearby tribes the Hoh's and the Makah became allies but wanted nothing to do with the magic.

The whole legend took my attention and ran away with it. I listened intently to Billy as he told the intricate tale of Taha Aki, the last Great Spirit Chief and Utlapa, one of his strongest warriors as well as the man that betrayed him. He explained the mess that ensued when Utlapa got too greedy and was able to take over Taha Aki's body when the leader had taken to the spirit world to watch over his people.

Taha Aki inhabited the body of a wolf and tried to go back to his people. When one of the older warriors, Yut, disobeyed Utlapa's order to never go on another spirit journey he had given from Taha Aki's body to go to the Spirit world and communicate with the animal. Utlapa killed Yut when he saw the older man had disobeyed him and Taha Aki became so enraged that he transformed from wolf, to man.

Taha Aki set everything the way it was supposed to be when Utlapa had disrupted the way of the Quileute's. He kept Utlapa's rule to keep his men from spirit journeys because he knew it was too dangerous. Taha Aki led the tribe for many years since he didn't age after his initial transformation. He would resume his wolf form to scare off any enemies that tried to harm the tribe. He had many sons and some shared their father's ability to transform into wolves. The wolves were all different because the spirit wolves reflected the men inside.

Some continued to transform and no longer aged while others didn't like it and refused to join the pack and began to age again, which was how the tribe learned the wolf-men could grow old if they gave up their spirit wolves. Taha Aki lived the span of three lives and had married three times. His third wife he found to be his true spirit wife. While he had loved the other two, what he had with his third wife was different and special. He gave up his spirit wolf to die when she did.

Billy stopped for a moment after his finished Taha Aki's story, or so I thought. I hadn't notice that I had moved down to the ground and had my knees curled to my chest and I was leaning almost completely against Quil, who had joined me on the ground and had his arm wrapped casually behind me. I blushed a few shades of red when I tried to look up at him.

"Sorry," I whispered guiltily.

He shook his head. "S'okay," He whispered back, settling against the log and looking back to Billy. He didn't seem to mind that I was using him as a couch and so I didn't move and continued using him and the log to keep comfortable.

Billy sighed after he took a long swig of water. "That was the story of Taha Aki and the spirit warriors, now, the story of the third wife's sacrifice." He said mystically.

The older man started once again, this story had a much sadder air than the previous. It was many years after Taha Aki had given up his spirit wolf and there was trouble looming from the north, girls from the Makah tribe had started to disappear. Taha Aki's tribe had been blamed but since the wolf-men could still read each others minds in their spirit form, they knew no one from the tribe had done any kidnapping. The Great chief wanted to soothe the Makah's fears and find the true culprit behind the missing girls. Since he was no longer a warrior, he sent out his oldest wolf son Taha Wi and five other wolf-men to search the mountains for the missing girls.

While in the mountains, the wolf-men came across something they had never encountered before, a strange scent that burned their noses with its sweetness. They decided to follow the scent to find the creature that left it. Along the trail they smelled human and human blood and they knew they had found the trail of the kidnappers. They followed the scent so far north that Taha Wi sent the youngest of the small pack back to report to Taha Aki but Taha Wi and the other two men did not return.

I swallowed the gasp that wanted to leave my lips at the turn of events in the story. I think Quil chuckled at me.

The younger men searched for the three elders but found nothing but silence. Taha Aki mourned the loss of his son and wanted revenge but since he was too old. He went to the Makah leader in his mourning clothes and explained everything that had happened, the leader believed his grief and ended the hostility between the two tribes.

A year later two more Makah girls were taken and the same painfully sweet scent drenched the village. The wolf-men went on the hunt once more and only one returned. Yaha Uta the oldest son of Taha Aki's third wife and the youngest of the pack brought with him something none of the Quileute's had ever seen. He carried with him pieces of a cold and stony corpse. All those of the tribe could smell the strange scent from the strange corpse and they knew it was the enemy of the Makah.

Yaha Uta told his father what had happened. They had found the creature that looked like a man, but with skin as hard as rock with the two Makah girls. One was already dead and drained of her blood and on the ground. The other girl didn't survive much longer because the creature was so fast he snapped her neck before the wolf-men could try to stop him and tossed her body away. His lips were white and stained with blood while his eyes glowed red.

The young man described the great strength and speed the creature possessed. He told his father how one of his brothers underestimated the man and was quickly torn apart as if he were a doll. Yaha Uta then worked with his remaining brother to outmaneuver the creature. They're wolf strength was pushed to its limits but they found they could tear the creature apart with their teeth and they started ripping small pieces off him while they fought.

The creature, however, was smart and began outmaneuvering them himself. It was able to get a hold of Yaha Uta's brother and began to mangle him. Yaha Uta took the clear shot he had at the creature's neck and tore his head off with his teeth. The creature's arms continued to contort Yaha Uta's brother. In an attempt to save his brother, Yaha Uta ripped the creature to many pieces but was not able to save his brother in time. He brought the pieces back to his father, thinking he had destroyed the creature.

Yaha Uta laid out the remains of the creature for the elders to examine. One of the elders poked one of the hands with a stick, making it touch a nearby arm and it moved, reaching out to the other severed appendage. Disgusted and horrified, the elders set the remains on fire. When the only thing left of the creature was ash, they spread the ashes far and wide. Taha Aki kept a small bag of the ashes so he would know if the creature ever tried to make himself whole again.

Billy reached into his shirt and pulled out a small black pouch. My jaw dropped when I saw the little bag. He held it out for us all to examine for a moment then tucked it back away where he had it before and continued with his tale about the devilish creature.

They called it The Cold One, The Blood Drinker and they were all afraid that it wasn't the only one. There was only one wolf-man left to protect the tribe, young Yaha Uta. Not long after another creature, a woman, came to the Quileute tribe to seek vengeance for her fallen mate. The woman was described as the most beautiful person any human had ever laid eyes on. She was a goddess in the flesh, with white skin that glittered as the sun dawned over her, flowing golden hair and black eyes. Some of the Quileute people actually fell to their knees to worship her.

She asked the people a question in a language they didn't know, they were all befuddled at the woman and the words she spoke. A small boy, who was of Taha Aki's blood, yelled that his nose burned with her smell, a passing elder realized who the woman was and yelled for the people to run. He was the first to be killed by the woman. Twenty people saw the Cold Woman's approach to the village and only two survived. They survived only because the woman grew too distracted from the spilt blood and stopped to take her fill. They ran to Taha Aki who was in council with his elders, sons and third wife, and told him of the woman.

Yaha Uta transformed into his spirit wolf as soon as he heard the news and ran to destroy the woman. Taha Aki and the others followed his wolf form. They couldn't find her at first until they heard the screams from the harbor and ran. Some of the Quileute people had run to the ships to try and escape her but she swam after the boats. She broke the ships with ease and caught the people who tried to flee. She saw Yaha Uta's wolf form and swam to shore, Yaha Uta didn't have to wait long before she started the fight.

The Cold Woman wasn't the fighter her mate was but Yaha Uta was alone and was killed by the woman. Enraged by loosing another son, Taha Aki transformed his spirit wolf. The white muzzled wolf was old but Taha Aki's anger made him strong and he started the fight with the Cold Woman.

The third wife watched as her husband started fighting with the creature that had just killed her son. She had no hope that he would win against the stronger woman. She had heard the witnesses retelling of what the Cold Woman had done to the other Quileute people. She had also heard the story of how Yaha Uta had defeated the other Cold One with help from his brother. She took a knife from the belt of one of the younger sons, the young boys that were not yet men and would surely die if their father lost the fight.

The third wife ran to the Cold Woman with the knife raised high. The Cold Woman smiled at the much weaker human and prepared to strike the final blow and kill Taha Aki. But the third wife didn't try to stab the Cold Woman, instead she fell to her knees and stabbed the knife through her own heart. The blood drinker couldn't resist the fresh blood and was consumed by the red liquid, giving Taha Aki the chance to attack her exposed neck.

Two young sons watched as their mother bled out in front of them and their father fought futilely with the blood drinker and the rage that took over them made them transform into their spirit wolves thought they were not yet men and they helped their father bring the Cold Woman down. Taha Aki never transformed back to a human, or rejoined the pack. He spent the day after the fight laying next to his dead wife's body, growling at anyone who tried to get close to him or her body then he went into the forest and never returned.

From then on trouble with the Cold Ones was rare but Taha Aki's sons protected the tribe until their own sons were old enough to take their place. There were never more than three wolves at a time but it was enough to protect the tribe. Occasionally a Cold One would stumble upon the tribe but the wolves took them by surprise and destroyed them as they were taught by their fathers. Sometimes a wolf was killed but they were never wiped out like the first time since they used the knowledge that was passed down from wolf-man to wolf-man.

As time passed the descendants of Taha Aki no longer became wolves when they reached adulthood. It was only once in a long while did a Cold One return to the Quileute lands then the wolves would then return to protect the tribe. The blood drinkers always travelled in ones or twos so the pack of wolf-men stayed small, never more than that until a larger group came to the lands.

The large coven came and the great-grandfathers of the men around me prepared to fight them all but the leader spoke to the chief, Ephraim Black. The leader promised not to harm any of the Quileute's. His yellow, not red, eyes gave the chief some proof that blood drinker's claim was true that his coven was different. The wolves were outnumbered, so there was no need for the Cold Ones to offer the treaty, as they could easily decimate them. Ephraim accepted the treaty and the coven have stayed true to their word since.

Since the coven had more blood drinkers than usual, it forced the pack to have larger numbers as well. The only time in Quileute history where they had as many, or more than, wolf-men in the pack was during the time of Taha Aki. So the sons of the tribe have been carrying the responsibility and sacrifice of their fathers before them.

Even after Billy stopped talking I was still lost in the story. I couldn't help but wonder if it were all true. Their vampire-like creature was actually pretty scary. Something that can try to piece itself together after being torn to shreds is frightening. The whole spirit wolf thing is awesome. The ability to change into a wolf with a single thought. I'd love to see what it looked like, changing from human to wolf.

I noticed everyone starting to leave and stood and ran to Billy, I wanted to talk to him before he left. "Did you enjoy it?" Billy asked hopefully.

I nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, that was great." I said smiling.

Billy smiled widely. "Good, most of you youngin's aren't that interested in the old stories." He said happily.

I still couldn't stop smiling. "I loved it." I beamed. This was probably the best party I've ever had, that I can remember.

"I'm glad," He said proudly with a smirk. Jacob walked up behind his fathers chair and patted him on the shoulder. "Well, its time for me to get home, I'll see you later Claire." He said with a mock salute.

"Goodnight Billy, thanks for this." I said thankfully.

"Your welcome, it's good to have you back." He said with a wink. I waved weakly as Jacob pushed his father back to the make-shift parking lot.

I let out a quiet sigh and turned back to the fire, watching the once roaring flames dwindle away into smoldering embers. I shivered a little as the wind spit rain down on me. I held Quil's massive flannel a little tighter around my body. "Come on, I'll take you home." Quil said offering his arm. I sighed and walked over to him, looping one arm through the one he offered as he walked me into the woods.

We walked slowly through the woods while I mulled over everything. "Good night?" Quil asked suddenly.

I nodded, not looking up at him. "Yeah, it was nice, I don't usually have days like this." I murmured.

"With your mom?" He asked cautiously.

"In general I guess." I mumbled with a shrug.

He was quiet for a moment before he changed the conversation. "What are you planning for tomorrow?" He asked eagerly.

"I was just going to laze around the house, or shop with Nessie. I'm still not sure." I answered with a chuckle.

"Well, if you need me, I'm sure your dad has my number." He said with a half smile.

"He does, on the list next to the phone in the kitchen, I already memorized the numbers anyway." I said casually. He looked at me with a raised brow. "I'm weird I know." I muttered.

"Well, your weirdness has comforted me." He said assuredly.

We finally walked out of the woods to the clearing where the cars had been parked to find only a white pick-up truck left. "At least something good has come from it." I said grinning. We fell into another silence that I broke rather quickly with a stupid question. "Can I ask why you're here? With me?" I asked confused. I knew he had to be in his late-twenties at least, so why he was hanging out with me was baffling.

Quil sighed and walked to the passenger side of the truck and opened the door, offering the seat to me. I slid into the car and watch as he hung on the door and took deep breaths. "Before your mom took you, you were like a little sister to me, I just wanted to see how you turned out." He answered quietly. I was still confused. "If you don't want me around…" He trailed off, his words weighed down with sadness.

I jumped to fix my screw up. "No! Its not that at all!" I amended. He finally looked up and at me, he seemed a little befuddled himself. "I'm just confused, everyone seems to have their own companion in the world, and I was just wondering who or what yours was." I explained, feeling rather stupid.

"I fix cars." He said plainly.

"Well, that's something I guess." I muttered dumbly. He shrugged a little and shut my door and walked around the truck to climb into the driver's seat.

The drive down from the cliff was quiet, but comfortably so. I didn't feel the need to make conversation with Quil, or even sigh dramatically. I was fine with staring out the window at the passing trees.

"What would you do if I told you the legends were real?" He asked suddenly, almost making me jump. "Sorry, I didn't mean to just blurt that out." He said embarrassed.

I took in a deep breath and launched into a lengthy explanation. "When I was eight, I met this girl at a home school luncheon thingy. She told me she could see the future, but no one believed her." I said with a little sadness. Quil glanced from the road to look at me with surprise. "I was fascinated by her, asking her all kinds of questions, but too soon it was time to go. Before we parted she told me to be careful because the next day I was going to break my leg and she pointed to the middle of my left shin. The next day I was playing at a garden, on a picnic table when a car back-fired and scared me off the table and I fell onto a rock. I broke my leg in the exact spot she predicted." I paused to take a breath and looked over to Quil. "I believe there is more out there than what meets the eye, and if there are really 'spirit-wolves' then I want to meet them." I said firmly.

My story seemed to give him some relief as he pulled into my fathers driveway, Dad was already home. "You're a strange one Claire Asher." He said shaking his head.

I shrugged nonchalantly. "It's in my blood." I said dryly.

He continued to shake his head as he got out of the truck and walked around to my side, rather quickly, to open the door for me and walk me to the front door of my father's house. "I'll see you later." He murmured as I opened the front door.

"Quil," I called out softly. He turned back to me with a worried look on his face. "Thanks," I said smiling.

He smiled, a genuinely happy smile, and turned back toward me for a moment. "No problem." He said before he left back for the truck.

I couldn't stop smiling as I walked into my childhood home, I finally felt at ease in the world.

AN: Review!