Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed so far. It's so cool knowing that you a loving this as much as I am!

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE TWILIGHT SAGA OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS. THE TWILIGHT SAGA BELONGS TO STEPHENIE MEYERS AND I AM WRITING THIS STORY FOR FUN. NO FINANCIAL GAIN WILL BE SOUGHT FOR THE WRITING OF THIS STORY.

CHAPTER 4: MAGIC & MADNESS

Sue, Billy and Joseph took their place and I could feel the anticipation as everyone waited for Maiara to be seated.

Clank. Her iron tipped cane sang against the hard packed earth. Shhhh shhhh. Her feet shuffled forward lifting small puffs of dust.

A hush had fallen over the assembly and everyone seemed entranced by the sound of her coming. Clank shhh shhh. Clank shhh shhh. Clank shhh shhh.

"Shhhhhhhhhh." She whispered, a gnarled finger lifted to her lips. "Shhhhhhhhhh." She said again as she took her seat. "Listen. Can you hear the voice of the wind?" She leaned forward, her gazed swept over our faces as if she were expecting someone to answer.

"No?" She shook her head in disappointment. "I tell you children. It was not always so." She straightened and began. "There has always been magic in our blood. Much of what was has not been. And though it has been ages in coming, the time is drawing nigh for it to come again. Already it wakens. Rising from its slumber and endowing us with the form of our wolf selves. A magic that we have not seen for generations."

"But there is more to come. Yes dear ones there is more to claim. I sat beneath the great ash tree that rest down by the waters of Lake Onandaga for my heart was troubled. The wolf had awakened but the older magics remained silent. We have no record of what was but in my heart I knew there was more. That we would need more than the wolf to protect our people. That was when the wind spoke to me and told me a tale.

"In a time before time was recorded, a time of peace and accord. A time before the land was divided into territories held by the Makah, the Hoh, the Wynoochee, the Sooke and the Quileute. There was a time when we were one tribe, one tongue, one people."

"Among the people was a man named Nanook. He had been blessed with five strong sons. Nashoba, the oldest was a strong warrior. Dichali was skilled with the bow. Skah was apprenticed to a medicine man. Wilu was a dexterous carpenter. But Rowtag the youngest had yet to distinguish himself in any real way. He was quick witted and proficient in woodcraft but Nanook worried for his future. How would Rowtag secure a wife and build a life if he did not set himself apart.

Rowtag knew that his father fretted but his heart belonged to the woods and as soon as he was done with his chores he would sneak off and spend his time wandering and learning the land. One day while he was roaming Rowtag came upon a curious meadow. It was late autumn but the meadow was full of tall grass and flowers blooming out of season.

He struck a path across the meadow and plucked a flower. He lifted it to his nose and breathed deeply. All of the sudden he felt tired so he lay down and as was soon asleep. As he lay he dreamt.

In his dream he walked along the bank of a river listening to the sound of the water. The gentle lap of it against the shore. The thunderous crash as it parted around rocks further downstream. The gentle tickle of the shallows. He found a large rock partially submerged in the shallows. He walked out into to the water then climbed onto the rock and sat with his eyes closed listening to the sound of the river and after a while the sound of the water changed. It was like a song. The thunder, the lapping, the tinkling sound formed a sort of chorus. He sang it back to the river and the sound changed again, the river singing back to him. Rowtag sang with the river and his heart filled with a joy that felt too large for his small frame to hold.

He woke from his dream still filled with the wonder of the song and full of joy in his heart. When he came home it was late in the day. He told his family of his dream. His brothers scoffed at him. His father, an ever practical man, told Rowtag that songs and dreams would not win him a wife. But his mother's heart was stirred by the telling of the dream and advised Nanook to take him to the council and seek guidance as to the portent of his dreams.

The Elders gathered and though they sought the answer with all their heart the knowledge was beyond their grasp. They made offerings to the Great Spirit Q'wati and bid him reveal the meaning of the dream. Q'wati answered and made it known that Rowtag was a Spirit Walker. He could speak with the spirits of nature as if he were talking to a man.

Rowtag's brothers were exceedingly envious. Why had Rowtag been chosen to receive such a gift? He was of no import. He had accomplished no great deeds. And so they conspired to end his life. They raised their hands against their brother and made themselves kin slayers.

Rowtag's blood cried out from the ground and roused Q'wati. He came down and healed Rowtag knitting his soul back to his flesh. Rowtag pleaded for mercy for his brothers for it was in Q'wati's heart to slay them where they stood. Instead he set a curse upon their tongues so that each spoke a different language. They would not be able to band together again and plot anymore wicked schemes. And just to be sure he banished them from the people and scattered them to the four winds. And so to this day we quarrel with the descendants of Rowtags four brothers, our near cousins, that make up the other tribes of this land."

Everyone was silent for a time and then a soft murmur arose as people came back to themselves. We had all been transported to a time long ago of magic and song. Jacob sat with his back to the log and me between his legs. He pulled me back into his chest and neither of us spoke for a time.

People began to mill about and a line formed in front of Maiara. Everyone wanted to greet the Eldest Elder. I could not make out what they for saying, they were speaking in Quileute. But I began to hear a phrase repeated over and over again.

Maira would say "Aya`soochid haqalee na Q'wati booche" and the reply would be "Whay shale, tic thot awah, kahlee shu tooke" When I asked Jacob what it meant it he said it was an old Quileute pledge roughly translated Maiara was saying "In dead of night or light of day may Q'wati ever guide our way" To which she received the reply "By earth and sky, by sea and stone, we walk the road that leads us home." They were pledging to turn back to the old ways and honor the Great Spirit Q'wati.

Jacob waited till the line shortened before he got up and joined the procession. I remained seated by the fire and waited for him to return. When he reached the front of the line Maiara spoke with him longer than she had with any of the others. I still could not understand what she was saying but then she started gesturing toward me and I was a little concerned. Was she scolding Jacob for bring me?

She looked over to where I was sitting. "Come here young one." She requested.

Quill and Jared along with a few of the other young people sat near me. We all looked around at each other trying to figure out who she was referring to.

"You. Kulbah tluth come here." she commanded.

Everyone seemed to pause in their conversation and look at me.

Quill nudged me and nodded toward Maiara. "She means you."

"Me?"

"Kulbah-tluth. White Bird." He laughed. "Pretty sure she's talking about you." He nudged me again. "Go ahead"

I got unsteadily to my feet. I could feel the curious gazes as I made my way toward Jacob and Maiara. I tried to read Jacob's face but he looked equally curious. His eyes held a question and he searched my face as if he hoped to find the answer.

I stopped a few steps away from Maiara not sure how to address her or how to proceed. The air around her seemed to shimmer with magic. A sense of power emanated from her tiny form.

"Don't be afraid, child. Come here." She reached for my hand and I stumbled forward and placed my right hand in hers. She turned my hand over and traced the lines in my palm for a moment. A sense of calm seemed to wash through me as soon as she touched me.

"Tell me your name." she asked kindly.

"Bella Swan." I replied with more courage than I felt.

"Swan! Ha! I named you well white bird." Her eyes twinkled with mirth. She smiled at me and I returned her smile in kind.

"Aya`soochid haqalee na Q'wati booche" she said.

"Whay shalee tic thot awah kahlee shu tooke" I replied without thinking.

"Yes. You travel the road. " She looked down at my hand and began to trace the lines in my palm again. "Though it twists and turns it will lead you home."

I didn't understand what she was eluding too but I felt oddly comforted nonetheless. She let go of my hand then turned to Jacob and said something to him in Quileute. He replied then gave Maiara a small bow.

When he turned to me his face was pensive and a little closed off like he had a secret that he didn't want to share. He threaded his fingers through mine and gave me a small smile but it didn't reach his eyes.

I caught a few strange looks from people as we made our way back to my truck. No one looked hostile simply intrigued. I felt strange myself. All this talk of men who could speak with nature and Eldest Elders that peered into your soul had me feeling like I was in a waking dream. I squeezed Jacob's hand trying to find something real. We walked for a while in silence and before I knew it we were at my truck. Jacob opened the passenger door and helped me in. Jacob slid into the driver's seat and I grabbed his hand before he could put the keys in the ignition.

"Jacob why did she call me that? Kulbah tluth. I know it means white bird, but it felt like it meant something more."

"You're pale as the moon and frail as a bird. I don't think there was any hidden meaning." He answered me too quickly as if were waiting for me to ask that question and I knew he was lying. What was he keeping from me and why?

"Kulbah tluth." I said again and Jacob frowned.

"No matter where the road leads you I will always love you." His intensity caught me off guard.

"I love you too." I said feeling confused. "Jake what's wr–"

He cut off the rest of my question as he crushed his lips to mine. His tongue delved into my mouth and I could taste his desperation. He kissed me like he was drowning and I was air. He needed to show me. He needed me to know how much he loved me. Like nothing else counted in the balance of things expect for this kiss. It was frightening and it was beautiful.

Every touch, every kiss held a question. "Do you know how much I love you?" And then he'd answer with a kiss "I love you this much" He opened his heart to me and without ever speaking a word he told me "My love is real and yours and always."

When he pulled away I was overwrought. I wanted to feel that same conviction. I wanted to love Jacob as completely as he loved me. I felt like Jacob's love shone like the sun and mine was a flickering candle. I wanted to burn that brightly and I hated myself because I didn't. I resolved in that moment that I would love Jacob better. I wouldn't hold anything back and I would try to make us work.

"We should get you home." He gave me another quick kiss and then started my truck.

I reached out to hold his hand but he snaked his arm around my shoulder and pulled me to his side. I rested my head on his shoulder and breathed in his woodsy scent. I was so full of heavy things so I started asking silly questions like "Would you rather live in the real version of The Walking Dead or Jurassic Park " and "Would you rather have no arms or no legs."

My stomach ached from laughing so hard at Jacob's answers. He was answering my "Would you rather be stuck in a large room with a cobra or a small room with 20 black widows" question when we pulled around a curve and nearly hit someone that was walking in the road.

The tires screeched and I slammed against my seat belt as Jacob turned the wheel to avoid the pedestrian. We slid to a halt on the shoulder.

"Are you alright?" Jacob put the truck in park and looked me over.

"I'm fine. I'm fine. Are you OK?" I searched for any signs of injury on Jacob my heart thundering in my chest. I looked out searching for the man we'd seen in the road but my side of the truck was facing toward the tree line.

"Oh my God! Jake, did we hit someone?" I jumped out of the truck and ran around the front looking for an injured person but no one was there. I heard Jacob get out and slam his door.

"Jake do you see any one?" I walked around to his side my eyes still on the ground searching and I bumped into him. He was quivering like a tuning fork.

I looked up at him and his face was screwed into a grimace. "Oh no, Jake! What did we do?" I followed his line of sight and when I saw what he saw I swear I heard the world break. Standing in the middle of the road, unhurt and very much a live, was Edward Cullen.

OMG HES BACK! DID YOU JUST HAVE A MILD HEART PALPITATION? BECAUSE I DID! LOL

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