I stared out at the large expanse of tall trees before me. It was late at night in the woods of the Makah reservation. My hand ran over the rough bark of a familiar tree. It was pine, filled with the pine needles, the bottom of the tree was thick and strong from years of life. The branches breaking off from the center were thick and filled with the pine needles.
I ran my hand over the thick gashes that had only begun to fill again from the hunting knife that had struck it several times all those years ago.
"Kenny! No stop!" I burst out the back door as my mother screamed after my father. My short legs only carrying me so fast. It was late at night and a chill was in the air but I was sticky with sweat. My breath came out in pants as my lungs burned and my legs were growing numb. Sobs were bubbling at the edge of my throat but I was trying to force them down, there was no time for crying.
I leapt to hide behind a tree, trying to slow my breathing so the sound of my blood rushing through my ears would stop. My whole body shook like a leaf. It was silent for a second till I heard the familiar crash of a beer bottle and a roar that sent a chill down my spine.
"Where are you girl!? You dare run from your father!" he snarled. His yell echoed through the trees silencing the animals. It was silent for a moment till a terrible pain snapped at my skull and I cried out when I was tugged by my hair harshly tugging my scalp. I was thrown to the ground and I looked up to find my father's formidable form standing over me.
My father was 6'7 and over 250 pounds of muscle. His voice was deep and only grew more husky and deep when he was drunk and angry. His wide shoulders heaved before he took a hardy drink from the bottle in his hand.
"There you are little monster", he growled and I whimpered. He lunged at me and I dodged quickly back. I didn't realize it then but my next movement was just a small peek into the power hidden in me. On reflex I threw my small clenched hand over, it met his face and he crashed backward with a loud grunt. I didn't take time to see him laying there as I took off again.
I kept running and running until I found myself in the true thick of the forest, where you truly had to weave through trees to move around and the brush was thick. My hand was pressed against a thick pine tree as I heaved, I gagged from exertion and fear. I glanced up at the tree noticing the thin lower branch hanging. I glanced behind me hearing my father's drunk yells.
With only a thought of self-perseveration, my light weight held the thin branch strong until I caught onto a strong, thick branch and began to climb. I climbed and climbed, my hands and knees beginning to bleed from the bark nipping at them. I could feel splinters in my hands but I ignored them. I didn't stop climbing till my vision got blurry from lack of air.
I stopped laying my body across a strong branch, gasping in desperately for breath. My vision began to clear when I heard my father roar loudly.
"I can see you little monster! Come down this instant!" it always amazed me how easily my father could find me in the woods no matter how hard I tried to hide. I pulled my legs up into my chest and made myself as small as possible. The tree vibrated slightly from him slamming his wide shoulder against it. He growled and I barely glanced down to see him brandishing his favorite knife. He began to stab at the tree over and over again letting out a rather animalistic roar that shook the world around us.
I never understood why no one ever came into the woods, curious of the screaming. But a part of being from such a small town was people were willing to gossip but never help. Plus with my father being the Chief, no one would question him.
I closed my eyes and tried to imagine myself somewhere else. Anywhere but here, eventually the stabbing stopped and I could hear his loud snores. I glanced down to see him passed out from the amount of liquor in his system.
I would fall asleep in that tree that night, I did it many nights. He would sleep under that tree many nights as well. I only came down when my mother would come and get me and my hunger was so bad my stomach hurt terribly. No matter how many days I lasted…my punishment would come once I came down from that tree.
My fingers brushed over the harsh, scar on my face. One of those punishments for hiding in this tree was the scar on my face. I heard the snap of twigs and for a moment fear of my father filled me but then I felt the tug at my heart that told me when Jacob was near.
I turned to find Kane, Jeremy, and Brad all phased. Next came Sam's whole pack phased and finally Jacob with Leah and Seth. I took a deep breath and pulled down my mental barriers. I was immediately assaulted with the blow of a million thoughts going at once.
"ENOUGH!" Sam growled in an Alpha order. While my pack and Jacob's did not follow him, every one immediately silenced themselves. "You called us here for a reason Eyota?" Sam asked and I nodded.
"The Cullens have informed me that they are out searching for witnesses to stand with them to prove Renesmee is not immortal", I explained out loud. "I am assuming some of these vampires will not be of the same belief in their choice of food as the Cullens", a sea of growls filled the air realizing how many vampires who drank from humans were probably coming.
"What are we going to do?" asked Seth. I sighed and closed my eyes for a moment.
"At this time, I have come to a decision with the approval of the Makah elders", I begun, "I will be stepping down from the place as leader of the Makah pack", a roar of disagreement burst forth in my mind.
"You can't do that Chief!"
"What, no way!"
"QUIET!" I snapped and everything was suddenly silenced, "It is only temporarily…however someone needs to be there to assure these vampires do not get out hand. I have volunteered myself for this position", I explained.
"And you didn't think to tell us before you asked the Elders?" Sam asked with a hint of irritation.
"I did what I thought was best…besides I would not ask any of your pack to risk their life and time to be in such close quarters with human drinking vampires", I told him.
"Eyota! You can't do this! I won't allow it", Jacob's voice appeared in the fore front of my mind. He stepped forward in wolf form, even though he was phased he was shaking. I didn't say anything to his words because while I loved Jacob, he couldn't stop me from doing this.
"I'm telling you because I am asking for your help Sam and Jacob", I said turning my attention from Jacob to Sam. "My pack is worn thin with one of our wolves' imprints in danger. Our land still must be protected, so I ask that we join forces for our people's sake to protect it…especially while these dangers are on the rise" Sam seemed to be mulling over what I had said.
"Of course, we'll help you Eyota!" cried out Seth and I smiled. Jacob gave out a small grunt from his enthusiasm.
"Yeah…sure", Leah agreed. Jacob let out another growl. I knew he wouldn't tell them what to do, it was his nature as Alpha but he pushed that part of himself away.
"I believe for the time being that would be best…we can create a schedule to have enough pack members on all the ground at all hours of the day until this is over", I nodded in thanks. I glanced slowly over to Jacob and he sighed.
"Alright…I agree to the packs working together for this", he didn't have a chance to push us out of his thoughts before he thought that him and I would be talking about me being at the Cullen home with all the vampires with only Johnny as back up.
I chose to ignore it for now, as I knew he'd bring it up later, so I nodded and gave a small smile to both of them.
"While I am spending my time at the Cullen home, if he agrees, I would like to have Kane as the acting Chief", I felt his surprise.
"Are you sure Chief?" he asked and I smiled nodding. "But Johnny is second in command", he mentioned.
"Yes, but I'm choosing you aren't I?" I told him telepathically.
"I'll do it, thank you Chief", he said after a moment of thought. I smiled and in reflex brushed my fingers through his fur. Only for a moment I believed everyone felt Jacob's flare of jealousy. No one seemed to mention it though.
"Thank you…all of you", I said. Slowly but surely all the wolves began to leave.
"Chief?" asked Jeremy and I glanced over at him. I ran my fingers through his fur.
"It's late and you all have school tomorrow…rest", I told him. They all glanced at me once before disappearing into the woods. I could feel Jacob behind me, I turned to find him back in his human form. I took a deep breath knowing this conversation probably wouldn't be very pretty.