CHAPTER NOTES: This chapter is extra, extra long because I have included the Quileute legends as told by Billy Black and Old Quil at the bonfire, just as it is written in Eclipse. I typed it all out to include it originally for my mom who was reading my story, and she has seen the movies but not read the books. I am leaving it in here in case any of you have not ever read the books either (or if it's been a while) and you're interested in reading them. I have a lot of my own writing before they get into the legends and a few paragraphs at the end. I have indicated the section that is directly from the book with a full line of ****** at the start and end (I had to add the words 'start' and 'finish' to get the marker to stay), so if you'd like to skip reading that part, it will be easy for you to know what to scroll past. Some of the stuff right before the marker is a mix between me and the book.
CHAPTER 23
*****BELLA POV*****
We were in the car and on our way about thirty minutes later, a selection of blankets and pillows in the backseat with us to make sure I stayed comfortable and not sitting directly on the hard ground. We had to park just off the road and walk a little way to get to the clifftop. Well, Jake had to walk, carrying me through the forest.
As we pulled up, I saw Angela with Embry near the trees. They were talking and standing close together, but not touching.
Angela came over when she noticed us, Embry right behind her, both of them smiling wide. Jake set me down so I could give her a hug. He greeted Embry, punching him on the shoulder. Embry feigned like he was going to come after Jake, but he stopped short then looked down at me and smiled, aware of how that could hurt me if he knocked Jake away.
"Hi Bella," he said to me.
"Hey Embry."
Sam called Embry over to him then and I turned back to Angela.
"How're you doing Angela?"
"I'm good. I have this weird peace about everything. And Embry is very sweet and patient with all of my questions."
"I told you he was."
The walk to the cliff took about ten minutes. I saw Embry taking Angela's hand a few times to help her over some rough terrain since there wasn't a very good path. We got a little ahead of everyone else since Jake was carrying me and I wasn't slowing him down, but he went at a leisurely pace, so he didn't get too far ahead.
Before we even emerged from the trees, I could see the orange glow of the roaring bonfire burning bright and casting eerie shadows through the trees. Voices and laughter floated to us, coming from those who were already there. As soon as we came into view a young boy, who I assumed was Seth Clearwater, ran up to us.
"Hey Jake! I'm glad you were able to make it tonight. Your dad said he wasn't sure if you'd be able to. We miss running with you man, though we all understand why you can't right now. Is this Bella?"
"Hi Seth," Jake stopped to answer him, laughter in his voice at Seth's excited ramblings. "Yes, this is Bella. Bella, this is Seth Clearwater, our newest and most exuberant pack member."
"Hi Seth, it's good to meet you. Sorry I've been keeping Jake away from you guys." Seth was obviously a little enamored with Jake and excited to see him. He was still growing, and with his long, gangly build and huge, happy grin, he reminded me very much of a younger Jacob; the resemblance made me smile.
"Awe, no worries," Seth said. "You'll be back on your feet in no time and Jake'll be able to run with us again."
I felt a twinge of worry at the thought. I was desperate to get better and to not be a burden anymore, but that also meant Jake would be back out there, putting himself in danger all the time again, which I was not looking forward to.
Embry and Angela walked up next to us, holding hands now, followed closely by Sam and Emily.
As Embry was introducing Angela to Seth, I noticed a very beautiful girl who I did not recognize approaching us.
"Seth, quit being a pain and leave Jake alone," she said, pushing Seth's head to the side. "He already has his hands full, in case you didn't notice."
"Bella, this is Leah Clearwater, Seth's sister." Jake announced, sounding a little annoyed.
"Oh, hi Leah, it's nice—" I started, but she cut me off.
"Save it vampire girl… oh sorry, I guess you're a wolf girl now?" She had a hard edge to her tone and her eyes were tense and narrow. "Too bad you can't manage to keep the bloodsuckers away from you. And you can save the friendly act. You and I will never be friends. I don't trust you and you bring nothing but trouble for the whole pack."
Everyone around the fire had quieted and were watching us. Jake had gone completely still and rigid, and I just gaped in utter disbelief at her. I got the feeling that if it weren't for me needing him, Jake would have challenged her right then and there.
"Jeez Leah, what's your problem?" Embry said defensively. "Bella's never done anything to you."
She opened her mouth to say something else, but suddenly Sam was between us and her. "That's enough, Leah. Bella is a part of this family whether you like it or not, and I don't want to ever hear a comment like that toward her, or anyone else in this pack for that matter, ever again. Understood?"
Leah glared at Sam for a minute, looking like she might haul off and punch him, then she rolled her eyes and turned to walk away, mumbling "freaking leech-lover" under her breath as she went.
"Sorry Bella, that was mean and rude," Seth said, embarrassed for his sister's behavior.
"I'm sorry about that Bella," Sam said shaking his head. "That was completely uncalled for."
"It's okay," I said, "she's not completely wrong." I do still love the Cullens. And trouble did tend to follow me wherever I went. She had more reasons than most to hate them, and lots of reasons to be angry and bitter. Hopefully she would soften with time to heal from it all.
"It most certainly was not okay," Jake growled, still glaring after Leah.
I touched Jake's face with my fingertips, the cast getting in the way, coaxing him to look at me and he finally relented. "They were just words Jake… words from someone who is hurting. I have dealt with much worse," I said, waving my casted arm slightly.
"Doesn't make it right," he grumbled, but his tone and face had softened.
"Let's go get settled," Emily said, pulling lightly on Jake's elbow and turning to follow Sam heading toward the circle. Seth ran off to join his mom and sister and Jake walked after Emily with Embry and Angela right behind us.
Billy was situated in his wheelchair at what could be considered the natural head of the circle, that was maybe more of an oval, with Old Quil and Sue Clearwater in lawn chairs on either side of him. Sue had obviously taken her husband Harry's spot on the council after his death. Everyone else was sitting on the ground, calling out greetings as we walked past. Sam and Emily headed to where Old Quil was sitting, and Jake followed them. Sam sat on the ground near the old man's chair; as the Alpha he was the fourth elder of the council. Emily helped Jake get me settled, sitting between Jake's outstretched legs and leaning against his chest as usual, making sure I had plenty of cushioning between me and the ground, then sat between Sam and Jake. We were positioned in front of an outcropping of rocks that rose up for Jake to lean against.
Embry and Angela sat on the other side of Jake and I, and next to them were Jared and a girl I assumed was Kim. After Jake and I were settled, she got up and came over and knelt down in front of us, greeting Jake then introducing herself to me
"Hi, I'm Kim. You must be Bella." Her voice was quiet and timid.
"Hi Kim, it's nice to finally meet you."
"You too. Sam said you weren't feeling so good earlier, so I'm glad you were able to come tonight. Are you doing okay now? Can I get you anything?" Kindness and concern shone on her face, and she was very sincere in her offer. I liked her already.
I smiled at her warmly. "I'm feeling much better. And I'm fine for now but thank you for the offer."
"Okay, good. Just let me know if you need anything."
"Have you met Angela yet?" I asked her, gesturing toward Angela and she shook her head.
She turned to Angela. "It's nice to meet you, Angela. I'm Kim, and that's Jared," she said, pointing to her wolf-man who greeted Angela with a friendly wave.
Angela greeted both of them, then Kim moved to speak to Emily. I went around the circle, pointing everyone out to Angela and telling her who they all were. The four of us, Emily, Kim, Angela, and myself, chatted for a little while until the hotdogs and homemade skewers were brought out and everyone started roasting their dogs over the fire and eating.
I looked over at Angela. "You're about to witness something truly astounding!" Jake and several of the other guys laughed at my declaration.
"She's not kidding," Paul called from across the fire.
Jake and I couldn't reach the fire, so Emily, Angela, and Kim helped us out. I only had one hotdog and some chips, but I lost count of how many Jake ate… at least ten, plus possibly a whole bag of chips and most of a 2-liter of root beer—I think I had one cup out of it. It was absolutely incredible how much food these guys could put away.
"You weren't lying Bella!" Angela said quietly when everyone was mostly done eating. "How are they not all sick… or fat!?"
Embry and Jake laughed at her comment.
"Our metabolism is ridiculously amped up," Embry explained.
"It's just a wolf thing," Jake shrugged.
Each of the guys came over at some point to say hi and make sure I was doing okay. Apparently, everyone had heard about how much pain I was in earlier today. I don't think I have ever felt so loved and cared for in my entire life. They all made sure to meet Angela also.
I noticed Billy watching Jake and I at one point and he looked pleased with a joyful grin on his face. I hadn't really spent much time around him since Jake and I became an official couple, just a couple dinners at Emily's, but it seemed as though he approved as much as Charlie did.
The fire crackled, settling lower toward the sand, and sparks blew up in a sudden puff of radiant orange against the black sky. Leaning against Jake's super warm body, with the brilliance of the fire, and all the carefree banter, I hadn't even realized that the sun had set and the breeze coming off the water was much cooler. I was talking with Angela when I noticed her shiver, pulling at her jacket and wrapping her arms around herself.
"How are you not cold Bella?"
Embry, who had been talking with Jared, heard her, and looked over, uncertainty on his face.
"Well, one of the perks of being a wolf girl is having your own personal heater," I said, patting Jake's arm, and a laugh erupted out of him.
"Is that what I am to you?" he asked.
"Well, not only that. You're also great for reaching the top shelf and lifting heavy stuff."
Jake's laughter rang loudly, his eyes almost disappearing with his wide smile. It made my heart happy.
"Anyway," I turned back to Angela, "maybe no one has told you this part, but these guys run about 108 degrees. So as long as I'm next to Jake, I'm never cold. It's kinda crazy how much it radiates out from them."
Embry got up the courage to move closer to Angela then, sitting close enough for their arms to touch and her eyebrows went up as she looked over at him.
"Wow, that is warm! I noticed your hands being warm earlier but didn't think too much of it since we were walking."
He put his arm around her then. "Is this okay?" he asked.
She shivered and scooted a little closer to him. "Yes, that does feel much better… it feels nice." Looking up at him their eyes met his gaze held so much adoration it caused Angela to blush.
I looked away to give them their moment and laid my head against Jake's chest again, sighing contentedly. After a few minutes resting cozy against Jake's overly warm body, despite my best efforts, my eyelids started to get heavy, and I drifted in the world between sleep and wakefulness.
Jake shifted forward slightly, making me sit up a little straighter, his knee bent for extra support. He brushed my hair back so he could whisper in my ear. "Don't poop out on me yet Bells. The best part is just about to start." As he spoke his lips brushed against the shell of my ear and his hot breath flowed across my cheek and neck, making me shiver. He nuzzled my ear with his nose and then kissed my neck, making me gasp quietly and my heart kicked into a higher gear, helping me come out of my sleepy haze. I turned my face to him, and he kissed me gently.
"I'm definitely awake now," I whispered, and heard a couple light chuckles from around the fire. Sometimes it stunk being around those with super-senses, but I realized I didn't care one bit that they knew how I responded to Jake. "So, what's the best part?"
Jake answered quietly, even though most of the ears around the fire were sensitive enough to hear him, "Well, we didn't just meet to eat through a week's worth of food. This is technically a council meeting. It's Quil's first time, and Seth, Leah, and Kim… at least the first time for them to hear the stories since finding out that they're all true. Tends to make you pay closer attention."
"Stories?"
"The histories we always thought were legends," he said, speaking low into my ear again. "The stories of how we came to be. The first is the story of the spirit warriors."
It was almost as if Jacob's soft whisper was the introduction. The atmosphere changed abruptly around the low-burning fire. Paul and Quil sat up straighter. Jared nudged Kim, who had also started to drift off, and then pulled her gently upright. Embry whispered something to Angela, who was now relaxed against his side, and she lifted her head from where it had been resting against him.
*****START****************************************************************************************************START*****
Emily produced a spiral-bound notebook and a pen, continuing to work to get all the legends and stories recorded in writing.
Leah closed her eyes—not like she was tired, but as if to help her concentration. Her brother leaned in toward the elders eagerly.
Everyone had quieted and you could hear the distant crash of the waves against the cliffs below. The fire crackled, sending another explosion of sparks glittering up against the night.
Billy cleared his throat, and, with no more introduction than his son's whisper, began telling the story in his rich, deep voice. The words poured out with precision, as if he knew them by heart, but also with feeling and a subtle rhythm. Like poetry performed by its author.
"The Quileutes have been a small people from the beginning," Billy said. "And we are a small people still, but we have never disappeared. This is because there has always been magic in our blood. It wasn't always the magic of shape-shifting—that came later. First, we were spirit warriors."
Never before had I recognized the ring of majesty that was in Billy Black's voice, though I realized now that this authority had always been there.
Emily's pen sprinted across the sheets of paper as she tried to keep up with him.
"In the beginning, the tribe settled in this harbor and became skilled ship builders and fishermen. But the tribe was small, and the harbor was rich in fish. There were others who coveted our land, and we were too small to hold it. A larger tribe moved against us, and we took to our ships to escape them.
"Kaheleha was not the first spirit warrior, but we do not remember the stories that came before his. We do not remember who was the first to discover this power, or how it had been used before this crisis. Kaheleha was the first great Spirit Chief in our history. In this emergency, Kaheleha used the magic to defend our land.
"He and all his warriors left the ship—not their bodies, but their spirits. Their women watched over the bodies and the waves, and the men took their spirits back to our harbor.
"They could not physically touch the enemy tribe, but they had other ways. The stories tell us that they could blow fierce winds into their enemy's camps; they could make a great screaming in the wind that terrified their foes. The stories also tell us that the animals could see the spirit warriors and understand them; the animals would do their bidding.
"Kaheleha took his spirit army and wreaked havoc on the intruders. This invading tribe had packs of big, thick-furred dogs that they used to pull their sleds in the frozen north. The spirit warriors turned the dogs against their masters and then brought a mighty infestation of bats up from the cliff caverns. They used the screaming wind to aid the dogs in confusing the men. The dogs and bats won. The survivors scattered, calling our harbor a cursed place. The dogs ran wild when the spirit warriors released them. The Quileutes returned to their bodies and their wives, victorious.
"The other nearby tribes, the Hohs and the Makahs, made treaties with the Quileutes. They wanted nothing to do with our magic. We lived in peace with them. When an enemy came against us, the spirit warriors would drive them off.
"Generations passed. Then came the last great Spirit Chief, Taha Aki. He was known for his wisdom, and for being a man of peace. The people lived well and content in his care.
"But there was one man, Utlapa, who was not content."
A low hiss ran around the fire. I was too slow to see where it came from. Billy ignored it and went on with the legend.
"Utlapa was one of Chief Taha Aki's strongest spirit warriors—a powerful man, but a grasping man, too. He thought the people should use their magic to expand their lands, to enslave the Hohs and the Makahs and build an empire.
"Now, when the warriors were their spirit selves, they knew each other's thoughts. Taha Aki saw what Utlapa dreamed, and was angry with Utlapa. Utlapa was commanded to leave the people, and never use his spirit self again. Utlapa was a strong man, but the chief's warriors outnumbered him. He had no choice but to leave. The furious outcast hid in the forest nearby, waiting for a chance to get revenge against the chief.
"Even in times of peace, the Spirit Chief was vigilant in protecting his people. Often, he would go to a sacred, secret place in the mountains. He would leave his body behind and sweep down through the forests and along the coast, making sure no threat approached.
"One day when Taha Aki left to perform this duty, Utlapa followed. At first, Utlapa simply planned to kill the chief, but this plan had its drawbacks. Surely the spirit warriors would seek to destroy him, and they could follow faster than he could escape. As he hid in the rocks and watched the chief prepare to leave his body, another plan occurred to him.
"Taha Aki left his body in the secret place and flew with the winds to keep watch over his people. Utlapa waited until he was sure the chief had traveled some distance with his spirit self.
"Taha Aki knew it the instant that Utlapa had joined him in the spirit world, and he also knew Utlapa's murderous plan. He raced back to his secret place, but even the winds weren't fast enough to save him. When he returned, his body was already gone. Utlapa's body lay abandoned, but Utlapa had not left Taha Aki with an escape—he had cut his own body's throat with Taha Aki's hands.
"Taha Aki followed his body down the mountain. He screamed at Utlapa, but Utlapa ignored him as if he were mere wind.
"Taha Aki watched with despair as Utlapa took his place as chief of the Quileutes. For a few weeks, Utlapa did nothing but make sure that everyone believed he was Taha Aki. Then the changes began—Utlapa's first edict was to forbid any warrior to enter the spirit world. He claimed that he'd had a vision of danger, but really he was afraid. He knew that Taha Aki would be waiting for the chance to tell his story. Utlapa was also afraid to enter the spirit world himself, knowing Taha Aki would quickly claim his body. So, his dreams of conquest with a spirit warrior army were impossible, and he sought to content himself with ruling over the tribe. He became a burden—seeking privileges that Taha Aki had never requested, refusing to work alongside his warriors, taking a young second wife and then a third, though Taha Aki's wife lived on—something unheard of in the tribe. Taha Aki watched in helpless fury.
"Eventually, Taha Aki tried to kill his body to save the tribe from Utlapa's excesses. He brought a fierce wolf down from the mountains, but Utlapa hid behind his warriors. When the wolf killed a young man who was protecting the false chief, Taha Aki felt horrible grief. He ordered the wolf away.
"All the stories tell us that it was no easy thing to be a spirit warrior. It was more frightening than exhilarating to be freed from one's body. This is why they only used their magic in times of need. The chief's solitary journeys to keep watch were a burden and a sacrifice. Being bodiless was disorienting, uncomfortable, horrifying. Taha Aki had been away from his body for so long at this point that he was in agony. He felt he was doomed—never to cross over to the final land where his ancestors waited, stuck in this torturous nothingness forever.
"The great wolf followed Taha Aki's spirit as he twisted and writhed in agony through the woods. The wolf was very large for its kind, and beautiful. Taha Aki was suddenly jealous of the dumb animal. At least it had a body. At least it had a life. Even life as an animal would be better than this horrible empty consciousness.
"And then Taha Aki had the idea that changed us all. He asked the great wolf to make room for him, to share. The wolf complied. Taka Aki entered the wolf's body with relief and gratitude. It was not his human body, but it was better than the void of the spirit world.
"As one, the man and the wolf returned to the village on the harbor. The people ran in fear, shouting for the warriors to come. The warriors ran to meet the wolf with their spears. Utlapa, of course, stayed safely hidden.
"Taha Aki did not attack his warriors. He retreated slowly from them, speaking with his eyes and trying to yelp the songs of his people. The warriors began to realize that the wolf was no ordinary animal, that there was a spirit influencing it. One older warrior, a man name Yut, decided to disobey the false chief's order and try to communicate with the wolf.
"As soon as Yut crossed to the spirit world, Taha Aki left the wolf—the animal waited tamely for his return—to speak to him. Yut gathered the truth in an instant and welcomed his true chief home.
"At this time, Utlapa came to see if the wolf had been defeated. When he saw Yut lying lifeless on the ground, surrounded by protective warriors, he realized what was happening. He drew his knife and raced forward to kill Yut before he could return to his body.
"'Traitor,' he screamed, and the warriors did not know what to do. The chief had forbidden spirit journeys, and it was the chief's decision how to punish those who disobeyed.
"Yut jumped back into his body, but Utlapa had his knife at his throat and a hand covering his mouth. Taha Aki's body was strong, and Yut was weak with age. Yut could not say even one word to warn the others before Utlapa silenced him forever.
"Taha Aki watched as Yut's spirit slipped away to the final lands that were barred to Taha Aki for all eternity. He felt a great rage, more powerful than anything he'd felt before. He entered the big wolf again, meaning to rip Utlapa's throat out. But, as he joined the wolf, the greatest magic happened.
"Taha Aki's anger was the anger of a man. The love he had for his people and the hatred he had for their oppressor were too vast for the wolf's body, too human. The wolf shuddered, and—before the eyes of the shocked warriors and Utlapa—transformed into a man.
"The new man did not look like Taha Aki's body. He was far more glorious. He was the flesh interpretation of Taha Aki's spirit. The warriors recognized him at once, though, for they had flown with Taha Aki's spirit.
"Utlapa tried to run, but Taha Aki had the strength of the wolf in his new body. He caught the thief and crushed the spirit from him before he could jump out of the stolen body.
"The people rejoiced when they understood what had happened. Taha Aki quickly set everything right, working again with his people and giving the young wives back to their families. The only change he kept in place was the end of the spirit travels. He knew that it was too dangerous now that the idea of stealing a life was there. The spirit warriors were no more.
"From that point on, Taha Aki was more than either wolf or man. They called him Taha Aki the Great Wolf, or Taha Aki the Spirit Man. He led the tribe for many, many years, for he did not age. When danger threatened, he would resume his wolf-self to fight or frighten the enemy. The people dwelt in peace. Taha Aki fathered many sons, and some of these found that, after they had reached the age of manhood, they, too, could transform into wolves. The wolves were all different, because they were spirit wolves and reflected the man they were inside."
"So that's why Sam is all black," Quil muttered under his breath, grinning. "Black heart, black fur."
I was so involved in the story, it was a shock to come back to the present, to the circle around the dying fire. With another shock, I realized that the circle was made up of Taha Aki's great—to however many degrees—grandsons.
The fire threw a volley of sparks into the sky, and they shivered and danced, making shapes that were almost decipherable.
"And your chocolate fur reflects what?" Sam whispered back to Quil. "How sweet you are?"
Billy ignored their jibes. "Some of the sons became warriors with Taha Aki, and they no longer aged. Others, who did not like the transformation, refused to join the pack of wolf-men. These began to age again, and the tribe discovered that the wolf-men could grow old like anyone else if they gave up their spirit wolves. Taha Aki had lived the span of three old men's lives. He had married a third wife after the deaths of the first two, and found in her his true spirit wife. Though he had loved the others, this was something else. He decided to give up his spirit wolf so that he would die when she did.
"That is how the magic came to us, but it is not the end of the story…"
He looked at Old Quil Ateara, who shifted in his chair, straightening his frail shoulders. Billy took a drink from a bottle of water and wiped his forehead. Emily's pen never hesitated as she scribbled furiously on the paper.
"That was the story of the spirit warriors," Old Quil began in a thin tenor voice. "This is the story of the third wife's sacrifice.
"Many years after Taha Aki gave up his spirit wolf, when he was an old man, trouble began in the north, with the Makahs. Several young women of their tribe had disappeared, and they blamed it on the neighboring wolves, who they feared and mistrusted. The wolf-men could still read each other's thoughts while in their wolf forms, just like their ancestors had while in their spirit forms. They knew that none of their number was to blame. Taha Aki tried to pacify the Makah chief, but there was too much fear. Taha Aki did not want to have a war on his hands. He was no longer a warrior to lead his people. He charged his oldest wolf-son, Taha Wi, with finding the true culprit before hostilities began.
"Taha Wi led the five other wolves in his pack on a search through the mountains, looking for any evidence of the missing Makahs. They came across something they had never encountered before—a strange, sweet scent in the forest that burned their noses to the point of pain."
I shrank a little closer to Jacob. His arms tightened around me, and he pressed a kiss to the top of my head then rested his cheek there.
"They did not know what creature would leave such a scent, but they followed it," Old Quil continued. His quavering voice did not have the majesty of Billy's, but it had a strange, fierce edge of urgency about it. My pulse jumped as his words came faster.
"They found faint traces of human scent, and human blood, along the trail. They were sure this was the enemy they were searching for.
"The journey took them so far north that Taha Wi sent half the pack, the younger ones, back to the harbor to report to Taha Aki.
"Taha Wi and his two brothers did not return.
"The younger brothers searched for their elders, but found only silence. Taha Aki mourned for his sons. He wished to avenge his sons' death, but he was old. He went to the Makah chief in his mourning clothes and told him everything that had happened. The Makah chief believed his grief, and tensions ended between the tribes.
"A year later, two Makah maidens disappeared from their homes on the same night. The Makahs called on the Quileute wolves at once, who found the same sweet stink all through the Makah village. The wolves went on the hunt again.
"Only one came back. He was Yaha Uta, the oldest son of Taha Aki's third wife, and the youngest in the pack. He brought something with him that had never been seen in all the days of the Quileutes—a strange, cold, stony corpse that he carried in pieces. All who were of Taha Aki's blood, even those who had never been wolves, could smell the piercing smell of the dead creature. This was the enemy of the Makahs.
"Yaha Uta described what had happened: he and his brothers had found the creature, who looked like a man but was hard as a granite rock, with the two Makah daughters. One girl was already dead, white and bloodless on the ground. The other was in the creature's arms, his mouth at her throat. She may have been alive when they came upon the hideous scene, but the creature quickly snapped her neck and tossed her lifeless body to the ground when they approached. His white lips were covered in her blood, and his eyes glowed red.
"Yaha Uta described the fierce strength and speed of the creature. One of his brothers quickly became a victim when he underestimated that strength. The creature ripped him apart like a doll. Yaha Uta and his other brother were more wary. They worked together, coming at the creature from the sides, outmaneuvering it. They had to reach the very limits of their wolf strength and speed, something that had never been tested before. The creature was hard as stone and cold as ice. They found that only their teeth could damage it. They began to rip small pieces of the creature apart while it fought them.
"But the creature learned quickly, and soon was matching their maneuvers. It got its hands on Yaha Uta's brother. Yaha Uta found an opening on the creature's throat, and he lunged. His teeth tore the head off the creature, but the hands continued to mangle his brother.
"Yaha Uta ripped the creature into unrecognizable chunks, tearing pieces apart in a desperate attempt to save his brother. He was too late, but, in the end, the creature was destroyed.
"Or so they thought. Yaha Uta laid the reeking remains out to be examined by the elders. One severed hand lay beside a piece of the creature's granite arm. The two pieces touched when the elders poked them with sticks, and the hand reached out towards the arm piece, trying to reassemble itself.
"Horrified, the elders set fire to the remains. A great cloud of choking, vile smoke polluted the air. When there was nothing but ashes, they separated the ashes into many small bags and spread them far and wide—some in the ocean, some in the forest, some in the cliff caverns. Taha Aki wore one bag around his neck, so he would be warned if the creature ever tried to put himself together again."
Old Quil paused and looked at Billy. Billy pulled out a leather thong from around his neck. Hanging from the end was a small bag, blackened with age. A few people gasped. I might have been one of them.
"They called it The Cold One, the Blood Drinker, and lived in fear that it was not alone. They only had one wolf protector left, young Yaha Uta.
"They did not have long to wait. The creature had a mate, another blood drinker, who came to the Quileutes seeking revenge.
"The stories say that the Cold Woman was the most beautiful thing human eyes had ever seen. She looked like the goddess of the dawn when she entered the village that morning; the sun was shining for once, and it glittered off her white skin and lit the golden hair that flowed down to her knees. Her face was magical in its beauty, her eyes black in her white face. Some fell to their knees to worship her.
"She asked something in a high, piercing voice, in a language no one had ever heard. The people were dumbfounded, not knowing how to answer her. There was none of Taha Aki's blood among the witnesses but one small boy. He clung to his mother and screamed that the smell was hurting his nose. One of the elders, on his way to council, heard the boy and realized what had come among them. He yelled for the people to run. She killed him first.
"There were twenty witnesses to the Cold Woman's approach. Two survived, only because she grew distracted by the blood, and paused to sate her thirst. They ran to Taha Aki, who sat in counsel with the other elders, his sons, and his third wife.
"Yaha Uta transformed into his spirit wolf as soon as he heard the news. He went to destroy the blood drinker alone. Taha Aki, his third wife, his sons, and his elders followed behind him.
"At first, they could not find the creature, only the evidence of her attack. Bodies lay broken, a few drained of blood, strewn across the road where she'd appeared. Then they heard the screams and hurried to the harbor.
"A handful of the Quileutes had run to the ships for refuge. She swam after them like a shark and broke the bow of their boat with her incredible strength. When the ship sank, she caught those trying to swim away and broke them, too.
"She saw the great wolf on the shore, and she forgot the fleeing swimmers. She swam so fast she was a blur and came, dripping and glorious, to stand before Yaha Uta. She pointed at him with one white finger and asked another incomprehensible question. Yaha Uta waited.
"It was a close fight. She was not the warrior her mate had been. But Yaha Uta was alone—there was no one to distract her fury from him.
"When Yaha Uta lost, Taha Aki screamed in defiance. He limped forward and shifted into an ancient, white-muzzled wolf. The wolf was old, but this was Taha Aki the Spirit Man, and his rage made him strong. The fight began again.
"Taha Aki's third wife had just seen her son die before her. Now her husband fought, and she had no hope that he could win. She'd heard every word the witnesses to the slaughter had told the council. She'd heard the story of Yaha Uta's first victory, and knew that his brother's diversion had saved him.
"The third wife grabbed a knife from the belt of one of the sons who stood beside her. They were all young sons, not yet men, and she knew they would die when their father failed.
"The third wife ran toward the Cold Woman with the dagger raised high. The Cold Woman smiled, barely distracted from her fight with the old wolf. She had no fear of the weak human woman or the knife that would not even scratch her skin, and she was about to deliver the death blow to Taha Aki.
"And then the third wife did something the Cold Woman did not expect. She fell to her knees at the blood drinker's feet and plunged the knife into her own heart.
"Blood spurted through the third wife's fingers and splashed against the Cold Woman. The blood drinker could not resist the lure of the fresh blood leaving the third wife's body. Instinctively, she turned to the dying woman, for one second entirely consumed by thirst.
"Taha Aki's teeth closed around her neck.
"That was not the end of the fight, but Taha Aki was not alone now. Watching their mother die, two young sons felt such rage that they sprang forth as their spirit wolves, though they were not yet men. With their father, they finished the creature.
"Taha Aki never rejoined the tribe. He never changed back to a man again. He lay for one day beside the body of the third wife, growling whenever anyone tried to touch her, and then he went into the forest and never returned.
"Trouble with the cold ones was rare from that time on. Taha Aki's sons guarded the tribe until their sons were old enough to take their places. There were never more than three wolves at a time. It was enough. Occasionally a blood drinker would come through these lands, but they were taken by surprise, not expecting the wolves. Sometimes a wolf would die, but never were they decimated again like that first time. They'd learned how to fight the cold ones, and they passed the knowledge on, wolf mind to wolf mind, spirit to spirit, father to son.
"Time passed, and the descendants of Taha Aki no longer became wolves when they reached manhood. Only in a great while, if a cold one was near, would the wolves return. The cold ones always came in ones and twos, and the pack stayed small.
"A bigger coven came, and your own great-grandfathers prepared to fight them off. But the leader spoke to Ephraim Black as if he were a man and promised not to harm the Quileutes. His strange yellow eyes gave some proof to his claim that they were not the same as other blood drinkers. The wolves were outnumbered; there was no need for the cold ones to offer a treaty when they could have won the fight. Ephraim accepted. They've stayed true to their side, though their presence does tend to draw in others.
"And their numbers have forced a larger pack than the tribe has ever seen. Except, of course, in Taha Aki's time," he said, and then he sighed. "And so, the sons of our tribe again carry the burden and share the sacrifice their fathers endured before them."
All was silent for a long moment. The living descendants of magic and legend stared at one another across the fire with sadness in their eyes. All but one.
"Burden," he scoffed in a low voice. "I think it's cool." Quil's full lower lip pouted out a little bit.
Across the dying fire, Seth Clearwater—his eyes wide with adulation for the fraternity of tribal protectors—nodded his agreement.
Billy chuckled, low and long, and the magic seemed to fade into the glowing embers. Suddenly, it was just a circle of friends again. Jared flicked a small stone at Quil, and everyone laughed when it made him jump. Low conversations murmured around us, teasing and casual.
*****FINISH**************************************************************************************************FINISH*****
Neither Jacob nor I spoke, and Sam and Emily were both quiet as well. I looked around at each face gathered there, coming to Emily last and lingering on her. She seemed to be doing the same thing I had, glancing around the circle of our family, eventually reaching me, our eyes mirror images of worry and sadness for the danger our wolf-men were compelled to put themselves in. We reached out and grasped each other's hand, holding tight. My Jacob was safe for now, his priorities temporarily shifted, but that would not last forever.
It occurred to me just how precious this family had become to me and that this worry went beyond Jacob. Something had shifted in me tonight and I felt a burden for the welfare of the entire pack press in on me; I knew this was significant somehow, though I didn't understand it. Kim and Angela didn't seem to feel it, and they with Emily were the only true imprints. Emily was the Alpha's imprint, so that would possibly make sense for her to feel it. I wasn't even a member of the tribe… I was just a pale-face outsider who happened to fall in love with a pack member.
For whatever reason, Emily and I shared that burden now, and I could see that she was glad she didn't have to carry it alone anymore.
Without saying anything, Sam and Jake nodded to each other, and Jake shifted me around so he could cradle me and stood up. I said goodnight to Angela while we waited for Sam and Emily to gather the pillows and blankets and started walking back to the car.
As Jake carried me through the forest, I was growing sleepy again. The moonlight flashing through the canopy of shadowy trees mesmerized me, and there were two things that circled around in my mind.
The first was Ephraim Black, the Alpha from the last pack who had made the treaty with the Cullens. I kept thinking there was some significance to him that somehow affected me and my life, but it made no sense how something about him could be connected to me.
The other was someone outside the magic altogether. I was trying to imagine the face of the unnamed woman who had saved the entire tribe, the third wife. Just a human woman, with no special gifts or powers. Physically weaker and slower than any of the monsters in the story. But she had been the key, the solution. She'd saved her husband, her young sons, her tribe.
I wish they'd remembered her name…
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