Moonlight in Forks
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.
Humanity
The fire crackled, settling lower toward the sand. Sparks blew up in a sudden puff of brilliant orange against the black sky. Bella had not even noticed the sun had set. After being invited by Jacob and Billy to sit in on one of the Quileute tribal council meetings, she had completely lost track of time as she listened to Billy and another elder, Old Quil, recount the tribal legends.
Billy was a master storyteller, he had a rich, deep voice, something which Jacob had inherited from him. The words poured out of him with precision, as if they came straight from the heart, with feeling, and a subtle rhythm that drew his audience in, like poetry performed by its author. Never before had Bella recognized the ring of majesty that was in the older man's voice, though she realized now that this authority had always been there.
The whole pack was in attendance, including two surprising new members (besides Quil) that Bella had only just learned about, Leah and her younger brother Seth. Bella was shocked that the oldest Clearwater sibling had phased, but not as shocked as the tribal elders themselves. Never before in their history had there been a female shapeshifter. Leah was the first, an anomaly, an unknown quantity, which turned everything they had been taught by the old legends on its head.
As the talks came to end, Bella looked across the dying fire at Leah and Seth. Seth-his eyes wide with adulation for the fraternity of tribal protectors-looked around him in awe. On the other hand, Leah's eyes were closed. To Bella's dismay, she saw something sparkling on the other girl's cheek, almost like a tear. Leah quickly wiped it away with the back of her hand before anyone else noticed.
The glowing embers of the fire lit up Billy's face. He saw Bella looking in his direction and he smiled, seeming pleased to see her sitting by his son's side, with Jacob's arm about her. Jared flicked a small stone at Quil, making everyone laugh when he jumped. Low conversations murmured around Bella, teasing and casual. Slowly the magic of storytelling had faded along with Billy's voice, and now it was just a circle of friends again.
Jacob was so still beside Bella, his breathing so deep and even, that she wondered if he might be close to sleep. But when she looked up at him, his eyes seemed far away, as if he was reliving the legends in his mind. Bella's mind, too, drifted in the peaceful interlude now all the talking was done. She was not thinking of Yaha Uta or the other wolves, or the beautiful Cold Woman-she could picture her all too easily. No, she was thinking of someone outside of the magic altogether, as she tried to imagine the face of the unknown woman who had saved the entire tribe, the third wife.
The Third Wife was an ancient Quileute woman, who was the last wife of Taha Aki, and one of the most legendary people in her tribe known for her sacrifice for the tribe. After her son Yaha Uta killed the Cold Man, his mate, the Cold Woman, attacked the village in revenge. Yaha Uta attempted to stop her but was killed, leaving Taha Aki as the only spirit warrior left to defend the tribe. The Third Wife could see that he was losing the fight, and couldn't bear to see her husband die. She took one of her younger sons' knives and stabbed herself through the heart. The scent of her blood distracted the Cold Woman long enough for Taha Aki to destroy her. A number of her sons, who were enraged by her death, phased for the first time into wolves. Once the battle was won, Taha Aki lay in his wolf form by the Third Wife's body for three days, then vanished into the forest and was never seen or heard from again.
The third wife was just a human woman, with no special gifts or powers. Physically weaker and slower than the monsters in the story. But she had been the key, the solution. She'd saved her husband, her young sons, her tribe-and no one even knew her name.
Something shook her arm and she turned to find Jacob looking at her curiously, the dying embers of the fire reflected in his dark eyes. "What are you thinking about so hard?" He asked.
"I was just thinking, that sometimes, it's the most ordinary people who are able to do the most extraordinary things when the moment calls for it. That you don't need special gifts, strength, or beauty to be brave." Bella replied solemnly.
"Ah." Jacob guessed that she was thinking of the story of the third wife. Just by the thoughtful expression on her face, he could see that it had had a huge impact on her. "That's true." He agreed.
Up above, in every direction there was a star. Bella tilted her head, gazing upward, eyes more open than they could be in the fullness of day, not looking at one star, yet somehow seeing them all at once. It was beautiful.
"Thanks for inviting me tonight, Jake." She said, touched by all the beauty around her. "Really, that was… "Words failed her. "Wow. That was something else. I'll never forget it. I feel so privileged."
"I'm glad." Jacob broke out into one of his sunny smiles, warming her even more, despite the chill in the air now the fire was dying. "It was …nice for me. Having you here."
Bella, still tucked under his arm, nestled closer to him. "It was nice for me, too." She said sincerely, placing her hand over his in gratitude.
The next day, Bella woke up to gray skies and rain. One glance at her cell phone showed it was still early. She lay in bed, in which was once was the twins' old room. The whole house was silent, peaceful. She had experienced the most restful sleep she'd had in ages. No nightmares plagued her. Just sheer, blissful peace and contentment. She could get used to that.
After the bonfire, Jacob had to leave with his pack to go on patrol. He had walked her back to the house, pressing a warm kiss on her forehead before leaving. Bella presumed he must be back by now, was probably asleep in his room, like Billy was in his. She glanced at her cell again, it was only five o'clock, but she knew there was no going back to sleep.
Getting up, she pulled on her thick hoodie over her night clothes to ward off the cold, and walked down the hall, through the tiny living room, and on into the kitchen. "The least I can do is make breakfast for everyone as a thank you for last night." She decided.
So it was, that Billy and Jacob woke up to the delicious smell of soft pancakes and berries, as warm as they would be in the sun, maple syrup threaded upon the top. It was Jacob's favorite breakfast, yet it had nothing at all to do with the food. He loved it because it brought back happy memories of his mother, Sarah, standing barefoot in the same kitchen, whipping up the batter. It was odd how a certain smell, sensation or taste could provoke such intense emotions in that way, taking him back to a time when he felt so safe and loved.
There was a glimmer of moisture in not only Jacob's eyes but Billy's as well when Bella served up the delicious treat. "Thanks, honey." Jacob whispered, taking the plate of pancakes from Bella as if she was presenting him with the most precious gift.
"You're welcome." Bella was quite overcome by Jacob's reaction, having no idea of just how much the simple gesture had touched him and his father. "There's plenty more where they came from. So, tuck in."
Jacob smiled at her, before exchanging an emotional glance with his father. Billy was so overwhelmed, he couldn't speak, but like his son, he ate the pancakes with gusto, wiping away a few discreet tears as he did so.
It was back to school again. After the restful time she had spent in La Push with the Blacks, Bella could feel the tension creeping up on her again, now that she was back with the Cullens.
"I have foreseen…." Alice began in an ominous tone.
Edward threw an elbow toward his sister's ribs, which she neatly dodged.
"Fine." Alice grumbled. "Edward is making me do this. I did foresee that you would be difficult if I surprised you."
Bella felt dread overcome her. She felt sick to her stomach, wondering what the little psychic had in store for her. Not more dress up, surely? Alice had a tendency to use Bella like a live doll, insisting that she try on the latest fashions like some sort of clothes horse, something that Bella had no interest in at all.
They were walking to Edward's car after school. The ever-present rain matching Bella's sour mood.
"I don't want you to be a baby about this." Alice continued. "No tantrums."
"It would help if you tell me what this is all about?" Bella said grudgingly.
"So, you're-I mean we're-having a graduation party. It's no big thing. Nothing to freak over. But I saw that you would freak out if I made it a surprise party- "She danced out of the way as Edward reached over to muss her hair- "and Edward said I had to tell you. But its nothing. Promise."
"Your psychic powers must be on the blink." Bella answered curtly, fed up of being railroaded into things. There was no way she was going to attend a graduation party with everything that was going on. It was risky, not to mention dangerous and unnecessary. And she didn't feel in the mood for celebrating.
"What do you mean?" Alice sounded genuinely puzzled.
"There is not going to be any party, Alice. Or if there is, I won't be attending it." Bella continued in the same tone. "So whatever reaction you saw in your head must have been in your imagination only."
"Bella!" Edward scolded her gently when he took in Alice's crestfallen face. "I think you should apologize."
"Apologize for what?" Bella argued, getting more aggravated by the minute. "If she wants a party, let her have one. That doesn't mean I have to be a part of it, though." She stalked off toward the car, totally ignoring the shocked glances exchanged between brother and sister. They weren't used to her standing her ground quite so forcefully- a change they were both struggling to come to terms with.
It wasn't just the party that had Bella digging her heels in-it was the actual date. She felt like someone had kicked her legs from under her. The weeks of stress, of worry…somehow in the middle of all her obsessing over the time, the time had disappeared. Her space for sorting through it all, for making plans, had vanished like smoke in the wind. She was out of time.
And she realized for sure in that moment, she wasn't ready. She didn't want to do this. She didn't want to say goodbye to Charlie, to Renee…to Jacob….to being human.
Suddenly her humanity had become the most precious thing about her.
All this time Bella thought she knew exactly what she wanted, but now she was so close to getting it, she was terrified at the thought of it. "I don't want to be a vampire." She finally admitted to herself.
A/N-thanks for reading!