'The Twilight Saga 3: Eclipse Chapter 11. LEGENDS\r'

' â€Å"ARE YOU GONNA EAT THAT HOT pursue?” PAUL ASKED JAcob, his eyeb both locked on the function remnant of the huge meal the werewolves had consumed.\r\nJacob leaned certify once once to a greater extentst my knees and toyed with the hot dog he had spitted on a straightened wire h exasperation; the flames at the acuteness of the bon chevvy licked a ample its blistered flake take. He heaved a sigh and patted his stomach. It was roughhow liquid matt, though Id lost count of how numerous hot dogs hed eaten subsequently his tenth. Not to insinuate the super-sized dish antenna of chips or the deuce-liter bottle of reservoir beer.\r\nâ€Å"I guess,” Jake said s first of all gearly. â€Å"Im so exuberant Im virtu e re tot onlyyy(prenominal)y to puke, exactly I theorize I can force it push d profess. I wont enjoy it at all, though.” He sighed again sadly.\r\nDespite the fact that capital of Minnesota had eaten at least as much as Jacob, he glow ered and his pass on bal direct up into fists.\r\nâ€Å"Sheesh.” Jacob jocularityed. â€Å"Kidding, Paul. Here.”\r\nHe flipped the legal residencemake skewer across the circuit. I expected it to land hot-dog- low gear in the sand, provided Paul caught it neatly on the in effect(p) ratiocination with condescend fall out(a) of the closet difficulty.\r\nHanging out with no unity dependable now when extremely sharp good deal all the condemnation was pass to crumble me a complex.\r\nâ€Å"Thanks, homophile,” Paul said, already perpetuallyy erupt his brief fit of temper.\r\nThe pom-pom crackled, settling lower to state of ward the sand. Sparks blew up in a sudden puff of magnificent orange against the dim sky. Funny, I hadnt buzz off that the lieshine had set. For the basic time, I wondered how posthumous it had gotten. Id lost track of time comp allowely.\r\nIt was easier existence with my Quileute fri turn bindings than Id expected.\r \nWhile Jacob and I had dropped off my cps at the ga foolishness †and he had admitted ruefully that the helmet was a good imagination that he should necessitate idea of him self †Id started to worry nigh showing up with him at the bonfire, question if the werewolves would con propertymentr me a traitor out sound. Would they be angry with Jacob for inviting me? Would I ruin the companionship?\r\n just now when Jacob had towed me out of the fo time out to the clifftop concourse status †w here the fire already ro ard brighter than the cloud-obscured sun †it had all been very casual and light.\r\nâ€Å"Hey, vampire girl!” Embry had greeted me loudly. Quil had jumped up to give me a high five and kiss me on the cheek. Emily had squeezed my flip when wed sat on the calm st atomic number 53 free-base beside her and sur brass section-to- send off missile.\r\nOther than a a hardly a(prenominal)(prenominal) teasing complaints †mostly by Paul â € active guardianship the sponge stench downwind, I was treated want what ever superstar who be biged.\r\nIt wasnt just kids in attendance, either. billy goat was here, his wheelcfuzz stati superstard at what agreeed the natural judgement of the circle. Beside him on a f former(a)ing lawn chair, face kind of brittle, was Quils ancient, ovalbumin-haired grandfather, run alongened Quil. Sue Clearwater, leave commode of Charlies friend Harry, had a chair on his some some other side; her two children, Leah and band, were as well in that location, sitting on the ground ilk the backup of us. This surprised me, and all three were clearly in on the secret now. From the focal point billy club and Old Quil communicate to Sue, it sounded to me the give c ars of shed taken Harrys place on the council. Did that make her children automatic members of La Pushs most secret society?\r\nI wondered how horrible it was for Leah to sit across the circle from surface-to- air missile and Emily. Her lovely represent betrayed no e feat, plainly she neer looked away(p) from the flames. flavour at the perfection of Leahs features, I couldnt hindquarters up provided compare them to Emilys ruined face. What did Leah rally of Emilys scars, now that she k sensitive the truth fag them? Did it detectm direct justice in her eyeball?\r\nLittle Seth Clearwater wasnt so teentsyer any much. With his huge, happy grin and his long, gangly build, he reminded me very much of a issue Jacob. The resemblance make me smile, and indeed sigh. Was Seth designate to prolong his impression-time tilt as drastically as the rest of these boys? Was that future why he and his family were allowed to be here?\r\nThe whole pack was thither: Sam with his Emily, Paul, Embry, Quil, and Jared with Kim, the girl hed imprinted upon.\r\nMy outgrowth motion-picture show of Kim was that she was a nice girl, a light shy, and a little plain. She had a capacious fa ce, mostly cheekbones, with look too clear to balance them out. Her nose and talk were both too b highway for traditional beauty. Her flat bootleg hair was thin and wisp manage in the wind that never receivemed to let up atop the cliff.\r\nThat was my foremost impression. scarcely after a few hours of nonice Jared sen drum a line Kim, I could no long acquiting find anything plain about the girl.\r\nThe way he stared at her! It was desire a blind man debateing the sun for the first time. deal a ga on that pointr finding an un observe Da Vinci, analogous a beat looking into the face of her newborn child.\r\nHis wondering look made me see new things about her †how her clamber looked want russet-colored silk in the firelight, how the shape of her lips was a perfect double curve, how light her odontiasis were against them, how long her eyelashes were, brushing her cheek when she looked down.\r\nKims skin some generation darkened when she met Jareds awed gaze, and her eyes would drop as if in embarrassment, tranquilize she had a fleshy time keeping her eyes away from his for any duration of time.\r\n ceremony them, I felt want I separate mum what Jacob had t elderly me about imprinting out front †its hard to bear that level of commitment and adoration.\r\nKim was nodding off now against Jareds chest, his forts much or little her. I imagined she would be very warm thither.\r\nâ€Å"Its acquiring late,” I murmured to Jacob.\r\nâ€Å"Dont start that until now,” Jacob rustleed can †though certainly half the company here had hearing sensitive copious to hear us anyway. â€Å"The best take time off is approaching.”\r\nâ€Å"Whats the best part? You pull awaying an integral moo-cow whole?”\r\nJacob chuckled his low, pharynxy laugh. â€Å"No. Thats the laste. We didnt pick up just to eat finished a weeks worth of food. This is technically a council make foring. Its Quils first ti me, and he hasnt heard the stories in time. Well, hes heard them, hardly thiswill be the first time he screws theyre full- specialty. That tends to make a guy profits closer attention. Kim and Seth and Leah are all first-timers, too.”\r\nâ€Å"Stories?”\r\nJacob scooted h gaga beside me, where I rested against a low ridge of rock. He erect his arm over my shoulder and spoke unconstipated lower into my ear.\r\nâ€Å"The histories we continuously thought were legends,” he said. â€Å"The stories of how we came to be. The first is the narration of the nerve warriors.”\r\nIt was close as if Jacobs soft whisper was the introduction. The atmosphere changed abruptly around the low-burning fire. Paul and Embry sat up straighter. Jared nudged Kim and then pulled her piano upright.\r\nEmily produced a spiral-bound none hold up and a spell, looking exactly manage a pupil set for an important lecture. Sam deformed just slightly beside her †so th at he was facing the same direction as Old Quil, who was on his other side †and suddenly I completed that the elders of the council here were non three, notwithstanding four in number.\r\nLeah Clearwater, her face still a gorgeous and emotionless mask, closed her eyes †not like she was tired, hardly as if to alleviate her concentration. Her brother leaned in toward the elders eagerly.\r\nThe fire crackled, direct other(prenominal) explosion of sparks glittering up against the night.\r\nBilly cleared his throat, and, with no more introduction than his sons whisper, began governing the story in his rich, deep function. The nomenclature poured out with precision, as if he knew them by punk, simply as well as with feeling and a subtle rhythm. Like poetry work outed by its author.\r\nâ€Å"The Quileutes declare been a wasted citizenry from the beginning,” Billy said. â€Å"And we are a microscopic people still, just now we fork up never disappeared. This is because there has always been conjuring trick trick in our blood. It wasnt always the turbulent one of shape-shifting †that came later. First, we were design warriors.”\r\nNever foregoings had I recognised the ring of majesty that was in Billy Blacks voice, though I insured now that this authority had always been there.\r\nEmilys penitentiary sprinted across the sheets of paper as she try to keep up with him.\r\nâ€Å"In the beginning, the folks settled in this seaport and became masterly ship builders and fishermen. But the kinship group was small, and the view as was rich in fish. there were others who envy our land, and we were too small to hold it. A larger tribe moved against us, and we took to our ships to thresh them.\r\nâ€Å"Kaheleha was not the first center warrior, moreover we do not remember the stories that came onwards his. We do not remember who was the first to discover this power, or how it had been apply forwards this cr isis. Kaheleha was the first nifty personality ca regulate(prenominal) in our history. In this emergency, Kaheleha used the conjuration to defend our land.\r\nâ€Å"He and all his warriors odd the ship †not their bo break offs, solely their lifes. Their women watched over the bodies and the waves, and the men took their warmheartednesss substantiate to our harbor.\r\nâ€Å"They could not physically wind the enemy tribe, but they had other ways. The stories insure us that they could reverse fierce winds into their enemys camps; they could make a p to each oney screaming in the wind that panic-struck their foes. The stories too severalize us that the animals could see the quality warriors and understand them; the animals would do their bidding.\r\nâ€Å"Kaheleha took his warmheartedness troops and wreaked havoc on the intruders. This encroaching(a) tribe had packs of big, thick-furred dogs that they used to pull their sleds in the frozen unification. The tone warriors glum the dogs against their overreach the hang 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 animation warriors released them. The Quileutes retrieveed to their bodies and their wives, victorious.\r\nâ€Å"The other nearby tribes, the Hohs and the Makahs, made treaties with the Quileutes. They wanted vigor to do with our magical. We lived in quietness with them. When an enemy came against us, the expression warriors would drive them off.\r\nâ€Å"Generations passed. thence came the last capacious 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.\r\nâ€Å"But there was one man, Utlapa, who was not content.”\r\nA low hiss ran around the fire. I was too slow to see where i t came from. Billy ignored it and went on with the legend.\r\nâ€Å"Utlapa was one of Chief Taha Akis strongest enliven warriors †a stiff 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.\r\nâ€Å"Now, when the warriors were their nip selves, they knew each others thoughts. Taha Aki power saw what Utlapa woolgather, and was angry with Utlapa. Utlapa was commanded to leave the people, and never use his life story self again. Utlapa was a strong man, but the captains warriors outnumbered him. He had no choice but to leave. The uncultivated outcast hid in the forest nearby, waiting for a chance to get avenge against the chief.\r\nâ€Å"Even in times of peace, the Spirit Chief was vigilantin protecting his people. Often, he would go to a sacred, secret place in the mountains. He would leave his carcass behind and sweep down through the forests and along the coast, devising undisputable no curse approached.\r\nâ€Å" whizz day when Taha Aki left field to perform this duty, Utlapa followed. At first, Utlapa simply planned to exhaust the chief, but this plan had its drawbacks. Surely the spirit warriors would seek to end him, and they could follow hot than he could outflow. As he hid in the rocks and watched the chief prepare to leave his carcass, other plan occurred to him.\r\nâ€Å"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.\r\nâ€Å"Taha Aki knew it the instant that Utlapa had get together him in the spirit ground, and he also knew Utlapas murderous plan. He raced back to his secret place, but fifty-fifty the winds werent fast complete to fulfill him. When he re morose, his body was already gone. Utlapas body grade abandoned, but Utlapa had not left Taha Aki with an escape †he h ad cut his own bodys throat with Taha Akis detainment.\r\nâ€Å"Taha Aki followed his body down the mountain. He screamed at Utlapa, but Utlapa ignored him as if he were mere wind.\r\nâ€Å"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 retrieved he was Taha Aki. therefore the changes began †Utlapas first formula was to forbid any warrior to enter the spirit world. He claimed that hed had a vision of danger, but rattling 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, well-read Taha Aki would rapidly claim his body. So his dreams of conquest with a spirit warrior army were im likely, and he sought to content himself with view over the tribe. He became a hinderance †seeking pri horrifyingges that Taha Aki had never requested, refusing to work alongside his warriors, ta king a young number married woman and then a terzetto, though Taha Akis married woman lived on †something unheard of in the tribe. Taha Aki watched in helpless wrath.\r\nâ€Å"Eventually, Taha Aki tried to land his body to save the tribe from Utlapas excesses. He brought a fierce fauna down from the mountains, but Utlapa hid behind his warriors. When the fauna killed a young man who was protecting the moody chief, Taha Aki felt horrible grief. He submit the beast away.\r\nâ€Å" whole the stories tell us that it was no easy thing to be a spirit warrior. It was more stir than exhilarating to be freed from ones body. This is why they only used their magic in times of need. The chiefs solitary journeys to keep watch were a burden and a resign. Being im agreerial 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 current of air forever.\r\nâ€Å"The great savage followed Taha Akis spirit as he twisted and writhed in agony through the woods. The barbarian was very large for its kind, and beautiful. Taha Aki was suddenly jealous of the faint 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.\r\nâ€Å"And then Taha Aki had the idea that changed us all. He asked the great wildcat to make room for him, to share. The beast complied. Taka Aki entered the wolfs body with relief and gratitude. It was not his gentlemans gentleman body, but it was better than the void of the spirit world.\r\nâ€Å"As one, the man and the wolf returned to the village on the harbor. The people ran in disquietude, shouting for the warriors to total. The warriors ran to meet the wolf with their spears. Utlapa, of course, stayed safely hidden.\r\nâ€Å"Taha Aki did not combat his warrior s. He retreated slowly from them, communicate 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, indomitable to disobey the false chiefs order and try to communicate with the wolf.\r\nâ€Å"As soon as Yut crossed to the spirit world, Taha Aki left the wolf †the animal waited tamely for his return †to enunciate to him. Yut gathered the truth in an instant, and welcomed his lawful chief home.\r\nâ€Å"At this time, Utlapa came to see if the wolf had been defeated. When he saw Yut fablelifeless on the ground, touch by protective warriors, he complete what was happening. He drew his knife and raced transport to kill Yut before he could return to his body.\r\nâ€Å"‘Traitor, he screamed, and the warriors did not know what to do. The chief had forbidden spirit journeys, and it was the chiefs decision how to punish those who disobeyed.\r\nâ€Å"Yut jumped back into his body, but Utlapa had his knife at his throat and a hand cover his mouth. Taha Akis body was strong, and Yut was weak with age. Yut could not record however one sound out to check the others before Utlapa silenced him forever.\r\nâ€Å"Taha Aki watched as Yuts 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 hed felt before. He entered the big wolf again, meaning to rip Utlapas throat out. But, as he tieed the wolf, the greatest magic happened.\r\nâ€Å"Taha Akis anger was the anger of a man. The love he had for his people and the hatred he had for their oppressor were too large for the wolfs body, too humanity. The wolf shuddered, and †before the eyes of the shocked warriors and Utlapa †transformed into a man.\r\nâ€Å"The new man did not look like Taha Akis body. He was far more glorious. He was the flesh interpretation of Taha Akis spirit. The warriors recognized him at once, though, for they had flown with Taha Akis spirit.\r\nâ€Å"Utlapa tried to run, but Taha Aki had the strength of the wolf in his new body. He caught the basepad and crushed the spirit from him before he could jump out of the stolen body.\r\nâ€Å"The people rejoiced when they understood what had happened. Taha Aki quick set everything right, working again with his people and giving the young wives back to their families. The only change he unplowed 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.\r\nâ€Å"From that point on, Taha Aki was more than either wolf or man. They called him Taha Aki the dandy Wolf, or Taha Aki the Spirit Man. He led the tribe for many an(prenominal), many years, for he did not age. When danger threatened, he would resume his wolf-self to repugn or frighten the enemy. The people dwel t in peace. Taha Aki fathered many sons, and some of these tack 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.”\r\nâ€Å"So thats why Sam is all black,” Quil muttered under his breath, grinning. â€Å"Black heart, black fur.”\r\nI was so involved in the story, it was a shock to come back to the present, to the circle around the demise fire. With another shock, I realise that the circle was made up of Taha Akis great †to however many degrees †grandsons.\r\nThe fire threw a volley of sparks into the sky, and they shivered and danced, making shapes that were almost decipherable.\r\nâ€Å"And your chocolate fur reflects what?” Sam whispered back to Quil. â€Å"How sweet you are?”\r\nBilly ignored their jibes. â€Å"Some of the sons became warriors with Taha Aki, and they no long-acting aged. Othe rs, 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 mens 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.\r\nâ€Å"That is how the magic came to us, but it is not the end of the story. . . .”\r\nHe looked at Old Quil Ateara, who shifted in his chair, straightening his frail shoulders. Billy took a subscribe from a bottle of water and wiped his fore heading. Emilys pen never hesitated as she scribbled furiously on the paper.\r\nâ€Å"That was the story of the spirit warriors,” Old Quil began in a thin tenor voice. â€Å"This is the story of the third wifes sacrifice.\r\nâ€Å"Ma ny 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 near wolves, who they feared and mistrusted. The wolf-men could still read each others thoughts spot in their wolf forms, just like their ancestors had while in their spirit forms. They knew that no(prenominal) 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 manpower. He was no longer a warrior to lead his people. He aerated his oldest wolf-son, Taha Wi, with finding the true culprit before hostilities began.\r\nâ€Å"Taha Wi led the five other wolves in his pack on a assay through the mountains, looking for any tell of the missing Makahs. They came across something they had never encountered before †a crazy, sweet scent in the forest that burned their noses to the point of pain.â₠¬Â\r\nI shrank a little closer to Jacobs side. I saw the corner of his mouth yank with humor, and his arm tightened around me.\r\nâ€Å"They did not know what wolf would leave such a scent, but they followed it,” Old Quil continued. His quavering voice did not have the majesty of Billys, but it had a strange, fierce edge of indispensability about it. My pulse jumped as his words came faster.\r\nâ€Å"They found faint traces of human scent, and human blood, along the trail. They were sure this was the enemy they were search for.\r\nâ€Å"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.\r\nâ€Å"Taha Wi and his two brothers did not return.\r\nâ€Å"The younger brothers searched for their elders, but found only silence. Taha Aki mourned for his sons.\r\nHe desireed to avenge his sons death, but he was old. He went to the Makah chief in his wail clothes and told him everything that had happ ened. The Makah chief believed his grief, and tensions ended amongst the tribes.\r\nâ€Å"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.\r\nâ€Å" exclusively one came back. He was Yaha genus genus Uta, the oldest son of Taka Akis 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, snappy, unrepentant corpse that he carried in pieces. All who were of Taha Akis blood, even those who had never been wolves, could smell the bleak smell of the dead peter. This was the enemy of the Makahs.\r\nâ€Å"Yaha Uta described what had happened: he and his brothers had found the zoology, who looked like a man but was hard as a granite rock, with the two Makah daughters. One girl was already dead, uninfected and livid o n the ground. The other was in the cocks arms, his mouth at her throat. She may have been existing 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.\r\nâ€Å"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 away like a doll. Yaha Uta and his other brother were more wary. They worked together, coming at the creature from the sides, outmaneuvering it.\r\nThey 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 gelid as ice. They found that only their dentition could damage it. They began to rip small pieces of the creature apart while it fought them.\r\nâ€Å"But the creature learned quickly, and soon was m atching their maneuvers. It got its hands on Yaha Utas brother. Yaha Uta found an initiation on the creatures throat, and he lunged. His teeth divide the head off the creature, but the hands continued to mangle his brother.\r\nâ€Å"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.\r\nâ€Å"Or so they thought. Yaha Uta set(p) the reeking remains out to be examined by the elders. One severed hand lay beside a piece of the creatures granite arm. The two pieces moved(p) when the elders poked them with sticks, and the hand reached out towards the arm piece, trying to reassemble itself.\r\nâ€Å"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, som e 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.”\r\nOld Quil paused and looked at Billy. Billy pulled out a leather whiplash 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.\r\nâ€Å"They called it The icy One, the roue Drinker, and lived in fear that it was not alone. They only had one wolf protector left, young Yaha Uta.\r\nâ€Å"They did not have long to wait. The creature had a mate, another blood drinker, who came to the Quileutes seeking revenge.\r\nâ€Å"The stories say that the cutting 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 morn; the sun was shining for once, and it glittered off her white skin and lit the deluxe hair that flowed down to her knees. Her face was magical in its beauty, her eye s black in her white face. Some fell to their knees to worship her.\r\nâ€Å"She asked something in a high, piercing voice, in a language no one had ever heard. The people were dumbfounded, not knowing how to firmness her. There was none of Taha Akis 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 cognise what had come among them. He yelled for the people to run. She killed him first.\r\nâ€Å"There were twenty witnesses to the Cold Womans approach. twain survived, only because she grew distracted by the blood, and paused to fill her thirst. They ran to Taha Aki, who sat in counsel with the other elders, his sons, and his third wife.\r\nâ€Å"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.\r\nâ€Å"At first th ey could not find the creature, only the evidence of her attack. Bodies lay stony-broken, a few drained of blood, strewn across the road where shed appeared. Then they heard the screams and hurried to the harbor.\r\nâ€Å"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 gravy boat with her incredible strength. When the ship sank, she caught those trying to travel away and broke them, too.\r\nâ€Å"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 in perceivable question. Yaha Uta waited.\r\nâ€Å"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.\r\nâ€Å"When Yaha Uta lost, Taha Aki screamed in defiance. He limped forward and shifted into an an cient, 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.\r\nâ€Å"Taha Akis third wife had just seen her son die before her. Now her husband fought, and she had no fancy that he could win. Shed heard every word the witnesses to the slaughter had told the council. Shed heard the story of Yaha Utas first victory, and knew that his brothers diversion had saved him.\r\nâ€Å"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.\r\nâ€Å"The third wife ran toward the Cold Woman with the dagger elevated 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 eat into her skin, and she was about to deliver the death extinguish to Taha Aki.\r\nâ€Å"And then the third wife did something the Cold Woman did not expect. She fell to her knees at the blood drinkers feet and plunged the knife into her own heart.\r\nâ€Å"Blood spurted through the third wifes fingers and splashed against the Cold Woman. The blood drinker could not digest the lure of the fresh blood going away the third wifes body. Instinctively, she turned to the dying woman, for one second entirely consumed by thirst.\r\nâ€Å"Taha Akis teeth closed around her neck.\r\nâ€Å"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.\r\nâ€Å"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.\r\nâ€Å"Trouble with the insentient ones was rar e from that time on. Taha Akis sons guarded the tribe until their sons were old exuberant to take their places. There were never more than three wolves at a time. It was enough. now and then 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. Theyd learned how to fight the algid ones, and they passed the knowledge on, wolf mind to wolf mind, spirit to spirit, father to son.\r\nâ€Å"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.\r\nâ€Å"A bigger coven came, and your own great-grandfathers prepared to fight them off. But the drawing card spoke to Ephraim Black as if he were a man, and promised not to harm the Quileutes. His strange yellow eyes gave som e create 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. Theyve stayed true to their side, though their presence does tend to draw in others.\r\nâ€Å"And their numbers have labored a larger pack than the tribe has ever seen,” Old Quil said, and for one atomic number 42 his black eyes, all but buried in the wrinkles of skin folded around them, seemed to rest on me. â€Å"Except, of course, in Taha Akis time,” he said, and then he sighed. â€Å"And so the sons of our tribe again carry the burden and share the sacrifice their fathers endured before them.”\r\nAll 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.\r\nâ€Å"Burden,” he scoffed in a low voice. â€Å"I recollect its cool.” Quils full lower lip pouted out a little bit.\r\nAcross the dying fire, Seth Clearwater †his eyes wide with panegyric for the fraternity of tribal protectors †nodded his agreement.\r\nBilly 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. emit conversations murmured around us, teasing and casual.\r\nLeah Clearwaters eyes did not make. I thought I saw something sparkling on her cheek like a tear, but when I looked back a moment later it was gone.\r\nneither Jacob nor I spoke. He was so still beside me, his breath so deep and even, that I thought he might be close to sleep.\r\nMy mind was a kB years away. I was not thought process of Yaha Uta or the other wolves, or the beautiful Cold Woman †I could picture her only too easily. No, I was thinking of 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.\r\nJust 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. Shed saved her husband, her young sons, her tribe.\r\nI wish theyd remembered her name. . . .\r\nSomething shook my arm.\r\nâ€Å"Cmon, Bells,” Jacob said in my ear. â€Å"Were here.”\r\nI blinked, confused because the fire seemed to have disappeared. I glared into the unexpected ugliness, trying to make superstar of my surroundings. It took me a minute to realize that I was no longer on the cliff. Jacob and I were alone. I was still under his arm, but I wasnt on the ground anymore.\r\nHow did I get in Jacobs car?\r\nâ€Å"Oh, scandal!” I gasped as I cognize that I had fallen asleep. â€Å"How late is it? Dang it, wheres that thick-skulled phone?” I patted my pockets, frantic and coming up empty.\r\nâ€Å"Easy. Its not even midnight yet. And I already called him for you. Look †hes waiting there.”\r\nâ€Å"Midnight?” I repeated stupidly, still disoriented. I stared into the darkness, and my flashgun picked up when my eyes made out the shape of the Volvo, thirty yards away. I reached for the access handle.\r\nâ€Å"Here,” Jacob said, and he put a small shape into my other hand. The phone.\r\nâ€Å"You called Edward for me?”\r\nMy eyes were adjust enough to see the bright gleaming of Jacobs smile. â€Å"I figured if I vie nice, Id get more time with you.”\r\nâ€Å"Thanks, Jake,” I said, touched. â€Å"Really, thank you. And thanks forinviting me tonight. That was . . .”\r\nWords failed me. â€Å"Wow. That was something else.”\r\nâ€Å"And you didnt even stay up to watch me swallow a cow.” He laughed. â€Å"No, Im glad you desire it. It was . . . nice for me. Having you there.”\r\nThere was a parkway in the dark distance †something scout ghosting against the black trees. Pacing?\r\nâ€Å"Yeah, hes not so patient, is he?” Jacob said, noticing my distraction. â€Å"Go ahead. But come back soon, okay?”\r\nâ€Å"Sure, Jake,” I promised, breeze the car door open. Cold air washed across my legs and made me shiver.\r\nâ€Å" stillness tight, Bells. Dont worry about anything †Ill be honoring out for you tonight.”\r\nI paused, one foot on the ground. â€Å"No, Jake. Get some rest, Ill be fine.”\r\nâ€Å"Sure, sure,” he said, but he sounded more patronizing than agreeing.\r\nâ€Å"‘Night, Jake. Thanks.”\r\nâ€Å"‘Night, Bella,” he whispered as I hurried into the darkness.\r\nEdward caught me at the confines line.\r\nâ€Å"Bella,” he said, relief strong in his voice; his arms wound tightly around me.\r\nâ€Å"Hi. Sorry Im so late. I fell asleep and -â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"I know. Jacob explained.” He started toward the c ar, and I staggered woodenly at his side. â€Å" atomic number 18 you tired? I could carry you.”\r\nâ€Å"Im fine.”\r\nâ€Å"Lets get you home and in bed. Did you have a nice time?”\r\nâ€Å"Yeah †it was amazing, Edward. I wish you could have come. I cant even explain it. Jakes dad told us the old legends and it was like . . . like magic.”\r\nâ€Å"Youll have to tell me about it. After youve slept.”\r\nâ€Å"I wont get it right,” I said, and then I yawned hugely.\r\nEdward chuckled. He opened my door for me, lifted me in, and buckled my stern belt around me.\r\nBright lights flashed on and swept across us. I waved toward Jacobs headlights, but I didnt know if he saw the gesture. That night †after Id gotten past Charlie, who didnt give me as much trouble as Id expected because Jacob had called him, too †instead of collapsing in bed right away, I leaned out the open window while I waited for Edward to come back. The night was s urprisingly cold, almost wintry. I hadnt detect it at all on the windy cliffs; I imagined that had less to do with the fire than it did with sitting next to Jacob.\r\nIcy droplets spattered against my face as the rain began to fall.\r\nIt was too dark to see much besides the black triangles of the spruces inclining and shaking with the wind. But I laboured my eyes anyway, searching for other shapes in the storm. A pale silhouette, lamentable like a ghost through the black . . . or maybe the shadowy muster in of an grand wolf. . . . My eyes were too weak.\r\nThen there was a movement in the night, right beside me. Edward slid through my open window, his hands colder than the rain.\r\nâ€Å"Is Jacob out there?” I asked, shiver as Edward pulled me into the circle of his arm.\r\nâ€Å"Yes . . . somewhere. And Esmes on her way home.”\r\nI sighed. â€Å"Its so cold and wet. This is silly.” I shivered again.\r\nHe chuckled. â€Å"Its only cold to you, Bella.â⠂¬Â\r\nIt was cold in my dream that night, too, maybe because I slept in Edwards arms. But I dreamt I was outside in the storm, the wind debacle my hair in my face and blind my eyes. I stood on the rocky semilunar of First Beach, trying to understand the quickly moving shapes I could only pallidly see in the darkness at the shores edge. At first, there was nothing but a flash of white and black, darting toward each other and dancing away. And then, as if the dream had suddenly broken from the clouds, I could see everything.\r\nRosalie, her hair swinging wet and golden down to the back of her knees, was lunging at an enormous wolf †its muzzle shot through with silver †that I instinctively recognized as Billy Black.\r\nI broke into a run, but found myself moving in the frustrating slow motion of dreamers. I tried to scream to them, to tell them to stop, but my voice was stolen by the wind, and I could make no sound. I waved my arms, hoping to charm their attention. So mething flashed in my hand, and I noticed for the first time that my right hand wasnt empty.\r\nI held a long, sharp blade, ancient and silver, gruff in dried, blackened blood.\r\nI cringed away from the knife, and my eyes snapped open to the quiet darkness of my bedroom. The first thing I realized was that I was not alone, and I turned to bury my face in Edwards chest, knowing the sweet scent of his skin would hang back the nightmare away more efficaciously than anything else.\r\nâ€Å"Did I wake you?” he whispered. There was the sound of paper, the ruffling of foliates, and a faint vanquish as something light fell to the wooden floor.\r\nâ€Å"No,” I mumbled, sighing in contentment as his arms tightened around me. â€Å"I had a bad dream.”\r\nâ€Å"Do you want to tell me about it?”\r\nI shook my head. â€Å" too tired. Maybe in the daybreak, if I remember.”\r\nI felt a silent laugh shake through him.\r\nâ€Å"In the morning,” he agre ed.\r\nâ€Å"What were you reading?” I muttered, not really awake at all.\r\nâ€Å"Wuthering Heights,” he said.\r\nI frowned sleepily. â€Å"I thought you didnt like that book.”\r\nâ€Å"You left it out,” he murmured, his soft voice lulling me toward unconsciousness. â€Å" in any case . . . the more time I degenerate with you, the more human emotions seem comprehensible to me. Im discovering that I can sympathize with Heathcliff in ways I didnt think possible before.”\r\nâ€Å"Mmm,” I sighed.\r\nHe said something else, something low, but I was already asleep.\r\nThe next morning dawned pearl gray and still. Edward asked me about my dream, but I couldnt get a handle on it. I only remembered that I was cold, and that I was glad he was there when I woke up. He kissed me, long enough to get my pulse racing, and then headed home to change and get his car.\r\nI dress quickly, low on options. Whoever had ransacked my chemical bond had criticall y impaired my wardrobe. If it wasnt so frightening, it would be seriously annoying.\r\nAs I was about to head down for breakfast, I noticed my battered copy of Wuthering Heights lying open on the floor where Edward had dropped it in the night, holding his place the way the shamed binding always held mine.\r\nI picked it up curiously, trying to remember what hed said. Something about feeling sympathy for Heathcliff, of all people. That couldnt be right; I must have dreamed that part.\r\nThree words on the open page caught my eye, and I bent my head to read the paragraph more closely. It was Heathcliff speaking, and I knew the passage well.\r\nAnd there you see the musical note between our feelings: had he been in my place and I in his, though I hated him with a hatred that turned my life to gall, I never would have raised a hand against him. You may look incredulous, if you please! I never would have banished him from her society as long as she desired his. The moment her run into ceased, I would have torn his heart out, and drank his blood! But, till then †if you dont believe me, you dont know me †till then, I would have died by inches before I touched a single hair of his head!\r\nThe three words that had caught my eye were â€Å"drank his blood.”\r\nI shuddered.\r\nYes, surely I must have dreamt that Edward said anything positive about Heathcliff. And this page was probably not the page hed been reading. The book could have fallen open to any page.\r\n'