Chapter Text
Leah found herself alone in the ancient forests of Washington State, deep within the Olympic National park, her wolven form blurring in and out of focus as she ran through the evergreen. Her Pack brothers were far from her physical form but they knew where she was at all times, so she had no fear as she transferred farther into the thicket. Something was strange, there was a stillness in the air dawn early light and it made her hackles rise. She paused a small stream to drink, her gray form blending into the shadows of overhanging pines. Leah turned to continue her wild goose chase when a sound made her pause, it was so quiet she had almost mistaken it for a small mouse. But no, it definitely was not a mouse, she swirled her ears and tried to locate where the sound had come from. It took a moment of utter stillness for her to catch the soft sound of whimper, and then she took off. The sound was not far from her spot, in fact it was just a few yards away. She slowed her pace as she neared the source of the soft whimpers and cries.
Leah felt the soft prodding of her Pack mates inside her head, they were worried about her. She had not rekindled with them when she was supposed too, though they knew she was okay, they just worried because she was so far from them. Leah sent a message to them saying she was fine and she’ll meet up with them shortly. The prodding ebbed away and she was left with the quiet she loved. Edging closer to the area where she knew something was hiding, Leah was hit with a strong scent of blood. It was hot and thick as it coated her back of her throat with the copper like taste, underlying the metallic tang was a bitter cord of fear. She lowered her bulking form so that she almost crawled on the damp earthen floor. The strong scent was concentrated in a cluster of deep green ferns, the curled leaves were heavy with fresh rain droplets that fell as gravity pulled them down one by one, gently ‘plopping’ in a muddy puddle under the bush. Leah moved closer still, the smell was intriguing. It wasn’t the burnt sugary bleach scent she and her pack associated with the leeches that called Forks there home, nor was it the same as the fiery redhead they were still tracking. It was earthier under the smell of fresh blood, and strangely it reminded her of a fox. A fox that also smelled of ash and dampness. She angled her lupin face to look into the shadowed coverage of the curling fern leaves, the rising sun cast a warm golden hue over the evergreen. Her dark coffee eyes met a startled and dilated pair of warm amber red, they were set in a scrawny face of a fox.
Seth: Leah, what are you doing?
The grey wolf blinked slowly at the small red fox that only curled up tighter under the wet ferns.
Leah: I found a fox. I think it’s hurt.
Paul: Wow, so fascinating a fox, here in Washington so strange.
Leah: Shut up Paul!
Lean laid down on her furred belly, the wet earthen ground cool to her underbelly. Nose twitching and nostrils flaring as she caught the fox’s scent. The fox blinked it’s amber red eyes, it’s own nose twitching to catch the scent of the wolf. Leah wanted to continue to sit and watch the fox, it was strange to find one during this time of year. Winter was arriving soon and most of the fox population had begun digging their dens for the cold winter months.
Jacob: Leave the fox alone Leah, we are heading back to Emily’s. The trail has gone cold again.
Leah: Yeah, yeah.
With one last look at the hiding fox, Leah stood. Her fur had gathered some moisture from heavy mist that rolled in, she shook her grey coat, flicked her ears and took off. Large paws making not even a sound on the decomposing fallen leaves and underbrush, she leaped over fallen logs and small streams. The closer she got to the Pack the more she surely felt bad about leaving that small hurt fox.
Paul: I don’t understand how you can be so worried about a random fox. It’ll be fine.
Embry: It was probably looking for food for the upcoming colder months and got hurt. You know they tend to hide when they are hurt.
Leah: I know, I know. But she still could see the small frightened look of the red fox, its face was so gaunt looking.
Quil: Could be ill too. A fox that thin won’t last the winter.
Leah: That totally boosts my mood Quil.
The chocolate wolf does a wolven equivalent to a shrug, looking somewhat remorseful.
Sam: Enough about this fox we have more pressing concerns we lost the trail again.
A low unhappy growl echoed through the Pack, teeth were bared and hair raised. This was not good, it was the third time this week the trail had gone cold. A few of the Pack ran their clawed paws through the softened earth digging up roots in their flusteration. Sam’s wolf a large black beast shook its body head to tail to relieve some tension from once again losing the scent of the runaway leech. Black ears flicked forwards and back catching the early morning sounds of the forest, his blackened face turned westward towards home.
Sam: We will resume later tonight. There will be a rotation as well. Keen dark eyes drift over to Jacob. We all need some rest at some point.
Jacob: I can’t just let this… Leech run around our territory and Forks knowing that people are being hurt and killed!
Sam: And you think we like that situation too? You are exhausted Jake, you need sleep. And don’t worry, the Pack will make sure Swan is looked after.
The russet wolf whom was Jacob flicked an ear back and licked his muzzle, but said nothing more. It was known amongst the Pack that Jacob had not slept for the past few days, he even pulled extra shifts. The urge to protect was the strongest in him, as he would be the true Alpha in the near future it only made sense. But that did not mean for him to make himself weak and tired by not caring for himself. His wolven shape had only grown more, bulking out and nearing the same size of the blackened beast of Sam. Jacob’s head was just a few inches lower than Sam’s own.
Sam: Alright, let’s head out. Before the storm rolls in.
Leah glances up at the early morning sky, heavy dark clouds hovered low in the cool blue sky. Those looked like thunder clouds, a sudden image of the small fox once again rolled into her mind. So small, it’s amber red eyes watching her. Would the fox survive this storm?
Seth: C’mon Leah, Emily said she’d make those egg thingies for us this morning.
Shifting her thoughts away from the small fox, she rolls her dark eyes at the sandy coated wolf that was her brother.
Leah: I think you mean quiche. She’s still cooking too probably, given how much food everyone can scarf down.
The Pack then take the long journey home, instinctively running in a uniformed formation with Sam in the lead and Jacob not far. The others trail behind and taper off with Paul at the end of the running group. The wolves leaped over logs and small shrubs as they made their way back home, silent paws landing expertly on soften ground not making a sound. The winds rushed by whistling in their ears, but they could still hear the sounds of morning birds and running mice. Rushing water over river stones and rustling leaves. As they near a small house that sits deep in the reservation, surrounded by tall evergreen trees, the Pack slows. Pounding paws, to quick trotting legs to slow strides, to two legged patterned walking, that strutted down the heavy layered leafed lawn. Ten tall gorgeous bodies, pull on spare clothes that were stashed in trees, brushing off small leaves or dirt before finishing the journey to Sam’s and Emily’s house. The smell of warm baked goods, and rich eggs with sizzling bacon drifted over the cold winds of the upcoming storm. Their stomachs all growled, and a laugh went off amongst the Pack. Shoulders bumping shoulders, large hands ruffling younger pups hair they all entered the small house that they all called home. The fox was forgotten as their mouths and stomachs were filled and conversation filled the air and their minds.
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Bella was on the familiar road that took her to the Quileute reservation, her old pick up rumbling loudly on the silent road. It was a normal day in Washington, meaning it was raining and a low hanging fog curled over the road and surrounding trees. Bella thrummed her fingers over the well worn driving wheel, humming softly to a well repeated song on the radio. Jacob had called her a that morning asking if she could make her over to Emily’s house, and if she could stay the night there. Bella had a feeling it was due to the fact that the Pack had lost the trail of Victoria a few days ago and have yet been able to pick it up again. And with people disappearing in Seattle and Port Angeles she understood why the Pack might be stressed, the Cullens believed it to be Victoria’s doing but they wouldn’t discuss anything with her.
Sighing Bella chews on her bottom lip, and presses down harder on the gas paddle ignoring her trucks rattling as she pushed its speed limit of 40 mph wanting to get to Emily’s before the rain fell even harder. The windshield wipers could only do so much in a downpour. As the grey coated pines and firs blurred by her mind wandered once more to Jacob, and how much he has changed over the past few months. Finding out he was a werewolf something of a shock for her, it left her feeling overwhelmed and under prepared. Here it seemed everyone around her was some supernatural being, and she was just a fragile little human that tripped over air. Popping her bruised lip from her teeth she sighed once more, not that being human stopped her from helping when she could and trying to stay out of the way when she saw fit. Bella was good with the strange and unnatural, in fact it had become natural for her.
She was so deep in her thoughts she barely noticed a small slow moving body of red before she swerved and slammed on her breaks. “HOLY CROW!” The tires screeched on the wet road, her brakes locking she skidded to the right. Bella held on tight to the large steering wheel with her eyes squeezed shut, she was expecting to roll but thankfully her old faithful only skidded to a stop just off the paved road. She peeked through her eyelids and saw that she had almost hit a fox, a red fox. It still stood in the middle of the road, head turned towards where she sat in her truck. Slitted eyes staring at the steaming engine hood before shifting to cast a look over her, the amber-red hue of its eyes stood out even against it’s wet red coat. It was a decent sized fox, a little on the thin side and slightly smaller than an adult form but larger than a kit. Bella held her breath as she watched it blink, nose twitching in the cold harsh rain before taking off into the thick bush next to where she was currently stalled at. It had a bad limp, Bella noticed; the back leg dragged a little but it didn’t seem to hinder the fox’s moments any.
A few minutes passed before Bellas’ heart calmed down enough for her to make her way back on the road. There were dark burnt rubber marks on the road showing where she slide to the right, she was glad though she avoided hitting the poor fox, though now she was sure there were some bald spots on her tires. Those were fixable, not like a dead fox. Patting her cheeks to bring some color back into the flesh she cleared her throat and began the trek back towards Emily’s house eyes wide open to make sure she didn’t have anymore close calls.
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The rest of the drive was quiet and uneventful, and she pulled up to the small but well kept house of Sam Uley and Emily Young. Turning the rumbling engine off, she pushed the heavy ford door open and hopped down. Her rain boots and jacket kept her face and feet dry in the short walk towards the screen door in front of a heavy red oak door. Before she could even knock the door was pulled open and the young face of Seth Clearwater was visible, he had a muffin in one hand that had a huge bite taken out of it. She smiled softly at the boy as he let her in. Seth grinned back, cheeks stuffed with what looked like blueberry muffin.
Inside the house it was warm and dry, and packed full of the Quileute werewolves and their imprints. Bella leaned a hand against a cream painted wall as she pulled off her galoshes and placed them on the dry towel near the door. Shrugging off her deep blue rain coat she hung it on a jacket hook, before walking deeper into the inviting kitchen and dining area. Seth had taken back his seat at the long wooden table next to his sister. Leah was leaning against her palm dark eyes heavy as she seemed deep in thought.
“Hey Bells,” looking up Bella saw Jake waving at her from the kitchen island, he patted the stool next to him and she made her way over. Hopping onto the tall stool she took a warm cup of coco from Emily’s offered hand, small marshmallows floated on top. “Thank you,” she murmured to her, and Emily smiled back. “No problem dear.”
“So, what took you so long to get here?” Bella gently blew on the coco, taking a sip before answering.
“I had an incident on the ride here,” she said, cupping the warm ceramic cup in her cold hands. “I’m okay though. There was a fox that I didn’t notice until the last minute, I had to brake pretty hard and skidded a little on the road.”
Jake hummed leaning against the island tiles, his large hand gently brushed away a wet strand of hair from Bella’s face. She tried to will away the bright flush appeared on her cheeks at her friends touch.
“Glad you made it here safe though, the rains coming down hard. Any chance of finding a scent trail in this weather is almost zilch to one” Jake muttered and Bella didn’t need to be superhuman to hear the grinding of his teeth.
Bella brought her a cup of coco to her mouth and took another drink, the sudden spike of fear was brought on knowing that Victoria was running outside somewhere without anyone knowing where she was. She was comforted by Jacobs familiar hug, he wrapped her in his large arms it filled her with a safe feeling and her rapid heart beat calmed back down.
“It’s alright Bells, we’ll find the leech.” it was Seth who spoke, in the now eerily quiet room. Bella flinched as the vulgar term but she knew he didn’t mean harm in saying it.
“Okay…”
And once again the red fox was forgotten as conversation filters into the room, they talk about strategies and Bella tells them about leaving a scent trail. Their discussion deepens into morals and safety well into the night. A lone red fox travels through the thickening forest, slitted pupils focusing on a small house filled with loud voices and warm smell of foods. It sits under some bushes and just watches.