Finding Truth Behind Legends
by Wizardtho
Chapter 03:
Two Weeks Later:
Daily life has started forming a sort of routine since moving in and meeting the resident shifters. After Zander came back by with Greg to pick up the pies, a day hasn’t gone by that I haven’t had at least three of the pack on my property helping out in human form, and who knows how many more patrolling in coyote form.
I’ve honestly loved having them around helping out with Gran Hurit’s garden, and have been feeding them as a way of thanking them. Of course, though Zander promised me they weren’t doing it for the food, I’ve yet to see one of them turn down something I cooked.
Today is the first day I’ve actually taken the time to pull Gran Hurit’s journal from the chest, determined to read at least some of it. The last two weeks, though I’ve found many things in the house, I’ve only made note of where I’ve found them while unpacking, so that I could go back to them when it was time. That allowed me to unpack all of my things, as well as give the house a good scrubbing. Hence, why it has taken so long to get to the journal. I knew I wouldn’t want to put it down once I opened it, so I made sure to settle in completely before even opening the chest again.
I smile at Greg on my way past the garden, journal hugged to my chest, noting how close to being finished it was this morning. “Wow, Greg. This looks a million times better than two weeks ago.”
He chuckles, “Yeah. We should have it done by late this afternoon, I think.”
I grin in response, “I can’t thank you guys enough for the help… really. It’s been awesome having you guys around every day. Listen, I’m just going to head over the bridge and relax by the creek for a bit.”
I show him the journal, causing him to smile. “Sure thing, Bella. Zander’s on patrol now, so he’ll probably stop by to check in with you in awhile.”
I chuckle in reply, shaking my head, “No point, since you’ll still be able to hear me on the picnic island from here, but alright.”
He rolls his eyes at me, so I chuckle as I call, “Don’t work too hard, boys!” before turning to walk down the path.
I spread out my picnic blanket once I set down the basket that held my snack and water bottles. Soon I’m sprawled on my stomach with the journal in front of me. Taking a deep breath, I carefully open the journal to read the first page:
Two Weeks Later:
Daily life has started forming a sort of routine since moving in and meeting the resident shifters. After Zander came back by with Greg to pick up the pies, a day hasn’t gone by that I haven’t had at least three of the pack on my property helping out in human form, and who knows how many more patrolling in coyote form.
I’ve honestly loved having them around helping out with Gran Hurit’s garden, and have been feeding them as a way of thanking them. Of course, though Zander promised me they weren’t doing it for the food, I’ve yet to see one of them turn down something I cooked.
Today is the first day I’ve actually taken the time to pull Gran Hurit’s journal from the chest, determined to read at least some of it. The last two weeks, though I’ve found many things in the house, I’ve only made note of where I’ve found them while unpacking, so that I could go back to them when it was time. That allowed me to unpack all of my things, as well as give the house a good scrubbing. Hence, why it has taken so long to get to the journal. I knew I wouldn’t want to put it down once I opened it, so I made sure to settle in completely before even opening the chest again.
I smile at Greg on my way past the garden, journal hugged to my chest, noting how close to being finished it was this morning. “Wow, Greg. This looks a million times better than two weeks ago.”
He chuckles, “Yeah. We should have it done by late this afternoon, I think.”
I grin in response, “I can’t thank you guys enough for the help… really. It’s been awesome having you guys around every day. Listen, I’m just going to head over the bridge and relax by the creek for a bit.”
I show him the journal, causing him to smile. “Sure thing, Bella. Zander’s on patrol now, so he’ll probably stop by to check in with you in awhile.”
I chuckle in reply, shaking my head, “No point, since you’ll still be able to hear me on the picnic island from here, but alright.”
He rolls his eyes at me, so I chuckle as I call, “Don’t work too hard, boys!” before turning to walk down the path.
I spread out my picnic blanket once I set down the basket that held my snack and water bottles. Soon I’m sprawled on my stomach with the journal in front of me. Taking a deep breath, I carefully open the journal to read the first page:
Wow… just… “Wow,” I finally whisper aloud.
I turn to the next page, not surprised at all to see both Gran Marie’s and Dad’s handwriting. The family tree has been kept in immaculate condition, and is up to date. I smile, seeing that it goes back many generations. After a cursory look, I turn the page, knowing I will be able to take more time on my family tree at a later date.
Though I was not given the opportunity to grow up in the tribe like my great grandmother, I still find many similarities between us on the first several pages of her journal. She loved to read, was always wanting to learn new things, deeply cared about helping people, and even had the same habit of biting her lip when nervous or deep in thought. I found myself able to picture her through her words, which only made me want to read more, in order to find out everything about her.
Just as I get to where she made a successful minor healing salve, noting a page reference to the salve itself in another book, I hear a twig break off in the trees. I turn my head quickly in the direction, only to see Zander buttoning his shorts while walking toward me. I grin without moving, “Hey, did you know Gran Hurit made her first healing salve at 13? Look.”
I point to the passage as Zander plops down beside me with a chuckle.
“No, I didn’t. It doesn’t surprise me, though. You’ve seen the basement, little coyote.”
I nod, knowing it shouldn’t really surprise me, either. “Yeah, but 13? And I keep finding similarities between us. It’s kinda freaky, but also makes me feel… I don’t know… like I’m not alone.”
Zander pats my back in comfort, asking softly, “Have you felt like that a lot before coming here? Like you didn’t belong?”
I shrug, not wanting to drag out old memories, but then offer with a sigh, “More than I care to admit to anyone, even myself.”
Zander shakes his head, noting sadly, “I figured as much, with how Jake worded some things. You belong here, Bella… with us, with our tribe. I wish you could see that. In fact...”
He stands and brushes off his shorts, then pats my shoulder in comfort, “I pray to the ancestors each night to help you… to guide your other half to you. It’s the only way you’ll find peace among us, with all you’ve been through. It’s what you need to feel that you truly belong. You need your mate, just as he or she needs you.”
Without another word, Zander gives me a sad smile before disappearing into the trees. I sigh in resignation, still feeling that something was broken inside me, “If only that were possible, Zander.”
Later that evening, after everyone leaves to be with their families or heads out on patrol, I decide to go back out to the picnic island. I want to see the sunset from the island and different parts of the property. Arming myself with a backpack full of Gran Hurit’s journal, a blanket, a few bottles of water and a flashlight, I set out the great room french doors toward my destination.
I settle on the blanket not long before sunset, but just as I go to open Gran’s journal, I hear a playful sort of splashing near the far end of the picnic island. I shake my head, thinking it might have been one of the pack, but seconds later, I hear it again. My curiosity makes me move, though my head tells me to be cautious.
When I near the eastern edge of the picnic island, I can make out the image of a white wolf head peaking out of the water. He must be one of the newbies, and Jake sent him to check up on me.
I watch as the wolf seems to sense someone near, then makes his way toward the water’s edge furthest away from the house. I chuckle as the wolf, who looks even smaller at this distance, reaches the creek edge and shakes wildly from head to toe. I can’t help but call out, hoping to blow his cover, “On the newbie mission, huh? Jake’s marking scent hasn’t even dissipated, yet he sends a newbie wolf to check up and make sure I’m okay? Well, you can go back to Washington and tell him I’m fine. As you can no doubt scent, Zander and rest of the coyote pack are overprotective, just like Jake. I’m well protected from vampires here.”
The white wolf finishes his full body shake before turning my way. Instantly, my mind backtracks, thinking, ‘Holy shit… definitely not a newbie. White wolf… white wolf… no it couldn’t be! He’s said to be long dead, so this couldn’t be THE white wolf… Taha Aki. Could it?’
My gasp makes the wolf’s head cock to the side slightly, so I take a slightly shaky breath in before slowly making the final steps into the open. Even my voice is unstable when I call over to the very magnificent wolf, “I’m sorry… I thought my best friend Jake sent you. He’s a wolf, like you… from your line, if I’m correct.”
His head cocks to the other side now, studying me with brilliant eyes the color of aged bourbon. After a second, he makes his way back into the water. Though I’m afraid I’ve scared him away, I can’t make my mouth move anymore. I let out a breath in relief when it seems he’s curious instead of scared. He’s actually making his way back through the water to come to me.
Suddenly shy, I give him a slight smile as his paws reach the rock and sand edge of the picnic island.
He pads about ten feet away before shaking out his fur, so I sit to wait silently on a large boulder. When he stops and sits on his hind legs next to me, I give another small smile, “Thank you for not leaving… and again, I’m sorry for assuming you were a pup. You know, spending so much time on the reservation, I heard legends of a great white wolf. My dad is best friends with one of the elders, and his son -who is the beta of the current pack- is my best friend. I guess it kind of comes with the territory. The Quileute reservation is our second home.”
The mighty wolf, who still sits taller than I do on the large boulder, only gives a slow nod of his head. Taking that as my cue to continue, I suddenly realise, “Crap, where are my manners? My name is Bella… Bella Swan. This was my Great Gran Hurit’s place, and is now mine. You’re welcome to the creek anytime you want, by the way. I won’t tell anyone you were here.”
He gives me that trademark wolfy smile, so I chuckle, “Yeah, I love the creek, too. That’s why I come out here. Tonight’s the first time I’ve been here around sunset though, since I’ve been busy settling into the house. It’s beautiful… so peaceful. Will you stay and watch the sunset with me?”
Another wolfy smile, even wider and more brilliant this time, is his response.
It’s silent for several minutes as we watch nature at its most beautiful, but my mind swirls with all the possibilities of this wolf’s presence here. I have so many questions, yet no answers.
I must be consumed with turning everything over in my mind, because soon I feel a wet nose nudging my hand. I smile over at the magnificent wolf, offering, “Sorry. You’ll come to find that I tend to get lost in my head easily, especially when there’s a puzzle to solve. I’m very curious by nature, something I’m beginning to realise is not all my own fault. Gran Hurit was very curious, too. Did you know her? Were you around this area when she was alive?”
With a beaming wolfy chuckle and a twinkle in his eye, the wolf nods. “I want to know so many things, but by you still being in your wolf form, I guess you aren’t quite sure about me yet. That’s okay. I get that I’m strange, I do. I’ve been told that all my life by practically everyone around me, and never really fit in anywhere before.”
He nudges my shoulder in what feels like comfort, but I ask, “If I’m right, with what I say next, will you be honest with me?”
The wolf catches my gaze, then stares me in the eyes while nodding. With that, I come right out to ask, “You’re him, aren’t you? You’re the great white wolf of their legends… you’re Taha Aki.”
Still looking directly in my eyes, he gives me a slow nod. I continue, the thoughts coming out before I could stop them, “So that means that your third wife wasn’t your imprint. You’ve been searching all these years for your mate. When she died -God, that must have been horrible- you couldn’t take it, could you? So you left… came here? The coyote pack offered you a sanctuary to heal and find your true mate, so you took it?”
After tilting his head to the side and studying me for a moment, Taha Aki again nods his regal-looking head. I offer, “I know that there must be more to how everything happened, which wouldn’t be relayed properly through simple nods or head shakes. Since I’m still a stranger and haven’t learned your wolf’s body language, thank you for telling me that much.”
He lets out a breath while nodding, then looks to the sky, which has become an amazing backdrop of color. Yellows, oranges, pinks, purples, and blues paint the sky an incredible array, causing my breath to hitch as I whisper, “Wow… so beautiful.”
Taha Aki turns toward me, yet the look in his eyes during his confirming nod seems like he’s talking about more than the sunset.
Heat infuses me cheeks as I try to duck my head, but a sudden howl from the pack has us both hurriedly looking in the direction it came from. Taha Aki quickly looks back at me, then nudges me as he drops down to his belly. I scramble off the boulder and land on his back, then he runs us back toward my little picnic setup.
Skidding to a stop when we reach the blanket, he only pauses long enough to pick up Gran Hurit’s journal between his teeth before darting us over the bridge toward the house. I have to plaster myself to his back from his speed, which is well faster than anything I’ve witnessed before. I can barely catch my breath when he stops at my bedroom door, then is suddenly down on his belly.
With a quick hop down, I round to the front of him, carefully taking the journal from his mouth while saying, “Thank you. Go… help them. I’ll stay inside. Please, no matter what time it is when this is over, have someone let me know everyone is safe.”
He nods, quickly gives my hand a lick, then gives me a pained look before dashing off through the yard.