Disclaimer

Twilight and all affiliated characters are the property of Stephanie Meyer. I do not own any of the aforementioned characters except Beth and the plot of this story (that is, should it stray from the original Twilight). This story is for entertainment only and is not part of the official storyline. I am not in any way, shape, or form benefiting financially from the publishing of this story on this site and am very grateful for Mrs. Meyer's creation. Besides, if I did own Twilight, I wouldn't have to be confined to my bed for weeks on end.

Riley stepped out of the café, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee lingering in the air as he braced himself against the early morning rain. The city streets were deserted, bathed in a somber gray hue beneath the heavy clouds. Pulling up the collar of his jacket, he ventured into the damp embrace of the urban landscape, each step echoing softly against the pavement.

The rhythmic patter of raindrops provided a soothing backdrop to his thoughts, a welcome distraction from the turmoil that churned within him. Lost in contemplation, he hardly noticed the figure that materialized from the shadows until it was too late.

Without warning, a sudden blur of movement shattered the stillness of the morning. Riley's heart leaped in his chest as he stumbled backward, instinctively raising his arms to shield himself from the assault. A sharp pain sliced through the air, followed by a searing sensation that tore through his flesh, leaving him gasping for breath.

Confusion and fear gripped him as he struggled to make sense of the chaos unfolding around him. His attacker moved with an otherworldly grace, a silent predator in the dim light of the street. Riley fought back with all the strength he could muster, but it was like trying to hold back the tide with his bare hands.

As the rain intensified, Riley's thoughts turned to survival. Every fiber of his being screamed for escape, for a reprieve from the relentless onslaught. But his assailant showed no mercy, pressing the attack with a relentless ferocity that left him reeling.

In the midst of the chaos, a single thought pierced through the haze of pain and fear. Riley's mind raced, searching for an explanation, a reason for the madness that consumed him. But try as he might, he could find no answers, only the chilling realization that he was utterly alone.

A moment later, the thing rushes at him once more and a sharp pain on the heel of his palm sends him reeling and screaming out along the wood of the docks he finds himself now pushed down onto. The creature darts away again, seemingly abated by his screams. All goes black shortly after as Riley Biers is lost to the land of the living, venom coursing through his veins.

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:⠀ *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

A week later, they were invited to a bonfire in La Push, an invitation extended from Billy. The drive was filled with memories of summers past mingling with the salty sea breeze that swept through the trees and in the open windows. Grandma Helen regaled them with tales of her own adventures at La Push, her eyes sparkling with nostalgia as she reminisced about days spent exploring the rugged coastline with Geoffrey, when they were both much younger.

The fish fry was in full swing when they arrived, the air thick with the mouthwatering scent of freshly cooked seafood. Wooden tables were arranged haphazardly around the makeshift food stand, adorned with colorful tablecloths and flickering candles. Locals bustled about, their laughter carried on the breeze that swept through the area.

Charlie navigated the crowd with practiced ease, exchanging pleasantries with familiar faces as he made his way to the food stand. The girls trailed behind him as they took in the lively scene before them. They didn't know many people here, and Bella had yet to see Jacob emerge from the crowd of teens that hung out on one side of the fire.

Among the locals, they caught glimpses of familiar faces. A young woman stood, her warm smile lighting up her features as she served plates of steaming fish, three enormous scars that resembled claw marks stretching across the side of her pretty face and Beth had to wonder what had marred her that way? Was it a bear attack? It looked relatively new, the skin raised and pink but healing well.

By then, something interesting had caught Bella's eye and with a nudge, soon the pair of them were watching something completely unexpected. Their dad stood, plate in hand and engaged in animated conversation with a redhead woman by the food table, unaware that they were in the way of several other people who'd come to get their own share of food. There was a familiarity in their interaction, a shared history that piqued the girl's curiosity. Charlie's easy smile and the woman's open expression painted a picture of an acquaintanceship, but there was something in the way they exchanged glances that hinted at something more.

"Ms. Parkes," Charlie greeted with a small smile beneath his mustache, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he spotted the redhead woman amidst the crowd. She turned, her bright red hair gleaming in the light of the fire, casting dancing shadows across her face. With an awkward nod, she returned the greeting, her gaze meeting Charlie's with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.

"Didn't expect you to be here of all places," Charlie remarked, his tone laced with genuine curiosity as he approached her.

"Chief Swan," she replied, her voice carrying a hint of amusement, "I'm not here long, just a few days or so until I'm back in Seattle, really. I'm here writing an article on the tribe here, the Quileutes, in hopes that it brings in a bit more revenue for them."

"Oh?" Charlie's eyebrow rose in query, his interest piqued by her explanation. "And here I thought it was my charm that had you coming back to this 'ass crack of a town'."

The woman's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red, her laughter bubbling up in response to Charlie's teasing remark. "I am sorry about that, again, by the way," she said, brushing a hand over her reddening cheeks in a futile attempt to hide her embarrassment.

Charlie chuckled, the sound warm and comforting in the cool night air. "We're all good, here."

A companionable silence settled between them, punctuated only by the crackling of the bonfire and the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore. Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, the woman beckoned Charlie closer, her voice low and tinged with skepticism.

"Is everyone around here normally so...intuitive?" she asked, a hint of incredulity in her tone. "I mean, within the first minute of my being here, that..." She gestured towards an older man standing nearby, his white hair glowing in the firelight as he conversed with a group of similarly aged men. "...creepy guy was telling me that I was going to marry one of his friends soon."

Charlie pursed his lips to mask his amusement, leaning in to reply in a conspiratorial tone. "That 'creepy guy' is one of the Elders of the Tribe you're writing about and one of my closest friends, Harry Clearwater."

The woman's eyes widened in surprise, her cheeks flushing once more as she took a small step back, her embarrassment palpable. She stumbled over her words in a hasty apology, her gaze flickering nervously between Charlie and the fire as she tried to regain her composure.

Charlie laughed, his hearty chuckle carrying across the crackling fire, drawing the attention of those nearby. Beth watched on with furrowed eyebrows, a sense of curiosity gnawing at her as she observed her dad's interaction with the mysterious woman. She was sure she'd never seen her around Forks before, her presence a puzzle begging to be solved.

Beside her, Bella mirrored her confusion, her brow furrowed in concentration as she racked her brain for any semblance of recognition. But no matter how hard she tried, the woman's face remained a blank canvas, devoid of any memories from her time spent in La Push. Meanwhile, Grandma Helen sat beside Harry Clearwater and Billy Black, her wise eyes scanning the scene before her with a knowing glint. A hint of approval flickered in Helen's eyes as she watched the interaction between Charlie and the woman. There was more to their exchange than met the eye, a connection that- if time allowed- would transcend mere acquaintance.