A Quiet Calling

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Twilight characters because then that would make life way too easy and would've made an AWESOME movie. Why? Because there would've been some serious fighting in Breaking Dawn.

Things had changed; things had been changing for a long time. At least for Leah Clearwater they had. The entire pack, sans her, was now imprinted on and all their time was now spent with their imprints. Leah's bitterness and feelings of resentment over imprinting had long since disappeared being overcome with indifference and finally acceptance. Who was she to say what made others happy? Who was she to continue believing that Sam was the one meant to be her everything? People broke up all the time and her situation was no different. Sure she had come close to falling in love a second time but that fell through before it even had a chance to get started. And for that she was grateful.

Without the immediate danger of vampires patrolling wasn't a 'necessity' as it was years ago when they were all first going through the changes. Bella Swan was no longer an accident prone human being who drew bloodthirsty, magical and mythological creatures towards her. Now she was one of them and as far as their world went she was nothing special; just another vampire. But then again, she was 'special' to someone. Everyone was 'special' to another. Sam and Emily, Paul and Rachel, Jacob and Renesmee and the list went on and on. However, Leah didn't feel special, she didn't have that kind of love; the love that songs and movies talk about. Her mother loved her she was certain of that because after Seth imprinted their relationship and bond grew. Even Billy and Old Quil had started to become more than just 'Elders' or 'Daddy's old friends' anymore. She could talk to them about anything and everything that was bothering her and they all listened patiently and offered whatever advice they had. The whole 'wolf' thing was still an uphill battle but she took it day-by-day.

In the end, Leah realized that she wanted more – that she needed more out of life than just running, sniffing around and tending to the Elders. She loved having something else to do that seemed somewhat normal, no matter how domestic it was. Despite, the expanded territory, since she was really the only one patrolling she basically had free range over La Push and the south end of Makah, she still felt like she was in a rut. The word had continually been running through her mind, playing like a broken record, repeating itself over and over again. The word had become an obsession, the Chinese water torture that was giving her an anxious tick. The walls felt as if they were literally closing in around her and to escape the claustrophobia sensation she, Leah Clearwater, has been running around in her wolf form for two weeks. She can't help but to laugh at the irony of the whole situation. Years ago she hated being a wolf and now it was her only relief, her freedom; where she could be at peace.

It is during this 'peace' that her deeply hidden and long ignored thoughts have been slowly moving to the surface. 'Run', 'escape', 'explore', 'wander', 'travel', 'seek'; basically it was time for Leah to go. Leah had recalled Jacob letting the 'wolf' in him take over when he was still harping on Bella Swan. She had never done it while by herself but she finally did and when she came to she was in British Columbia eating moose. The moose didn't freak her out but the fact that she had wandered so far from home based upon instincts and that there was still some strange pull telling her to still go further north. She was heading home now because she needed to talk to her mother, Billy and especially Old Quil. Leah didn't have the luxury to just up and leave home based on a sudden whim or urge. She still had her responsibilities being the Elders.

Old Quil was suffering from arthritis and Quil would help out but he was starting to spend more time in Makah with Claire than in La Push. Billy's diabetes was slightly getting worse and Rachel was pregnant, Paul worked and Jacob was with the Cullens. Then there was her own mother to think of. Leah knew that the imprints didn't mean to become the pack's entire universe and reason for existing but they were all very much prone to 'focus' on their own worlds. And their worlds consisted of their own immediate family, thoughts, hopes and dreams. Taking care of her mother and the Elders was something she took upon herself and truly enjoyed doing.

Coming out of the woods Leah stretches her muscles, quickly dresses and heads over towards Old Quil's place. She is greeted with a warm smile once she walks through the door and is mildly alarmed to see Billy and Sue sitting in the living room with him. "Where the hell have you been?" Sue questions with slight alarm evident in her but a small smile playing on her lips.

"We thought you were kidnapped for a while there." Billy says with his usual playful smile.

"British Columbia." Leah answers truthfully as she takes a seat with a heavy sigh. The Elders immediately grow serious sensing something is wrong. Leah begins to tell them about her feelings; the claustrophobia, the restlessness, the aggression. About letting the 'wolf' inside her take over and coming to weeks later in British Columbia and having to fight the pull to just come home. The knowledge frightens her because she doesn't know what's going on with her and her spirit. She's, generally, in control since learning how to control her temper.

"I think you should go see what she wants." Old Quil says speaking up after a few minutes of silence after Leah is done talking. She looks up at him wide eyed, surprised and confused. She looks over to Billy and Sue to see them both nodding their heads in agreement. Were the Elders telling her to leave home – to leave La Push?

"Your wolf spirit and you are one and the same, Leah." Billy says wisely smiling at her. His eyes are sad but she knows that he truly means what he is going to say. "What she wants is what you want too. If she's leading you elsewhere then you should follow."

"Yea, but – but what about our tribe? The pack? You all?" Leah questions desperately seeking out another answer, another solution. Any answer except the one they are giving her now. Leah's always wanted to go out and see the world but never alone. As much as she complained about sharing a mind with a bunch of prepubescent boys there was still a sense of security in knowing that there was always someone there. With them phasing less and less though that feeling was slowly disappearing. She had replaced it with the Elders. She was afraid of being alone – hell, it terrified her.

"The tribe has survived over a thousand years without you, Leah." Billy says chuckling at her desperation to hold on. He can't help but feel warm knowing that not all of the children in his life have forgotten about him or are too busy. "Currently, from what we've seen you are the pack. And I think we can still take care of ourselves."

"This will be good for you, Leah." Sue says encouragingly taking her daughter's hands into her own. "If anyone deserves this, it's you." Leah feels the back of her eyes begin to burn – oddly it's a strange and old familiar sensation; tears, crying.

"You've done your duty to the pack, the tribe and your family." Old Quil says smiling proudly at her.

"You never asked to be a 'protector' but you've fulfilled your purpose to us. Now it's time to fulfill your own." Sue says as Leah sits blinking furiously and biting her bottom lip fighting the hot tears that are threatening.

"But what," She knows it's another weak attempt to try and find some reason for the Elders to make her stay – to make her fight the animal within. She's not sure if she'll be human, herself, when she gets to her destination. She's not even sure if there's going to be civilization. Are they seriously thinking that this will be a good thing? "What about Jake and Seth?" Guilt washes over using her Alpha and brother as her scapegoats – her reason for staying.

"Jake needs to learn to stand on his own two feet or four paws. Depending upon his mood, of course." Billy says with a victorious smile over Leah.

"And Seth isn't a kid anymore. He has an imprint and is done with school." Sue throws out.

"And we'll find some way to live on even if you're gone." Old Quil says and that's it. Leah has no other 'outs'. The Elders know it, she knows it and the wolf inside her knows it and secretly they're all silently rejoicing in the realization. The talk continues on through the night of Leah's departure, when, what she'll take with her, tying up any loose odds and ends on the Rez and so forth. Her return is never addressed; mainly because they all know Leah may not return to La Push or at least within all of their lifetimes. They've seen her restlessness and have known of it for many years now. They've seen the longing look in her eyes as she sometimes seems to start daydreaming looking out towards the forest.

A/N: Alright, so yea, I've posted a new story but this idea hit me while suffering from a sleepless night in Tokyo. And just to clue you in that's where I've been. Had a blast I might add and will definitely be heading back soon. But I generally have good story ideas during illness and insomnia nights so let's see where this goes.