Cliff Diver || Paul Lahote•Jacob Black/Twilight Fanfiction

Chapter 36

"That's good, keep going!" Renata cheered on Leah.

Leah was standing in the middle of the river into which the water from the Cascades fell, it reached her up to her waist. She had her eyes closed and her palms just above the water surface but without touching the water. Dozens of water orbs of different sizes were floating around Leah, one even had a fish swimming inside it.

In the last three days, Leah had made an enormous effort and in result had an enormous improvement. Leah definitely seemed more comfortable in her own skin and with her powers. She could almost keep up with Renata on the runs. Renata knew that with more training and connecting to the Quileute spiritual teachings, she would become a great Shaman. Sadly, as Leah progressed and connected with the land, Renata could feel her connection quivering. The land knew that Leah was there, and its energy gravitated around her. Renata knew it was a necessary process but it was still hard to accept. It was not that Renata was loosing her powers, they were as strong as ever, it was just that she felt detached from reality.

"How did I do?" Leah asked, opening her eyes and lowering the water orbs. Leah's eyes shone silver, contrasting with Renata's gold.

"Amazing, I am impressed by how, in only some days, you've connected with your powers" Renata said truthfully. Leah came out of the water and sat in front of where Renata was sitting.

"It's all thanks to you, Renata. Without your guidance and your support, I would have never been able to do what I can" Leah told her, putting one of her hands over Renata's and looking into her eyes for a second too long, "uhm but thank you, I had a great time with you this weekend, we should do it again sometime. We should pack" Leah said quickly, standing up abruptly and walking away to the camp. Renata was pretty oblivious of the reason for Leah's sudden mood change.

Renata sent a quick text over to Sam and Paul telling them they were gonna head back. Leah obviously used her powers to help her pack because by the time Renata looked up from her phone, Leah was already zipping up the bags.

"Wow, you're really getting the hang of it, aren't you?" Renata laughed.

They walked out of the woods through the trail they had originally taken on the way in, and ended up in a side of the road. Neither of them were ecstatic about walking all the way back to Bear Creek Motel, where they had left Paul's truck, so they started asking for a ride. They let the first car that stopped, go, it was a middle aged mad with a two door old yellow Ford Galaxie, it seemed suspicious. The second car that stopped was driven by a lady that first asked if they were white, as soon as they said no, she drove away. They do say third time's a charm, because the third car that stopped was a guy around 20 years old, he was blonde and was really handsome.

"Where to, ladies?" He asked politely.

"Bear Creek Motel, it's just some miles down the road, could you give us a ride"? Leah asked him.

"Sure thing" He unlocked the doors and allowed them to enter the car, "so, what are you doing all the way out here?" He asked after ten minutes in the car.

"We were hiking with some friends but we got separated, we are meeting them at the motel" Renata lied. Better make him think they were being expected... just in case.

"Yeah, this forest can play games on you" the guy laughed, "I'm Riley, by the way"

"Nice to meet you, Riley, I'm Renata, and this is Leah" Renata told him, pointing at the back seat at Leah, "You know the area? You know, since you said the forest can play games on you"

"I grew up in Forks but moved to Seattle when I was in High School, I used to spend a lot of time in the outdoors. I'm pretty familiar with the area" Riley said with a smile, "Now I'm going back to visit my aunt and uncle, I'm thinking about taking a sabbatical year before I start university, I'm still quite indecisive. I am thinking of majoring in Geology or Vulcanology"

"Well, that sounds really exciting" Leah said with genuine interest.

"It is, they both are, which is why I can't decide. I am hoping my aunt will help me, she's a psychologist, so maybe she can help me figure myself out" Riley told them with a smile on his face. He seemed like a good guy, the kind that calls his mom whenever he goes out just so she doesn't worry.

"I hope you find what makes you happy" Renata told him.

"Thanks, I think this is you guys" Riley said as he pulled over at Bear Creek.

"Thanks Riley" Renata told him as her and Leah got out of the car.

"Sure thing, be safe, guys!" Riley called from the open window as he drove away.

Renata and Leah loaded their stuff in the back of the truck and took a beak before heading home. They went to the small Diner next to the motel and both had a plentiful breakfast. Leah insisted on paying the bill, she said it was a thanks for all the work and time Renata had spent on her.

"You don't have to thank me, Leah, it's important that you learn and I am more than happy to help you. I didn't have to do it alone, it was hard enough as it was and I couldn't imagine having to go through all of it alone, so I don't want to leave you" Renata told them and held Leah's hand in an encouraging way.

Just as they were holding hands, a group of truck drivers walked past them, looked at them up and down and said some things Renata and Leah pretended not to hear. They just kept walking, wanting to get out of there as soon as possible.

"At least that lesbo won't pass down her s- genes" one of the men said loudly. Not even a millisecond later, Renata spun around aggressively. Leah only had time to hold her by the belt loop to stop her from stomping into those men.

"Come back here and say that to my face, ¡hijo'e'puta!" Renata yelled at them. Leah held her by the waist, using her powers to be actually able to stop her.

"You better keep holding your little girlfriend, s-" a tall fat man with red sideburns, told Leah, pointing at them, "I would hate to have to ruin that pretty face of hers" his friends laughed.

"Oh, I'm not worried about her if I let her go. Although, if you keep saying slurs, I might just do it" Leah was using both hands to hold Renata, who was displaying a colourful rotation of words in Spanish, all of which were prohibited at home by her mother.

"Yeah? I would like to see that beaner try!" The same man yelled and walked over to them. Renata stopped trashing about as the man approached. Leah carefully released Renata, "What are you gonna do, little girl?"

"Nothing, if you apologize to my girlfriend" Renata said carefully. She was not gonna go and correct them about Leah not being her girlfriend, it would make her less intimidating.

"I think not" the man said and spat on Renata's face.

"You really should not have done that" Leah backed away two steps.

"Yeah, are you gonna hit me, girly?" the man cooed in mockery.

Before Renata could answer, a fist collided with the man's face. The man fell to the ground with a now broken cheekbone. Renata and Leah looked to where the fist came from and saw Paul standing there. He put his hand on Renata's cheek and wiped away the man's spit from her face.

"You girls okay?" Paul looked at Leah. They both nodded, "Let's go home" he told them, then saw that the man was standing up, "if I were you, I'd stay in the ground, or this time I'm not gonna stand in her way"

Sorry for the long wait! I will definitely try to be more active.
Love you guys
Xoxo, E