Across fictive worlds

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Leia POV

Leia had been involved in planetary politics ever since she was fourteen. She was no stranger to squabbling parties, greedy nobles, hostile emissaries and arrogant Imperials all trying to get the upper hand.

Now, today, sitting at a long table together with the entire Cullen clan and the whole Quileute pack, everyone looking about two seconds away from trying to rip each other's throat out... She almost felt like she was home.

It wasn't really a table of course, rather it was one large tree that had been felled to provide at least a rudimentary barrier between the two parties, with the wolves and vampires sitting on various boulders and tree trunks around it. There was no way either party would let the other enter their territory so their meeting had to take place in between the two in the forest.

Leia knew that some of her decisions would be unpopular, especially since she hadn't bothered to get anyone's permission. In her experience, it was much easier to ask for forgiveness anyway.

"You had no right to force so many of our young people to shift and to spill all of our ancient secrets!" Sam shouted, his anger underlined by Paul, who growled threateningly. Edward had refused to play translator so if Sam wanted to get any word in, he had to take human form. The younger wolves were refusing to bar fangs at Leia so Paul was the only one who stayed in his furry form for the meeting. As far as Leia was concerned, that was already a great sign and put her at an advantage.

"All I did was explain the nature of their gift to them and give them an opportunity to embrace it", Leia replied evenly. "I informed them about all the risks and consequences. They made their choice themselves and if any of them are unhappy with it now, there is a way for you to quit your wolves and return to being plain human, is there not?"

"That's not the point!" Sam shouted. "This was none of your business! You had no right! They are too young."

Leia thought that was ridiculous. She'd already started practicing her shooting when she'd been Seth's age. It wasn't like she was demanding anyone to fight space battles or storm a fortified Imperial base.

"You only had two active wolves before I came along. Your primary purpose is defending the reservation from vampires. With just two, you can't possibly cover the entire area all the time. You still have to sleep and eat and take turns patrolling. You could maybe manage to defeat a single vampire but you'd be at a severe disadvantage if you were up against a larger number. Most vampires travel in pairs of at least two, often even three or four. Your current numbers weren't enough. I did you a favor by recruiting so many new wolves and it wasn't like I was counting on all of them agreeing!"

"Sam, just quit it", Jacob said annoyed. "She's right, if there are vampires heading here, it's better if the pack is as big as possible. That makes everyone safer and we all chose this life."

"As great as this development might turn out for the reservation", Carlisle said quietly, "I do wish you wouldn't have made this decision alone, Bella."

"That's right!" Rosalie growled. "Did you ever think about what it would mean for us to have such a large bunch of stinking mutts around!?"

"Watch your mouth!" Sam shouted, pointing at Rosalie.

"I am not a vampire", Leia made clear. "I am not a Quileute. I am a human from Forks. That's the side I'm on right now. Because Edward is my boyfriend, I have ties to the Cullens and because I care about human life, I feel a responsibility to warn the Quileute that can protect it when there's danger coming. Both Alice' and my premonition gifts predict a coven of three nomads coming this way. We don't know where exactly they'll go or who they will attack if they happen to be thirsty. If they come to the reservation, you will be glad you have a larger pack. If they come to Forks, I hope that you, Carlisle, would protect the humans there."