taciturn / paul lahote

"cat got your tongue?"

Issac and Daisy Black weren't happy - weren't happy at all. The siblings were being shipped to their Uncle Billy's house, requested by their work overloaded mother.

Their mother already had enough on her plate - after her husband died and left her with two young children, she had to work her ass off to support, provide, and be a good mother.

But, Lizzy Black had failed in the last department. She wasn't a good mother, she took her eyes off her children for a second and look where they are now. Driving through the small town of Forks, Washington, to get to her brother-in-law's home. Billy had a teenage son, Jacob, who had yet to phase.

Lizzy was worried for Jacob - she didn't know how this whole wolf thing worked. Would Jacob phase in the presence of another wolf? She didn't know and none of Billy's reassurance had helped her. She didn't want to send her children away but she knew, deep down, that it was the safest place for them to be after what had happened back home.

"You two excited to see Jacob?" She asked her children, Issac in the front and Daisy in the back. Lizzy sighed, the silence in the car was her answer.

Yes - the teens were happy to see their cousin and the rest of the family whom they hadn't seen in months.

But no - the teens weren't happy. Not because of the move but because of the reasoning behind the move.

The reasoning behind the fact that Daisy could no longer speak. The reasoning behind the fact that Issac is now a shapeshifter - taking after his father.

Lizzy felt a smile spread across her face when the small Black home appeared on the horizon. She hadn't been on the Reservation since her husband had passed away, which was going on eight years.

Before the car was even in park, Billy and Jacob were out of the door - big smiles adoring each of their faces. They knew what happened and they promised Lizzy to do their best in keeping the two of them safe and happy.

"Be nice to Uncle Billy, okay?" Lizzy says, turning to give each of her children a stern look. She knew they would, they were good kids.

"Yeah, whatever mom," Issac say, rolling his eyes before propping the door open with his arm. His short brown, almost black locks falling in his face as he sees his long haired cousin.

"Got your whiteboard?" Lizzy says, turning to her daughter in the back seat. Daisy nods, wiggling her whiteboard and expo markers in the air. She didn't go anywhere without them - it was one of the only ways she could communicate with people anymore.

Lizzy smiles sadly at her daughter, knowing that the move was the hardest on her. What her daughter went through wasn't something anyone should have. And what she saw her brother become wasn't all that bright either.

With a nod from her mother, Daisy pushed the car door open and slid out. She glanced around the property, noticing the dreariness the place emitted. Her eyes find her Uncle's - who she had always been close to.

"Daisy Bee!" Billy smiled, wheeling himself over to his niece's side. Daisy leaned down, wrapping her arm around her uncle's shoulder.

Billy pulled back, surveying the small girl in front of him. Physically - she appeared okay. But he know that mentally - she was the furthest thing from okay.

Daisy waved her hand in greeting, a smile widening her lips at her nickname. Growing up, the Black children were connected at the hip - regardless of the ages differences between the three cousins.

Issac led their small pack at eighteen with Daisy falling close behind at seventeen and Jacob bringing up the rear at sixteen.

These three had done everything together - from bathing to school, they were together every step of the way. It wasn't until Issac and Daisy's father passed away that their closeness disappeared.

Eight years ago, Joseph Black was attacked and killed by a vampire. It was a nomad that was passing through La Push - not the Cullens. It had been ages since the younger Black brother had shifted and when the time came, his ability had failed him.

Lizzy Black knew what had murdered her husband and that was something she wanted her children to know nothing of. After the funeral, a closed casket funeral, she and her two young children packed their bags and moved away - far away.

A tap on her shoulder shook Lizzy out of her thoughts, she looked over to see her daughter holding her whiteboard up with a coy smile on her face.

"Cat got your tongue?" Lizzy read Daisy's elegant scrawl in black erase marker aloud. Billy and Daisy began to laugh - the soprano and baritone voices mixing in harmony. Lizzy felt the happiness emitting from the small house and it instantly made her feel better - her children were finally safe again.

Lizzy quickly pulls her daughter into her arms, squeezing her tightly. "You're safe here - Billy and Issac will keep you safe."

Daisy nods her head, hugging her mom back equally as tight. She was scared - who wouldn't be? She felt her mom pull away, kissing her forehead before jumping back into the car. It wasn't until the car disappeared over the horizon that Daisy turned back to face her family.

"You hungry, kid?" Billy asks, leading Daisy into the house she hadn't been inside for years. It still smelled of pine needles and campfire smoke - a smell that Daisy adored.

"We're starved, Uncle B," Issac answers for his sister, shoulder bumping his shoulder with hers.

Jacob is about to reply when there is a loud knock on the door. Daisy, being the closest, opens the door, cautiously peeking outside. On the other side is a shirtless man, around his twenties. His black hair is cropped short and his jean shorts are damp. Daisy's eyes observe the large, tribal tattoo on his shoulder.

"Daisy," the man greets, his voice low and reeking with authority. "Is your brother here?"

Daisy nods, stepping aside so the man can enter. She vaguely remembers him, Sam Uley, for it had been years since she last saw him. He was twelve, maybe thirteen at the time where she had be seven or eight. Daisy didn't know why Sam would be looking for her brother but she had a hunch that it had to do with his recent chances.

"Sam," Billy greets, nodding his head at the large man towering over Daisy - who is watching Jacob glare at the man. Her eyes flit over to Issac, who is slowly approaching Sam.

"Sam Uley?" Issac says, his voice questioning.

"Issac Black," Sam nods.

Without another word, Sam exits the house with Issac trailing closely behind. The pair leaves - but not before Issac can place a quick kiss on his younger sister's forehead.

Jacob lets out an angry sigh, stepping forward to slam the door shut before storming off down the hallway. Daisy doesn't flinch at the Jacob's bedroom door slamming shut, only uncapping her marker to ask a question.

Wolf thing? Daisy write, flipping the board around to show her uncle. Billy nods, glancing over his shoulder at his son's bedroom door.

"Jacob doesn't know yet - but he hates Sam with all of him," he says, sighing. "Why don't you help me make dinner? Lizzy told me that you are quite the cook."

Daisy rolls her eyes, nodding her head. She followed her uncle into the kitchen where he had an array of foods laying on the counter.

A small smile crosses her face as she basks in the light of the kitchen - her gut feeling telling her that she was alright.

•••

firST CHAPTER HOLY FUUUUCK.

how do y'all like it so far?

any idea on what's gonna happen?

lmk what you all think!!

-M