Howl

A Stray at the Door

"You can't keep me in here!" Edmond shouted as he swipped everything off of the fireplace mantle, tossing it all to the floor.

Vases shattered, and picture frames cracked as they hit the wooden floors of the spacious log cabin.

Sable narrowed her sea green eyes "boy, you will stay inside and you will like it." She said with a passive venom on her tongue. "I promised your father to keep you safe until he gets here." She added, stooping to pick up the broken shards.

Edmond rolled his eyes and looked out the window, a storm raging outaide in the night. "Its not fair. I'm old enough, he should have taken me with him." He whispered.

Sable sighed and stood, discarding the glass into a small black waste bin. She turned to Edmond with her arms crossed "well to be honest I think he was hoping you'd be the one protecting me with all thats going on." She said with a timid smirk, hoping to cheer the kid up.

Edmond chuckled "you're probably right." He said. Sable smiled "good, Tantrum gone now?" She asked pointing over her shoulder with her thumb. Sable grinned "I made the best hot chocolate in the world" She said.

She gave a goofy wink "psssst I put a few drops of whiskey in it. Your dad doesnt have to know." She whispered. Edmond beamed "seriously?!" He gasped. His excitement sent Sable into a fit of giggles "hell no kid, D would kill me and you know it." Sable laughed.

"Thats not cool Sable." Endond sulked heading towarss the kitchen. "Yeah well, you know what else isn't cool? Your Dad turning me into a fur rug."  She mused following after him.

"D-dad it's c-co-cold...where a-are we going?" Renesmee said shivering from head to toe. Her father jacket draped over her shoulders as she was soaked with rain water.

"I know sweety, we're almost there." Edward said with a stiff smile, a hand grasping her hand to keep her close, while the other hand held tightly to the sides of his stomach.

His words were brwathy with exhaustion and strained from the dull ache in his side. Shoes worn to their limit from endless travel.

"Just a bit further..." He whispered to himself. Renesmee yelped as her foot snagged in a large root and she toppled into the mud. "Dad!" She called, Edward scooped her into his arms and carefully let her climb onto his back.

"Just hold on." He puffed "I can walk. I'm heavy and you're hurt." She protested with worry in her eyes. Edward smiled "I can walk faster," edward chuckled in a bit of a hum. He glanced over his shoulder. "You're strong, you're mom would be proud Renesme." He said offering a warm smile.

Renesme returned his smile slowly and nodded "she's  proud of both of us." She said. Edward nodded and turned his gaze to the path ahead. Through the gaps in the trees and curtainof rain, he saw an orange glow. He smiled, it had to be the place but even still it was but a flicker in the distance.

Edward took in a deep breath adjusted Renesme on his back and focused on the path ahead. Vampsires or otherwise, they were weakened by pure exhaustion and lack of blood - they needed shelter fast or he feared for his daughter.

From inside the cabin Sable and Edmond laughed as she told stories about his father, when a loud knock came from the front door.

"Hello!" A voice called, hoarse yet booming, desperate to be heard. Sable looked at Edmond and pressed her finger to her lips. She crept to a shotgun nearby and picked it up - creeping slowly towards the door.

"Hello! I'm looking for Sable Swan!" The voice called from behind the door. Sable narrowed her eyes "please, is this the home of a Sable Swan!" He called.

Sable leaned against the door and held her gun ready "Depends, who wants to know!" She shouted back.

Edward grunted softly and lowered Renesme from his back, he gripped his side tighter and took a few breaths to steady the pain. He gavebhis dry lips a lick "Family, I am your sister Bella's husband!" He called.

"Husband?" Sable whispered, she hadn't spoken to Bella in years and knew nothing of her life. Last they had spoken was 13 years ago, and she hung up on her.

Sable's heart raced "yeah? How bput ypu prove it by answering a question!" She called.

Edward nodded and leaned on the door with the palm of his hand. "Fine, ask." He said.

"What did I used to call her," Sable asked. Edward's eyes moved left to right as he searched his memories.  He chuckled a bit "belcha..." He chuckled. "The two of you...you butted heads often." He added.

Sable lowered her gin and quickly unlocked the door, throwing it open. As she did so, Edward collapsed forward. Sable caught him in her arms as he passed out her eyes landed on a girl who favored Bella's looks.

"Dad!" Renesmee called rushing to him. "Come on, come on in. I've got him." Said Sable, she gauged Edwards weight and picked him up carrying him in her arms.

Renesme watched her a bit taken back as sables lean arms hardly seemed strong enough to lift a grown man. Sable kicked the door shut and ushered Renesmee to the living room.

"Edmond, please get her something warm to drink." Sable instructed as the thunder cracked outside.

Edmond rushed to fix a cup of chocolate while Sable carefully laid Edward on the sofa. She then dashed off towards one of the down stairs bathrooms. In the linen closet she snatched up towels and blankets.

"Here, to dry yourself off." Sable said to the little girl, handing her a towel before gently wraping a blanket around her shoulders.

Renesme shivered as she sipped on hot chocolate. "Thanks" she said in a small tired voice. Sable offered a small smile to her while covering the girls father with a blanket.

"The fire should warm the room soon." Edmond announced after successfully geeting the fireplace going. "He's hurt you know...a...thing, clawed out his side..." Renesme said.

"A thing?" Sable asked, the girl nodded slowly "it-it used to be one of us. Thats what dad said. You know what we are because you're like Jacob. Renesme added. "Jacob? Who is..." Sable asked confused. "A werewolf." Renesme explained.

Edward groaned and his forhead started to sweat. "Help him!" Renesmee called.

Sable pulled back the blankets and carefully lifted Edward's shirt. On his side was a deep wound, it had stopped bleeding for the most part but it looked infected, yellow foam seeping slowly from the center.

"Lord." Sable exhaled. "Ok, ok - um Edmond? Bud go get me hot water, the saline and the first aid kit under the kitchen sink!" Sable called and Edmond scurried away. "And a ice pack!" She added.

"This thing that hurt your dad...did it look like a man with webed wings melted woth his arms? Very ugly." Sable asked. Renesme shook her head "it was a woman..." Renesme said.

Sable felt her heart drop to her stomach "it- it wasnt, the creature it - was it..." Sable fumbled over her words. "No, it wasnt mom." Renesme said. Sable exhaled and closed her eyes in overwhelming relief.

Renesme watched her carefully and decided she wouldn't say anything further. She didnt want to hurt the woman as she seemed kind enough.

Edmond returned with the items Sable had asked for and she quickly got to work on trying to help the girls father.