Something I've never known ((Ethan))

[Sarah Falls]

It was hot. Almost stifling. That was the first thing Sarah noticed in the early hours of the morning, as she slowly drifted to back to consciousness. A smile tugging at the corner of her lips, as the wispy remains of a dream clung to her mind. She'd dreamt she was flying over a vast ocean, full of the bluest water she'd ever seen, and sea life. A clear and sunny sky resting over her head, with the faintest smell of spring in the wind. Anyone who'd had a flying dream could say they were awesome. But this one was different than the ones she'd had before. She felt absolutely weightless, and free, without fear of falling or drowning. It was wonderful. Simply bliss.

Letting out a soundless sigh, Sarah wished she could fall back into the wonderful dream. But reality called as it always did... as well as a shower to get rid of the stickiness she felt waking up in a light sheen of sweat. God. Why was it so hot? Wasn't Forks Washington known for it's cool weather just as much as the rain? Shifting to lightly stretch her limbs, Sarah suddenly realized where the heat was coming from. It's source a wall of muscle and flesh, pressed against her back. Strong arms were wrapped loosely around her waist; protective but not overpowering. Soft hairs brushed against her fingertips.

Ethan. Having the faintest memories of watching movies, and playing board games, then falling asleep on his couch; Sarah knew without a doubt she was still at his house, even without opening her eyes. The scents caressing her nose were different. Masculine. Clean, and earthy. All Ethan, to put it short. She knew she must've been in his bed because of the firmer texture of the mattress against her side. Finally opening her eyes lazily, Sarah could see it was still dark inside the room, with the curtains drawn. However a sliver of light leaking through a crack in the curtains let her know it must've been morning by now. Spilling over the bed, highlighting a dark comforter, and pale wrinkled button down shirt.

Turning carefully to not wake Ethan, Sarah took a moment to gaze at him. She could just barely make out his face in the dark, reaching forward to brush the tips of her fingers through his hair, before leaning in to press her lips to his cheeks. She couldn't be bothered to worry over what her parent's would have to say when she got home, about her staying the night with Ethan. It wasn't as if anything had happened. It really didn't get much more innocent than warm embraces, and soft kisses. That was all that had happened between them. Sarah only hoped her parent's trusted her enough to know she hadn't done anything she'd be ashamed to tell them.... though her father didn't need to know about her sleeping arrangements.

It was too early to be up, least of all for a Saturday. But Sarah had always been a morning bird. Once she was up there wasn't any going back to sleep. Especially not in the stifling heat she was trapped in, between the heat Ethan's body exuded, and the thick comforter. Briefly debating waking Ethan up for a morning run, she quickly dashed that thought at the peaceful look on his face. It was lonely being up in a house that wasn't hers by herself, but she could deal. And with the low crime rate in Forks Washington, Sarah supposed she didn't absolutely need Ethan to run with her.

Carefully easing her way out of the Ethan's arms, as well as the cocoon she'd wrapped herself in; Sarah successfully managed to make it out of bed without disturbing her sleeping companion, mind made up. Her stiff limbs were aching for this run.

Shivering as her bare feet touched the wooden floor, cooled by the window which was slightly cracked, Sarah noticed how much colder the rest of the room seemed compared to Ethan's bed. Silently padding from the room, she wrapped her arms around herself, making her way to the bathroom. She hadn't planned on staying the night, simply too tired at the time to make the drive. So she was not only dealing with being in yesterdays clothes, but rancid morning breath. Knowing Ethan wouldn't mind her borrowing a bit of mouthwash, Sarah hummed an easy tune around a mouthful, spitting and rinsing, then making her way down the stairs to find her shoes and socks.

There was no hope in taming her hair at the moment, so a simple ponytail would have to do. Not all that concerned about her appearances since there probably would be hardly anyone up this early, Sarah drifted into the kitchen in search of a granola bar and yogurt, to not run on an empty stomach. Both were easy enough to find. Eating quickly, Sarah cleaned up her mess, and headed for the door. After a quick stretch, she set off at a brisk jog. A light fog drifted over the ground. A nip to the air which promised snow, as well as a cold if not stocked up on plenty of vitamins. Not really minding the cold as long as the rain stayed away during her run, Sarah kicked up her pace; heading for a path through the forest.

There were rumors of bears. It had even been on the news how hikers were known to go missing from time to time, or be attacked by these bears. But Sarah wasn't afraid. She figured she'd hear a bear coming a mile away. They weren't exactly quiet animals. And as long as she stuck to the route she knew, she thought things would be just fine.

[Ethan Shepard]

Ethan felt movement from beside him but thought nothing of it. He was so sound asleep, even a noise may not wake him. Eyes shut tightly, his mind raced with a vivid dream of him and Sarah from the night before. It was simple, just the two of them sitting side by side outside, talking about life and such things but it was so real, Ethan could only reach out and touch her perfectly set curls. Then, there was silence as she looked away from him and at the sky. Smiling, she lifted her fingers and pointed to a cloud. "Ethan...do you see that small cloud up there? The one that looks like a leaf?" Ethan knew it was a dream, but even his movements were fluid. Yes...why? He held up his hand and stared at the sky, keeping the sun from his eyes. "I wish I could fly up there and just watch the world below. Would you come with me?" He smiled now, nodding once and looking back to her. I would follow you anywhere. She smiled in return before standing and walking out into the field ahead and Ethan watched before suddenly, everything went white.

His eyes struggled to open as he blinked a few times, rubbing them with his hand as he sat up slowly. The spot beside him was now cool though a faint heat from where she had layed could still be felt. He placed his hand down on the covers as if to measure just how long it had been since she was next to him before slowly crawling out of bed and stretching. He pulled back the curtains and sighed, watching the sky as the usual grey sky filled with even more clouds. Looking back and around the room, he listened carefully and realized no one else was here. Leaving the room and heading to the kitchen, he noticed the yogurt cup in the trash and a wrapper as well and he looked around.

He made his way into each room, looking around before stopping. He knew she wouldn't have left for home and going to the beach or anywhere else on the rez alone was something he couldn't imagine her doing. But why was she gone? Stopping his movement, he thought for a second before deciding to check outside. He made his way to the door and opened it, the cool morning air hitting his face. It felt good, almost peaceful against his own body heat. He lifted his nose and smelled the air before pausing and looking towards the trees.

Something was not right. He had Sarah's scent and it led to the line of trees at the forest edge. But there was another scent, an unfamiliar scent. Ethan felt his muscles tighten as he left back into the house and grabbed a white shirt and some shoes before turning back and heading for the door. Once outside, he jogged out to the tree and took off his clothes, setting them aside so that they would be there later beneath an old pine and phased. Bones cracked and shifted and he grunted as he trotted over the undergrowth through the trees. It was quiet, almost too quiet and Ethan still had both scents in his nose. As he continued on, both grew stronger but the unfamiliar one changed and stung his nose.

Ethan froze. Vampire. It was so plain as day now and he almost cursed himself for not recognizing it before. Sarah was out here and so was a creature that was probably more than hunting her by now. Ethan began to get anxious as he picked up his speed. He knew something was wrong and he needed to find Sarah, sooner than later.

[Sarah Falls]

She wasn't sure how much time had passed. Maybe a half hour. Sarah wasn't really too concerned about the time, knowing at the very least it was still early. She didn't expect Ethan to be up for awhile, and by then she would be back, so he'd never have to worry about her missing or anything. Truthfully she felt a bit guilty for not waking him up before hand, to tell her where she was heading, imagining being in his shoes and waking up to an empty bed. But it wasn't her fault he looked so peaceful when he slept, she thought with a slight smile, as she ran.

Her breath came out in short pants, small puffs of fog on the winter air. The only sounds Sarah was aware of was the sound of her own heart pounding, along with branches and leaves crunching under her feet, as they pounded rhythmically against the earth. Her legs had developed that familiar burn, her abs tightening with the exertion, as her arms pumped fiercely. It was peaceful, running through the forest in the early morning. Sarah didn't even miss the absence of her ipod, that she usually took along on runs. It was just her and nature. The cool environment kept her body at an even temperature, which Sarah was thankful for.

Sarah carried on running without stopping for awhile, though the burn in her lungs eventually forced her to slow down. Her body was screaming for a break, that she would happily give not that most of the pent up energy she'd felt this morning was spent. Wishing she'd have thought to bring along her water bottle, Sarah spotted a log in the distance, as her surroundings became clearer. No longer simple blurs of browns and greens, as she sped along the path.

Bending to sit against the fallen log, she reached up to adjust her pony tail, her chest heaving with the effort of catching up on her oxygen level. Quickly tucking the thick curls under the elastic band, Sarah dropped her hands to rest against her knees; reaching up to brush her fingers across her sweaty face. The wind mildly stung her cheeks, and she was sure they were a deep red by now, as usual whenever she ran. But Sarah didn't mind, feeling content in her environment for the time being. Her thoughts drifted back to Ethan, lazily.

Sarah wondered what he was dreaming about, picturing his peaceful features once again. It was obvious he was in a deep sleep, with how easily she crept from the bed without waking him. She wondered if he was dreaming of her, like her often visited her dreams. Feeling those familiar butterflies stirring in her stomach, Sarah couldn't help but missing Ethan's presence as time passed. They hadn't even been apart for long. She'd noticed in the beginning that any time away from Ethan seemed too long. The distance too wide. Sarah wasn't entirely sure this was healthy, but she couldn't bring herself to care. She didn't mind needing Ethan.

As more time passed, an uncomfortable feeling began to unfold in Sarah's stomach, ruining the content feeling she'd once felt. It was a heavy feeling. The kind you got when someone was watching you. Aware of the way the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, Sarah turned her gaze from the forest ground, looking around. Of course she didn't know where to actually look, unable to see anything from where she sat. A spike of fear went through Sarah's heart, thinking that maybe those bears mentioned on the news were closer than she thought.

But then she brushed aside those thoughts, sticking with her earlier thoughts. Bears weren't stealthy creatures. She'd hear one coming before it got too close to hurt her... maybe it was her own paranoia blowing things out of proportion. This was the forest after all, there was probably other non- carnivore animals hanging about. Realizing that she was pretty much looking for any reason to justify her fear, Sarah pushed herself to stand. She'd just keep walking. It was that simple. And yet it actually wasn't simple at all.

She couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in her stomach, and Sarah thought it might be wise to trust her instincts. Even if her fears were actually no existent. It was better safe than sorry... and to think she didn't even carry her usual mace on her. Suddenly feeling unbelievably foolish for coming to the forest alone, with no means to protect herself, Sarah tried to keep her chin up. She listened carefully to her surroundings, trying not to let fear overcloud her judgment. Now that she thought about it. It was awfully quiet in the forest. The silence was almost louder words. The unusuallness of it causing her further discomfort.

Still feeling like she was being watched, Sarah turned to look at her surroundings, glancing back behind her to make sure she wasn't followed. Was that a rustle she'd heard? Frowning, Sarah briefly imagined herself as an ant underneath a magnifying glass. That was how she'd appear to any predators. Cursing herself for allowing such thoughts to cross her mind at a time like this, Sarah turned her attention back to the path ahead. The breath stolen from her lungs, as she let out a loud gasp, feeling her heart skip a beat.

Deathly pale. That was the only thing Sarah could think, as she took an automatic step back, to put space between her and the unexpected stranger. Their skin was white as snow. There was an alluring pull about them, she couldn't quite grasp; both terrified, confused, and enchanted all at once if that were possible. The figure in front of her was without a doubt a woman.. almost appearing like a statue for how still she stood; her dark looks floating around her like a dark halo. She was beautiful. Hauntingly and terrifyingly so.

The strange woman stood completely still, her form graceful even while standing still. She strongly resembled a lioness in spirit. Waiting. Watching. Her muscles posed to pounce upon her prey at any minute... and yet that wasn't what captured Sarah's attention. The unnatural feel of her presence which didn't seem from this world, wasn't what made her tremble in fear. It was her eyes. Those eyes... a deep sinister red. The exact color of blood. And there was no way contacts could seem that real, Sarah barely noted to herself as she took another step back. Then another. There was only one thing left to do, when faced with something something this freaky. Run like hell.

Forcing her tired legs to move as fast as they would go, Sarah felt as if her heart were in her throat. She could barley think in her frantic state, forgetting which way was home. She'd lost all sense of direction, running purely on adrenaline, and the fierce need to get somewhere safe. She could hear no footsteps behind her alerting her of the stranger following her. Not that that made any difference. There wasn't a chance in hell, Sarah was slowing down... willingly at least.

A shriek ripped from her lips, as the edge of her jeans snagged on something, sending her tumbling to the ground. The wind was knocked out of her. Pushing herself into a sitting position on weak limbs, Sarah could see the edge of her jeans snagged on a tree root. The part of her ankle that had been exposed was covered in dirt smudges, a thin line of blood cutting through the grime. Sarah couldn't even feel it, fueled with adrenaline. Though she knew it would burn like hell later.

It seemed like minutes had passed, but in truth only seconds before the breath was stolen from her lips again. All Sarah could see was a blur, then the strange woman standing right above her. Her nostrils were flared, inky black eyes locked on her wounded ankle. Sarah wasn't sure what the woman was doing, though she knew it wasn't good. Feeling a cold chill go up her spine as she was faced with her possible death, Sarah could only close her eyes and wish it all was a bad dream. There was nowhere to run. Not enough time to get away... this was the end for her. Hearing an animalistic growl, Sarah braced herself as she drew a breath, one name crossing her mind. Ethan.

[Ethan Shepard]

Paws pounding the earth, breath sporatic and yet even all at once. Ethan let his eyes dash over the surface of the ground and past the trees and brush as he searched for any sight of Sarah. Her scent was so strong now and he knew he was so close. All he could think was that he should have left sooner when he realized she wasn't on the bed. If anything happened to her, he wouldn't be able to live. Facing life without her seemed practically impossible to him now.

Taking a sharp turn as the scent shifted, he practically rolled himself as his claws dug into the damp dirt and clung into it, pulling him back as he sprinted forth, small rocks and such flying behind him. Frantic now, he began to whine slightly as he took to a small pathway. He knew few people would be out this early, except Sarah. But he had little choice if she saw him like this. As he hit another line of trees, he jumped the main road and continued on but as he went to turn, the sight of someone running nearby sent him to an immediate halt.

He turned his head and watched as none other than Sarah ran only a few hundred feet away but something wasn't right. There was panic in her expression and it only took a shift of his body for him to spot it. The blood sucker only feet behind her. Practically walking. Toying with her mind. Ethan growled loudly and jumped forth just as the creature reached Sarah who was now planted on the ground. Ethan wasted no time, turning enough so that he bounded over Sarah. He payed no mind to her, his true form taking over.

Growls echoed through the air as his large body collided with the vampire and sent them both tumbling back to the growl. Ethan became angry, snarling and teeth gnashing at its face but she fought back just as well. He felt hands crush into his sides but he gripped her arm with his teeth and swung his head, pulling her up in the air and back to the dirt hard. She growled and did her best to grip him but his paw pinned her down. She managed to move herself enough so she could push him out of the way, her focus still on the blood on Sarah's ankle and he knew it would force her to push harder.

Ethan's body hit a nearby tree with a loud crack and he fell to the ground. He couldn't give up or it would cost him her life. He felt his paws scratch at the surface of the ground before they finally got a grip and he pulled himself up and into a full run. He jumped and took her down again, just feet from a horrified Sarah and he got his teeth around her head before tearing back, the loud sound of shattering glass echoing through the silence as her head feel and rolled by a nearby rock. Ethan panted, limping in pain at his side she had inflicted but he looked to Sarah, almost forgetting she had no idea what he was. He stepped forward to ask if she was alright but all that came out was a low noise from his throat.

He stopped, realizing just what had happened. Sarah knew everything now. Maybe not what he was but the truth about his world. And he couldn't afford to involve her more than she already was. Panicking a bit, he took off into the trees just as she had started running. He knew she would be heading back to his place and if he had to be ready for how she would react.

[Sarah Falls]

She couldn't bring herself to open her eyes, and watch as her own death approached. All Sarah could hear were growls seeming to echo throughout the forest. Because there was noone else out there, she assumed. Only her, the victim and her predator. Noone would hear her screams and shouts; Sarah could imagine the woman laughing coldly, as tears streaked her face. Though the idea of death was terrifying, her thoughts weren't on herself. Sarah thought of all the people in her lives... it was their pain that broke her heart. Her mother was be devastated. Completely fall apart. And her dad would try to be strong, for the family, but Sarah knew he'd die inside. She was his little girl... her brothers would be heartbroken, their small faces crumbled with sorrow. It would be like a domino affect. In her death, she'd do the one thing she never wanted.. hurt the people she loved.

Sarah couldn't even imagine how Ethan react. As insane as it was, and maybe a bit selfish, his reaction cut her the most. She didn't want him to hurt because she'd made a stupid decision. But then what choice did she have now. ' I'm sorry, Ethan. I love you mom, and dad. ', a voice inside her mind seemed to finalize her ending. A shadow passed over her eyes, and Sarah expected the pain to come any minute now. Any second.

Another deeper growl interrupted the silence, and Sarah would swear an eternity had passed, but again only seconds. It sounded as if two rocks had impacted, forcing her to open her eyes and look towards the source. To an outsider this would seem like a miracle. The large wolf had come from out of nowhere, and literally saved Sarah's life. But to a teenaged girl in the middle of the forest alone, with two supernatural creatures wrestling near her, there was only one emotion that was far from gratitude. Fear.

Her heart was pounding. Absolute horror painted on her face. It was impossible to think logically at a time like this, especially when what was happening in front of her defied logic in every way. All Sarah could do was sit there, frozen in horror at the scene. The woman's eyes were locked on her, like a sniper aiming at it's target. She was deadly, and precise, having an unnatural speed and strength about her. The wolf should've crushed her. Ripped her apart by now, and yet she held her own, as if the two were evenly matched. Speaking of wolf, Sarah had never seen an animal so big. She couldn't get over the size of it's teeth... the way it's face twisted, and snarled at the woman who wouldn't look away from her. God. She had to get away.

But she was frozen. Absolutely frozen, even as the woman pushed the wolf away, going to finish Sarah off. Everything was happening so fast. Sarah felt any attempt she made would've been pointless, as she was officially the only prey in the midst of these wild beasts. This had to be a horrible dream. A mind boggling, chillingly real nightmare. These types of things didn't exist past horror movies. It couldn't be real. Unaware of how her whole body completely trembled, Sarah could only stare as the wolf took the woman down again, dispatching her limbs horrifyingly easy. Then it was over, it seemed.

As if something had clicked on in her brain, melting the ice that had formed around her body; Sarah scrambled to her feet as fast as she could, as the wolf turned towards her, growling. She couldn't move fast enough. Sarah knew if the wolf was to make her his next prey, she didn't stand a chance. But that wasn't to stop her from trying, as she took off running, pushing her legs past their limits. Tears streamed down her face, unnoticed by Sarah, as she ran like her life depended on it. There was one place she knew to go, where safety await. Ethan.

Everything was blur, between the speed at which she ran, and the tears clouding her vision. Sarah wasn't even aware of when the forest had given way to grass, houses now in sight. She kept running, even as her heart felt as if it would burst any second, knowing if she stopped she would collapse. "Ethan!" Breathlessly shouting his name as she neared his house, Sarah's eyes darted around wildly. "Ethan!" She didn't even know where he was, or if he'd come looking for her. Her mind was so beyond reasoning right now, all Sarah could do was yell through strangled sobs, as she collapsed near the steps in a heap. Rocking with wide frantic eyes, as she curled into a fatal position.

[Ethan Shepard]

He ran along the line of trees, keeping a good distance from her but he knew that in her state of mind, the last thing she would hear was him following her. He had to make sure she would be safe going back home. Having a vampire this close to the rez was a risk and he would need to let Sam or any of the other wolves know as soon as he could. It was not safe for anyone. He reached the line of the trees, his house in sight and he slowed to a stop, phasing back and scrambling to put his clothes back on but as he attempted to button his pants, her screams came.

They resonated through his mind, shattering his thoughts of her possibly handling it well. After all, this was Sarah. Life was what it was. Reality. And only humans and animals were realistic. Any alterations to that, and you had an absolute nightmare. Clearly, she was experiencing the later. He hurried with his shirt and shook the brush and dust from his hair at least as he ran out of the trees.

With each step he took, he could only pray she would be okay. That she would listen and understand if it came to the truth. But he knew that this, right here, would last for days if not longer. She wouldn't be okay right away, and he could do nothing about it. Running faster, he called out her name just as she collapsed and he worried she may pass out. "Sarah!!" he shouted, a little afraid now. He pushed himself harder before he felt himself collapse on the ground beside her, her sobs ringing out and he had to get her inside before anyone else happened to stumble across the two of them.

Picking her up without question, he held her tightly and carried her inside, shutting the door behind him with his now very muddy feet. His knees were all dirty where he had been kneeling by her yet he didn't bother to pay any attention to it. Barely making it all the way into the house, he stopped and set her down on the ground, right where the couch and coffee table stood between them and the door. He wanted her to feel safer and yet he couldn't act like he knew what had happened.

"Sarah....Sarah look at me. Are you okay??" he asked, looking her over and pretending to just notice her ankle. "You're hurt...what happened? Speak to me babe..." he said gently, pulling her closer to him into a protective embrace, his heart still racing as images of that vampire heading for her resonated through his mind. He shut his eyes tight and clenched his teeth as if it would help, wishing there was something he could do.

[Sarah Falls]

Someone was calling her name. She thought it might be Ethan, but honestly Sarah wasn't sure what was what right now. Everything she'd thought she knew had just been turned upside down. She felt arms wrap around her, lifting her from the damp ground. Those arms were loving, protective. But Sarah couldn't help flinching at the contact, still in a state of survival. She couldn't stop the images of bared teeth, and ruby eyes from assaulting her vision. She just wanted them to disappear, so that she could pretend it all was a bad dream, and she was just waking up.

Wrapping her arms around herself, Sarah couldn't bring her gaze from the floor, as she was sat back on her feet. Still feeling half an urge to run, in her heart she knew there wasn't any place safer for her than right there with Ethan. Ethan. He was trying to get her to talk. Comforting her with his soft words. Sarah could feel warm arms wrapping around her again, and she broke. They melted the ice surrounding her limbs, and Sarah could only throw her arms around Ethan tightly, clinging to him. She didn't dare close her eyes in fear of the images that haunted her. Afraid for herself, as well as him knowing what was out there.

"I saw something..." Speaking in a hushed whisper, Sarah clenched handfuls of Ethan's shirt in her hands. "I-I saw something, I shouldn't have Ethan. It was horrible. You'd never believe me..." She didn't want to relive the events, or even talk about what had happened. But Ethan deserved to know, because he lived in this town too. And his safety was everything to Sarah. "There was a woman. With pale skin, a-and these... red eyes. Then a giant wolf, or dog, I don't know what it was." The words slipped past her lips in a jumbled sentence, and Sarah couldn't stop the choked sob from escaping her lips.

"I was terrified, Ethan.. I-I thought I was gonna die." Burying her face into his neck, Sarah could feel more tears slipping from her eyes. Pulling back, she looked at him, trying to even her breathing. But it was hard when panic was gripping her. "We have to do something, we have to tell someone Ethan." Her eyes widened at the thought of her family coming across what she'd seen. Or Ethan. Her mind was racing a thousand miles a minute.

[Ethan Shepard]

Ethan felt her small arms wrap around his neck and he held her back as if his life depended it. He didn't want to let go in fear that those thoughts would return to her and mark her for good. It was bad enough she had to see a vampire, but to have both creatures come into her reality all at once when the world she knew was no longer true was hard enough. He wished he could find some way of fixing it for her, but he also knew that at this point she would need to fix it for herself. She would have to open her mind and try her best to understand if possible.

Ethan listened and shushed her, hoping it would calm her nerves. "I will believe you..." he said, looking around the room as he held her to him. Nerves suddenly on edge, he began to wonder if this was a good idea. If the situation they were in was safe. He knew telling her the truth would risk everything, even her trust, but not saying a word could make things worse. He bit his lip and held his breath.

He ran his fingers through her hair slowly, sighing slightly in sadness as she spoke of her fear of death. The last time Ethan had feared losing anything, especially his life was before phased. He barely knew what fear felt like anymore. For him, danger was a part of life. It was an everyday experience just to keep those he loved from being afraid. But today, in the woods, he had almost failed himself and even worse, Sarah. If he hadn't gotten there in time....

His mind snapped back to reality and he pulled back a bit at her next words. "We can't tell anyone..." he said before realizing just what he had done. He had basically justified that he knew more that she though and he could only pray she would see past it. "I mean, what if we get others involved and it becomes worse? They already know of large animals around. If they send more out to hunt, just think of what could happen. We gain numbers, they might too..." he said gently and looked to the floor. "We may have to keep this to us." His eyes slowly met hers again, more nervous than ever now.

[Sarah Falls]

Nothing was making sense. Not her thoughts, or the reality Sarah had suddenly found herself in. She couldn't shake the visuals that ran throughout her mind like some horror film, every time she closed her eyes. Couldn't shake the way her stomach seemed to flip flop with nerves, just talking about it. A part of Sarah felt horrible not just for what had happened, but for Ethan. Sarah knew he was trying his best to make everything okay; but how could he fix something he knew nothing about? He could he say he would believe her, when he was only hearing it? Sarah knew if she were in his position, she would think maybe he'd hit his head or had some sort of concussion. She could barely believe this and she'd experienced it.

Twisting her fingers into into the fabric of his shirt again, Sarah kept her eyes on her hands, clinging to the only anchor she had at the moment to keep her from falling apart. She tried to focus on simply breathing so she wouldn't pass out, before her body went stiff, catching the last of Ethan's words. " We can't tell anyone..."[/b] The words seemed to echo throughout Sarah's mind, like a broken record. Not at all what she'd expect to hear from someone completely new to the situation. Shouldn't Ethan be terrified? Shouldn't he want to alert the police or someone as soon as possible, if not for his own safety, but hers? His family?

Locking her eyes on his, Sarah was certain the look on her face said exactly what she was thinking. What the hell was he talking about. The more he went on to explain, Sarah could only hear one thing. Don't tell anyone. Forget about it. There wasn't a reason he'd listed that was good enough to keep something like this between them. That was just insane. Pulling back from Ethan completely while he'd been talking, Sarah crossed her arms across her chest, pursing her lips in a thin line. Setting her jaw half out of determination, and half in anger at even the suggestion, Sarah narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

"You weren't there, Ethan. You don't know what I saw." Her tone was hard, as she shook her head. "I don't even know what I saw, but I know it wasn't natural. There's no way it could be." Realizing she was misdirecting her anger, Sarah took a deep breath, taking a step back from Ethan. It wasn't that Ethan had done anything to make her mad. But the idea of him willingly putting himself, and everyone else in danger by keeping this a secret.

"I can't lose you.." Her tone grew softer, as the anger evaporated from her body even faster than it came, replaced by desperation. Her eyes pleading, Sarah shook her head more."I won't. I won't lose you, or my family. Ethan whatever is out there is.... bigger than just you and I. You have to believe me on that... we can't keep this a secret."

[Ethan Shepard]

Ethan felt her entire body grow stiff and the air in the room suddenly became tainted with a tension so thick, he could feel it. Suddenly, he knew just the effect his words had had on her and he held his breath, awaiting her reaction. The situation could go of two ways. She would either calm herself and find some truth in what Ethan has used as an excuse, though he found this highly unlikely, or she could fight it. Either way the situation unfolded, Ethan knew that there was only one doorway out of this mess. The truth.

How would she understand? How could he possibly ask her to realize just what it was that he knew? He was a freaking wolf!! It was not like it was a sorry secret from high school. This was what he was, literally and he was asking her to just smile and 'understand'. Ethan laughed inside at himself, his own stupidity, knowing that the next few moments of his life would test everything he had worked for up until now with Sarah. This would determine whether she would stay or leave.

Sure enough, she caught on. Ethan felt his own body tense from irritation as she practically accused him of not knowing what she saw. If only she knew....Though he knew he couldn't blame her. The way he had put things made it sound as if she were crazy, and as if he was willing to put everyone at risk but it had been the only thing he could think of to say. Sighing and looking down as she finished speaking, he let her words resonate before letting the silence envelope them for a moment.

This was it. His chance to either make or break everything. He could now feel himself shaking, his body sweating and he twitched slightly before getting up and standing away from her to catch his breath. Even this stress was enough to make him phase but he had to keep control. Now more than ever. Swallowing hard and taking in a shallow breath, he closed his eyes and began.

"I wish this was simple Sarah...but it's not." Great, now he was starting from a horrible place and making no sense. If he didn't have her attention with that terrible start, nothing would get it. "I love you...and I have since I met you. And today, I thought I was going to loose you forever." He paused before continuing. "This morning, when you left...I had to go out looking for you. And when I found you, I saw who was there with you. I saw exactly what you described...a lady with red eyes. But I didn't just stand there.." He looked to her now, taking a step forward and leaving his hands out in the open as if to show his innocence.

He hoped she would catch on with the pathetic cliff hanger he had let linger and once sure he was making more damage than good, he started again. "What I mean is...well, I know about the wolves..because I...I mean...it was me. The creature you saw was me..." He looked at her, in hopes she knew it now. He was absolutely embarrassed at this point, barely having made sense to himself. He swallowed again, a worried look on his face as he spoke softly. "Do you...understand?" Way to go Ethan.

[Sarah Falls]

Sarah couldn't read the emotions on Ethan's face as she spoke. For once there was a mask that had never been there, concealing his emotions which were usually so heart breakingly open. His whole body was stiff, and Sarah knew something was off. She hated the feeling of not knowing what was going on, both with this situation she was in, and Ethan. She hated the idea of not trusting him, but there had to be something to his lack of reaction as she spoke about her incident. Well not a lack of reaction per say; he seemed genuinely concerned, and scared for her. But he didn't give the appropriate response when told that there was something otherworldly out there. How could he possible think everything was so simple, they could just leave it between them.

Still extremely bothered by his words, Sarah only watched as Ethan turned away from her. She could feel the bile rising in her throat knowing that something big was about to be revealed. Though what it actually was, Sarah never would've guessed or even believed. In the next few minutes, Sarah literally felt as if she were on some sort of rollercoaster. Her emotions jumped from here to there, taking sharp turns from shock, to disbelief. Joy, guilt... suspicion, than back to the start. As if the ride had stopped. Sarah was only stuck with her shock, and disbelief, unsure which was stronger at the time.

She didn't know what the hell was what anymore. It was hard enough hearing Ethan admitting to the fact that he'd loved her from day one. Sarah hadn't ever believed in love at first site, certain that only happened in fairytales. Fiction to sum it up. But then how could she deny his feelings, when she'd been debating with herself over the same thing since forever? The only difference between Sarah and Ethan, was that she hadn't yet admitted to the fact that she loved him too. Just the fact that she did was enough to scare the hell out of her.

Sarah couldn't even linger on that for long though, as everything else came crashing in. She still felt horrible that Ethan had gone searching for her, maybe thinking the worst if he'd went to such lengths. She was terrified, and anxious that he'd come so close to what she'd seen... and yet. According to him he'd been there all along. He was the very thing that had both traumatized her, and saved her life. Everything pieced together, but Sarah still felt like her world had been turned upside down. With everything that had happened, she couldn't think logically and consider that if Ethan was the very thing he spoke of, that he'd saved her life.

But there wasn't any denying the facts. Why would he lie? Why else would he react so differently than any normal person would in this situation? It was hard to grasp. Nearly impossible to wrap her mind around. If Sarah didn't know anything else, she knew denial was pointless at this point. She had a few more answers than she'd started off with, but now so many more questions had popped up, so many had never been answered. Sarah blinked coming to terms with two things. Ethan wasn't human. He had the ability to turn into...something that could possibly kill her. And above all. Above all he'd lied. There was a whole other side to him, he hadn't thought to even explain until practically backed into a corner.

Sarah couldn't shake the feelings of hurt. Betrayal, and fear. A few feelings she had never thought she'd associate with Ethan. "I understand.." In response to his question, Sarah couldn't bring herself to look at Ethan. "That I trusted you. You. Who's apparently had a whole other life you never thought to mention, before I almost died. You who I've always been honest with. No matter how much it hurt. No matter how much it embarrassed me or whatever." Shaking her head, Sarah blinked away tears. "I opened up to you, when I don't even know the real you." She take it. Couldn't deal with everything right now. In the next second, Sarah took off for the bathroom, slamming and locking it behind her.

[Ethan Shepard]

Ethan watched his destruction unfold. Piece by piece, his heart was falling apart. He couldn't believe that after everything he had just said, she was now looking at him in that light. The same light he had feared all along. "But.." he tried to interject but she continued, pointing out they very truth he had tried to denied. She was right. He had held everything from her. Every part of him wanted to scream out how much he did it out of love but in truth, he did it to save himself. To save himself the feeling of loss again, just as he'd had before with Lacey.

Ethan blinked back his own tears, something he hadn't felt in almost forever and he shook his head, hoping she would stop. Her words stung and it felt like a thousand knives stabbing his heart and he stood as she did too. "Sarah...please.." he said, the last word coming out in a higher, lighter pitch as if more of a plead as his hand reached out as if to grab her. The next thing he knew, Sarah was gone. Not from the house, but the room. He was behind her just as the door slammed in his face and he stopped, placing his palm on the door itself.

He felt the tears stinging even more now and he let his forehead hit the door, shaking it lightly. "I am sorry Sarah...and I know I didn't tell you. But I can't..." he paused and felt himself inhale sharply as his eyes squinted closed, a tear falling but he wiped it away as quickly as it came. "Loose you..." his mind finished as he backed away from the door and walked back to the living room. Taking his place on the couch, he placed his head in his hands, mentally hating himself. If she forgave him, he would make sure she knew just how much she meant to him. Because right now, more than ever, he knew what mattered most to him. More than his secret, more than his past, present, and future. Sarah.

[Sarah Falls]

Time passed as it always did. Though how much Sarah didn't know. She didn't care. Though she knew it was a silly thing to think, time seemed awfully unimportant in the light of recent things she'd found out. Like the fact that supernatural things such as wolves... or whatever that woman was existed outside of nightmares, and horror movies. Or the one person she'd trusted more than anyone had some double identity, Sarah not only knew nothing about, but up until now would have never believed even existed. Strangely enough it wasn't the red eyed woman that haunted her the most.. it was Ethan. Knowing what he was. What he was capable of.

Maybe it wasn't even the fact that Ethan could change into a huge wolf. It was more of the fact that he'd been lying about half of his life, that really unsettled Sarah. When she'd first took off for the bathroom she'd only been looking for a place to get some peace of mind. A small corner of safety. Security, so she could figure everything out. This was an awful lot to throw on one person in a day. Near death experiences, then finding out your boyfriend is a wolf. It was far from fair, and possibly the biggest pill in the world to swallow.

Curled up near the shower, Sarah sat with her knees pulled up to her chest, as she had been for awhile. Resting her chin against them; desperately wishing for some kind of peace of mind. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Ethan. Millions of questions going through her mind, and hardly any answers. Why did he have to lie? How could she trust him again? What if he ended up hurting her on accident, if he ended up turning into... a wolf again? ....What's really changed?

Her eyes snapped open from having drifted closed, as the thought crossed Sarah's mind. It was unexpected, though easily recognizable as the voice of reason that usually kept her from making rash decisions. What's really changed? Well obviously everything. Her whole world had been shattered, then rebuilt and turned upside down. The line between reality and fantasy unnervingly blurred. Sarah had found herself in a very real, and twisted situation as far as her life and Ethan went. But aside from finding out he was more than he seemed... much more... what had really changed?

Ethan had always had this other side to him. From the moment she'd met him up until now, Sarah could only assume. He'd always been so careful with her. The perfect gentleman. Protective and comforting. The fact that he'd been lying this whole time didn't change of course. But the only thing that had changed as far as the two of them went, was that Sarah was now aware of the fact that Ethan turned into a monster. A monster... who'd saved her life.

And like a bag of bricks it hit her hard... just how selfish, and unfair she was being to Ethan. He'd always been good to her. Gentle. He lifted her up when she was down, caught her whenever she slipped or stumbled. He had always been a sweet guy. He was just different... and Sarah didn't think Ethan had made the choice on his own. Hating him for what he was would be as bad as hating someone for the color of their skin, or if they happened to love the same gender. Who was she to judge him... and most of all. Sarah knew hate would never be anything she could feel towards Ethan even if he hadn't saved her life... which he had.

And she'd said all those things. Guilt weighed heavily in her stomach even as Sarah felt that she was somewhat justified in what she'd said. Ethan had lied. She didn't know this other side of him... but then maybe she did. Wolf Ethan still had the man inside there somewhere. He was still Ethan even as a large, and frightening animal; and Sarah just had to be honest with herself. She would've never believed Ethan before had he tried to tell her about this other world she was suddenly pulled in. Certainly he knew it. So he'd had a reason to lie.

Sarah knew she should try and make things right, as she came to her realization. She knew she should at least tell Ethan she didn't hate him, even slightly, no matter what he was. Or what he did. But the truth was, Sarah felt ashamed at herself for what she'd said, and how she hadn't even given Ethan time to explain after her rant. She was torn between feeling she was right in her own way, and wrong for not hearing Ethan out. Every emotion she felt seemed to take a little more out of her, and suddenly Sarah felt extremely drained. The days events catching up with her, pulling at her eye lids. She happily gave into sleeps embrace, wanting nothing more than to escape from reality for a moment, as she slumped down against the wall.

[Ethan Shepard]

Rain pelted the window and roof, sending streaks of water over the glass. It was not so much a torrent though it was clear the weather wasn't the best. Lightning flashed and many seconds later, thunder followed. Ethan raised his head slowly from its place and looked out into the darkening grey sky. Hours. It had been hours that he sat here in this same position, wondering and waiting for any sign of movement or forgiveness. None.

The day had gone much worse than he could have anticipated and he knew it would be wrong of him if he thought she had no reason for her actions. He had lied, and as much as he wished he hadn't, he had. Things weren't going to be the same for them, and this was very clear. Ethan knew himself that he was doing his best to protect her, but what about her feelings? What about how she felt having already spoken all the truths of her past and yet he left out one simple detail, enough to crumble everything between them.

He stood now, stalking to his room as he changed his clothes, having gotten messy earlier and he slipped into sweats and a white tee. He put on his socks and ruffled his hair before looking back out his door at the bathroom. He watched the door but the house was silent and Ethan began to wonder if she was okay. He knew better than to interrupt her thinking but she did need to eat at some point. Going to the kitchen, he grabbed a few things out of the cupboard, enough for some pasta and alfredo sauce before beginning to make it.

He grabbed some garlic bread and placed it out on a long metal sheet before putting it in the over to bake. Going back to the pasta, he placed the large pot, now full of water, on the stove to boil. Just as the dial of the stove clicked in place, the phone rang. Ethan almost jumped at the sound but gained composure before hurrying to answer it. Looking at the caller I.D., Ethan inhaled slowly and closed his eyes before answering.

"Hello?" Ethan, have you see Sarah? We knew she was with you last but she hasn't come home and we are getting worried!" Great. Just what he needed right now. Sarah's parents calling. Thinking on his feet, he spoke. "Yeah, she is with me and don't worry, she is fine. I took her out to practice surfing and she cut her ankle on a rock. I took her back home with me and the rain started pouring. I am sorry Mrs. Falls. Should I bring her home?"

Silence on the other end before a soft voice returned. "No, I guess not. It maybe better to stay the night just in case the rain doesn't let up." Ethan smiled at this, the first happy thing he had heard all day. He had one more night with her, enough to set things straight. "Besides...she isn't in trouble if she has you!" Ethan pretended to laugh but in truth, that comment stung in light of recent events. Swallowing, he replied. "I promise to have her home in the morning. Unless she would rather return when the rain slows down. I will have her call you when she gets out of the shower..." Again, quick thinking on his part.

With a short good-bye and good night, Ethan hung up his phone before looking over at the bathroom door. The sounds of water hitting a hot stove caught his attention and he jogged back over to the stove to take care of it. Mixing in the pasta with the boiling water, adding a few secret touches, and then preparing the sauce as well, Ethan made two plates and set them aside to cool off before making his way to the bathroom.

He tapped on the door twice and waited but there was no response. Again, he knocked though this time harder as when he still had no reply, Ethan grabbed the handle and shoved, sending wood shards flying before he stopped dead in his tracks. There she was, curled up in a ball in the corner but what he couldn't tell was if she was awake or....but Ethan's thoughts shut off quickly as he watched her eye lids open.

[Sarah Falls]

It was dark, though not completely. Stars twinkled in the sky like diamonds. The moon hung in the sky, full and round; slivers of light spilling through the gaps of forest trees. Sarah wasn't sure how she'd gotten here. She felt disorientated, as she stared around her surroundings; the rough feeling of gravel scraping against her fingertips, as she curled her hands into fists. Glancing down, Sarah could barely make out a large rock she sat perched upon. She knew from her surroundings she was somehow in the middle of the forest... but the last she'd checked forests didn't have large rocks. At least not in Forks... or did they? She wasn't sure. How could she make any accurate guesses now, when she'd seen things that defied logic?

The soft hooting of an owl sounded off in the distance, though Sarah paid it no mind; only looking up at the flutter of wings. She turned her attention in time to see the owl taking flight... though it wasn't the leisurely pace she would have imagined. Almost frenzied as if something had scared the animal. A crease appearing between her brows, Sarah stared after the animal as it's form slowly grew smaller and smaller. Listening closely she realized something, as her heart seemed to skip a beat. The forest was completely silent... no insects calling out in the night. No nocturnal animals calling out to their mates... it was absolutely silent.

The scene was oddly familiar, yet different... almost as familiar as the fear creeping up her spine in icy chills. Sarah knew she should move. She was practically a sitting duck, perched upon a rock. But she couldn't. Her body was frozen solid, the blood in her veins seeming to run just as cold. Her fear spiked to dangerous levels, as a soft rustle was heard... extremely loud compared to the quiet of the forest; and then there it was. Her latest nightmare. An unknown foe.

A pale form appeared in the dark, seeming to glide for the grace of it's walk. Ruby eyes glimmered menacingly like hard jewels of death. Long dark locks drifting around the most exquisite cheekbones, as the edges of sensual lips curled up in a chilling smile. Sarah knew even in her state of terror and awe, the form was a woman. One she'd met before. The fact that she could see each detail of her face through the dark meant that Sarah was out of time to run, even if she could; yet. She didn't think it would make a difference anyhow. Whatever the woman was, was beyond her. After all... Sarah was only human.

Suddenly a howl sounded in the difference. One, then two, and even more after. The sounds seemed form a haunting chorus, piercing through the fog of terror Sarah had been drowning in. Her gaze was pulled from the woman, as she looked around for the source of the noise. She could see noone. There was no sign of man, or beast. Feeling her gaze pulled up towards the sky, Sarah's eyes widened at the moon, which shined impossibly bright. It was a surreal sight. Enchanting. Mysterious. Stealing her breath away. For reasons she couldn't understand, Sarah's heart ached. The howls that pierced the air stirred something inside of her... a desperate longing. She closed her eyes.

Only a second had passed before she opened them again... but the sight that met her eyes, drew a gasp from Sarah's body. The night was giving way to tones of red, purple, pink, and orange. She could see the sun rising in the distance, brightening the sky as it rose steadily. Stars still faintly twinkled in the sky. Pulling her gaze from the sky, Sarah looked around the forest, no longer hearing the beautiful chorus of wolves. Surprisingly enough, she could see the strange woman nowhere in sight. A warm breeze swept over her form, tossing her dark locks gently in the wind, before a low rumble pulled her gaze in the opposite direction.

A lone wolf emerged from the forest, it's footsteps slow, and hesitant; as if careful not to frighten her. The wolfs eyes were locked on Sarah's, a familiar shade of green. Tenderness, and concern seemed to swim in their depths. Sarah thought maybe she should be terrified, and yet she wasn't. A blanket seemed to be draped over her.. making her feel warm. Safe... loved? She could feel the pull in her heart tighten, her body pulling in the direction of the wolf, as if drawn. Like two puzzle pieces waiting to fit together. With a jolt, Sarah came to the realization, that this wolf was familiar. He was hers. Ethan.[/i]

A loud bang startled Sarah awake, her eyes drifting open slowly. The room was blurry for a few moments, before clearing, Ethan's form directly in her line of sight. Taking awhile to stare at him, as if making sure he were real; Sarah could feel the same pull in her chest, she'd felt in her dream. A burning desire to be in Ethan's arms, that she just couldn't ignore. Overwhelmed by all the feelings crashing back into her heart, Sarah scrambled to her feet, rushing to crush her body against Ethan's; winding her arms around his form tightly.

Guilt. Relief. Sorrow. Love. Those were only a few of the emotions that swept throughout her body, as she held him tightly. Burying her face into his neck, Sarah deeply inhaled Ethan's scent. "I'm sorry.." She whispered softly. "I'm sorry I didn't give you the chance to explain... I'm so sorry, Ethan."