Defining Normal | EMBRY CALL

Envoy

Quil thinks he may just explode into tiny ribbons of wolf if he has to stay phased any longer.

Okay, asshole, not helping, Leah grumbles.

If he could shrug, he would. Sorry, boss. It's not like being nice was helping anyway.

Jacob's assigned them to babysitting duty while he gets everything else under control. In practice, they're stuck watching Embry cut loose in a clearing deep in the woods, taking his emotions out onto the scrub until nothing remains.

Surely he's almost done. We've been out here forever, Quil whines.

It's true. Leah's ass is numb from all the sitting she's been doing. They'd tried speaking to him, calming him down, but it's of no use. His thoughts are a mess of pictures and fragmented words, all sewn together with a string of raw, unbridled panic.

Lex, wide-eyed and aghast, her hand outstretched.

Skin prickling.

Lex, crumpled on the floor.

The scent of copper.

Monster.

Holy shit, we have words! Embry, man, it's okay. She's okay. Kim's with her.

Ifuckedupohgodohgodshe'sgoingtodie

His thoughts are rapid and chaotic, a dizzying cacophony of self-loathing and hysteria that makes Quil's head throb.

Embry Call, sit your ass down and fucking listen. I know for an absolute fact that she's not going to die. You might, though, if you don't calm down and listen, Leah snaps, gnashing her teeth in his direction.

Surprisingly, he listens. Embry slumps until his body lays flat against the beaten earth, stretching out until he's a puddle of fur and brambles.

I did something terrible. I have one fucking job and I failed her. She deserves so much better.

Dude, you didn't fail her. Failing would be actually phas-

Quil, enough, Leah snarls. He shuts up instantly. What Quil meant to say, she thinks, is that you kept her safe from something worse. You already protected her from her dad. She slipped and hit her head, but you didn't harm her. She's okay.

She's okay? Embry asks, perking up infinitesimally.

Yes. Kim says it's a minor head wound. Jake gave her the go-ahead to explain the basics before she comes back to the Rez.

God, how am I supposed to explain imprinting now? Embry whines, digging his snout into the dirt.

Well, at least you don't have to sit down with her parents after elementary school lets out. The spirits haven't entirely fucked you over. You'll get there.

Embry, Mom's setting up for taco night. You wanna come and take your mind off things? We'll go see Lex tomorrow when she's settled in, Leah offers.

We? Like, you're going to be in the same room as her? Like that's going to go well, Quil snorts.

Embry raises his head to look at Leah. Before he can even ask, his mind is flooded with glimpses of memories, ones that are clearly not Quil's.

"...I don't think he's had a single independent thought in months."

Adrenaline courses through her veins, quick and hot like the fire that licks at her nerves. She'd give her left kidney for a chance to really tear into the selfish little bitch that stands in front of her, all meek and mild like some innocent young girl. She's nothing like that - Lex is needy and demanding, delighting in the push and pull relationship she's cultivated. Embry couldn't truly be serious about her - she wouldn't even give him the time of day if he wasn't hanging off her every word like she's freaking Jesus.