The Battle

We stood, parallel to the oncoming enemy. The wolves crouched, teeth bared and growling guttural, vicious snarls. One last wolf entered the clearing, seeming slightly dazed and off balance and smiling through thick, upraised whiskers. The head wolf, Sam, snapped a bark at him and Jake shook his big, furry head and got quickly into position, joining the other wolves' menacing stance.

All the rest of us were locked behind them in warm embraces, trying to get as much of each other as we could, if this was the end.

I stood, locked toward the opposite side of the clearing, grave-faced, clutching as closely as possible to Jasper. Sure nothing was happening yet, I risked a glance at my partner's face.

Then I couldn't look away. His gold eyes were on me, warm, taking in every inch of my face as I memorized his. His golden locks hung in frayed, perfect, messy curls around his angelic features. My eyes pricked with dry, merciless sobs. What if I never saw him again? The unstoppable sobbing started to rock me, and he pulled me tightly against his chest, sobs subtly shaking him, too. I wrapped my arms tightly around Jasper's waist and buried my face in his chest, kissing every inch of him my anxious lips could reach.

He released one hand from the small of my back and cupped my face in his grasp. Jasper pulled my face slowly up to his, and kissed me fervently.

His lips were feverish against mine. I slid my arms around his neck and stretched up on my toes to get closer to him. I kissed him with a passion that burned my every being in the best imaginable way. Jasper broke his other hand free and twined our fingers together, bringing them in between us. When we unwillingly broke the kiss, we rested our foreheads against each other and murmured each others' names.

Then it was like an alarm went off.

My body froze from me and Jasper's matched panting and my mind flooded with the images we were all waiting for.

I looked immediately back toward the opposite clearing opening. Squinting through the thick, misty fog, I could just make out about 30 figures walking with inhuman speed toward our little army.

I frantically turned back to Jasper and grabbed his face in my hands. My eyes bored into his. There was something I had to say before either of us possibly lost the other forever.

"I love you, Jasper," I whispered, voice low and rough. "Never forget that, do you hear me?" I felt the dry tears returning, closing up my throat.

"Alice, I love you. So much. I will always love you, forever, and will always be with you, no matter what happens now."

Unable to top that in any way, I whispered, choked up, "Me too." I subconsciously noticed that my voice broke twice.

We shared a brief, passionate kiss and crouched menacingly with the others.

Then the newborn army drew into plain sight and we braces ourselves for hell.