Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer and her wonderful world.
VI
"Hunting"
I felt my eyes go black and I lunged to the dark, dense forest. I leapt back and forth while keeping the same amazing speed as before. From a guy's point-of-view, it was GREAT to be a vampire. I kept running even though I was catching scents left and right. I knew what they were. Rabbits, deer, other smaller animals... Even a few humans. But I wanted something bigger. Something that would take my time up, be a worthy meal. If I had my way, I would really like to get a mountain lion... I made a mental note to get one before I left, no matter what.
Just then, I came upon a lake. More of a watering hole, if you ask me. And there they were. Not one. Not two. Not even three. But six moose. Four male, two female. The two female looked as if they were judging the men. And the men, were fighting.
I slowed down, and just watched for a moment. There I stood, just spectating their show.
And then I attacked.
I lunged forward grabbing a male by his horns. He bellowed and tried to shake me off. I threw him to the ground and broke his neck. I bit deep into the area around his shoulders, feeling the venom sink into him. Through this small view, I could see the other moose running off into the woods. It was peculiar though, a few, once in the safety of the trees, stood and watched. I bit deeper, throwing all of my weight into the dead moose. The muscles that were tensed in his body from the initial attack, released and his body went limp. The remaining audience left. It was interesting. They weren't afraid of me. At all. I sighed as I finished drinking. Just when I was pulling off of his throat, I could have sworn I heard Bella. Just faintly. In the breeze. A calm rushed over me and I couldn't help but smile. And then it was gone. Just like that. I swear, when it was gone, the little bit of a heart I had left, sank.
I carried the body away and concealed it so it could decay in privacy. Nothing like giving back I thought I may come back to burn it later.
I took off running again. Once more, the adrenaline rushing through my veins, and since I had just fed, I felt so much better. I ran twice as fast and caught up quickly. I could hear the panic in their snorts. It made me wonder if they remembered me.
I quickly grabbed another male and took him down. This time, I more of played. I was in no real hurry... But I didn't let it drag on too long. I didn't want to torture the poor beast. I bit his hindquarters, taking him down. Then I came up and bit hard down into his neck. There was a soft crunch as my strength crushed his collar bone. He moaned loudly and the few moose who were still around panicked.
One of the males attacked at me. In one quick motion I snapped the bitten moose's neck and lunged for the other one attacking. I didn't want to kill anymore so I just knocked him back. I jumped into a fighting stance, bragging my alpha male qualities. He reared and grunted, running at me again. I hit him, knocking him farther back than before. He moaned and got up very ungracefully. I snarled and he moaned back. He snuffed, walking away just a little bit, but keeping me in sight.
I walked back to my kill and drank him. As I wiped my face, I heard the same sweet sound, and just from the memory, all of her scent came rushing over me. I was dazzled by it. And I paused, breathing in the air. A calm and relaxation fell over me. It was almost seductive. It took me over, all of my senses at once, and almost called me home. I sighed, in this moment of pure bliss...
I almost didn't notice the moose lunging at me again, except for this time, it was a different one. The ego-shot one was still manning guard at his post.
I swerved just a moment before the moose passed. He spun around and slid. When he stopped, he scraped his hoof against the ground and snarled. I roared at him and he came running back. Seconds before we hit, I glanced over to the trees and for a second, I saw Bella standing there. And with this new wave of emotion, I hit him harder than I should have. He screamed with pain and went flying to the ground. He slid a little, moaning. I shuddered and walked towards him. His eyes were wide with fear and pain and he tried desperately to get away from me. I pulled him closer a little and examined him. His front two legs were broken, as well as his left rib cage. As for his collarbone, it was shattered. It seems that the right side of his face had also cracked from the impact of his fall. I sighed. I hated doing this sometimes. I leaned down and broke his neck. There was no use in waiting for a mountain lion to show up, And I had too much to think about to track one down. I was never really good at that anyway. Besides, what would happen if I saw her again? I shuddered. This was too hard. This was meant for me to get over her. To get away. I didn't understand this.
I leaned down and bit him, drinking all of him as well. As much as I had fed today, I should be good for a very, very long time.
When I rose, I looked down at the animal. His eyes were still open, but not so much afraid. More thankful. I could only imagine what kind of pain I had put him through just now.
I carried the two bodies back to where the first one was concealed. I made a fire and ripped pieces of the moose off so that they would burn faster and more efficiently. The smell was terrible, but I wasn't able to focus on it for long.
She soon came creeping into my thoughts again. Slowly, like a sickness. Her face was all I could see and it was maddening. And what was worse was I could smell her just as strong as if she were sitting right next to me. I breathed in deeply. It was the best thing I had ever tasted. If scents could be edible, that is.
By the time I had regained consciousness, it was nightfall. I had barely realized that the time had slipped away. Still, nothing was resolved in my head.
I stood up slowly and stretched. The fire had long since been out. I looked at it for a very long time before I walked away.
I walked all the way back to my car, taking my time. I had nothing else to do except see Tanya. I knew this whole trip was turning out futile. But my stubbornness wouldn't let me return home just yet.
Besides, if I did talk to her, if I did try to make this work, it wouldn't. Plain and simple. There was no way I would change her, there was NO WAY she could accept me. Or believe me... And besides, I had centuries of secrets to hide. And, if miraculously everything worked, she would never want me. Never.
Especially after I had been such a total ass to her.
I sighed.
I was already crossing the Canada-Alaska border.
Tanya was only an hour away, and that was at human speed.