Hey guys. Things have been hectic. Here's a big one! Warning!! Small (but sweet) lemon.

Ch 7 - One Being

Bella POV

I opened my eyes and saw nothing but darkness. I blinked and it cleared a bit. My eyes adjusted slowly to the darkness of wherever I was at. I felt the ground beneath me. Loose dirt, rocks, and...something else. It was hard and somewhat smooth, but there was deep etches in it. Like something had cut it. Or chewed on it. I cringed as I realized I was touching a chewed bone.

I heard a something move a few feet behind me.

"Hello?" I whispered. Another move, a whimper, and a growl. What was it? I felt the body heat radiating from where I was. A werewolf? No, they run in packs. This seemed to be a solitary creature. I mean, from what I could tell there were no others in here other than me and the creature.

I sat there for hours staring at the creature in the back. It was as tall as a horse, covered in feathers, and had the head of a lion. It's tail was like a lion's and from what I could tell it looked like it had cat paws. It's wings were tucked into it's body and I thought that if the creature would spread it's wings it would be longer than my twice my body length.

Suddenly, the creature stirred and opened it's jaws showing sharp feline teeth. It stretched and I noticed the tail twitching. Whatever this strange beast was I needed to not kill it. My thirst was getting to me a bit. How long had it been? I didn't know. It could have been a minimum of six hours, or over a month. I didn't know.

"Good morn." I heard. The voice was deep and musical. It was majestic and powerful all the while still being soft. I focused again and noticed that no one was here other than me and the creature. So the only conclusion was that...

"You must be frightened. Do not fear, for I will not be your demise." The majestic and well versed voice was coming from the creature laying in front of me. I abruptly froze. I didn't know what to do. This lion-like animal was sitting up now and talking?

"Can you not speak? Are you of an intelligent species? I would not know for I have not encountered someone of your kind before." I took a deep breath.

"Yes, I, uhm, speak. And I'm not scared, just confused." I stepped closer to the creature. It smelled good, like a mountain lion or grizzly, but not to eat. Something in me refused to drink it.

"I see. Intelligent. Very well-informed it seems. That still does not resolve my previous inquiry. Please, tell me of your nature." The creature, a she I believe, laid back down and stretched out one of her wings over some large rocks.

I tried to figure out what the thing was asking me to do. Was she asking me to tell her who I am?

"Uhm, my name is Bella. Bella Cullen. I'm a...vampire." I sat down in front of her. She cocked her head to the side as her ears perked up.

"Indeed? That is truly interesting." She lifted a paw and put it forward. "I am called Avanniatta of the Avalon Tribe." She brushed the paw against my forehead and then put it on her chest. "You may call me Ava." She looked as if she was expecting something. Her paw stayed were it was. Then I realized I had to copy her.

"Oh! I am called Isabella of the Cullen family." I paused and put my hand forth as she had, palm down and wrist dangling slightly. I stepped forward so I could brush my hand on her forehead. "You may call me Bella." I put my hand on my chest.

"Alis volat propriis." She murmured and lowered her paw.

"Alis volat propriis." I repeated and lowered my own hand. I pondered at the phrase. It was latin, that I was sure. "It sounds so beautiful. What's it mean?" Ava smiled and ruffled her wings.

"It is a saying of my people. It means literally, 'He flies by his own wings.'" She started grooming herself.

"It's beautiful, really it is, but," I paused looking at the ground.

"Yes, child?" I looked up and saw her copper eyes and noticed the red gold color of her feathers for the first time.

"Where are your people? Your tribe?" I saw pain flash through her eyes. "I'm sorry." I quickly said lowering my gaze again. "I didn't mean to cause you pain." I heard her move a bit and then a sigh.

"All is well, niña. I shall tell you a tale of how a gallant, strong people, the soaring griffins of Mount Elevar lost their homes and lives." I looked up to see Ava getting herself comfortable. I too sat and became comfy, ready for the long story I felt coming.

In the High Mountains of the coast of Spain, on a small isle there sat a mountain taller than all the rest of the High Mountains. They called it La Montaña que se Eleva, the Soaring Mountain. For what soared there was not eagles, hawks, nor storks. No it was an intelligent species called un grifo. It was a griffin.

Their people were great in numbers and they soared into the other mountains around the isle until every mountain was inhabited by the grand creatures. To keep order on their people the griffins decided that each mountain would contain a tribe. Eight tribes for eight mountains. The highest mountain, La Montaña que se Eleva, would be the head tribe, and they would be called Tribe Avalon.

Each tribe contained a queen. Queen Nashimatta of the Nanto Tribe, Queen Onianoniatta of the Oshii Tribe, Queen Indiciatta of the Inosha Tribe, Queen Pennoliatta of the Prest Tribe, Queen Rinatta of the Rush Tribe, Queen Enytta of the Enty Tribe, Queen Jashmitta of the Jasmine Tribe, and High Queen Antatolinatta of Tribe Avalon. Each queen gave life to her tribe and protected it till her last breath. It was the job they were entitled to from their birth. The year of the Queens' Nesting, a plague swept through the isle. Everything it touched died, including the griffins. The one year that the Queens could do nothing.

Only three queens were not nesting. Nashimatta, Pennoliatta, and Enytta. All three worked diligently to keep all the tribes in peace, but it failed. The first tribe to fall was the Oshii Tribe. The smallest mountain and the smallest tribe. Only five nests not including Onianonniatta's. The plague came fast and hard, but not as expected. It came in the form of Gaunts. Tall hairless creatures that didn't fly, but floated. They destroyed the eggs and the mothers. All the warrior griffins fought till there last breath. The fledglings that got away and were not destroyed, flew to the Avalon tribe.

Tribe after tribe fell. Oshii, Inosha, Prest, Rush, Jasmine, Enty, and Nanto. Every griffin that could flew to Avalon to protect their High Queen and her nest. Antatolinatta fretted over what would happen to her young fledglings. They had just started hatching as the Gaunts invaded Avalon. The great tribal city was ruined. It was a massacre. All people that had fled to Avalon ended up dying.

High Queen Antatolinatta would not give up. She told her mate, Antone, to take her youngest daughter and save her for she would give birth to a new Avalon. Antatolinatta was wise and knew she would not live, and chances were that the rest of her younglings would not live either. Antone did not want to leave his mate, so he entrusted the care of the young fledgling to an abrasive griffin named Amasha.

Amasha was old, and could not fly far. She took the young one and did as she was told, for she knew that it was a high princess. Taking the young one she fled the city, never to see it again.

"Avalon was ruined that day, and still is today. That was nineteen years ago." Ava lowered her head.

"You were the fledgling that got away, weren't you?"

"Yes."

"How?" I asked. Ava stretched again.

"Amasha took me across the seas and raised me. She fed me and her young fledglings that she saved." I gasped and leaned forward.

"She saved more than one?" I questioned. Ava nodded her head regally.

"Yes, young one. She saved Anon, my mate, her son. She also saved my brother Ashin and her daughters Anninnia and Anitia. Even though my tale, a legend among our people, said only I remained, it was a lie. For many of us still roam. Rogues that chose to leave the island's safety, and wanderers who had the wanderlust.

They all survived, and are waiting for the royal families to rule our old home once again." She raised her head proudly and ruffled her wings.

"So you live here now?"

"I do. My mate and I live in this cave. We protect our nest with fierce claws. You were very near our nest. Anon was worried you were a threat." She shook her head. "I told him it was not so. You were merely another creature seeking refuge from others." She bowed her head. "Like us."

"Avanniatta." I turned to see a blue griffin fly into the cavern. "Are you alright? Has this creature done you harm?" Anon swiftly walked over to Ava and pressed his face into her neck. She laughed softly.

"Yes, my dear. I am alright. Does you mother fair well?"

"I fear she is ill. She claims she will never see the mountains again." He bowed his head. Ava stood.

"I must see her." She quickly strode to the entrance. "Bella, my darling vampiress, could you please watch over my nest?" I nodded once.

"Of course, where is it?" Ava chortled.

"Directly in front of you." Anon pointed a paw at the pile of rocks Ava had laid her wing over.

"Oh. Yes, I'd be pleased to." I found myself starting to speak like the griffins, and then noticed how they spoke somewhat like I did now. It was kind of funny if you though about it. Ava and Anon prepared to fly off. Before they left Ava turned towards me.

"Bella, my dear, please make sure you keep them warm." She looked over at Anon. "They're our future." With that they flew out of the cave with a leap and majestic sweep of their wings.

"I'll watch them as if they were my own." I whispered.

Esme POV

Pregnant. The word went around and around in my mind. Something I had wanted more than anything in the world. I had been given this by Alice, Rosalie, Edward, Emmett, and Jasper. All of them acting as if I were their mother. The longing was still there. I wanted it so badly.

"Pregnant?" I asked. Alice nodded. She started to explain where Bella, Rosalie, and she had went while we were getting settled here. That's why they were gone so long. Alice explained how everything worked and that if I wanted, Alice herself would do the procedure and allow me to have my own child.

My own child.

"I can?" I whispered. Alice nodded again.

"It won't be a problem at all. We should be able to do it before Bella gets back." She chocked a little on the word Bella. I looked over and watched Rosalie watch her stomach. It was funny to see.

Alice gasped and knelt down on the floor.

"Alice?" I got down with her and held her hand.

"Bella, feathered creature, blues and golds, wings, the cave, large rocks." She mumbled.

"Alice, clearly now. What do you see? Bella doing what?"

"She's laying on top of these huge rocks. They're round and flecked with gold it seems. Blue and gold feathers are around them, like a crude nest. I saw a flash of a wing that was connected to a feathered creature that flew away." She came out of it and sat there. "Bella is going to be fine. I think."

Edward POV

Bella is going to be fine. I think.

Alice's voice fluttered downstairs. I had heard the vision. It wasn't too bad. I had seen the dark cave before when Bella was "asleep" and the clearing where she had meditated. I believe I could find it.

I wish Edward would stop acting so weird. It makes me nervous to see him act so unlike himself.

I glanced over and saw Carlisle studying me. He was worried? Why? I wasn't acting too different. Sure I wasn't overly worried about Bella. She was vampire now. I needed to calm down and let her take risks. It's what she wanted. I wanted to make her happy in some way.

I slowly leaned down and bit her above her breast. I went to her throat and bit her there. I bit everywhere until I heard her heart speed up. It was working. I smothered her screams with my mouth. Held her thrashing body down with my own. We lay there. Husband and wife. Lovers. Together we endured it. When she finally became vampire, she jumped. I was knocked down.

"Bella?" She glared at me. She stood up straight. Her dark hair hung to her waist and her eyes were a bright and beautiful crimson. The posture was perfect, someone of blue blood would die to have it and her lips were so full, so luscious. Her breasts were perfect and round moving with the breaths she need not take. Slim, perfectly carved body. Curves in just the right places. Long and sexy legs that went on forever. This was my seductress, my vampiress, my Isabella.

"Edward?" She came forward instantly and kissed me. "I can't believe this." Her voice was like wind chimes. So nice and breathy.

"Believe it, darling." She giggled and it sounded like tinkling bells. This was the happiest day of my life.

I carried her over to the bed and laid her back down. I planted kisses all up and down her jaw line always pausing near her ear to whisper something. My love, my Bella, My dear, my darling.

It was sweet and passionate. Slow and kind. This was making love.

I grasped her hips lightly and she wrapped her legs around me. She bit her bottom lip slightly.

Slow and gentle I placed myself inside her. She gasped and her hands traveled from my chest to my back. Her nails dug into my flesh as I slowly went in and out. As she started to climax I felt myself need to finish.

"Edward." She gasped. I felt her muscles tighten and loosen as she finished. I let myself go on and finished soon after.

We lay there together. One being.

"Edward." I snapped out of my memory. It was Jasper.

"You okay?" Emmett asked. I nodded.

"Yes, let's go find my Bella."