Kyle (c) Penmaster51, Shayla (c) Ha-Za-A, All Twilight Characters (c) Stephaine Meyer! There are going to be FOUR updates- wow!

Chapter 7: Brawling

Kyle's POV

I sniffed the grass blades, gagging slightly at the wolf scent that smothered almost any other smell. Goddamn dogs! Got in the way of my tracking… I was, by no means, a big and special tracker; just the months alone and barely speaking, I relied almost completely on my instincts and I became very intoned to them. Hunting, tracking… tried fishing once too; that, any Cullen would have paid to see.

I lingered on the edge of the shape-shifter's territory; though most Cullens were only slightly uncomfortable in the territory that rarely ventured into, I absolutely loathed it. I was barely able to follow Shay's scent and stay on track because of the dying anger and guilt that seeped into my body (plus that mutt smell).

There it was. Her glorious scent allowed me to relax and also stir up a feeling of longing, guilt…love. She headed towards the mountains. Great, giant cliffs to fall off, bears to deal with… I shook my head, driving the very negative images from my head. But logic popped up: she's alone, angry, and it could rain almost any time. Panic seemed to pick up speed, rushing through my body and I pushed my legs faster.

I would not lose her scent, possibly something far more important, to nature. I kept up a fast jog, pausing and breathing deeply. Over and over…and once more just to make sure I was on the right track.

I travelled silently and tried to avoid any thoughts at all; but my vampire mind wouldn't let it. I instead focused on my surroundings; I memorized the trees, what kind that I could remember from biology, animal scents and named those…

I skidded to a stop, at the edge of the mountains. Was I travelling that fast? Who knows, all I knew was that I was focused in on Shay's scent. But another one touched my nostrils…vampire. Not Cullen. A nomad; I sniffed again. No…it was nomads. There was more than one and as I breathed deeper, a strong growl built in my chest, as I smelled the scent. Anger, adrenaline, and…undead testosterone flooded from the scents they left behind. Male. All male. My body had a ripple of effect after I identified it was male. And then my mind confirmed the answer; my arm muscles tensed, my hands clenched into fists; my spine went rigid as I thought of the-the…

"Shit Shay, why'd did you attract so many guys?" I muttered angrily, getting up and taking a step away from the scent. I had to find Shayla's, I had to locate her and bring her back home for it was the least I could do for the family… I felt like I had torn everything apart for the Cullens. Their youngest daughter and sister, racing away because of my stupid outburst about information about her that I probably really didn't need but actually, just wanted greatly. I ripped their family and probably, the guys besides Carlisle were plotting my demise…

I was so deep inside my head at the moment, that I didn't comprehend the heavy panting echoing behind me, the hammering heartbeat and the footsteps with paws pounding into the ground when it reached my ears. I brushed it aside and when I realized what that meant it was too late–

"Kyle!" Emmett's call roared in my ears as he tackled me to the ground. I screeched, out of fury and shock then the curses flowed from my mouth. Emmett got a kick out of this, bellowing his loud laugh as always when Jasper and wolf-Jacob came in.

I have a temper. I know that. These three were going to know it too…

"What the hell is your problem? Are you so fucking stupid to cover up the scents? Race in here like there aren't nomads," I yelled at Emmett, at all of them.

"Whoa, Kyle, we didn't–" Emmett started but I didn't let him go any further.

"Yeah, you didn't? Figures. Go back to the goddamn family; I'm finding her and bragging her little ass back here if it's the last thing I do! Goddamnit Shayla." I was completely just babbling now and letting my fury seep into my words, with the guys allowed me to rant. "Why the woods? Damnit, damnit, damnit!" I screeched the last word and slammed into a tree.

I clawed it and after a minute of attacking it, it groaned, creaked and fell over to the ground with a heavy thud. I huffed above it, snapping off the roots and tearing it up before finding another one. Jasper's calmness wave rolled onto me and I allowed it to relax my body, my mind.

"Thanks Jasper," I breathed.

"Don't we have a little vampire to find?" Emmett suggested, regaining his happy tone as he continued. "She's fine, Kyle. She races off like this once in a while to burn off some steam, and usually, she comes back too. But we'll find her in no time."

I glared at him but Jasper's emotion control didn't allow the anger and frustration with Emmett to last. I glanced at him and he shrugged; he probably didn't like being relied up by my emotions.

I sighed heavily, rubbing my face as I mumbled, "Fine." Jacob sat down with a giant thud and I glared at him too. He gave a cheeky bark of laughter and ruffled his fur by shaking his massive body from side to side as the wind picked up.

"Now, what was that about nomads?" Jasper asked, as he sniffed the air, tilting his head to the side.

"There was a trail of male scent right here." I shoved Jacob's huge mass of fur out of the way, resulting in a growl but in more of an annoyed tone, if wolves had annoyed tones, and pointed to the smashed grass. Jasper bent down, picking at it carefully and we all tried to find another scent.

That's when Emmett did find something. Shay's scent, mixed with fear, anger, guilt and so many other emotions, a choked whimper escaped my lips. The males' stench surrounded everything else.

"She's fleeing them," Jasper whispered. I raced after that and the boys were barely a step behind me. Shayla, I whispered in my head, keep running. If anything, when she reached home, there are more of us there. There's… safety.

I didn't bother to stay quiet now. If they touched Shay, it was an all out war. With me leading my brothers against the nomads.

"There's a shortcut! Ed and I went hunting near here and found one near here… it'll cut them off from the house," Emmett called from behind me. I nodded silently, allowing him to take the lead. We followed him for a moment when I smelled it.

The river babbled. We must have been almost literally flying, our feet barely touching the ground to have reached this part already. I could smell their scent. It rolled in waves with the wind that came every so often. The anger slowly leaked from my body as I realized Shay hadn't come this way.

Was she dead? No way, I told myself. She could, and probably did, outrun them, and of course, left them behind in the dust. Probably took a secret path where they couldn't follow her and the nomads decided to follow an old scent trail. She's not stupid enough to go against a gang of nomads. Not by herself. Jacob growled when the scent was fresh – too fresh. And then suddenly they, the nomads, appeared, as they whirled around, snarling when they realized they weren't alone.

Jasper growled back before sinking into a battle crouch and Emmett flexed his muscles in an intimidating way. Jacob snarled and growled too, flicking his tail in a challenge. I saw their eyes bulge at the scent of him. Then I realized it. These guys couldn't have possibly known about the shape-shifters; for all we knew, these guys thought Jake was a–

"Werewolf," the gang leader snarled the one word. He stood in the very front with the others arranged around him, like they were guarding him. Jacob growled again and Jasper narrowed his eyes. There were unspoken options hanging in the air: the nomads could leave now or fight.

My mind started to wonder where the hell Shayla was. Suddenly, I stepped back and shook my head. I had to find my mate first, find out that she's okay…these guys were just a waste of time. Jasper and I had a second long stare; he understood. Of course he understood; he'd do the same for Alice, just like Emmett would do the same for Rosalie and like Jacob would do for Renesmee and Bella.

But then, the nomads launched themselves at the three. My instincts were torn in two; join them or find Shay. My brothers were outnumbered, three to five…

The leader attacked Jasper; must've understood that Jasper's scars meant he was the worse enemy. He would be eliminated first. Jacob was attacked by a couple of them; he spun around, snapping his jaws to get a hold on one of them. Emmett immediately dove in a battle of strength with one. Fight or flee…

I roared, finally recognizing who was the leader. Petey. I think Emmett, Jasper and perhaps Jacob too knew that. I didn't care – he was mine to kill, mine to rip to shreds and watch his body burn. He would be dead by my last blow. I would strike the deathblow to him. He would pay what he did to my Shayla.

"He's mine," I growled and shoved Jasper away from him from which he didn't resist. Of course not, he knew that he would get hurt if he didn't. Petey sneered, an ugly and furious gesture, smelling Shay's strong scent on me. I would kill him.

We spun and danced. Hands grabbed at each other, trying to get a hold on the other but were deflected. Venom dripped from my fangs as the tempo of the dance increased as Petey started to show his speed and strength. I didn't allow low self-confidence stop myself from dancing along with him. I smirked as he hesitated, unsure what to do next when I dove for his neck. It would be quick and painless or perhaps torture would be better… more suited for a torturer like himself. I missed; how I don't know.

He grabbed onto my neck and I felt the end. Damn my confidence, damn my skills… I was never a fighter. I couldn't– it went against everything I grew up with. Don't stand out of the crowd; blend in and you'll be safe. I let a growl, daring him to do it when a roar came. It surprised all of us, but then our nostrils filled with only each other's scent.

"Shayla!" I screeched and ripped out of Petey's grasp. He snarled, closing his hand around air. I flung myself in front of her, spinning to face the male. He'd have to get through me – Shay darted around my side, the grace of a deer and fury of a snarling lion and attacked Petey like a wolverine, her hand closing around his throat while the other punched him in the stomach.

Her head turned and she gave me just one look. I froze on the spot. That one look said it all. No words, no mouthing, no physical contact…just our eyes meeting. I was about to saw something and I saw her eyes twist in torment. Someone let out a banshee shriek and I realized…it was I the agony scream was coming from my own throat. The pain exploded from my back. I felt someone's teeth and venom seeping into my back. But that wasn't the only pain; someone's hand grasped my arm. I felt each bone snapping underneath the strength. I struggled, screeching, when he threw me. I wasn't built to withstand such force against a solid object.

My neck and I suppose, my spine, snapped underneath the force when I me the rock. I heard the rushing river, sometimes raging like an angry storm sometimes and then lazy like a cat basking in the sunlight.

Was this the end? The end came when I saw the sadness, never-to-flow tears brim Shay's eyes. Things blurred before my eyes; the end… it echoed in my head. A last thought? I couldn't remember…

Shayla's POV

Suddenly he was out my hands. I felt myself being thrown away into the air. I hit something solid, which cracked beneath me, and I landed in a crouched position. I bared my teeth angrily as I saw Jasper light a fire. Good, burn the bastards, make them pay for what he did to me.

And then, I saw Kyle fallen on the ground, with another nomad sinking his teeth directly into his spinal column. And then, a high-pitched shriek filled the air. I didn't know who it was until I ran forward. It was me, I was shrieking for my love, my love that could die right in front of me, and it would be my fault.

A big bruiser of a nomad charged and me and managed to barge me. I fell down and he launched at me, faster then a bullet.

I could nothing but raise and arm in defence, shut my eyes in terror and wait for the pain to come.

But it never did.

I cracked open an eyes to see a young boy in front of me, holding his palm to the vampire's skull, as bright blue sparks flicked off his fingers. The nomad was shaking, like he was being fried alive, like he was experiencing a seizure. The boy removed his hand and the vampire fell, to be attacked briefly by a giant wolf that, which I soon realised, was Jake. He howled when the vampire rose and shoved him away, before rejoining the fight. Jacob recovered and tore after him.

Beside me, holding her hand in the air, like she pressing it against something, was a young female with a gorgeous body, midnight-black hair that fell to her shoulders, and pale skin that was sparkling faintly. The boy turned, with his mop of blonde hair and straight, angular features, I recognised them both. Especially with their shared trait of golden eyes.

"Corey?" I whispered as he wandered closer. I turned my head to the shield projector beside me. "Tiffany?"

"It's us, girl," Tiff answered before she smiled, looking down on me. "And we're going to help you fight!"

They both launched forward at these words, with me on their heels. Corey, an electrical manipulator, zapped those who got to close and Tiff protected us all.

But there was someone missing, someone who I needed and loved. Kyle, where the hell was he?

And then I remembered. He was dying. I ran forward, leaping through the smoke like a gazelle as I saw him standing, injured but standing, still fighting.

Emmett and Jasper had a nomad each; Jasper's was the bruiser that Corey had zapped, before he was beaten. Jacob was snapping at his back too so it was obvious he was a fighter.

But Kyle had two on him. Peter was one of them, his back was too me and I was downwind to him so he could detect me. But I could hear him.

"She was mine!" he roared as he backhanded Kyle across the shoulder while Kyle smashed the other male in the face. "Do you hear me, mine! How dare you steal her?"

Kyle, despite the pain he was in, still had the nerve to answer him back, as Jacob suddenly tackled the nomad behind him to dismember him to pieces. "She never loved you, you tool! She loves me, and I will stand here and take your punishment till the end of time for her! I love her, she's mine, and she is my mate! You'll never touch her again!"

The two vampires then roared at each other furiously as Petey then shoved quickly Kyle backwards. His arm was twisted in the Peter's grasp and a loud snap was heard. It was a bone breaking, possibly his wrist, as Kyle fell close to the fire. One more attack and he could quite possibly die by being thrown in the fire. That couldn't happen. And if I had anything to do with it, it wouldn't.

Rage filled me as I launched myself at Peter, my ex-lover, leaping like a cougar in two bounds on all fours, before my teeth were on his upper back.

He shrieked and threw me off. I skidded, still on all-fours, as I morphed my hands and feet to claws. I snarled like the lioness I was, as I tackled him, clawing at his shoulder and face before he flipped me.

I felt pain shoot through my ankle as he tore at it like a beast. I howled in agony and threw him off me, before I let out a whimper. My left foot was severely severed and I couldn't walk on it at all. But yet, I adapted, three legs were better then one, after all. Holding my leg a few inches from the ground. I launched at Peter, and tackled him into the deep gully behind him.

I heard my name being called as someone tossed a burning log down. I caught it, juggled with it for a second, before I threw into a dry bush which alighted at once. It flared up rapidly and created a wall of fire behind me. That was probably a deadly sight, a crazed, rabid, lioness-like vampire, standing ready to attach, maul and devour her ex-partner. Peter should be scared.

He was but he didn't hold that against me. He suck into a crouch as we circled each other, our eyes, fingers and noses twitching rapidly as we watched and waited, for the other to attack. Growls echoed from our chests as we stared each other down. I could hear cries, snarls and shouts echoing from above us, where my brothers and Jacob where. Jacob was almost like a brother to me, almost, but not quite.

I did first. I gave a lion-like roar and threw myself at him. He tried to defend. But I changed my path, and aimed for his leg, rather then his stomach. He was going to pay, for a lot. For my pain, my family's pain and most importantly, Kyle's pain.

My teeth closed around his leg, as I tugged and tore, shaking my head like I was trying to loosen the flesh there. He lost a chunk and he howled in pain, before I released, tossing his lower leg into the flames. He fell but managed to grab my neck and twist, causing me to stay in a headlock.

We tussled, tumbled, wrestled and clawed at each other, me more then him. My claws caught his mouth and I tugged at it, shredding his once-beautiful face to smithereens. I snapped at his limbs with my teeth, causing him to defend, rather then attack as he let out a cry of pain.

He backed away, realising that I wasn't going down without a fight. But, like I knew he would, he changed his mind and leapt at me, before he latched onto my neck with his mouth. It could have been a caress, a kiss, except that his teeth were digging into my flesh. I howled again in pure pain as he snapped my foot off with a free hand, before he released my neck and snapped at my leg, removing a chunk of my thigh.

I felt my anger and instincts take control of my body. I roared with outright rage as my teeth found the back of his neck. It was harder to bite through then what it was for hunting deer, bear or even mountain lions, but still easy nevertheless.

He was dead before he could even hit the flames. I had ripped his head from his shoulders like a demonic monster before I shoved his body into the massive flames. With very little respect from the dead, his head was soon kicked in by my still working foot.

With the enemy dead, the pain hit me like a speeding bullet. I fell to one knee, clutching my other leg with a hand, before I couldn't take it any longer and fell in a heap on the cold, wet earth.

The fire crackled merrily near my ears as it began to rain again, putting the fire out. I felt the drops fall on me just as I felt someone run down to me.

My eyes went half-closed, so my vision was partly blurry. I could see a black shape, standing over me, before they pressed their hands to my temples.

A sting of pain shot through them and before long, the world went black but not before I uttered a final word.

"Kyle."

Kyle's POV

I let out an animalistic cry of pain and tore down the side of the gorge. Corey was in front of me and ran too, if not more graceful and… human like than the way I came down. When I found Shayla, unconscious, he had been beside her, couching. I bent down and stroked her pretty face. It was pulled into a grimace of pain but her lips formed a word. I couldn't make it out what she had said. Jasper, Emmett and Tiffany came down quietly, watching me. Jacob stayed above, whining for information.

"She'll be alright, Jake. But go find Carlisle; screech, howl for Edward… whatever wolves do," I muttered. Jake barked and we heard him race away, howling. I didn't care if anyone heard us, that if humans found us, for we would have to kill them. All that only mattered was that Shay was alive.

Then I saw it. My fingers traced her almost utterly destroyed leg; her foot lay a few feet away and a chuck of her thigh was missing. Rage burned through me, burning away any sense at all in my head. My fingers, which were once steady with love and pain, now twitched and shook with anger. My mind was attacked by instincts; even Jasper's desperate attempt to calm me down had little effect. I had to release this anger.

I turned to the fire, my lip curling in a gurgling snarl. But Petey was dead. Damn idiot should be. So I was left to try and control it. Corey took a step forward and immediately, my now almost healed spine, locked in place and I blocked his access to Shay with my body. A snarl, rugged with sadness and so many other emotions, escaped my mouth. To hell if they were going to touch her.

"Kyle, we've got to make sure she'll heal alright. We've got to get her to Carlisle. I've managed to knock her out, but if she's going to heal right, we have to get her home."

I snarled, unmoved by his words, and stared at him. Jasper walked to me, slowly and warily but friendly…he wanted to help. Calmness and love rolled off him.

"I love her too, Kyle. She's got to get to Carlisle. Come on. You're weak, hurt still. Let Corey carry her."

I was going to ask why Emmett couldn't but decide against it. It was no use anymore. I saw the decision already locked in Corey and Jasper's eyes. I huffed angrily but released my protective stance over her. Corey slipped her into his arms and jealously burned in my stomach.

But I could feel the pain still echoing in my body. Vampires couldn't get exhausted but we could get almost, worn-out I suppose. Just not enough will and no doubt, carrying Shay wouldn't help me heal.

Jasper picked up her foot and I looked away. I didn't like it. I didn't like the smell of this place. The sight I saw. I stared darkly into the fire instead. I just noticed that it was starting to rain… smoke, clearing up now to a dull grey, rose and tried to battle the raindrops. But it lost. The fire died out, leaving ashes. I didn't touch them. Let nature deal with his filthy body.

I looked up, realizing that Jasper was waiting for me at the top already. I climbed up slowly, almost numb and ignored the pain that tried to catch my attention. I kept in pace with Corey's speed, despite everything, and growled every time he seemed to shift her. He shot a wary look at me, and if anything, seemed to hold onto her tighter.

I didn't know if Tiffany was his mate. I didn't really care anyway. He was holding my Shayla.

Carlisle met us only moments later, a shocked but slowly calming face. Alice, Esme and even Rose were all tearful despite the fact it was impossible for us to cry. Bella was the most tearful and had a very sad, pained look on her face. She always reminded me how she was still so human. Edward pulled her into him and Nessie clutched onto her parents. Jake stood off a little bit, panting and his eyes watching sadly and warily. He had little knowledge of Tiffany and Corey but when they locked eyes, Jake knew they were no threat.

They had topaz gold eyes. They were animal drinkers.

Jasper explained what happened. When it came to the part where Petey and Shay threw each other off into the gorge, Edward had growled menacingly and Alice, normally loving and peaceful, had her eyes darken in black fury and was growling too. And that's when I noticed that every single member of the family, except for little Nessie, were either growling or hissing madly to the story. Even Esme, even Rosalie, outof all the people in the world. But I ignored them all and watched Shayla.

"Come on Corey; bring her back into the home," Carlisle whispered. We went back to the home and time seemed to drag on after that. I sat outside; unable to watch her body slowly heal itself.

I just…too much…I couldn't think straight. I suddenly let out a sob and pulled my knees to my chin. I pressed my face into them, my body shaking violently as I sobbed. Jake, still as a wolf, padded slowly to me. He barked quietly. I lifted my face, feeling stubborn that I was breaking down in front of him out of everyone. I sniffed my nose, frowning and forcing down the sobs.

He whimpered. I didn't understand.

"What? C-can't…aw, forget it." I pressed my face into my knees again, trembling as the tears blurred every so slightly my vision.

"I should have gone down there, Jake. I would have been able to save her from this pain. It's painful to heal. There's venom she has to overcome- her foot didn't just fly off along with that…yeah. She'll be scared there, permanently. Never able to fully forget it."

I sobbed again. I heard someone come up behind me. I smelled him first. Carlisle; father figure to both Shay and I. He placed a loving hand on my shoulder and I looked up slowly. I hated this feeling of being so dependent sometimes. But I wanted his warm glaze on me.

"She's waking up Kyle."

But time may have been slow for me, but it didn't stop. I got up and followed him. Jake bounded into the woods, disappearing with a flick of his russet tail. Did we have a bonding moment there? I hope. At the moment, I was sick of fighting.

She was in her room. Corey and Tiffany each gave me sympathetic and sad smiles before they headed downstairs. They'll stay till she wakes up probably, at least I hope. I didn't like Corey that much. Emmett tugged Rosalie along, Bella decided to take Nessie home (she had seen enough already) so Esme decided to go downstairs too. She gave me a hug and then a small kiss on my cheek, leaving to follow the others. Alice hugged me too and danced downstairs. She already seemed to be glowing again.

"She'll be downstairs in a few minutes, Jazz. Just a few minutes," she whispered to her mate. I heard Jasper let out a sigh.

Edward and Carlisle looked at me. I stared silently at Shay.

"We'll give you a few moments alone," Carlisle said and they left too. Peace, quiet…eeriness. It scared me that it was so quiet in here.

"Shay?" I asked quietly, sneaking in slowly. I gingerly touched her hand, feeling its skin and all the little ridges with my fingertip.

"Kyle," she said and her eyes fluttered open. I froze my movement; she was probably still mad at me.

"You probably want me to leave…" I whispered half-heartedly.

She gave a weak laugh. "You're such a damn idiot sometimes. Don't though– I want… I want to stay here."

"Okay." I didn't move my fingers, unsure of what to do with them. I knew there were probably still a few non-existent tears in my eyes; she gave me a funny look.

"Kyle…?" The question didn't need to be said.

"I'm fine. Better than you, anyways," I whispered.

"Yeah, that's what they all say," she answered. "It's not the first time I've had a limb pulled off and I doubt it'll be the last." She grinned widely, and I laughed and slowly intertwined my hands with hers. She didn't flinch or pull away; she gave a strong squeeze to them and I smiled.

"I love you Shayla," I said bluntly, the words escaping my lips. I wanted to hear it; I hoped she did too. She smiled and that seemed to light up all of her face.

"I love you too, Kyle."