"I'm hungry!" Emmett called from the second floor.

Edward laughed. "Ready to hunt?"

"Yes I am!" I said cheerfully.

Everyone felt secure enough now, that we could all go out together and hunt.

Since the boundary line once set by the Cullens and the wolf pack had been dissolved, we were to hunt where we pleased, just to not eat any wolves. Like I could stand the stench long enough. However Edward still thought we shouldn't spook them and should hunt closer toward Forks.

Everyone in the family could go together. Carlisle took Esme's hand and ran through the front door. Alice and Jasper snuck away through the back door. Emmett swept Rosalie up in his arms. I'd never seen Rosalie seem to laugh and enjoy herself sincerely, but they both seemed so in love. I could hear Alice yell from a mile away. "NESSIE!"

Nessie kissed Jacob on the cheek and took off through the back door.

Edward laughed. I smiled, knowing Alice was giving Edward and me a moment to hunt alone. Since Nessie was born, we'd always taken her with us. Her physical stature had progressively slowed down and of course now has completely stopped. She was technically 6 months old, physically 7 years old, when she'd asked to hunt on her own, without having Edward or I kill for her. I was extremely hesitant. Alice always had the confidence. But then again she could see what would happen before even Nessie knew. She killed a rabbit. Emmett rolled on the ground with laughter. Jasper taught her the best places on the body to find the tastiest blood. Jasper seemed to enjoy teaching her. He would have made a good father. Nessie was a very fortunate girl, having such a large and loving family. Everyone's had a hand in raising her.

"I smell an Elk!"

"I'll race ya…"

Before he barely finished, I was out the door.

Running still felt like flying to me; though Edward always seemed to beat me.

We stopped about a mile in and I swung up into a White bark. Edward took a ground view approach. I could see the elk clearly and the smell was overwhelming.

I ran from tree to tree until I was quietly perched above the animal.

Edward was quietly waiting behind a pine tree. I could hear him growling.

Before he could react, I lunged down toward the elk and sunk my teeth into his thick neck. The blood ran warm down my parched throat. I felt a thud on the ground. I looked up to see Edward smiling. "Taking the best part, huh?" I broke free for just a moment to lunge at him and we both tumbled to the ground. I landed on top of him and kissed him furiously.

"How'd it taste?"

Edward kissed me again while laughing. "You never cease to amaze me, Mrs. Cullen."

"Come on let's finish this thing."

After we'd finished, Edward heard a couple of doe just two miles north of our home.

"Well, I'm full." I said as I patted my stomach.

"The gang's headed this way."

No matter how disheveled we got during feeding, we managed to present ourselves delicately as we came together again.

"Mom, you wouldn't believe it! Emmett tracked a bear up in Vancouver."

"That would be about right." I laughed.

"Hey I could smell it from miles away….."

Rosalie couldn't contain her laughter, "I told him it wasn't worth it…"

"But I told her to try because it was the best tasting black bear I've ever had…"

Rosalie nodded her head, "It was."

We all burst into laughter.

Jacob, Seth, Embry and Quil, and Leah entered through the woods with despairing looks on their faces.

"Jacob?" Nessie whispered.

Jacob looked completely defeated.

"It's Leah."

"Jacob, I don't understand the big deal…." Edward could barely get his sentence out.

"Well you wouldn't bloodsucker." Jacob lashed out at him.

I was shocked to hear that. I thought all our animosities and more importantly, name calling, was over.

"Jacob, what is going on?" I said concerned.

He didn't stare or even apologize to Edward, but stared at Carlisle. Jacob had come to have a whole new admiration for Carlisle since his massive injury the summer Victoria and her legion had come to destroy me.

"Leah's new beau is from the Nisqually tribe and apparently they are shape shifters too." He glared at Leah.

"I don't understand what the big deal is?" she spoke through her teeth.

"Wow, that's actually kinda cool, Jake. I mean, now you know that other tribes could have the same gift." I said.

"No, it's not great. Because of Leah's recklessness we could be in jeopardy."

"Hardly." Jasper muttered from in the back.

"Well maybe not you, Mr. "Feelings." But to our tribes, it could be."

"Jake, just explain to us what exactly is so bad about another shape shifting tribe?" I asked.
"Well, Bella it's because of our secrecy. Our tribes turned into shape shifters as protectors. We protect our tribe and our neighboring people….. "pale faces." We also abide by certain laws, such as you, except it's the world's natural order of things that no one should believe we exist. Leah has jeopardized this by telling someone, but other than that telling a rival tribe."

"You say rival like you have been at war with them."

"They are the descending generations of the Nisqually Indian tribe. So yes, we have been at war with them! According to my father, we had problems with them generations ago. Before you all came here the first time." Jake said pointing to Edward.

"Jake…." Seth trying to stand up for his sister.

"Shut it Seth!

"Jacob, I told him because I love him. And then just after I told him, he transformed in front of me. They are the same as us…" Leah said

"Don't even compare them to us! Sam and the Elders are furious and YOU are under my command."

"What did he turn into, Leah?" Esme piped up.

Leah had never really felt any friendship towards the Cullens like the rest of the pack had. But she seemed so defeated and looking for any compassion. She opened her mouth ready to answer, but Embry interjected first.

"A mountain lion! Cool, huh?"

Quil, Embry, and Seth gave each other high-fives.

"No, it's not cool." Jake was fuming.

"He won't tell." Leah said.

"The legends go back generations. Now they'll know they aren't the only ones. What if all Indian tribes go through this?"

"What do we do then?" Leah asked

Jacob didn't answer. Just stood there, angrier than I've ever seen him.

He stormed off into the woods.

Well, 5 days had passed and Jacob was still gone with Sam. Nessie was worried, especially since wolves could not carry cell phones, not that Jake would have anyway.

Alice had taken Nessie shopping 3 times this week alone. Nessie had inherited my since of style according to Alice. She hated shopping especially when it was only a ploy to keep her mind off of worrying. Like mother like daughter.

I found Nessie browsing through Edward's old room. She loved to examine the novels he's collected over time and of course his mountains of music.

"Want me to brush your hair?" I asked.

Nessie loved to have her hair brushed, not necessarily put into some fancy do, but just simply stroking her hair until it was soft as silk. Simplicity was valued, despite living in such a chaotic world.

"Mom, I'm worried. It's not like Jacob to be so distant. To be gone."

"I know. I'm worried too. This thing with Leah has changed everything for the tribe."

"Have you talked to Billy?"

"Charlie did say that Jake was constantly in talks with Sam. But that's all he knew. Charlie doesn't want to know much more than that really."

Nessie sighed. "I was hoping to see him before I left for Tanya's." She said gloomily.

"I know. Hopefully he'll wise up soon. He's never been more than a few hours from you since you were born. This is strange."

I could hear Edward walking toward his old room in the main house.

"Probably because I've been letting him know you're alright." Edward interrupted.

"When did you talk to him?" I asked

"He gets a break from his sessions with Sam long enough to do patrols. When he gets close enough that I can read his thoughts, I step out to tell him and he's gone within the same minute."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Nessie demanded.

"I just did. And he didn't want you to worry. He's hoping discussions will be done today."

"What discussions?" I asked.

"Well, Sam and Jacob have been trying to get permission to meet with the Nisqually tribe leaders."

"Really?" I asked interested.

"Yes, hoping to create a truce of sorts. Hopefully to talk on the issues that occurred decades ago. Like he said."

"Hmm…so that's why he's worried." I said. "Does he think there will be a…a war?"

"He's afraid that since the two of them have shifted in front of one another. There will be repercussions. Might ignite something that happened long ago."

"That's a shame." Carlisle added as he walked into the room.

"Nesse? Could you come here a second?" Rosalie yelled from downstairs.

Alice cam bounding into the room as Nessie left.

"So we don't have much time if we are planning a reunion for Nessie's birthday. It's coming up in 2 weeks." Alice exclaimed as soon as Nessie was out of ear shot.

"Wow that is slightly short notice…" I thought.

"Yes, but considering vampires don't have too much other than hobbies killing their eternities, I see it being no problem. Besides, we have ways of contacting most of them."

"Oh, I'm so excited. This will be fun!" Esme said.

"Maybe we should divide the calling list." I said.

"Wait!" Alice said. "Nessie's coming back up."

Nessie walked into the room. I covered quickly.

"Nessie you'll be leaving tomorrow. Maybe we outta get your stuff together?" I said.

"Okay…" her eyes trailed off as she eyed Jacob suspiciously from the window. He was walking slowly in from the woods. She went running downstairs to meet him. We all followed behind.

"Jake?" I said.

Edward sighed as if in defeat himself.

"Jacob, I'm sorry." Edward said.

"What's going on, Jake?" I asked

"Leah's run off with Awan. I haven't heard from her in days. That's why I haven't been around Nessie. And I'm so sorry."

Nessie ran up to him and hugged him tightly.

"It's okay Jacob, don't worry about me. What are you going to do?"

"Well, Seth, Embry and Quil have joined Sam and the others on the search. Well, Sam is headed up to speak with the tribal leader of the Nisqually tribe."

"Who is that?" I asked

"Dad said his name was Chief Lequait. Anyways, I came by to see Nessie off before her trip."

"Why don't you two go hunting together?" Rosalie added, but not without a quick look mine and Edward's way. I honestly felt so bad for Jake I knew he wouldn't try anything with her. I hated thinking of them that way, but the truth is we've never left them in the same room alone let alone given them permission to go off to be by themselves.

I could see based on the look on his face that Edward had no problem with it either. Jake took her hand and they walked slowly towards the river.