DISCLAIMER: I own nothing.
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I pushed hard against the mass holding me down. I felt fur underneath my fingers as I rolled to avoid the huge fangs that were snapping greedily at my neck. It was a wolf. I knew it wasn't just any old wolf…
But who was it?
I was getting distracted and that was not good. Whoever this was wanted to hurt me. I was never that strong, but my life was on the line here. I rolled again, but this time, the wolf rolled with me and we tumbled over roots and leaves, I could feel things cutting into my clothes and my skin, but I didn't care.
Suddenly, we stopped. He was pinning me against the trunk of a tree, great claws pressed into my shoulders. I knew there was no escape, so I did the only thing I could. Bracing myself for the feel of teeth ripping into my flesh and tearing at my bones, I closed my eyes and waited.
It didn't come. Instead I heard a dog-like yelp and found that the ton of weight that had been holding me down had been lifted.
I opened my eyes. There were two wolves now. One rust colored and one, the one that had attacked me, was peppery grey. Jacob had saved me.
They were fighting. It was like nothing I'd ever seen before. Not even the Discovery Channel could have prepared me for the way that they wrestled and snapped at each other.
"Come on, Bella." said an urgent voice above me. They pulled me up to my feet.
I felt almost too weak to stand, but forced my body to obey my commands, even though it was already screaming in protest.
I turned and saw Edward standing behind me. He was still holding me up. "How did you-"
He interrupted me. "We have to leave. Now." He didn't seem all that concerned with what I had to say. "This is neither the time nor the place."
Someone yelped behind me. "What about Jacob?" I cried. It hit me then. I couldn't just leave Jacob here to die.
"We have to leave him, Bella."
"No." I said, forcefully. "I won't leave him here."
I turned to look at Jacob, still fighting with the grey wolf, his fur was now wet with blood. I couldn't tell if the blood was his or his attacker's.
"Help him." I begged Edward.
"Bella." He hesitated.
"Please," I pleaded. "Look at him! Please. I know you can help him." I paused. "Edward, if you don't do this. I will." I wasn't kidding and I made sure that my tone expressed this.
This seemed to enough for him. I was no fighter. He knew that he stood a much better chance than I did.
"Go back to the truck, Bella. Wait there."
I nodded and then ran from the scene. I trusted Edward. I knew he would do as I had asked him.
Finding my way out had been surprisingly easy. Before long I had seated myself in the truck. This time I locked the doors. It no longer seemed safe here.
I sat there nervously for what felt like hours. I dug through my duffel and pulled out some trail mix, but I was just kidding myself. I couldn't eat now. Not when I was so in the dark about what was going on inside the forest.
I looked up. Edward was slowly approaching, Jacob limped behind him. His limp was mostly due to the fact that he was supporting someone else as well. Sam.
Sam. He had been the other wolf. But why had he attacked me? I had never done anything to him.
As the group came closer I unlocked the doors. Jacob was the first to get to me. He put Sam, who was unconscious and looked perfectly fine except for a few scrapes, into the back seat and then rushed over to the passenger's side to meet me.
He opened the door and reached out to grab my hands. "Bella, are you okay?"
"Are you?" I asked. He was covered in gashed and cuts, blood was smeared on his clothes.
"I'm fine." Jacob replied, matter-of-factly.
"But, Sam…why did he-?"
"I don't know." Jacob admitted. "We'll have to wait for him to come to."
I nodded. "How did you know I was here?"
"I didn't." He tilted his head in Edward's direction. "I'm gonna go make sure Sam doesn't wake up."
I nodded again. Jacob climbed into the back seat with Sam and Edward suddenly appeared at my side, his hands on the steering wheel.
He turned to face me. "Alice saw your truck break down. I came to help you. I figured it was only fair to tell him as well."
"Thank you." I said simply.
Edward smiled at me. "I've told you already, Bella. I would do anything for you."
I nodded awkwardly. "Charlie?"
"Will be worried about you." Edward paused to start the car. "We should get you home first."
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We dropped off Jacob and Sam at La Push. I really wanted to question Sam and find out why he'd acted the way that he did, but even when we arrived, he was out like a light.
The truck eventually rumbled up to my house and Charlie came rushing out. When we'd stopped, I rushed out to meet him.
"Bella! What- what happened to you?"
I hugged him tightly. "I got lost and I tried to find my way home, but Edward found me. And I'm fine. I promise, Dad."
Edward was standing behind me.
"Well, thank you." Charlie said to Edward, when he spoke it sounded forced. It was like he felt obligated to say it and not because he actually meant it.
Edward nodded. "It was nothing."
Charlie forced a smile.
I let go of my father, took a step back and looked up at him. "Dad, could I have a minute?"
"Hurry, Bella." Charlie said nodding and heading into the house.
"I just wanted to say thanks, again. For helping Jacob. You didn't have to."
"I know I didn't." he said. "But if I hadn't I...I can't imagine what would have happened to you."
I smiled sheepishly. "It seems like you're always coming to my rescue."
"I'll do it as long as you'll let me."
Edward smiled at me, although his expression held a somewhat pained look.
"I should go…" I muttered. "Charlie's waiting."
He nodded.
I turned and ran inside. I had to call Jacob. Just to be sure that he was all right.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter and the story thus far! Please review.
A/N 2: I realized just now that there is some question to the color of Sam's fur. It has to do with my plot. Thanks again for reading.
