Chapter 8
It took about a month, before Edward and Bella made up fully: Edward not wanting to forgive Bella for endangering herself; and Bella not wanting to forgive Edward for yelling at her. It had taken Esme, tired of the tension surrounding the pair, locking them in Edwards' bedroom together while the rest of the family went hunting.
It was an awkward hour, neither willing to make the first move to making amends. Bella knew this separation between her and her partner was not good. In fact, if it continues it could begin to cause her a great deal of pain; possibly even kill her eventually.
Edward looked over at Bella from his spot at his desk. The sun had been out today, so first thing in the morning, the family went hunting. With Esmes warning that he had better not break out of the room she had locked them in, he knew that the family would not return after Alice 'saw' that the two left in the house had gotten over their fight.
"Bella," Edward decided that, as the oldest of the pair, he would make the first move. "I know that I should not have yelled at you. But I was afraid. Those kids are still talking about seeing you, and trying to get us to talk about you. Pictures and videos of you are all over the internet. I was scared Bella, Hell I'm still scared. What would I do if something bad happened to you?" By the end Edwards voice had dropped to a choked whisper.
Bella walked over to Edward, head and tail dropping, her scales seemed to have dulled over the past month. Edward could not help but feel that it is his fault.
-I'm sorry Edward, I didn't realize the world was so dangerous. None of mothers memories- She never had any thoughts about internet or camera's or video's. She never spoke of people going away for school during the day or stupid noisy teenagers asking questions about things that don't concern them.-
"Okay, we will come back to the whole 'my mothers' memories' thing. But Bella I need you to make me a promise. I need you to promise that you will not put yourself in danger like that again. You have to stay hidden; we cannot have you on camera again. The world has forgotten about dragons and vampires and werewolves and shape shifters, and it is now widely believed that we are 'mythical'. The humans of this world don't even like other humans, they would never knowingly except creatures from their myths walking among them again. So we must stay hidden, Okay?"
-Okay, Edward.-
"I need your promise. I need you to say the words."
-I promise. I won't put myself or the family in danger like that again.-
"Thank you Bella, now what was that you were saying about your mothers' memories?"
-Well, when a dragon lays an egg, the mother needs to spend one full year with the egg. During the gestation of the egg the mothers' body starts to develop a substance known only as The Mist. The Mist acts almost as a link between the mothers' mind and the mind of the un-hatched dragon. This link allows the mother to transfer her memories, thoughts and experiences onto the shell of her egg. For the nest year, the mother will spend her days in twenty four hour cycles. She will spend her day in a near comatose state, compiling the memories that she wants to pass down to her offspring. This was the way the dragon species used to ensure that when the egg finally hatched, the hatchling would not some into the world completely ignorant to the danger of it. The Mist is absorbed into the shell and as the dragons' brain developments inside the egg, the memories from The Mist got implanted into the brain.-
"That's fascinating Bella, but why did she not tell you anything about the dangers you would face?" Edward interrupted.
-My mother was powerful Edward but she was not omniscient. My mother lived hundreds of years ago. In a time before the internet, and video cameras were not even possibilities yet. It wasn't a danger that she thought to warn me of because it wasn't a danger she had to face. I think she might have died not long after her year of Misting. Usually after the year the mother will return to her egg to add any more memories or warnings that she thought would be important and cheeking on the well being of her egg, but my mother never came back. I don't know how I was along in the nest; it could have been decades for all I know, before a human found me and carried me away. I have been passed from one human to another for many, many years now. I was with an explorer last; he had won me in a game of cards, I'd guess fifty years ago now. He had been traveling alone, and the man who had me previously convinced him that my egg had been blessed by God and would bring good luck and safe travels. He traveller carried me in his pack, bringing me out at night to talk or sing to me. We had travelled for months before he was killed by a bear, and I had been sitting in that clearing ever sense.-
"That's really sad Bella."
The little dragon was going to say more but the sound of Emmett's booming voice through the trees alerting the pair that the family was returning.
X X X
Spring was blooming in Forks. Fall and winter had not been very eventful for the family: Edward and the rest of the 'kids' returned to school, and Bella stayed away from the town. While she still explored the forest, she was vigilant to stay away from roads; campsites; popular hiking trails; anywhere humans frequented regularly.
Christmas had been an interesting affair. Bella didn't really understand the idea of 'Christmas'. She didn't have a lot of use for material gifts and she thought family should be cherished everyday and not just of special occasions.
Alice tried to get Bella into all kinds of dresses and bows. Alice should have realized, after Bella completely shredded her Halloween costumes, that Bella was not one to be dressed up like a doll.
The snow had done wonders for Bella, pushing and leaping through the thick Washington snow had given the dragon a nice bit of muscle. Bella had grown rapidly over the winter- standing equal with a large Shetland pony, with a wing span to match. Esme has started the design plans for a shelter- though Emmett is calling it a barn- for Bella when she becomes too big to fit in the house.
Now the snow had melted, the flowers are blooming again. While the kids are at school Bella has traveling further and further away from the house.
She travelled for half the morning, moving at a brisk pace, Bella enjoyed wandering thought the forest, hunting the small woodland animals when the urge struck her. She curled up under a large tree, it was not raining but the constant cloud cover had sent the kids to school that day, she was just settling into a light nap when she heard the crying.
Jumping to her feet, Bella made her way toward the sound, but stayed hidden in the trees, mindful of the promise she had made to Edward all those months ago.
Among the bushes, she found a small boy. With tan skin, dark eyes and black hair, he was holding tight to his ankle, and Bella could see the appendage swelling.
The dragon was torn, she had promised Edward that she would not reveal herself to a human but this was a child, a small hurt child that was alone in the woods. Edward would be so mad at her for showing herself to this human, but Bella knew that she could not leave this buy. Why was this child, who was little more than a hatchling, alone?
Bella slowly made her way toward the boy, stepping on leaves and twigs, while making soft purring noises to alert the boy to her presence, hopefully without scaring him too badly.
The child jerked his head up when he heard the twigs snapping. What he saw looked like it came straight out of the books about medieval knights that he loved so much. To the right year old it was obvious that the creature before him was a dragon.
Knowing what the animal was did not prevent the fear from over whelming the boy and he scurried away as fast as he could, with one injured leg. His back hit the tree behind him and he curled himself into a ball, never taking his eyes off the dragon in front of him.
Slowly Bella laid her body on the found and slowly started dragging her large frame toward the child. With her head, tail and wings down, the dragon tried to keep from seeming threatening, and continued her gentle purring noises.
Calmly Bella pushed her noise against the boys' leg, and after a terrified squeak and his body trembling for a moment, a little hand reached out and slowly ran across Bella's head and down her neck. As he moved his body stopped trembling and relaxed.
"Hello Dragon." A soft voice whispered.
Bella raised the volume of her purring and pushed herself against the boy more firmly. The boy, relaxed by the calm deep breathing of the dragon beside him, used Bella's solid weight to pull himself onto his good foot.
Bella turned her head and using the muscles in her neck forced the child's body up onto her back.
Another squeak came from the boy, this one more from shock then fear.
"What are you doing pretty dragon? Can you take me home? My friend Quil dared me to spend the night in the woods by myself. He told me that I was too scared, but I'm brave! Like a Wolf! But while I was walking – trying to find the perfect place to sleep, I got lost. Then I well over a HUGE rock and hurt my ankle, so I sat down and waited for my leg to stop hurting but it didn't stop so I waited and waited and waited. Then the sun came up and I waited more. Now I'm hungry and thirsty and cold and I'm still tired. I need to get home; my dad and big sisters are going to be so mad at me. Hey pretty dragon, do you have a name? My name is Jacob Black, but everyone just calls me Jake. What should I call you, pretty dragon? Where are you taking me, I think home is the other way..."
Bella tuned out the childs rambling as she moved quickly through the forest back toward the Cullen home.
The pair reached the Cullen house before the sun reached the highest point in the sky. Bella could hear Esme moving around in the back garden. Bella emerged from the tree line, Jake finally going quiet on her back, giving up his retelling of a time he and his friends had stayed up all night drinking dads' coffee when the house came into view.
"Bella?" Esme called out, the confusion was clear in the voice as she picked up the second heart beat with the young dragon.
"Who's 'Bella', pretty dragon? Is it you? Is that your name? I like that name, Bella. It's pretty! And who was that talking? Is she you family." Jake started again.
Esme came around the side of the house and stopped in shock at the young boy riding atop Bella's back.
"Hello sweetie. My name is Esme Cullen. What is your name? Where are your parents?"
"I'm Jacob Black. And my dad is at home with my sisters..." Jacob began rambling about his bet with Quil and retelling his whole story.
"Do you live in Forks, Jacob? I could drive you home." Esme had waited patiently for Jacobs' tale to finish.
She recognized the name but hoped that this young Black was not a descendant of the Quileute tribe they met all those years ago.
"I live on the reservation. My dad is the Chief, Billy Black. Could you take me home to La Push?"
"Well how about we come inside, I will get you some lunch and call my husband, and he is a doctor and will take a look at your ankle. Then we will get a hold of your father." Esme picked up the child off of Bella's back, and walked into the house – leaving the door open for Bella to squeeze through.
Esme had placed the boy at the island bar as she moved around the kitchen, phone in hand as she dialed her husband at the hospital.
"Carlisle. I need you to come home please. Bella found a young boy in the woods, I think is ankle is sprained and I need to get a hold of his father."
Esme listened to her husband's reply before bidding his good bye and turning back to Jacob.
"My husband will be home in twenty minutes, he will fix up your ankle and while we wait you can eat some chicken noodle soup and drink a bit of hot coco. How does that sound?"
"That sounds great! My dad makes me coco when I'm cold too. He makes the best coco, he puts little marshmallows, and cinnamon in it. My friend Embry's mom doesn't do that but her coco is pretty good too..."
While Jacob rambling on and on, the Cullen matriarch grabbed a blanket from the hall closet and drapped it over the boy before started on his lunch and Bella walked over and rested her head on Jacob's lap.
Bella enjoyed being around the child, although he chattered relentlessly, he was an exceptionally happy child. Even hurt and cold and after spending a night in the woods, the boy was happy, almost bouncing with excited energy. He ran his hand up and down Bellas' neck before Esme spoke up.
"Jacob, your lunch is just about ready. How about we take you into the bathroom and wash up?"
"Okay, Mrs. Esme." Came Jacobs happy reply as he was lifted into the women's arms.
"Just Esme, my dear."
Carlisle walked into the kitchen to the sound of a child's laughter. The child was sitting at the kitchen island, a half full cup of coco sitting in front of him, as he laughed at the dragon. Who was laying full on her back, all four legs flailing about in the air; a big toothy grin on her face.
"I hear someone had a bit of an adventure last night." Carlisle spoke up causing Jacob to jump at the unexpected voice, and causing Bella to roll onto her side, her tongue still rolling out of her mouth like a dog.
"Are you Esmes husband?" Jacob asked. "The doctor?"
"Yes, my name is Carlisle. Now what is this I hear about you hurting your ankle?"
"Well, you see..." And so Jacob told his story for the third, but not final time, that day. While he talked, Carlisle gently took hold of the boys' ankle and began his examination.
After Carlisle finished looking over the boys' ankle he determined the appendage was indeed sprained, though thankfully not broken; telling this to his wife as he wrapped the leg and placed some ice on it, before turning his attention to Jacob.
"Do you know your dads phone number, Jacob?" Carlisle asked as the boy went back to laughing at Bella as she rolled around on the floor.
"Umm, yeah I think remember it... its xxx-xxxx"
Esme already had the phone in her hand, and was dialing as the boy spoke.
"This is Billy Black." Said the gruff voice on the other end of the line.
"Hello Mr. Black, this is Esme Cullen..."
"What do you want? I'm busy at the moment."
"I believe my families' dog found you son, Jacob alone in the woods, earlier this morning."
"You found him! Oh thank God. Is he okay? How long have you had him? I want to speak to him..."
"Jacob is fine. He was a sprained ankle, and he was cold and tired when we got to the house, but other than that he is okay. He has been at the house for about half an hour. I gave him some chicken noodle soup and coco to warm him up. My husband, Dr. Carlisle Cullen has looked him over and said that with a good night sleep, and perhaps a bath, he will be fine. I would have called you sooner but this is the first time I seemed to be able to get a word in edge wise in order to ask him for his phone number."
"Put him on the phone. I want to speak to my son."
The Cullens and the dragon, politely tuned out the conversation between the frantic father and giggling son and after nearly ten minutes of Jacob reassuring his father that he was okay and that no one was trying to bite him – though the child did not understand why that would be a worry of his father – when the young Quileute handed the phone back to Esme with a "My dad wants to talk to you again Esme."
"Very well Mrs. Cullen. I am intrusting my sons' welfare to you until you return him to me at the treaty line in ten minutes. Do not be late."
Esme listened to the dial tone for a moment before putting the phone back on the receiver.
"Jacob, it's time to go. We are going to meet your dad now." Esme picked up the child, blanket and all, heading for the garage.
"Can Bella come with us Esme? I want to show my dad the dragon I met." Esme froze from the child's words for less than a moment before continuing on her way.
"Bella isn't a dragon sweetie. She is just a rather strange looking dog. And I'm afraid Bella has to stay here. My own kids will be getting home from school soon and they would be very worried if Bella wasn't here to greet them. Besides she is far too big to fit in the car."
Placing Jacob in the back seat of Carlisle's Mercedes, Esme and her husband climbed into the front seats before pulling out of the garage and drove for the Quileute-Cullen boarder.
X X X
Bella had watched as the three drives away with a lot on her mind.
She liked the Cullens. They were great people and a lot of fun, though each had their own quirks. But the down side was that they were all old: not of body, but of mind and soul. Though Emmett and Alice were playful, none of them had that child like glee that Jacob possessed.
Bella wanted to see Jacob again, she really liked the boy and it was her belief that, once the boy could walk again, Jacob would be a lot of fun to play with.
So the dragon made a decision. She would go back to where she had found the boy and follow his scent back to the boys' home. This way she could go back in a week or so, when the child's ankle was healed, and get Jacob to play with her again.
Tracking Jacobs scent was easier then Bella thought it would be but luck was on her side as it had not rained in almost two days.
She travelled fast through the forest, surprised by how far the boy had travelled.
Coming upon the small log cabin on the edge of the forest and watched as vehicles, full to the brim with humans, were pulled away, and Bella finally caught a glimpse of the human she was waiting for.
Jacob was perched on the hip of an older who Bella assumed was the boy's father, talking animatedly about the adventure he had been on over the last couple of hours.
Bella tried to listen in on the boys chat with his father, but between the engines revving; the constant chatter of near thirty people; and inane sounds of large gatherings, Bella could only hear bits of the, admittedly one-sided, conversation.
"... And I hit the ground ... my ankle ... and the sun ... a dragon dad ... she was too a dragon, dad ... her name ... NOT A DOG ... DRAGON ... daaad!"
Bella's blood had run cold when she heard Jacob telling his human father about her but Esme must have thought about a child's inability to know that the dragon was a secret and told the boys father that Bella was a large dog and not, in fact, a dragon.
Bella moved away from the tree line, now knowing where the boy lived and her curiosity satisfied, the dragon headed home. Never noticing the watchful eye of Billy Black tracking the dragons movement though the trees.
Chief Black of the Quileute tribe had only heard legend of the great beasts, and none had been seen by the tribe in many generations, the Elders of his grandfathers' time having believed they had gone extinct. So when his son had told him that he had been saved by a dragon, before being taken to the vampire covens home, Billy was doubtful but not completely against the idea – not that he was going to let Jacob know that. But the flash of movement from the tree line, caught in the Chiefs peripheral vision had set his resolve; dragons were real and still very much alive.
X X X
A big thank you to nikyta for completely giving me the idea for this chapter. If not for the private message then this chapter may have never have been posted.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MY READERS TO SEND, THOUGH PRIVATE MESSAGE OR IN REVIEWS, WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE FUTURE OF THIS STORY. I HAVE AN IDEA OF WHERE THIS STORY IS GOING BUT I DONT KNOW WHAT TO PUT BETWEEN THAT AND THIS.
Thanks for reading