Chapter 21: Decisions

We stayed with the Denali coven after our time was up living in town. Tanya, Kate, Irina, Carmen, and Eleazer became like an extended family. Cousins of sorts. It was wonderful to have others to hunt with. Emmett and Kate frequently debated over which was the better bear to prey on, grizzly or polar. We taught them baseball and our games took on a new level of competitiveness with larger teams.

Tanya quickly made her feelings known to Edward after finding that Edward didn't have a mate. And in Edward's favor, he kept no pretense with her, honestly telling her he wasn't interested. Esme was disappointed for a time, until one day in 1996.

Alice and Jasper came to Esme and me, one sunny day in the Alaskan summer. It didn't feel much like summer, even though it was mid-July. The weather in Alaska seemed to be only cool, cold, or bitter.

We were staying out of sight during one of the flukes when the sun shown through the cloudy layer.

"Esme, Carlisle, do you mind going hunting with us?" Alice asked. They wanted to talk. Edward and the other kids had just gone hunting three days before. This was just a pretense.

Esme must've reached the same conclusion because she agreed quickly and quietly. "Of course."

We left the house after telling Kate and Carmen where we were going. Alice and Jasper led us far away from the house, towards the clearing we normally played our baseball games in. But before arriving there, they turned northwest, angling away, towards town. I wondered if they were intending to take us there. Then I worried. It was 1996, only nine years since we'd moved to Denali, and five years since we'd left town. People would recognize us if we weren't wearing some sort of disguise.

"Alice," I cautioned.

"We're not going into town Carlisle," Jasper replied. "Just closer so none of them will run into us accidentally."

I didn't know why Alice and Jasper would want to keep a secret from the others. I didn't even know how they could keep a secret, from Edward at least, for any length of time.

Finally we stopped outside the town. I could smell humans only ten miles up wind from us. None of the others would come this close to town. Especially not when they hunt. That would be dangerous.

"What's this all about now?" Esme asked gently.

"Alice had been having visions," Jasper said. "Recurring visions, like she had of our family before we joined you."

Alice nodded. "They're still fuzzy," she admitted, "But they get clearer every time. Decisions are falling into place."

"What are these visions about?" I asked. Alice's visions were always interesting in how they showed many paths.

"Edward," Alice answered. I suddenly understood why they wanted to speak to us first. "And a human girl. It's still very indistinct. Some major decisions have yet to be made. But there are three main visions. There first is Edward and the girl, sitting in a meadow, just smiling at each other. That's the most distinct. Then there's one of Edward and the girl, in the same meadow. Except here, she is in his hands and he is drinking her blood."

Esme gasped, bringing her hand to her mouth. "No! Surely not! Not Edward!"

"That one is extremely indistinct. It's not likely right now. The third is probably the fuzziest of all. I think it's because we all have to make a decisions too. It's Edward and the girl, once more in the meadow. Except this time, she isn't human, but immortal."

Esme smiled. I could tell what she was thinking. She was wishing for this third vision to come true. Esme desperately wanted Edward to find a soul mate like the rest of us had.

"I didn't know if I should let Edward see," Alice admitted. "Jasper had been keeping me err—distracted thus far. Edward doesn't know. Should I tell him?"

Alice's was a good question. Would telling Edward make any of the visions clearer? Would they vanish altogether?

"I don't think we need to concern ourselves with these visions as of yet," I told her. "You said there are still many major decisions to be made?"

"Right," Alice replied. "At least three."

"Then I think it would be best to just put this out of our minds. Tell me if these visions become dramatically more substantial."

Alice nodded. "Alright."

We hunted on our way back, putting Alice's visions away in our vast memories to be lost among other thoughts. Edward didn't need to know about them. They were still far off by the sound of Alice's uncertainty. There were other matters to handle. Emmett was asking for a new car. He wanted a Jeep. Something he and Rosalie could modify so that it went three times faster and needed 6-point harnesses to keep the passengers in their seats. I held off for a year before finally letting Emmett get his Jeep.

And then the progression of cars began. Rosalie got an M3 Convertible, red and completely impractical for a vampire who couldn't be out in sunlight. But it was a great car to drive down an open road, completely ignoring all posted speed limits.

Then Edward got his silver Volvo. It was just like Edward, practical and fast. His car was probably the most used, since it attracted the least amount of attention. Now that I think about it, each member's car seemed to be just like them. Emmett's Jeep was all muscle and power; Rosalie's convertible was flashy and ostentatious; and Edward's Volvo was deceptively fast. They all fit their owners.

By the time Edward got his silver Volvo, we were getting ready to move again. It was 2003, three years into the new millennium. We'd stayed with the Denali coven for sixteen years, the longest I'd remained in one place since staying with the Volturi, and the longest any of them had remained since joining the family. Tanya, Kate, Eleazer, all of them, said we could stay as long as we wanted. We were an extended family now.

But we wanted to get back into the human society. When I suggested the next move, I suggested a west coast town, close enough to visit Denali. The Olympic Peninsula again. North of Hoquiam, where we'd stayed 67 years ago, was a small town called Forks. It was green and overcast most of the year. Perfect for vampires. And we could keep in touch with the Denali coven as relatives.

Edward and the others who'd lived in Hoquiam were reluctant to move back to the Quileute area. The wolf pack had made it very clear we weren't liked.

"But that was 67 years ago," I pointed out. "I'm not sure they'll even have a wolf pack. Those we saw are more then likely dead, or old and senile. And if they are still there, we will honor the treaty."

In the end, they agreed. We packed up our belongings and moved to Forks in November of 2003. Before leaving, Alice told me that her visions had become considerably clearer. A major decision had been made. We were going to Forks, which must be the place Alice's visions were taking place in.

"Another one will be made," Alice told me, "But I don't think this decision will be ours to make."

Hinting at the future is so much fun! And it is so much easier when one of the characters is psychic! Anyway, sorry about the shorter chapter, but I needed to set the scene for our favorite little town on the west coast! Yay Forks! Anyway, stick with me and don't forget to review. I want to have 100 by the time the events of Twilight start to unfold. And tell all your friends what an awesome story this is! LOL!

-Wish