36. Running

JACOB'S POV

My huge paws pounded across the ground.

My claws dug into the ground, creating deep gashes into the ground, like scars on skin. My legs were the only part of me that I felt in full control of, the rest of me seemed strangely numb.

My head was slightly bent downwards, my nose sticking to the faintest imaginable trail. The stench wasn't strong when it was so faint, and it smelt weirdly like a mix of toothpaste and candy.

There was an ache in my chest, a hole where Renesmee should be.

I was going to find her.

I had come up with the logical solution of what had happened.

A member of the Volturi, a guard, had taken Renesmee no doubt. Now they would be running with her. That was ok. That was good. I could run too, I could run faster than most vampires.

I was going to find her. I would do everything I could; the key was to let my primal, animalistic instincts take over.

I shuddered at the memory of a time when I had shut myself down completely, gone wolf. Before Bella had got married.

I wondered what I would have done if I knew what was going to happen. Would I have stopped them, after knowing that Bella would be harmed?

Anyway, when I had let my human self disappear and my wolf self take full control, all my senses were heightened. I was stronger, faster, and my sight and my hearing were significantly better.

What if, even with my strength and sight and speed and smelling, I still couldn't find her? What if the leeches had already harmed her? What if they had ki-

No. That thought was unbearable.

I thought of other things, anything to keep me from thinking about that.

I would be strong; I would keep a steady mind. I would find her.

I'm glad you calmed down. You were scaring me, Jake, said Seth, slightly startling me from my thoughts. I could hear the sincerity in his tone of voice.

Sorry, I said, and I meant it. He shouldn't have to deal with me having some sort of panic attack while he was in the middle of dangerous combat against a powerful enemy.

That reminded me.

Is anyone hurt? I asked, finding Renesmee had made me forget that I was meant to be guiding my pack through the fight. Anything could have happened. How is Bella? Is she ok?

No one is hurt. Well, Jared got a scar on his forehead, quite nasty actually, it was from a werewolf, but it has almost completely healed now. Said Seth, avoiding my second question.

And Bella? I asked, feeling slight sense of dread.

Weird, Said Seth, after a moments pause, She was really desperate at first, she sort fell over a bit, but then she got up and ran straight into the forest. She looked a slightly crazed, really.

Where is she now? I asked, not really sure I wanted to now, if it was good news, he would have told me already.

Here, next to me, right in the middle of the battlefield. One minute she was running towards the forest, then, three minutes later she was here fighting. She didn't seem at all worried.

What? She would never do that! She loves Nessie nearly more than Edward! She can't have just forgotten…

I know, it's weird, huh, said Seth. His thoughts were slightly vacant, as if he was focusing on something else.

Is everything ok? I asked.

Yeah, I mean… he trailed off into silence.

What is it? I asked.

This thing with Leah imprinting on Nahuel, do you think it could work out? I mean, if Leah has been able to resist the pull-

I haven't been resisting it, Leah interrupted, Some of time I could feel a pull on me physically, and at one point it got so bad that my feet were moving me towards him even though all I know is that he's somewhere in the African-ish area. It was complete instinct and I had probably travelled twelve miles or so before I was able stop myself.

Wow, Said Seth, I guess that's why the legends says that the imprint and imprint-ee have to be together.

I would feel sorry for Leah, but I still wasn't completely sure whether to trust her. She had betrayed us to our enemies, and i knew that it wouldn't be easy to pretend that it had never happened.

I'm sorry, she said for about the millionth time.

Any sign of Nessie? Seth asked.

That thought made me worried, I had been running for quite a while now, and I hadn't seen a trace of bronze ringlets or a flash of golden eyes. Seth understood my silence.

Don't worry, she'll be fine. You've been following that trail for ten minutes or so now, you will find her soon.

But what if I don't, I whispered, What if they've hurt her already what if she's already… already d-

Jake, she won't be. She'll be fine. Think about it, there is no reason for them to kill her! She isn't a threat to them, physically or mentally. The only reason they would have taken her would be to get this reaction from us. They didn't know that you imprinted on her, or they wouldn't have taken her, especially as having an imprint in danger makes you faster, and stronger as long as it will help them.

I know, but anything could have happened!

A thousand different scenarios ran through my head. Renesmee, bleeding, screaming, crying, pleading, and each image was a blade to my stomach.

The beats my feet were making against the soil stuttered, as I nearly tripped over my own feet.

I evened out my breaths, and calmed down. She was fine. She was fine.

She had to be.

Suddenly, the sickeningly sweet smell of vampire hit me full on, and made my nose burn. I came to abrupt halt, and gave out a small whine of shock.

Cold hands grabbed me from behind, squeezing me in a vice-like grip.

It made me again compare this to the fight with the newborns again. Though this didn't feel as tight as the feeling when a wild newborn had crushed my bones, it still hurt manically.

I thrashed, and flayed about, but the arms held me tight, the scent of vampire burning my nostrils. I howled out.

Jacob! Said Seth.

I heard some of my ribs crack and felt like screaming out of pain.

I opened my huge jaws, twisting my head almost the whole way round, and snapped down my huge teeth.

There was a hiss as the leech fell back on to the ground, and I took my advantage.

Standing on top of its stomach, I pressed my paws down on it's chest, making it immobile. I ripped of its arm, but before I could do any more damage I heard the sound of vampire running from behind me. And a fast-beating heart.

I turned round immediately, and followed it, not paying attention to the fact that a very strong, very angry vampire just happened to be behind me.

It threw itself on top of me, and then a sandy mass of fur was knocking it onto the ground. Seth had saved me.

Are you ok? He asked.

Yeah, I said. I tried to hide the fact that I wanted to follow the fast heartbeat, because after he had saved me, it would be really rude to just leave him. Thankfully, he seemed to pick up on the direction of my thoughts.

You go after her, I'll take care of it, He said.

Thank you, I said.

I began to run, but the beat had disappeared as if I had just imagined it.

Maybe I had.