Gabby's POV
I phased, as strange as that may sound. Wolves could swim across water but the doggy paddle was not an efficient diving stroke.
I took a big breath the second I was human again and ducked under the water.
Wrapping my hand around Xavion's dainty black paw, I pulled myself closer to him; then used his body to help drag me further towards the icy grip around his back paws. The panic I had felt told me everything I needed to know.
Vampire.
They were starting to get on my nerves, more so than any vampires ever had before. If it was a flat out fight they wanted than fine, but these taunts and sneak attacks were downright annoying.
I wedged my elbow in the crook of Xavion's hip joint, feeling his muscles twitch uncomfortably as I did so. I gripped his knee tightly to hold me in place as I reached down to the vampires fingers. I'd break every single joint in its stringy digits, if I had a hold of him – no, this one was a her – if I had a hold of her for long enough, I'd dislocate every joint in her body.
She smiled up at me with her sharp white teeth and Xavion trembled as she tightened her grasp on his ankle.
Xavion tried to kick her away, but her hold on both his feet meant that she moved with each kick. His kicking dislodged my elbow and I slid back up his torso. I grabbed his fur to stop me floating all the way back to the surface and then used his thick fur to drag myself down his length again.
This time I didn't bother reaching for the vampire. I got my body under Xavion's, hooking my right knee under his ribs and angling my body towards the vampire.
I phased again.
Meaning this had to work or we'd both drown.
Phasing took a lot of energy and often required a deep breath directly afterwards. With my whole body under the water I couldn't take another breath and would need my next action to work in order to make it back to the surface before my lungs gave in.
My jaws clamped around the vamps arm, accidentally catching Xavion's toes in the process. It helped though, because Xavion's instinctively tried to retch his foot away and it pulled on the vamps hand, causing it to sever where my teeth bit into the flesh.
Contrary to popular belief, vampires do feel pain. The loss of a hand, unfortunately, wasn't a pain that they generally registered.
The vamp opened its mouth and bubbles of mirth escaped and gurgled past my head. It only worked to make me angrier and I kicked off of Xavion's trembling stomach.
I snapped my jaws at the vamps hand and it pulled Xavion back so my teeth pinched his skin. Without faltering I swung my head around and opened my jaws as wide as they would go. I felt the vamps forehead on my front teeth and clamped down, the skull creaked and then cracked. I pulled my jaws harder together.
The sound of shattered glass rang in my ears as the upper right side of the vampires skull splintered beneath my closing muzzle.
She let go of Xavion and grabbed at my thick ruff, bringing her mutilated head to my neck in such a way that I couldn't stop her. I kicked at her with all four feet but her grip was too much on my fur.
It hurt where the fur pulled on the skin but that was nothing compared to the burn where her teeth clenched onto my skin.
I kicked hard and faster. She had her disgusting teeth in my neck and was dragging me down deeper. Somehow my left paw caught on her left shoulder and I pushed her away. Her grip on my neck didn't weaken as I pushed her away and I felt the tear in my flesh as she bit a chunk out of me.
But she was drifting away now; down into the depths of the Strait. I kicked away, turning my body back to the surface and starting the pathetic doggy paddle back to sweet oxygen. My lungs burnt with longing to breathe, the closer I got to the surface.
'We've got Xavion.' Randall assured me as I remembered the reason I was under the water in the first place, 'Are you okay?'
I burst through the ocean's surface and drew in the biggest breath I've ever drawn. It was annoying that the first breath of air would hurt but it was also a great relief.
Jared's POV
Paul had walked the Aussies to the edge of our territory, at which point Embry took over and walked them the rest of the way. At least, that was the plan. Whether Paul had turned back then or not I didn't know, as I hadn't phased since telling Kim about Gabby.
Kim was clinging to my side again, while Emily moped around the kitchen getting something prepared for dinner. I knew that they liked Gabby but I was surprised by how they were reacting. Not that they were uncaring but Gabby generally didn't make a good impression on people and she hadn't spent a lot of time with either woman... so I was just a little baffled.
Sam slammed the back door as he entered and stomped down the hall. I cocked my head at him when he came into view and Emily turned to him with sad eyes.
"He joined in the patrol." Sam grumbled as he hugged Emily.
"Then why are you angry?" I asked, watching him bury his face in her glossy black hair.
"He's adamant that she is alright and he's pissed that everyone thinks he's deluding himself. I just don't want him postponing his grief." Sam moved his head to look at me, "It's only going to hurt him worse."
Suddenly the front door burst open and Jacob just about fell into the kitchen, "Where's Paul?"
"Patrolling, why?" Sam mumbled.
"I just got a call from Bella." I couldn't see the importance of this and was about to ask for some more information when Jacob continued, "She got a call from Edward. Gabby's alive."
To say that we were shocked was beyond an understatement. Kim started to cry again and Emily held onto Sam tighter to keep herself from falling. I wanted to punch Jacob for delaying the announcement with talk of which bloodsucker called who. Sam just smiled.
After a few moments Sam turned and bolted from the house, it was the middle of the night so he didn't have to wait for the cover of the trees. No one would see him phasing a few strides early. I could tell he phased early by the simple timing of his two-legged run becoming four-legged.
I smiled at Kim, who looked up at me with bright eyes and a small smile of her own as she muttered, "She's alive."
I pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her on the forehead, "I should go help Sam."
"Go. Go." she urged and I peeled myself away from her and followed Sam into the forest.
It was hard to really comprehend what the hell was happening, especially since we'd just been so convinced that Gabby was dead. I was happy to know that she was alright and ecstatic that Paul was right, but I was definitely confused as to how the connection could have broken between her and everyone else.
When I phased all I could hear was the excited roar of everyone else rejoicing in this new found knowledge. No one cared that she was still hours away, she may as well have been back in Australia, just knowing that she was alive was enough for everyone.
After a few minutes the roar lulled and only one voice could be heard. The one voice we'd all been so concerned about for the last God knows how many hours. He was happy, no he was blissfully euphoric but also aching to see her again. Paul.
'I fucking told you!'
