The Huntress – Chapter 20
I apologize if you run into any errors. I do not own any of the Twilight characters used in this story except for Emery.
Its been awhile. I am picking the story back up. I still going off my original plan for the story. However, it will take some time to get to the action. Hint: It will involve a confrontation with the poaching organization and the mastermind behind it.
Bella's POV
Saturday the start of the weekend is one of my favorite days. Always has been even when I was still just human. It's a day to relax. Since joining the world of the weird as Emery likes to call it, I usually spend Saturdays reflecting and writing.
As I lay around in the back of the property in my leopard form perched up on a Sitka Spruce. I take the time to center myself and re-enforce my mental shields. I had learned a lot about manipulating the shield from my time in the Amazon but with help from Emery and Zar I can strengthen the mental and to a degree physical shield. Its like any other muscle that can be worked out, but I must take care not to go overboard and strain something.
Were-Prides are unique in the sense that if someone has a talent or a strength then they can be shared or learned from those within the bond if strong enough. Emery says that there are many theories out there as to the why this is a trait of prides verse packs. She is under the impression that packs are capable of such if they so choose.
I personally think that packs usually fall under our canine brethren and someone within is always striving to be top dog. So, sharing something as intimate to an individual as a talent or gift would potentially give an edge to a future opponent. I remember the wolf pack always trying to one up each other. Sam was alpha but Jake always saw himself as alpha without the responsibility. But Paul was always pointing out how he thought something should be and making sure to take credit for any ideas that benefited the pack. They were always jockeying for a higher position.
Prides are more feline, we're too aloof at times but picky and temperamental. But when it comes to a hunt or defending the pride it is no longer a game, its time to bring all strengths to the table and everyone then works together to take down the prey. Hoarding tools that can be used throughout the chain can be the difference between life and death. We tend to work smarter not harder.
The ultimate level of strength achieved for a pride is not the number of members but the ability to share gifts. This shows a level of expertise that not many prides are capable of. It also demonstrates that the pride bond is unbreakable. If a member of the pride leaves for whatever reason, they will still take what they learned with them. If that be a talent then they can still use it, but it will never be as strong as the person that the talent originated from.
Emery brings the ability to create fire. Raging walls, little zooming fireballs or tiny sparks. Less is more depending on the heat of her fires. She has learned a hand full of other talents from her time with her mothers' pride. But one of the most useful gifts she learned and that is closely related to my shielding is distortion. With distortion one can throw off other talents or follow it back to the source and mess with them.
We are not up to par with Emery's former pride. But Leah and I have been able to feel the talent when Emery has opened the channel in our link. We can feel the strength of it and that its there, we just can't see and grab it yet. Leah wasn't sure that she would be able to at first. Her old pack didn't have any special gifts except for physical side effects like running faster compared to the others and in some cases amplified senses beyond the standard but as supernatural beings you get those gifts with the change anyways. Emery had to share some memories of how she learned talents in the past with her mother. She shared the thought process going into the lessons and the changes she had to go thru in order to develop a talent successfully. The cubs are still not up to these advanced lessons just yet. They have enough on the plate right now. The only reason Leah and I can feel the hidden talents in Emery is because we had the bond of sister and childhood best friend before the development of the pride.
I thank the stars above every day for choosing to take Emery's bite instead of the venom of a vampire. I am no longer that sad, hopeless, shy girl waiting for things to happen around and to me. For others to direct my path. I have the fortitude to go out and do what I want. I don't have to be dependent on someone else to save or make decisions for me. I want to slap myself for the way I acted back then. I blame a lot of my codependency issues on Charlie and Renee. Charlie just didn't care enough when I was growing up. What father would be happy with just sending an occasional check and birthday card. No stable visitations. No scheduled calls. And he was happy with that. I am not even going to touch Charlie's relationship with Emery. Renee purposely put me in the position of paying the bills but waiting on her to bring the money to the table and having to go wherever she deemed was fun and exciting. While giving me the occasional scraps of affection. I was starved for attention and love. I dived into romance novels and just never popped my head back up. I was waiting for a knight to rescue me. And Edward walked right into that role.
Edward wanted to be that knight. The perfect predator for a teenage age girl. He knew enough of the psyche of a girl my age from his constant need to mindread all of those around him. The never-ending high schooler role gave him plenty ammunition to use to get his prize and play with it. Later just to destroy it when it is no longer appealing. Then begin the game anew. He was able to identify my weaknesses and play them against me. He knew my thirst for love, understanding and stable home life.
By giving me the glimpse of his own family, he set the bait. His devotion was just a bonus. I took every piece that was willing given to me. I ate that poisonous apple. So, the cycle began. As I reflect on the choices, I made from the first-time meeting Edward to walking out the door after discovering the peak of betrayals he and the Cullen's partook in. I ask myself would I do it all over again. And I have to say that my answer is NO. Emery would have always been in my life. So, I would have always had the possibility of being as I am now without the Cullen's and the lengths of misery that I had to go thru to arrive where I am now. I can say that I am smarter and more resilient because of the minefield I had to walk thru to get here.
Therefore, it has been so hard to turn the other cheek with Rosalie. She has always hated me. Talked down to me, glared every time I walked into a room. I swear she positions herself in my direct line of sight when I walk thru the threshold of a room just so I can see the scowl on her face directed at me. But what really gets to me is the comments she makes under her breath directed at my self-worth. She is just playing one of Edwards games. Trying to break me down. But to what purpose. I don't know. If she is trying to push me away, then she has succeeded. I maintain a calm demeanor because I must. The cubs don't need that kind of negative exposure. If I give her back some of the venom she puts out, she just reaches deeper and goes to levels that I would never stoop to.
I know Tanya is having a sit down with her. I just don't care anymore. Rosalie has used the last of my patience. This is my pride and family. I will no longer tolerant someone treating me like less than I deserve. I don't need anyone else straighten her out. I should have done it when we got here. It was a mistake not to. I refuse to play these little bickering games with her. She treats me like crap. I don't think she has the guts to try anything with Leah or Emery. She knows that they won't hesitate to kill her. Maybe she thinks I am a target because of my history with Edward and the rest of the Cullen's. I will give her an ultimatum if she doesn't leave me along then I will call a vote to have her removed from our territory. She is not a part of the Denali coven. Yes, she has a bonded with the cubs but at this point even that is suffering because of her behavior. They don't need to see that kind of cruel behavior. It's time for action.
So? Thoughts?
I decided to pickup with Bella's POV. Its been sometime since we had her POV and she has gone thru so many changes. I wanted Bella to hit her wall with Rosalie's behavior. Which I can guarantee she has. Rosalie has never had a truly health relationship and the level of avoidance I presented her as having is about to bite her in a big way.
