The Jaguar Versus the Wolf

Chapter 2 - New and Old

Orbiting Satellites Book Two, Chapter 2 - New Hampshire - Part Two companion


"Jennifer, my baby sister, there you are," I said, wrapping her in a hug. I hadn't seen her since before I alerted the Volturi to her, and my other sisters, existence and they then decided to visit them (and our father). Aro, Marcus, and Caius had thankfully elected to spare them, ruling that since there was no law specifically against making hybrids, if only because none of them knew it was possible, Joham hadn't broken any laws and all had been allowed to live.

Once they'd left he came looking for me, wanted to know why I'd betrayed him like that. He was beyond angry, and refused to let any of my sisters visit.

He was right. It was my fault, and I regretted it, but nothing could be done. An innocent hybrid child's life hung in the balance. After learning of Renesmee, Joham calmed down considerably. Before that I had actually been worried that my life might have been in jeopardy. To say that relations between us had been tense would be an understatement. But since Jennifer was here it looked like the last of his anger had finally faded.

Jennifer didn't look the same as she had last time. Of course she hadn't gotten older, she stopped aging almost a decade ago, but there was something about her that looked different.

"Do you like it?" she asked twirling around, "it's called a wrap dress. Father bought it for me. Isn't it lovely?" she beamed.

My Aunt and I wore the traditional clothing of our people, but my father was never one to continue on with traditional ways, always looking to the future. My older sisters, Serena and Maysun, were completely devoted to him, and followed his lead in everything he did, but Jennifer was younger, not so brainwashed. At least she hadn't been.

As a present for her seventh birthday, when she was officially grown, with my Aunt 's guidance, I'd made her a beautiful animal hide dress, trimmed in fur and beads cut from local stones. Huilen told me it was fit for a princess in our tribe. Jennifer immediately fell in love with it like I knew she would. I hadn't seen her wear anything else when she came to visit until now.

It seems Joham's influence over Jennifer was growing stronger. "You're not mad are you?" she asked me when she saw the scowl on my face.

"What happened to the one I made you?"

"I still have it, but I just felt like something different for a change. You know humans change their clothes every day."

"Humans sweat, and bleed, and defecate, they're disgusting. Changing clothing daily has equally as much to do with fashion as necessity."

"I'm not changing my clothing daily. I've had this on for two months now. It was a birthday present. Not that you'd remember."

Now I felt awful I hadn't even realized... What was the date?

"And I've seen you wearing modern clothes before," she challenged.

"That is only when I visit the Cullens. They have one among then who is obsessed with clothing for some reason." Alice insists I wear them. She'd show up to my room every morning I stayed with them, laying out a new outfit as soon as I'd wake up. After the first year I gave up trying to argue with her. It was just easier. "They try not to draw attention to themselves, as they attempt to live among the humans. I only do it when I am with them," I explained.

"Oh, right. The Cullens," she smirked. Your Aunt mentioned that you've been spending a lot of time with them. What's going on with that? They almost got all of us killed. Now you're hanging out with them, and their humans. I know you enjoy playing with your food, but have you decided that our way of life isn't good enough for you? You want to try to act more human? That's what Huilen says, but that can't be right can it? You just said you find them disgusting, so what's up big brother?"

"I think I'm in love," I admitted. "Or at least I potentially could be."

"You fell in love with a human?" Jennifer gasped in shock. "Father's not going to like this. Oh, are you planning on changing her? Then that would be fine."

"Don't be ridiculous. It's Renesmee, the other hybrid I told you about." Her eyes grew wide but soon a smile appeared on her face. Thank goodness. I needed an ally.

I thought my Aunt would have been more on my side, but she didn't approve of Renesmee. I think it was because I was humoring the Cullens, drinking animal blood, when I was with them, more than anything else that upset her. But compromises needed to be made, didn't they? And I didn't think temporarily altering my diet was too much for them to ask. My Aunt said that I shouldn't have to change myself for someone else. That if they didn't like me for who I was then they weren't worth it. In her mind the Cullens were just as bad as Joham, opposite, yet the same in their extreme way of thinking. One too greedy for power and control, the other too submissive, denying their true selves to bend to the practicalities of others. That's what she thought I was doing too. Submitting myself to the Cullens vegetarian diet, wearing modern clothing, living in their human house when I visited… everything about them seemed to repulse her.

I didn't think it was that bad. And it was only temporary. When Renesmee became my mate, we would return to the jungle. Once she was away from her family's influence she would adopt to our way of life. I was sure of it. Renesmee was young. It would be easy for her to adapt to our traditional diet. And she would look so beautiful in the traditional skins and furs of my people.