The air felt good against my skin, the breeze gently ruffled my hair and weaved through my clothing. It was nice, the sky was more cloudy than earlier, I didn't mind.
" Where did you want to go first?" Jasper asked beside me.
Looking around we were almost completely surrounded by forest, save for the path leading to the road. Picking a direction that leads away from the road and town I pointed to the side of the house.
" That way?" I asked, leaving room for him to change direction if he wished.
" Sure," He agreed.
I began walking towards that area, slightly stumbling trying to get used to these stupid tripping hazards called shoes. I half expected Jasper to snicker and make a comment of some sort but he remained silent. Which I appreciated.
The woods were thick, with a lot of overgrown vegetation, twigs, roots, and vines littered the ground so I needed to watch my footing. I knew I was going to trip eventually, having not been in this type of terrain before, toppled with these shoes, it was just a matter of when.
Though others may have considered it to be gloomy, I thought the dim lighting only added to the damp cold beauty of the woods. I'm sure on the rare occasion where the sun did shine longer than a moment painted just as beautiful a canvas, if not more so. Alas, I am but a child, what would one so young know of the world and the beauties or pain it holds?
I was in my thoughts a moment too long as I felt myself trip, effectively jolting me into awareness, thankfully Jasper was closer than I realized and caught me before I could fall.
" Be careful, it's slick and there are rocks and roots that are hidden well," Jasper warned.
Nodding I thanked him before continuing my exploration, trying to memorize the near-identical terrain to my mental map. It helped to look for landmarks, anything that stuck out more than the rest would do. The first one that I saw was a large stone that looked similar to a chair.
It'd be best not to wander out too far at night unless the landmarks I was taking note of could glow in the dark, I would have to be right next to, if not touching, said object to know its there, and is, in fact, the right one and not something similar.
Looking back I saw that even though we've only walked a couple of feet, the view to the house was almost completely shrouded with leaves and trees. This is definitely a good place to go when one is looking for solitude.
Some time passed as we walked in relative silence, making a comment or short conversation here and there. I don't know how long we've been walking, it has dimmed since we entered the woods, I was fine with continuing for a bit longer but a hand on my shoulder stopped me.
" It's getting late, let's head back," Jasper said.
He wasn't looking at me, but off in the distance. I looked in said direction but saw nothing, just more trees, and vegetation. I turned and began stumbling back the way we came, but Jasper once again stopped me.
"Let's go this way, there'll be more for you to see," He said smoothly, but he was still looking intently in that direction raising my suspicions.
He's lived here longer than I have so maybe he's more attuned to the area, and just saw or heard an animal that I couldn't. Now that I bring my attention to it, the woods were completely silent save for the condensation dripping from the leaves and plants, or naturally us walking through.
Was it always this silent? When was the last time I heard the birds singing? Bugs chirping? I really need to be more aware of my surroundings. Jasper and I continued to walk in relative silence. Well, Jasper walked, I stumbled here and there, though not as much as at the beginning of this excursion.
I had to begrudgingly admit that the cushiony warm confines of these shoes did provide some comfort. Sighing through my nose I glanced up over at Jasper, his head was aimed in the direction he was looking at earlier, was an animal stalking us? The curiosity getting the better of me I decided to ask just that.
" Is something trying to stalk us?" Jasper snapped his head towards me, his eyes were slightly more wide than before.
I don't know why he seemed surprised, it couldn't have been the fact that I supposedly gave away our position, which has been known the moment we entered these woods. Did he just assume I wouldn't notice his strange behavior?
" It's just an animal," He said looking ahead of us now.
Narrowing my eyes, we continued in silence, every time I glanced over at him he'd be looking straight ahead, seemingly no longer interested in the animal supposedly still following us. I knew better, he must be looking when I'm not at him, and or using his other senses to tell where it is.
Does he think he was protecting me by keeping me in the dark? Trying to keep me oblivious to a potentially life-threatening creature? Though the gesture was sweet it was wholly unnecessary.
Of course, when I think this is when I trip, and Jasper, being too distracted to catch me this time, I fell to my hands and knees. I felt a quick sharp pain on my knee but paid it no mind. As I climbed to my feet I heard Jasper release a sharp gasp, before I was suddenly lifted onto his hip with my head being forced down into the crook of his neck.
Feeling the breeze hitting my back I knew Jasper was running, really, really, fast, but why? My question was answered when a mighty roar filled the air so loud it vibrated my eardrums. What was that? Was it a bear? I heard those could roar fairly loud.
Though not having seen evidence of that I couldn't rule that out, but what else could it be if not that? I don't know too many animals so it could be anything as far as I knew. I was tempted to glance over Jaspers shoulder to have a look at it, but a firm hand buried in my hair kept me in place. At least I was comfortable.
I soon heard a door slam followed by familiar voices.
"What happened?" Rosalie.
"Why's little bro bleeding?!" Emmett.
I thought everyone was supposed to be out? They must have come back while we were in the woods.
" There's an unwanted guest," Was all Jasper said before I was handed to Rosalie.
No one said anything else as Emmett and Jasper shared a look before going outside, with me now on Rosalie's hip she walked briskly towards the garage, before gently setting me in the passenger side of her red car. I know nothing of the make and model.
Once the garage door was opened enough Rosalie floored it outside and down the driveway, it only took a few moments to realize we were headed towards town. We rode in silence with my head buzzing with questions.
What kind of animal was it? Why did I need to be taken out? Was it so dangerous I needed to be removed from the premises; and if so why would Jasper and Emmett not only stay but confront whatever it was by themselves?
" What was that creature?" I asked.
Rosalie was silent for a few moments, her natural scowl was more prominent than before.
" It's nothing you need to concern yourself about," She finally answered.
My eyes narrowed at the vague response, they were hiding something, even a blind man could see that. Maybe I needed to start small.
" Where are we going?" I looked out the windshield, watching but not seeing the yellow lines go by.
"We're going to the hospital to see Carlisle about that wound." She said.
Looking down all I saw was dirt staining my sweatpants, leaning forwards some I finally saw what everyone was talking about. Below my left knee, I could see a small tear in the pants, and the blood that soaked through the material left a three to four-inch trail running down my shin.
This was still clearly just another excuse, a cut like this could easily have been taken care of back at the house. Even so, all I could do was wait and observe until an opportunity to catch one off guard and question them presented itself. Or until I knew more of the situation, it wouldn't do to question and accuse blindly.
We were soon driving by buildings and people, forcing Rosalie to slow down and drive the speed limit, which judging by her furrowed brows she was all too pleased about that. Soon we were parked outside of the hospital, I unbuckled and opened my door to get out when I was suddenly once again lifted onto Rosalie's hip.
" It doesn't hurt to walk," I told her, she sighed but otherwise ignored me.
Walking inside I saw it wasn't as crowded as I would've expected, Rosalie walked up to the lady sitting at the front desk, who looked up upon our entry. The lady after shuffling a few papers to the side gave Rosalie and me her full attention.
" What seems to be the problem?" She asked politely, gazing at me.
" My li-"
" Rosalie? What's wrong?" Carlisle said cutting her off, walking over to us, his gaze landed on my knee.
" I'll take this from here Sheila, thank you," Carlisle said to the lady, putting his hand on the back of Rosalie's arm guiding us down the hall.
While walking I saw Carlisle and Rosalie's exchanged looks before continuing in silence, besides Carlisle's short greetings when walking past one of his patients and or colleges.
When we entered an empty room, Rosalie gently set me on the bed as Carlisle pulled out bandages and other equipment I don't know about out of the drawers on the other side of the room. Rosalie leaned against the bed frame while Carlisle grabbed a nearby stool and pulled it over, sitting in front of me.
" I'm going to roll up your pant leg okay? It may touch your wound but it should only sting for a moment," He said.
Nodding I adjusted slightly before remaining still, letting him do whatever he needed to. Once the material was rolled up to mid-thigh I could see the blood trailed down further than the stain let on, it stretched below my calf. The cut wasn't that deep, nor was it big, at least I didn't think so.
" What happened?" Carlisle asked, gently dabbing the cut with a cotton ball he dipped in alcohol.
Knowing he wasn't talking to me I remained silent, Rosalie didn't answer for a moment, but after Carlisle glanced over at her, swapping out the now dirtied cotton ball for a new one, she explained.
" When Emmett and I got home, he and Jasper were gone, we knew Jasper would watch over him so we didn't worry. That is until Jasper came running in holding pipsqueak, saying there was a guest outside. So I brought him here while they took care of our guest."
Carlisle's gaze lingered longer than necessary on my leg as if deep in thought, I didn't know what exactly but I knew she was speaking some sort of code that only Carlisle clearly understood.
Though frustrated they were all hellbent on keeping me in the dark I bit my tongue, I'd wait till I knew more of what was going on, I couldn't just ask questions about something I don't know about, they could deflect and change the topic too easily.
Why do I care so much anyway? Where has my sudden curiosity come from? Mentally shaking my head I was pulled from my thoughts by a sudden tugging on my leg. Looking down I saw Carlisle finish wrapping the bandages around my calf, hooking it into place by a small pin.
" All done," Carlisle said with a small smile, gently rolling my pant leg back down.
Looking up a thought came to mind.
" I thought you and Esme were getting my adoption and stuff sorted?" I asked tilting my head to the side.
" We did, it's all finished and taken care of, not that you needed to worry about it, to begin with," Carlisle said smiling softly.
I was about to ask something else but a buzzing sound cut me off, Carlisle pulled out a small device that was clipped to his pants, before putting it back.
" I have to get back to work, I clock out in a little bit, so in the meantime, you're gonna stay in here alright? Rosalie will keep you company, feel free to watch tv if you'd like," Carlisle said climbing to his feet.
Before he walks away, he brushed some of my hair out of my face before pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. That warm flow I felt before came back tenfold and lingered long after he left, the feeling was very, comforting.