With the addition of the southern vampires, more Quileute boys had shown signs of the change. Their skin grew warmer as their temper grew shorter, more untamed. Safina couldn't imagine the heart-breaking process that came with that change. The girl could tell that these were the boys who were looked down upon, scolded for no other reason than to set an example. She had heard from Seth that these boys had essentially been taught to believe that if they went missing, La Push would be better off. Of course, none of these words were spoken by the close-knit Quileute community. Outsiders spoke of children they knew nothing about.
Alice had still not been able to see who exactly was coming for Jasper, or why, or when. It tugged at her insides, a predator to her precognitive blindspots. Her fingers were constantly at her temples, a never ending headache plaguing her. Safina wished she had the same gift as her brother, at least in Alice's mind. His presence practically silenced the searing pain of not knowing, the flashes of possible paths disappearing. Edward and Alice carried out telepathic conversations, which had always annoyed the rest of the family. This time, though, they said nothing of their silence.
Renesmee tried to pretend with Safina that she wasn't scared out of her mind. She had almost seen a battle before, of course. This time, she feared, was different. People she loved were sure to die, and she wasn't sure if she could handle that. Nessie took longer looks at her family, hoping to sear their faces to memory. She looked at Safina longer, harder. Why, she wasn't sure. No matter the reason, she paid more attention to the flecks of a similar gold hue in her sticky sweet chocolate eyes. Safina's hair, if the light was just right, reflected an array of dark reds and gold tones. Nessie had Safina's laughter committed to heart. If she were to take anything with her to the grave, it would be the perfect sound of her best friend's human laughter, the best kind. There were no bell tones or whistles in her voice, just hearty passion mixed with a spicy taste of real human blood flowing through her veins.
Most importantly, to Safina, at least, was Jasper. The arrival of Charlotte and Peter had settled his nerves for only a short time, and, soon, he became a shell of a person. His mind seemed to contain one thing only, according to Edward. Death. Jasper, with his own violating abilities, had become accustomed to protecting his thoughts from his brother. He was much like Rosalie in this way, Edward had bitterly noted. This protection the blond had cast prevented Edward from seeing exactly whose death Jasper was so hellbent on. He couldn't even see emotions behind the thought, as he usually could. Edward figured, and relayed, that it was either malicious or melancholic.
Safina's head laid on her boyfriend's chest, nearing sleep as his fingers gently combed through her curly hair. Just as her eyes became too heavy she murmured a quiet, "Jay?"
His chest vibrated as he hummed in response. Their eyes met, another clash of honey and hickory, and love radiated in them both.
"What's gonna happen?"
As much as he wished he could tell her, explain that everything would be okay, or even that it wouldn't be and they were completely and utterly doomed, he couldn't lie to her. He didn't know. Neither did Alice or Edward or Carlisle and that scared him more than anything.
"I...don't know Saf."
Alice's eyes were filled with an obvious, terrible dread. Her face creased and Edward's face contorted to a similar expression.
"He cannot know about this." Edward became stern, and Alice immediately began to argue.
She felt like a small child, an important side to this argument that the opposing side refused to listen to.
"I'm not refusing your point, Alice," now he spoke to her like a child. This made him sigh, his fingers finding their place on the bridge of his nose.
She sharply inhaled an unnecessary breath, arguing, "Jasper needs to-" Edward shushed her.
"Maybe it doesn't have to be right now." He pointed in the direction of their brother's room, soft snores emanating from the human girl.
Alice opened her mouth to argue and Edward's softened voice spoke, "If I had been able to have a day of peace with Bella before the newborn battle, I would have taken it. Easily. Let him have tonight, Alice."
Her brother was gone before the precog could even say, "I'm not sure that we have that much time."