Homework proved an able distraction. I found a folded page torn from a notebook with a series of pages written on them. Once I read them, I vaguely remembered Mr. Banner speak these to Edward as he drew me out of the room. I also remembered him leaning towards my bag as we waited in the office for the school to clear out between classes. He must have gotten my key then too. But if he had done it then, how did he know? Had he really planned so far ahead that he knew that he would drive me home and that he would need the key to get my truck to me. He said he understood me better, but that was practically psychic. Granted, I wasn't sure what Edward was capable of, but that was just disconcerting.

The phone rang and I had to run downstairs.

"Hello?" I said, then added, "Swan residence."

"Spill!" Jessica commanded.

I sighed, and started walking the phone back to my room.

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"Spill!" she demanded. "Everyone is talking about it! Edward Frickin' Cullen invites you to sit with him at lunch, and then you don't show for Biology. Then you come to get your homework at the end of class, get all woozy, then he carried out of the class!"

"Yes, so?" I asked.

"So!?" she screeched. "You cut class with Edward Cullen and all I get is a 'so'?!"

"It isn't like that," I said with a sigh. I checked outside and sure enough, my truck was there.

"Can I call you back?" I asked.

"Just Bella Swan!" Jess all but screamed, "I swear to god if you hang up this phone, I'm never speaking to you again!"

"Fine, fine," I said, "just, hold on a minute."

I heard her voice garble a protest at me from several feet away as I set the phone down and huffed my way out to the truck as fast as I could and still be sure footed. I managed to only slide on the wet pavement twice and catch the door of the truck before I had a chance to fall. I opened the door and found the key inside. I grabbed it, locked the door, and ran inside again. I combed my fingers through my damp hair as I picked up the phone.

"-ninety four bottles of beer," Jess was singing in a purposefully terrible trill. "Take one down-"

"I'm back," I said, holding the phone to my ear and working my key back onto the key ring.

"Spill!" she commanded again, in the exact same tone.

"What?" I asked dismissively. "Edward talked to me this morning. He asked me why I didn't want to go to the dance and stuff. We got excused from class because they were blood typing. He can't be around blood because of his anemia and I faint, so we sat in the library all fifth period."

"Wait," she said, her tone flat, then working up to a nervous skepticism, "he asked you to the dance, didn't he!?"

"No," I said, "he didn't."

For come reason, I found it hard to keep the smile off my face.

"What?!" she demanded, "I know that tone! What?!"

"He didn't ask me," I said. "He could have. But, it was girl's choice, and so he didn't ask. He let it be girl's choice."

"You didn't!" she squealed.

"I kinda did," I said, my smile more pronounced.

She was positively nonverbal with giggles and girlish glee.

"He said yes?" she finally got out. "Tell me he said yes!"

"Jess," I complained.

"Just Bella Swan, don't you dare ruin this for me!" she cried. "What did the man say?!"

"He said yes," I barely whispered. I might as well have dropped a bomb. I wasn't sure what was going on on the other side of the phone, but I was surprised the phone survived it.

"So you are going to the dance with him!" he triumphed.

"I am as of fifth period," I said. "I guess those rumors got started because people saw us this morning. But you were right; up until I actually asked him, I had no intention of going to the dance at all."

"What changed?" she asked, sounding sort of sincere in an odd way.

"I am not entirely sure," I said. "It is like… he gets me. I don't understand how or why, but he really sees me, in some ways that I don't even see myself. I realized that it was what I wanted, and that the only reason I wasn't asking for it was because I was afraid I wouldn't get it. He helped me to stop being afraid."

There was a lengthy silence, at least relative to Jess.

"And it has nothing to do with the fact that the boy is hotter than the surface of the sun in July?" she asked.

I smiled, "The sun is the same temperature in July as it is in December. It's just the distance and the angle that has changed."

"You didn't answer my question," she pointed out.

I grinned, "Caught that, huh?"

"What do you think of him?" she asked. "I mean really think of him. We haven't talked about boys at all since you got here. Now we both have dates and we can finally do the musing, vicarious chick thing."

"The what?" I asked, a bit confounded.

"You know," she said. "You can talk to me about your boyfriend and I can talk to you about my boyfriend."

I almost choked, "Boyfriend!? We are going on one date! About the only thing I know about the guy is that he thinks I'm interesting and hard to understand, but he is learning. He hasn't really told me how he feels about me at all."

She considered, "How do you feel about him?"

"Jess," I complained.

"It's a simple question," she said. "Don't overthink it. Do you like him?"

"Yes," I said, feeling my face for scarlet.

"Um hmm," she said with a sort of indulgent lilt to her voice. "And when he touches you, do you get all tingly and melty?"

I thought about that.

"I don't think he has," I said. "Not really. The few times he has touched me, there was at least one layer of clothing between us."

"That's no fun," she pouted. "What was it like to be carried by him?"

I thought about it.

"Easy," I said. "I guess he must be pretty strong because it seemed like nothing to him. But it was… I don't know, sort of smooth, like I didn't have to worry, like he had me and he wasn't going to let anything happen to me."

"Aw!" she squeed. "He made you feel safe?"

I thought about that, "Yeah, I guess he really did."

We devolved into talk about the dance and the beach weekend. We made plans the following week to go up to Port Angeles and look for dresses. I had a pair of sensible dress shoes I could probably use, but I would look anyway. I didn't plan on getting any jewelry, as Jessica did.

Dad got home, and I told Jess goodnight and made dinner. Dad and I didn't talk, but he kept eyeing me and saying nothing. Finally I went up to my room, finished homework and showered and went to bed.

I was not looking forward to Friday, despite the fact that it was so warm, I carried my jacket and wore mid-length sleeved shirt and a pair of khakis. I got to school, and looked around the parking lot, hoping that he decided to finish out the week after all. To my amazement, I saw what I was looking for, the silver Volvo, but only then did I notice that one of Edward's sister, Rosalie, was standing beside it. She gave my truck a withering look and walked away. I was willing to bet he actually wasn't here.

Of course, by the time I got to Trig, the staring had become rather noticeable.

"Jessica," I whispered as I sat down, "you didn't happen to tell the entire school the contents of our conversation last night, did you?"

"Not all of them," she said in exasperation. "I do respect your privacy."

I felt my insides liquefy, "You…"

"What?" she asked, looking at my face. "What is it?"

"You told them?" I asked, feeling suddenly hollow. "You really told them?"

"What?" she asked, almost looking scared. "What's the big deal?"

"It's my business, Jessica," I said, trying not to raise my voice. "It wasn't for you to spread around the school! I have never been on a date in my life, and now I am going to have to walk around with the entire school breathing down my neck."

I stood up.

"Bella?" Jess asked as I gathered my things and sat in the back of the room. Of course, that only made it all the more noticeable when people turned to watch me.

I didn't speak to Jessica at all for the rest of third period. I didn't meet her in the bathroom between classes, and I sat away from her during fourth period too.

"Are you okay?" asked Angela when I got into the lunch line with her. She looked back to see Jessica put at least three or four people between us.

"I don't want to talk about it," I said.

Angela smiled, "Okay. Are you caught up in Biology since you were out yesterday?"

"Yes," I said. "I mean, I think so. I read the pages I was supposed to, but I don't have a very good idea what we actually went over."

"I will help you," she said. "Let's get our food and I can give you some bullet points once we sit down."

Jessica sat on the other side of the group from us. Even while studying a bit, it was hard to not get distracted by the overly animated Mike, going on at length about the beach trip he had planned for Saturday.

"Are you still coming, Bella?" he asked. "The weather is going to be really nice!"

"Sure," I said, hardly looking up. It had been a while since I had been to the beach. I would be nice to see the tide pools again.

"Awesome!" he said, and I managed to catch Jessica wilting out of the corner of my eye.

"We'll meet at my folk's store on Saturday at ten," he said.

I was just packing up and walking to class when Lauren stood up in front of me. I was lagging behind because I had to clean up my food and my books, and she had stayed behind too.

"You need to apologize to Jessica," she said, her words hard.

I looked her over. She hadn't really talk to me very much since I had arrived in Forks. I knew from Jess that she had dated both Tyler and Mike the previous year, and even though she was easily one of the most popular girls in school, she didn't really do anything to earn it outside of maintaining her appearance.

"That is none of your business," I said calmly, if a bit coolly.

"She was crying in the bathroom today," she said. "I don't know what you did to her to convenience that she is the most horrible person in the world, but you don't get to treat people like a bitch just because they don't do what you want them to do."

I looked at Lauren, taking a deep breath. I smiled.

"Thank you," I said. "I will keep that in mind."

I didn't feel the need to point out that she was doing exactly that in that moment, but only just. It wouldn't have helped anything. I walked away, stepping around her.

Mike was waiting for me at the door to the cafeteria.

"What was that about?" he asked.

"Just girl talk," I said.

"So," he said, "it's crazy today."

"Yeah," I said, half sarcastically. "Almost shorts weather."

Mike, who was wearing cargo shorts, laughed, "Yeah, I finally get to see what your forearms look like."

There was a moment of silence.

"Okay," he admitted, "that was weird. Scratch that. I wasn't talking about the weather, actually."

"Oh?" I asked. "What's crazy then?"

He shrugged, "Everyone seems to think you going to the dance now."

I took a deep breath, "I am."

"Oh, cool!" he said. "Stag is totally fun. The guys and I will total all dance with you."

I could see a bit of worry in his eyes. He had heard, and he didn't want it to be true.

"Mike," I said, and he seemed to get it.

"So," he said. "Which was it? His money or his looks?"

I stopped walking.

"That's really harsh," I said, and started walking away from him.

"Bella," he said. "Wait. You're right. That was stupid."

I slowed so he could catch up.

"I just…" he said, sighing, "I don't like it. Cullen is kind of a creep, to me anyway. I just… Man, I sound like an asshole, but I really just don't… like you with him. I don't want to see you get hurt."

Mike was a nice guy, even if he was still just a guy.

"I appreciate that," I said without heat. "But it is my life, Mike. It's my decision."

"Okay," he said. "Okay. I'll still save you that dance, though."

I shook my head, "I don't think that will go over well with either of our dates."

"I thought it was your choice," he pointed out.

Still smiling, I said, "And I am choosing no."

He nodded, "Can't blame a guy for trying."

Biology was rather boring when I was sitting at the lab table alone. Thanks to Angela, I was well prepared and had no trouble keeping up. By Gym, I was ready to go home already.

I walked into the locker room, and found Jess sitting in front of my locker. Lauren was right; she looked downright miserable.

"I'm so sorry," she gushed, standing up as soon as I made my way over to her. "I'm a horrible person! I never should have-"

"Jess, Jess!" I said, taking her arms in my hands. "It's okay."

"It is?" she asked, a bit tearily.

"I know you didn't do it on purpose," I said. "I was putting some space between us because I need time to calm down. I wasn't holding this against you. I didn't really pay attention to how it looked to you because I was too busy dealing with my own stuff. That's just how I act when I need some time to get my emotions back in line. It had nothing to do with you. Yeah, you screwed up, but you're human. You get to do that. It's done, and me being mad at you isn't going to change that. Just… next time, could you not talk about me and my business without checking with me first? I don't really like the whole limelight thing."

"Yes," she said. "Of course. I'm so…"

I hugged her, briefly. It quieted her.

"I am too," I said. "It really is okay."

"You know," said Jess, trying to hide the fact that she was wiping away a tear or two, "you're kind of like my best friend, you know that?"

I smiled, "You're mine too. I could say Angela, but she is everyone's best friend."

Jess smiled too, "I know. Don't you just hate it?!"

"Oh," I said, matching her teasing tone, "it's the worst."

We changed out for Gym and the rest of the day went smoothly enough. I encouraged Jess to go talk to Mike when they had the chance and got all my homework done early. I was cleaning my room when Charlie brought home a pizza and we munched over napkins so there wouldn't be any dishes.

"Any plans this weekend?" he asked.

I nodded while chewing and swallowed.

"Group of friends are going out to First Beach," I said. "Should be fun."

"Is Tyler going?" he asked pointedly.

"I have no idea," I said. "It doesn't matter either way if he is."

Charlie nodded in approval.

The night passed quickly enough. I slept restlessly, dreams that I didn't fully comprehend weaving in and out of my consciousness. I got up earlier than I would have liked, and had time to finish cleaning my room and running a load of laundry, starting the drier before I had to leave. I caught Charlie before he left, and he said that he would be back late that night, planning a fishing trip with friends and said he would be on the water all day. He gave me the number for the station if I needed to reach him by radio. I sighed and said I would be fine before driving over to Newton's Olympic Outfitters.

There were a few cars already there, and Mike was standing in front of his Suburban chatting with people as I pulled up.

"Wow!" he said as I stepped out. "You made it!"

He made it sound like he wasn't sure.

"Why wouldn't I?" I asked.

"No reason," he said quickly. "Is there… anyone else coming?"

Subtle Mike was not.

"No," I said, wondering why I didn't think to ask him. He might be back today. How long does one normally camp? Why didn't I ask these things when I had the chance?

"Good," Mike said. "That's good."

I recognized most of the people there. Lauren, Angela, and Tyler were there, along with two boys whose names I had heard a time or two, and three girls who I had no idea who they were. I thought I had Gym with one of them, and her unimpressed look seemed to confirm it.

"No Jess yet?" I asked, looking around.

"Not yet," he said. "We are just waiting on her."

I naturally gravitated towards Angela, who smiled a greeting, and drove Lauren to go socialize with the other girls. I noticed that they were shooting speculative looks at Tyler, and the occasional unimpressed look at me too. That was new.

"Hey," I said to Angela. "What's up with that?"

Angela looked at me quizzically, "With what?"

"Is Lauren just being Lauren or did I do something?" I asked.

"I'm not sure," she said honestly. "She hasn't said anything to me about it, but then again, most people don't gossip with me. I don't think I'm a very good gossipee."

I smiled, "That isn't a bad thing. Besides, there are more important things to talk about. I would rather talk about myself more than someone else any day."

"Like who you are going to the dance with?" she added, her tone only a little pointed.

I grimaced, "You heard about that, huh?"

She smiled, "I am not sure who hasn't. Do you think that is why Lauren is being weird?"

"Maybe," I said. "I didn't really want it spread around the school and Jess sort of took the brunt of my frustration. We already reconciled, but maybe Lauren is carrying a grudge."

"Maybe," Angela said lightly.

We enjoyed a comfortable silence while waiting for Jessica. It got to the point that several kids hopped into a minivan and head down rather than waiting. Finally, Jess arrived. She was dressed rather nicely in tan capris and a loose and draping white shirt. Her hair and makeup were done, and by the way the other girls looked at her made her obvious effort all the more obvious.

"Hey Mike," she said pleasantly. "Are we all here?"

"Yeah," he said, not giving her much of a look, "We were just waiting for you."

Between his tone and his words, her expression fell a little flat.

"Oh," she said, then trying to save face. "That's cool. Let's go then."

"Okay," he said turning. "Hey Bella! Why don't you ride shotgun."

Mike was looking at me, so he didn't see the shock and hurt cross Jessica's face. I looked at the Suburban and then did a quick head count. I was in luck.

"Okay," I said, and Jess looked even more hurt. Until I walked up to her and said, "Come on Jess."

I opened the front seat for her, and looked confused.

"We need every seat," I said, "including the center up front."

She looked entirely grateful and immediately jumped in. I slid in behind her and while Mike didn't look entirely happy with the arrangement, Jess was cheerful and soon he was enjoying the attention she was giving him.

The drive to the beach was quick, and arriving was like stepping back in time. Suddenly, I was a little girl again, walking the thin beaches with the children of my father's friends who I could barely remember. I was clopping in overlarge boots looking for sand dollars. I never went in for sand castles, but I enjoyed helping kick them down to flat beach again after the other kids were done with them. And a remembered a single sunset over the water, making it look like molten gold and pink. Somehow, I felt a deeper connection here than I did in Forks. This felt more real, more grounded than most of my memories from my childhood in the area. This felt like home.

The day was long and fun. We talked and laughed and ate picnic foods. Several kids brought Frisbees and a football. When being around Lauren became too much, I went with a group to watch the diverse and alien life of the tidal pools. I could have stayed there all day, and I did stay there the longest, managing to get back just before dark with only a few scrapes to my palms for my troubles.

"There you are," said Mike as I walked up. "Have you ever seen a driftwood fire?"

"I don't think so," I said. I couldn't remember ever having one down here.

"Then you haven't," he said with a smile. "You'd remember."

Mike had been good all day. He had mostly been with Jess and she seemed pleased. Even now she didn't seem fussed by him talking with me. They started up the fire and I watched as blue and lavender flames started intermixing with the usual orange. I was so enraptured, I missed it when a few more kids from the reservation started coming by. I looked up and there were suddenly a half dozen extra people around, ranging from about Freshman age to maybe even middle or late twenties. The oldest boy looked more like a parent, the way he looked over everyone else and took part only in so much that he didn't stop watching over the rest of us.

As I was noticing this older young man, I also noticed one of the younger boys noticing me. He was thin in that way boys have when they have grown quite a lot rather quickly. His face was still very young and roundly boyish, but there was a certain maturity in his eyes that didn't belie an almost eager warmth. Looking at him a moment longer, I realized he seemed familiar.

I walked over a minute later.

"Hey," I said.

"Hey," he said in matching tones, his rough voice a bit deeper than I would have thought.

"Do I know you?" I asked. A few of the girls near me quieted down.

"I don't know," he said, his voice a little playful and teasing, "do you?"

I didn't really remember names at all. It had been years since I had last been in Forks at all, let alone to the beach. I was trying to remember anything I could, so I just took a stab at it.

"Are you Billy's son?" I asked, raking my memory. "Jay something?"

"Wow," he said, sounding genuinely impressed. "Yeah, actually. Jacob. I'm surprised you remember me at all. I would have thought you would have remembered my sisters more, Rachel and Rebecca."

Them I did remember, now that he mentioned it, which meant that it was his mom too that had died in a car wreck years before my last visit here. And it was Billy that was confined to a wheelchair. He seemed awfully cheerful for someone who had so much tragedy in his past.

"I do," I said. "Remember them, I mean. Now that you mention it. But I don't remember the last time I've seen them. Are they here?"

"Nah," said happily. "Rachel is at school, Washington State, and Rebecca is in Hawaii with her husband. Married a surfer."

He made it sound like it was a cardinal sin, except for the smile tugging at his lips.

"You look good," he said, his expression never changing. "Not that you didn't before, but still."

I smiled, "What about you? I don't seem to remember you being so tall."

He was maybe my height that last time I saw him. Now, he was like a head taller than me.

"Wish Bella would make up her mind," I heard in a stage whisper somewhere behind me. "How many guys does she need to date to sate her… appetites?"

I recognized Lauren's voice. I really wished that I could say what she said didn't hurt, but it did. Jacob seemed to take the whole thing in. He stood up. He seemed even taller that way. Lauren saw and stopped talking.

"You need to apologize," he said, his tone totally different, the happy go lucky kid replaced by a stern confidence and maturity. Lauren looked affronted.

"No I don't," she said. She was going to say something more, but before she could, the other boys from the reservation at the fire seemed to notice what was going on and stood too.

"This is our beach," said Jacob. "You insulted my friend. So, you can either apologize or you can leave."

"I'm not-" she started, but she noticed that the kids from school were edging away from her and Mike looked incredibly nervous, staring at her imploringly.

"I…" she said, looking at the three oldest there, all between six and seven feet tall. One of them looking like he was prepared to chase her the whole way back to Forks.

"She doesn't need to apologize," I said firmly. "I don't care."

And I didn't care. She screwed up, and she knew that now. Nothing more needed to be done.

Jacob looked at me, closely, "Are you sure?"

I looked at Lauren. She looked angry, but that anger couldn't cover the much deeper and large fear in her eyes. I honestly pitied her more than anything.

"I'm sure," I said evenly.

The boys all sat back down, all except Jacob.

"Come on," he said, offering me a hand to help me stand. "Let's go for a walk."

He pulled me to my feet, and when I let go, there was a split second before he did too. We had just moved out of easy earshot when he said, "So, you have a boyfriend?"

"No," I said, trying not to sound irritated. "Not really."

"What's up?" he asked, catching my tone.

"School stuff," I said. "I am going to the dance next week with a boy that is notorious for not dating. The whole school knows about it, and it wasn't my decision for them to know."

"Oh," he said. "Why is the boy… notable for not dating?"

I felt myself go a little pink as I said, "A lot of girls think he is attractive."

He laughed, but in a way that made me feel like he wasn't laughing at me, even if he was.

"I get it," he said, grinning. "You don't want people to think the wrong thing about you. You think they will think you are shallow and going to with the guy just because he is hot."

I nearly tripped in the sand as I came up short.

"Yeah," I said. "That's it, exactly."

How had he known that? I don't even think I had known that.

"Are you?" he asked.

"Am I what?" I asked back.

"Going out with him because he is hot?" he asked.

"No!" I said loudly, offended.

He gave me a knowing look.

"Okay," I said, "not just because he's… pretty."

Ugh! That sounded awful.

"Own it," he said. "There is nothing wrong with going out with someone because you are attracted to them. Relationships like that don't last though. You need a guy who can make you smile."

I smiled, "Oh, is that a fact?"

"Yep," he said. "And who also happens to be ruggedly handsome."

I couldn't help myself, "Too bad there isn't any guys around here like that."

"Ooh!" he said, grinning more broadly. "And the ref takes a point away!"

I giggled, and looked out at the darkening evening, night coming on in full.

"So," he asked, "who is this guy you're kinda sorta maybe dating?"

"Edward Cullen," I said. It was Jacob's turn to come up short. I wasn't sure why, until he burst out laughing.

"What?" I asked.

He actually fell into the sand, rolling, holding his stomach, laughing all the harder.

"WHAT?!" I asked a second time, starting to feel embarrassed.

"No!" he wheezed out between laughs. "That's… too… funny!"

He finally subsided.

"Cullen?" he asked, trying to catch his breath. "One of the doctor's kids?"

"Yes," I said. "What's so funny?"

He shook his head, "I can't."

"You can't what?" I asked.

He looked suddenly embarrassed himself, and also a little worried.

"No, really," he said. "I can't talk about it. I could get into trouble. It's sort of… like a legend."

I was totally confused.

"Huh?" I asked. What did a legend have to do with the Cullens?

"Look," he said. "I shouldn't even be talking about this. My dad would kill me. This is tribe stuff, you know? I can't."

I was about to let it go, say that it was okay, when something fit itself together in my head.

This was it; this had something to do with Edward's secret, the one he wouldn't tell me. I was suddenly desperate to know what it was.

I thought about it. How did you get someone to tell you something they didn't want to? Oh, that just sounded terrible! How could I change his mind? That was better.

"Oh," I said, finding that it was surprising easy to feel hurt. Now that I thought about it, I realized that I really had liked it here when I had visited, liked it better than Forks. Rebecca and Rachel had made me feel welcome here, and even though I knew I would always be an outsider here, I didn't feel that kind of belonging very often. Losing even this little bit kinda hurt.

"Don't do that," complained Jacob.

I shook my head, "You're right. I'm sorry."

I meant that. I didn't like feeling I was taking advantage, but not enough to stop myself from what I did next.

"It's just…" I said, my voice trailing off. How the heck was I going to do this?

"Just what?" he asked.

"I've never dated anyone before," I said. "If you know something about him that I should know, it might be important."

"It's isn't anything like that," said Jacob, sounding worried for me more than worried about getting in trouble.

I softened my expression. I let the want for the truth fill my voice and my face.

"Please," I said simply. "Please, Jake."

He looked momentarily like he had just had a minor head injury. And I should know.

"Urgh!" he exclaimed, and wheeled about to start walking towards the surf a few steps before pacing back.

"You have to promise not to tell anyone," he said, his words heavy and his tone serious.

"Okay," I said.

"Promise," he said again.

"Okay," I said again.

"Say it!" he said loudly.

"Okay," I said, "I promise."

He looked around, "Not here. Come on."

By his lead, Jacob took me a little further down the beach to a spot where a large piece of driftwood laid on it side with gnarled roots pitched to the sky and a trunk that was a pretty decent bench. We sat in the relative quiet, night coming in full, the area bathed in only starlight and moonlight from the mostly gone waning crescent.

"Alright," he said, "just… please don't think we are a bunch of superstitious natives or anything. Okay?"

"Okay," I soothed. "It's alright. I won't judge you."

"Sure, sure," he said. "So, how much do you know or remember about our legends? Did my sisters ever tell you anything?"

"Not that I remember," I admitted.

"So," he said. "I can't tell you all of it. Some of it is really boring and other parts take way too long. But the short version goes like this. Long ago, we were a well known and respected tribe. We were a magic people, and spirit warriors protected us. And when we went to war, we did so only once, with peoples who did not know what we were, and never again once they did."

His voice had changed, taking on a practiced cadence, almost like reciting poetry, only not at all like any poet I had ever heard.

"Then came the time of the shape shifting warriors," he said, "those that could take the form of animal warriors to protect the tribe against those threats that our warriors alone could not fight."

I stared at him in the near darkness, "What sorts of threats?"

"Just one," he said, then added with a smirk, "that we know of."

"What is it?" I asked, feeling shivers run up and down my spine.

"The night walkers," he said. "The cold ones. Those of pale beauty that drink the blood of their felled foes."

Pale beauty…

"You mean…" I asked, but couldn't get the word out.

He turned and with overdone menace, he finished, "Vampires!"

I think he wanted me to laugh. I managed a shallow chuckle.

"There is a story," he went on, sounding more like his usual self, "from my great grandfather's time, of a family of the cold ones who came here, looking to live away from big cities and so many people. They said they were peaceful, and there was something different about their eyes."

He paused for me to interrupt, but I was too busy thinking about the eyes, how all the Cullen seemed to have unnaturally colored eyes, as though they were wearing contacts. He went on.

"They created a treaty with Ephraim Black," he said. "So long as they stayed off our land and did not kill any humans here, we would not attack them or out them to any of you people."

He nudged me with his hip and I jousted, managing a weak smile.

"So," I said, my voice as quavery and unsubstantial as my smile, "what? The Cullens are like these cold ones, like from before?"

"No," he said, playing up his words again. "They are the same ones."