Mom looked worried, grasping Dad's arm in a vice-like grip, until Jake and I stepped out from between the trees.
"Renesmee!" She exclaimed in relief, running to me. Her expression of joy turned to anger and she wheeled on Jake. "How could you be so irresponsible and not let us know what was happening?"
To me, it looked like poor Jake was going to get hurt, most like by my mother. So I moved in front of him, knowing Mom would never hit me.
"Nessie, honey, please move."
"Not if you're going to hurt him." I declared stubbornly, eyes flashing dangerously. I might not be a full vampire but I can be formidable.
But of course, Jake has to be macho and can't let me help him out for once, so he pushed me behind him and faced my mother like the man he is.
I've got to admit, it was pretty scary.
"I wasn't going to hurt him, dear, I just couldn't talk to him with you standing between us." Mom informed me, and I relaxed. She turned her attention back to Jake, her tone softer this time. "Jake, how could you worry me like that? You were gone for 30 minutes!"
"I'm sorry Bella," I heard him apologize as I placed my hand on the small of his back to feel the vibrations. "I lose track of time when I'm with Ness. I thought we were gone 5 minutes, tops." He paused. "I really am sorry for scaring you, but you know I'd protect her with my life. If there was danger, you would've known." He reached his arms behind him to hug me against his back, and I smiled against his bare skin. The shirt was still over his shoulder.
"Jacob Black," I heard the anger in my father's voice, and I looked around to see him staring at Jacob's disheveled ensemble. "What exactly did you two do in the woods?"
"Dad," I broke in before Jake could say something wrong and get himself killed. I could just imagine him. 'Well, Edward, I took off my clothes to become a wolf…'
I heard Dad growl as he heard my thoughts, so I hurriedly continued. "Dad, I heard Jake following me and stopped in a clearing. He thought I sensed some unknown danger, so he morphed back and dressed quickly, not paying attention. When he realized I was fine we started talking and he never changed his clothes back to normal." I took a breath. Jake took over the story.
"Then she showed me some memories and thoughts, and we talked some more. After that we came back here. That's all," he reassured them.
"Alright." My father amended after carefully searching our minds. "You aren't lying."
When I spoke, head bent to look at the ground, my voice was low and dangerous. "You think I would lie to you?"
"Of course not, but he might." Dad smiled a little. "I'll take no chances with my baby girl. I love you too much to lose you so soon, Renesmee."
"I love you too, Daddy." I said, stepping away from Jake to hug my father. Then I turned and hugged my mother.
It happened as I was releasing my mother from the hug. I had just begun to step backward when we heard a blood-curdling screech.
Running quickly into the house, where the screaming was coming from, I gasped as I saw the scene before me. Emmett was lying on the ground, with Rosalie kneeling over him. There was a large gash in his stomach that was healing itself, and some scratches on his face and arms. Rosalie was murmuring questions to him, and he was responding weakly.
"A what?" My father hissed, glancing warily in my direction. He'd read one of their thoughts.
"Emmett says something big attacked him. He says it was a… what was it again, honey?"
"A mummy." Emmett croaked hoarsely.
"I know." Dad replied, voice tense.
"What does that mean, Edward?" Mom asked scared, no doubt for me.
"It means, dear Bella," he frowned, and started working toward a scowl. "that we are in a lot of danger."
