Jane lingered on the border, her gaze searching the tree line where Sky had vanished. Uncertainty sparked in her eyes, her mind lingering on the things she had been shown. Was it really just her worst fears? Or her own subconscious mind blaring out the series of puzzle pieces she herself refused to place in order. Aro would tire of her, that was his way. Something bigger and stronger would take her place in an instant, if he ever found them. Would she be able to fall down the pecking order with grace? Relinquish all of her hard work, all of her pain and suffering? The answer was simple... most certainly not.
Yet still, the thing that over shadowed her own nightmares, over shadowed still that brief glimpse or real family, of real love, was one simple sound. A nearly silent flutter of a heart beat, for but one beat in the silence of a cold chest, in HER cold chest. She had breathed the air because for a split second, in that moment, staring into those mismatched eyes, realizing that beauty. It stole her breath, and she felt it. Felt the need to regain it, and as she sucked in that forest scented air, her heart had beat a single time. How she relished that moment. She couldn't smell the stench of the wolves, or take note in the subtle hints of camp fire and spices that was the aroma of Sky. She smelled the forest, for the beauty. Not the dead rabbit nearly a quarter of a mile downwind, not the hog rummaging loudly in the underbrush a mile over the east cliff. Just the forest, she was seeing the forest for the trees.
She smiled slightly, her gaze still lingering into the dark underbrush. She watched the large grey wolfs head perk up, his ears swivel before he darted after Sky. For a moment, she just pretended that this was her own family, then turned and fled. Gone in a blur.
He felt it, more than heard her fall. He was gone in an instant, finding her a few hundred yards away, slumped against a tree. He smelt the blood instantly and shifted, his body bare as he cradled her. Her nose bloody and her eyes listless.
"Sky..." He barely recognized the whisper of his own voice, but she did. Her eyes swiveled to his. He fell instantly into his own fantasy. He should have known better, she was obviously unable to control it in that moment, but still, he looked. He saw a life with her, ageless, beautiful. Her fingers tracing his face in a white canopy bed. He felt the tropic breeze flutter in. Swaying the white cloth used to keep the bugs at bay at night. Her scent was over powering, lustful accents still clung to the comforter. The warm sunshine pouring through cast her in a glow. He traced his fingers over her lips, feeling more than seeing, her slight smile. Contentment ran through him and it was perfect.
"Paul." She whispered and his smile grew, his face inching closer, wanting to taste her lips on his tongue.
"Paul." That was gruffer, and louder than before and he paused.
"Paul!." Suddenly he was yanked back into reality. He landed flat on his back, gasping for air, his lungs felt like they were on fire, the forest canopy was a blur through the tears of gagging and choking. Finally he was able to suck in a deep breath, sweet, sweet air.
"Paul!" It was Sam, his face hovering over him, concern etched into his features.
"Just breath, it's going to be ok." Paul nodded, assuring Sam that he heard him, he nodded even as his vision darkened. He nodded even as the world became numb.
"She isn't breathing Sam!" A voice yelled. He still nodded, his ears muffling the sound of urgent movement. He wanted to go back to the island, curled up with her in that cloud like bed, with the sun behind her, and the breeze blowing the scent of her into him, onto him, all over him.
"Breath!" He didn't know who was yelling, or who they were yelling too, he was breathing right? He stopped nodding, his wolf was howling. He could hear it now, through the dream like lethargy. It was loosing it's mind. Something was wrong. He forced his heavy eyelids open, he forced his ears to listen, and last, he forced, with great remorse, his mind to let go of the image of Sky smiling shyly at him.
"Come on!" He knew that voice, it was Cole. What had the apathetic wolf so worked up? He groaned as he pulled himself up. The sight that greeted him made him wish more than ever, that his dream was real. Cole blew another deep breath into her mouth. Paul nearly growled until he saw Collin doing chest compression's before Cole would lean down and breathe for her again.
"Come on, please." The wolf he once thought emotionless was crying. He was stunned, his groggy mind still processing information. Then the fog cleared, blown away as his wolf clawed at the surface of his mind. In an instant he was beside her, his hand wanting to grasp at her, but he knew not to interrupt the compression's.
"Breathe, breathe, please, breathe." It was a mantra he held onto.
"Called Carisle, he will be here in the hour." Brady's voice cut through the steady mantra of 'Breathe'. An hour? She would be dead by then. He wanted to scream, to cry, to beg, he would do anything.
"Move!" Borthier's voice cut through everything around them. Paul growled. He had crossed the treaty line, he was as good as dead.
"Move! Do you want her to die?!" He slid back on his heels and stared at the nearly paniced vampire, he nodded, his only sign that he would allow the leech near.
Bothier moved with grace as he tilted her head back, pressing his fingers firmly on her forehead and closing his eyes.
"She is still lost in his dream." He whispered, his eyes shifting underneath his eyelids. Paul felt his guilt crash into him like a brick wall.
"What do we do?" Sam nearly whispered.
"I've found her, I just need her to follow me back." He paused, his head tilting up, like he was staring at Paul, even with his eyes closed. He signed agitated for a moment.
"Paul... Put your hand on mine." Paul could tell how much this aggravated Borthier, so he knew it must be necessary.
"Don't linger in there, just lead her back." Paul hesitated. Linger? Another impatient sigh from the vampire and he placed his hand on the pale one still pressed to Sky's forehead.
"Vampires and their freaky as gifts." He hears Collin mumble before he is thrown into the dark.