DevianaBurningIce22Kissa1Bella-EdwardDeliriously Withdrawn, and SilverAndExact all guessed correctly about the identity of the animals-

Edward/Lion

Alice/Falcon

Rosalie/Wolf

Emmett/Bear

Jasper/Stag

I got a few questions about Carlisle and Esme, you'll see later.

Well, this story is back up! After I uploaded my new Oneshot, I got nostalgic and decided to finish up this chapter (which was already almost done) and send it in. I'm not sure how Bella's part went, it felt a little strange for some reason, but tell me if you think it was bad. Updates might be a little inconsistant, but I'm trying and I still have to get the full plot in my head.

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

He looked at her, and kept looking. For once, he cared about how anyone other than his family felt, and the way the girl was crying made his entire lithe form tremble with the need to comfort her. The way he couldn't find out what was wrong with her, and how her thoughts couldn't be found by him was just another enigma that just added to this inner turmoil.

And then of course there was her blood.

Honestly, he had never thought anything, human or animal, could smell that delicious. Her blood was such an intoxicating mix, a hint of freesia, and a tint of rose, mixed in with the normal coppery scent multiplied by thousands. He had never even conceived the idea that blood such as hers could exist. And now it felt like he would start salivating at any moment.

He was being split in half by his two opposing sides; the first, that felt compassion for this strange girl for an equally strange reason, and now the second, which was ready to drink that luscious blood right then and there.

So, he did the only logical thing that his muddled being could do, he stood there, just watching her.

Should he drink from her? Should he allow himself to submit to temptation and quench the eternal thirst that had always hounded away at him from the moment he cast off human blood as a staple in his diet? Should he concede to the thirst, allow it to control him? He thought, and brooded, on what that would cause. If he did this, this devilish urge to wipe away his only precious few bits of humanity, he would be one of the animals that he embodied. He would only be an animal, no better than the primal lion whose form he borrowed.

But it would be so easy! The mountain lion side of him was whispering sweet words of the hunt that would take place. It wouldn't even be much of a hunt anyway, she was merely a human, grief-stricken as it seemed, it said. He would give her a chance to run of course, and allow her to get her adrenaline flowing, have her blood pumping through her veins to get it hot and ready. It sounded exquisite. And it had been such a long time…since he had tasted the sweet blood of a human. Now the words of the atrocity that was a part of him joined the instincts of the lion's; the unnatural working with the natural, fitting.

And no one would try to look for her, it said. These woods are dangerous. The humans know it, and they stay away. Really, it's a proper punishment to this mortal for trespassing on lands that she should well know are the domain of something much larger than she. And what better way to keep the humans away? To have one of their own taken as proof of the peril of this place would surely keep them in their place. They would finally have tangible proof about the risks of traveling in this forest.

He was conflicted. All of his primary instincts screamed at him to leap at the pitiful human. They all tormented him with imaginings of how sweet her blood would taste, how satisfying the crack of her neck breaking, music to his ears.

He realized with a shudder what he was thinking. The part of him that was still human knew that there was something wrong with these thoughts, they were the thoughts of an animal, but wasn't that exactly what he was now? Was he simply an animal with highly advanced abilities and shapes? When did he stop becoming a person? When did he truly become a monster?

He was growing more befuddled as time went on, more and more he was getting confused. And that was bad.

A being like him, they didn't get confused. If he was confused, then what was left of his already fragile world? Confusion brought mistakes, and mistakes brought consequences.

Life was relatively quiet here for the last century, but he knew it wouldn't stay like that. As time went on, people grew to disregard the old stories and legends that were much more truthful than any misconceived scientific stereotype about the supernatural. In time, people would wonder what was really in the forest that had been untouched for so many years, and they would go looking for the solution to their question. So, the malicious voice whispered sweetly into his ear, it would be better to kill the human, you admitted it yourself.

But he wouldn't, he couldn't. This human was what he once was, living. And it wouldn't be him who would deal the fatal blow to this pitiful creature. This being could be anything she wanted to be, nothing would stop her, except death, and he wouldn't give her that.

But there is something else isn't there? It sneered at him with not-so-subtle mockery.

Don't you dare try to deny it! You know that if you kill this disgusting mortal, there will be no going back. You would have submitted yourself to the soulless beast inside of you. You wouldn't be able to stop; you would continue to gorge your greedy self until suddenly you would find yourself wreaking havoc on the humans. You could beyond any doubt, call yourself a murderer.

But of course, it will happen anyway, so why delay the inevitable? Why should you deny Fate?

He would not have it!

Because…, his own voice charged into the verbal battle, …because I am not a murderer. I am many things, but I am not a murderer. Who are you to say that Fate dictates our lives? Why would we submit to some ill-conceived invisible force that forces on us ultimatums and sacrifices? I never have, and I never shall surrender myself to Fate, never will I let something make choices for me! I am in control!

That decision made, he fought off the onslaught of outrage, from the lion for letting the easily caught prey escape and from the monster for letting a chance for the sacred blood slip out of his fingers. It was hard, nigh impossible, but he kept battling, until his mind was almost ready to cave to the snarls and growls of the two predators.

EDWARD!

His darkening eyes widened. His sister was calling him, and his family was looking for him. That momentary distraction was enough for his mind to bully down all evidences of insanity screeching at him into submission.

He took a long, panting breathe of relief and exhaustion. He really would have to thank his sister for her unique and piercing voice, much like the fierce cry of a falcon…

He followed the sound of his sister's voice and the subtle sounds of travel that marked his family's passage. If he wasn't so absorbed in his thoughts, he would have heard it all long ago, but no matter. He would leave, and never see the mortal again. That was best, it would work for everyone. The mortal would keep her life, and Edward would keep his sanity and humanity, a perfectly even bargain.

The feline turned around, letting his tail swing around softly to make a light swishing noise against the ferns in his wake. Let that alert the human to presences that are much more…merciful, Edward thought to himself.

Now, he bounded away, fully anticipating his reunion with this family, and the chance to gain his true form, he couldn't wait. These thoughts were trivial, not necessarily important, but it was a cheerful gaiety and lightness that helped keep his mind off the girl, barely, and as the wind blew her scent to him, he tensed and fought off his instincts again, willing himself to return to his family. They would understand, they would help him.

Something is watching me. I can feel their eyes, drinking in my form and contemplating in silent thought.

I would have called out, but I was scared, terrified more like. I knew what happened in these woods, the type of creatures it was privy to didn't calm me in the slightest.

I wasn't in my right mind when I ran here. The adrenaline coursing through me is bringing blood and oxygen back to my brain, and now I'm thinking clearly enough to know that I am in trouble—no, more than that—I'm dead.

But perhaps it is better this way. Charlie, my only parent I had ever known, was dying, so wouldn't it be fitting if I joined him?

There it goes, the thing is gone, the hair at the nape of my neck, I can feel it settling, no longer disturbed by further unwanted scrutiny. Who would come into these woods, except for an idiot, such as myself? Who else would allow grief to control them so?

It was stupid…so very stupid.

I am already forgetting about the ominous feeling, pushing it into the back of my mind until I absolutely need to dwell on those thoughts.

My father was dying. He was my only friend, my only support in an already shaky world. He was my reason to live, my father. I had a purpose, when I was cooking or cleaning for him. By caring for him, I had a right to live. But with him gone, I would no longer have proof that I deserved to still live. I would try, I know I would, but time would take its toll on me, and after awhile, there wouldn't be anything left.

I am a selfish person. My father is dying, and I'm having a breakdown for myself. I'm terrified of him dying, I love him more than any daughter could ever love their father, but the first thought I have when I hear of his…situation, and I'm off to go cry in the woods, for myself.

I am a terrible person.

Bella's a little...melancholy. Anyway, this is kind of a filler chapter to get me back, but I'll try to get another up ASAP! Tell me what you thought, sorry if anything was OC.