I giveth to you all...*Insert dramatic music* chapter 3! I just have to thank you all for all the feedback I've been getting, it really makes me happy that you like the story :D. Lots of kisses and love to you all and I hope you'll like this chapter as well.

Chapter 3

'Seventeen?'

Was all that went through Edward's head as he followed Jacob.

'Is this young man seventeen? He certainly doesn't have the body of a seventeen year old, I didn't have a body like that when I was seventeen… I don't have a body like that now!'

"Edward, you are very quiet."

"Oh, oh! Sorry, it's just so hard to believe that you are seventeen. You're two years younger than myself, yet so different."

Jacob looked at Edward and took in his appearance. He was slightly taller, but at the river he had seen that he wasn't quite as muscular.

"We grow up different. My people hunt and grow food, we build and make all our belongings. I run in the woods everyday, and swim in the lake. But don't worry about it. You have a nice body."

Jacob smiled at him and he couldn't help the bright blush he felt through his whole body. And being British, he knew it would be very noticeable. Jacob laughed it off and kept smiling his adorable smile.

'Yupp, I'm done for…'

"What is your tribe like?"

"We are not very big, but it is okay, we are all very close."

"Okay, how's your family like?"

"My father is chief of the tribe, and I have a couple of brothers. All older than me."

"And your mother?"

He was met with silence.

'Oh God, I hope I didn't ask something bad now!'

Jacob looked at him and gave him a sad smile.

"She is a part of the nature now."

Edward felt a sharp pang in his chest and he was reminded of the death of his on mother, and his siblings. He turned his eyes to the ground.

"I'm so sorry"

Suddenly he felt a warm hand rubbing his back and he looked into Jacobs warm, kind eyes.

"It is all right, this is how nature works. And I am sorry too."

"What for?"

"Our eyes are the windows to our souls, have you never heard of this?"

He shook his head.

"Well, I can see your soul through your eyes. You may be able to hide your true feelings on the outside, but ones eyes can never hide how we feel on inside."

As he said that he placed his other hand on Edwards chest, just above his heart.

"What does my eyes tell you then?"

"Your eyes tell me that you have been through great loss as well. They show me the sadness you try to keep inside. And anger. But not at another person, you are angry at yourself."

"And you can tell that just from looking into my eyes? That's quite remarkable."

"Will you tell me about it?"

"…"

"You do not have to if it is to hard for you…"

"No, no.. it's quite all right."

He stopped for a minute to collect himself and drew in a shaky breath. He hoped he wouldn't get too emotional.

"I lost my mother, my sister and my two brothers in a fire not so long ago. Me, my father and my younger sister moved here from England to get away from it all."

"Why are you angry at yourself?"

"I blame myself for it."

"Did you start the fire?"

"No, not at all. It was a horrible accident. It's just, I should have been there with them, or stopped them from going at all!"

"You can never undo what is done, no matter how much you want to. That is how mother earth works. If you had been there, your father would have lost one more child and your sister would have no brother."

"Yes, I know. But it's so hard to let it go. I just miss them so much."

Jacob stopped them and hugged him, one hand rubbing his back while the other held his head. It was nice.

"It is all right to miss them, they are your family. But do not spend your whole life living through that tragedy, none of them would have wanted that for you. Instead of thinking about the dead, focus on the living."

He let go and brought his hands to Edwards face, placing his forehead against his.

"Okay?"

Edward smiled and laughed.

'This is so absurd! But it felt good to be able to talk to someone.'

"Okay"

Jacob let go and they were off once again, but Edward couldn't stop thinking about Jacob's hands and that wonderful hug. If only he hadn't let go. He brought his hand to his cheek, it was still warm.

'Oh God, I feel like some love struck woman thinking like this! Man up Cullen!'

They arrived at a small clearing with odd looking houses spread about. The biggest one in the centre. Children were running about, while men and women were walking around talking to each other. They had all the same features as Jacob.

'I feel really out of place right now…'

"We live in Asi" He said and pointed at one of the houses.

As they got closer people started noticing them and stopped what they were doing. A small girl pointed at them and yelled something in Jacobs alien language. This caused everyone to stop and stare at them.

'This is quite awkward…'

As Jacob put a reassuring hand on his shoulder two men walked up to them. They looked a bit like Jacob.

'His brothers probably.'

"Hantaywee, who is this stranger? Why did you bring him here?"

"Easy Eyota, he is no danger to us. He just needs my help with exploring the woods."

"You know you have to take these things with our father before you make those decisions."

"Where do you think I was headed Askook?"

"Is something wrong Jacob?"

"Jacob? Really little brother?"

"Don't start with me Askook."

"Not at all Edward. Let me introduce to you my brothers. Askook"

"And Eyota."

"Ah! Hello I'm Edward, Edward Cullen."

The two looked at him but didn't reply. Eyota turned to Jacob again, the two of them staring at each other as if talking with their minds. With one last glare he turned to the big "house", dragging Askook with him.

'Well that went just splendid! I think they might really like me'

"You will have to excuse my brothers, they do not like strangers. Especially of your kind."

"It's all right, I understand. But didn't you say another like me used to live here?"

"Ah yes, Christopher. He did, but they did not like him. They are not very open to change. They even refuse to learn reading and speaking your language."

"Oh, but why?"

"I told you Christopher wanted us to believe in his God right?"

"Yes, indeed you did."

"We have our own beliefs, which we have not changed. My brothers did not like what he was trying to do."

"And your father?"

"He took it with good humour."

"So what are your beliefs exactly?"

"…We do not believe in a 'God' as you call it. We believe in mother nature and the importance of every life. We respect the animals, the land and the waters that feed us. All creatures share this place, we do not own it."

"I've never seen it that way before."

They stepped into the hut and were met by stares, something that made Edward's stomach squirm.

'This is going to go well, I hope. Just breath Edward, breath, in out, in out, deep breaths.'

He contemplated whether he should stay by the opening and let Jacob take care of this by himself, which he really wanted to do. Situations like these always made him nervous. Or be the gentleman he was brought up to be and join Jacob so he could introduce himself and show some bravery. Jacob made the decision for him by dragging him by the arm.

'Well damn' He thought as he chewed his bottom lip, a nervous trait he'd had since childhood.

The chief was seated in the middle of the room and was giving them both a hard and questioning stare. He looked intimidating with his solid body and what looked like tattoos, something only sailors and prisoners back in England had. But he had kind and wise eyes he noticed.

'Hopefully his reaction to me will be better than his two sons were'

"Hantaywee, your brothers have told me you have brought a stranger, and a paled faced one at that. May I ask why?"

"I brought him here to ask for your permission to be his guide a couple of days."

"Is that really wise?"

"I don't see any harm in it, he just moved here and he wants to get to know the land."

Jacobs father looked right at Edward, taking in everything about him as if reading him through his appearance. They made eye contact and he stared harder. Edward averted his gaze to the ground, it felt like the old man could tell everything about him from just staring into his eyes. But then again, Jacob had said that the eyes were the window to the soul. Jacob's father returned his gaze back to his son.

"Well, if you're sure... I'll let you know my decision tomorrow, we must be absolutely sure that this man mean us no harm. I will talk to the spirits and see what future he holds us."

Jacob nodded and turned to the opening. Edward nodded and said a quick thank you before hurrying after him.

"What did your father say?"

"He say he will tell me his decision tomorrow, until then we stay here."