"Hey Wake up."
Jacob blinked. Both kinds of pain swarmed his body He sighed, struggling to sit up. He was in a bed.
"Where..."
"My house. We found you unconScious."
He looked at her. She was studying him with light blue eyes.
"Who're you?" He asked, looking around frantically.
"Maddy Everidge." She stopped, looking toward the door. "And you seriously need to either get out or act really sick, because if my grandfather finds out I brought any guy into the house he'll kill me."
Jacob registered the wooden walls and small, barren rooms of a log cabin.
"You can't tell anyone I've been here."
She looked at him, eyes widening. "I wasn't going to."
"Good. Then we won't have an issue."
"Are you…an outlaw?"
"No," He said tonelessly, "I'm not."
She looked obviously relieved.
"I'll try to leave. How'd you get me in here?"
She shrugged. "My brother is really strong."
Obviously. Jacob stood up, testing his legs. His left shin throbbed a little, but other than that he was fine.
"How long..." he asked slowly, "have I been out?"
"A day. It's been impossible trying to hide you from my grandfather."
He cussed. "A DAY?"
"Yeah. How'd you get hurt anyway?"
"I've gotta go."
She nodded, her face unable to hide the relief of tension. He wasn't really insulted -- too much. Her grandfather did sound edgy after all…
"Bye Maddy."
"Hey- wait a sec!" She said abruptly. "What's your name?"
He hesitated, "Jake."
She smiled, "Thanks Jake. Bye."
He was gone before she could say another word.
He waited for a safe distance before he phased. He sniffed around the area he'd been unconscious. The rain had swept out their scent. He frantically circled THE trees, searching desperately for some kind of lead.
Then he found it, a scarf that had Roxy's scent all over it. The sickly sweet smell was actually tolerable, a little. It looked as if it'd been placed on the ground, not dropped. It was as if she actually wanted him to follow her.
Then came the question. Why did Roxy kidnap Cate anyway? Jealousy? Jacob hesitated. Wait, he thought, I imprinted on Roxy. She didn't have to return the affections -- but she had. Boldly.
She'd even admitted lying to him about not knowing what imprinting was, what else was an act? The wolf pushed these thoughts out of Jacob's head hurriedly, focusing on one thing -- finding her.
Jacob found the trail rather quickly after that, especially since Roxy continued to drop little hints. Like Cate's sock. Or a strand of Roxy's hair. Jacob was completely confused, but he followed it all anyway, knowing he just needed to find Cate.
Yo.
Jacob nearly fell over.
What the...?
Hey Jacob.
Embry?
Nah.
Quil.
Righto. Where've you been? Billy's been driving Sam up the wall with questions.
Cate got kidnapped.
Yeah- when I asked, the mental pictures answered for me pretty well.
I had to go.
I know. Can we help? It's SO boring around here.
I don't think so.
So much for that.
Quil, how'd you get back in my head?
Dunno.
Whatever.
It's alright though you know. Hearing you.
I know. It's just…weird.
That's us.
Very funny.
Wow…you really have issues you know.
What do you mean?
Well, BEING inside your head, …you really do miss Cate, huh?
Yeah. I do.
Sorry. Shouldn't have mentioned it.
Shrugs
Woah! How'd you do that?
What?
Shrug, like, mentally? That's AWESOME!
Sighs
I don't know Quil.
You did it again.
Sure, sure.
I love this all this werewolf stuff! It's fun.
Oh yeah. Fun.
God Jacob -- loosen up a little?
Make me.
Growls
Looks like you did it too.
What?
A mental emotional thing.
Oh. You mean this...
Growls
Yeah. That.
Cool!
Quil.
Sighs
Get outta my head now.
Why?
I need to focus.
Well, I can't get OUT of your head, but...
Just stop talking to me then.
You mean THINKING.
Well as you don't think normally, it should be pretty easy for you to stop.