The thirst over the first few weeks was nearly unbearable. I wasn't allowed to leave the house unless I had Emmett and Edward at the very least to control me. Even then we immediately got in the car and would make sure we were as far from civilization as possible before I could begin to hunt.
It didn't take long for me to finally understand what Edward had said all this time about the different tastes of blood. Of all the predators Coyote was my least favorite. It was thin and stale, perhaps a result of its foraging habits. Black bear was manageable but far too sweet for me. Perhaps as dessert, but not a regular meal. Emmett told me that the sweetness goes away when they're just waking up from Hibernation because they tend to have gorged on blackberries beforehand and it took time for it to burn out of the blood stream.
Bobcat was my meal of choice. It moved like the wind and was so unpredictable. A feeling similar to an adrenaline rush fueled me in the hunt. The bobcat was the hardest for me to catch and as a result felt like the most worthwhile to me. The blood was smooth and silky with just a hint of sweet. Usually after two of them I was satisfied. Their small size meant more volume was needed but they were abundant enough in the area that this wouldn't be a problem once my feedings became sparser.
Three months after my change, with my eyes already turning more the orange of sunset than the shocking red I was born with, Carlisle called for a family meeting. It was almost time for my return to Italy with Edward so I assumed we would just be discussing the logistics.
"As everyone knows, we will all be leaving for Italy soon and when we return it will be time to move to our new home on the other end of the Peninsula," it always amazed me how Carlisle's voice was so sweet and yet held a ring of authority at all times. "Unless we want to swim the Atlantic, it would do us well to test Bella's endurance to humans very soon.
"While I would have preferred this could be put off until Bella has had a year or two away from the human population the Volturi have given us little choice. Next weekend Alice sees a strong storm coming that will keep most people indoors and off the road. Alice, Jasper, Emmett and Edward, I want you all to go down to Port Angeles and walk Bella through the town.
"Bella, I want you to pick up the scents and see how it makes you feel. If you become too thirsty you need to tell the others immediately and leave. All of them together should be able to hold you back but I don't want to risk it."
I was horrified. The last thing I wanted to do was be near humans. There was a monster within me, I knew, and I didn't want to give it a chance to come out. No where near as well recited as Carlisle I whispered, "I think I'd rather swim."
Rosalie shot me a dirty look and said, "I'm not showing up in Italy looking like a wet dog. You owe us."
She was right. I did owe them. All of their lives had changed drastically because of me and I didn't want to cause them any more trouble. I hung my head down in defeat.
"But Rosalie, it's all that's going to be showing up on the runways this year!" Alice laughed and gave me a wink. "Don't worry Bella, I can't see any massacre in Port Angeles coming up."
I groaned. Emmett and Jasper were still betting on me and would have loved to see exactly what Alice was claiming wouldn't happen. I was starting to wonder if she sometimes fudged the truth of her visions to get people to do what she wanted. No wonder she was a perfect match for Jasper.
Then the one voice I couldn't argue with spoke up, "Bella, it will be ok. You're too stubborn to give in to temptation anyways." He chuckled and I couldn't help but laugh too.
"Fine, but remember you promised me Antarctica if I ever slipped up."