I have nothing left to do today or tomorrow! I can finally relax! Since I have so much downtime, I decided to bless you guys with another update. Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Two

I was awakened by the feeling of someone rubbing my back. I grumbled and snuggled harder against my soft bed. The bed moved, well, not really moved so-much as bounced me several times as if it were laughing.

I growled and lifted my head to give Edward a look. "Go back to sleep."

His laugh bounced me again. "We must both wake up. The sun has been awake for a very long time. You are going to sleep the day away."

I sighed and sat up, rubbing my tired eyes. When I looked around, I spotted Alice and Jasper curled up against Edward's sides while I sat on top of him. They were both still sleeping.

"How come they get to sleep in?" I whispered.

"They were in here resting for a bit after the incident this morning." Edward reached over and stroked Alice's head gently until her eyelids fluttered open.

As Alice woke up, Edward rubbed Jasper's back very gently with his hand. He was much gentler than I had seen him be with the boys. Jasper opened his eyes but didn't lift his head. One look at his open eyes told me that something wasn't quite right. His eyes were strange. They were not gold or red, but instead they were an unsettling dark grey.

"Come on boy, wake up," Edward said as he grabbed the base of Jasper's tail and started shaking it. Jasper shook with the movement like a ragdoll before rolling onto his back weakly. His grey eyes stared up at the ceiling, his arms hanging open widely. It was then I realized that Jasper was completely nude, and I only realized that because his member brushed against my leg as he rolled over. I tried not to shudder.

"Come on boy, time to get up." Edward said as he rubbed Jasper's stomach gently.

Jasper finally groaned and started coughing, as if he were struggling. Edward kept his hand on Jasper's stomach, holding him in place as he coughed.

When Alice moved to sit by Jasper, Edward stopped her. "No, stay over there until he completely wakes up. He might attack you."

"Jasper it is time to wake up," Alice said from her side of the room.

Jasper's mouth opened widely as he started silently gagging. Edward quickly moved me off of him and lifted Jasper's shoulders. Edward held Jasper up as he vomited a bright green substance onto himself. The smell was almost enough to make me gag.

"I heard Jasper wake up," Carlisle said as he walked into the hut. His sudden appearance made me jump and look as he and Esme walked in with another couple.

A large man with the same-colored hair as Jasper, and looked exactly like an older version of Jasper, walked in. A woman with multi-colored flowers in her straight half-braided brown hair accompanied him.

They all kneeled down around Jasper. The woman was wearing an expression of panic. She shoved Carlisle aside to move closer to Jasper.

"What is wrong with him?" She demanded as she touched his arm, completely ignoring the disgusting vomit that was covering his body.

"He is just expelling the venom. He will calm in a moment," Esme said as she pulled Jasper's hair out of his face.

He finally stopped vomiting and stared blankly at the wall. His eyes were still grey and glazed over. Esme lifted his lid, checked the inside of his mouth, then his ears. All of which he never responded too. He just sat there staring.

"He is going to be just fine," Esme said as she stroked Jasper's hair.

"He does not look like he is fine," Jasper's father said, his nostrils flaring as he looked his son over.

"He will be out of it until sunrise tomorrow. You will have to care for him as if he were a newborn, but he will be back to his normal self once he completely awakens." Esme said.

"Can I stay with Jasper until he wakes up?" Alice asked.

"Yes that is alright Alice," Jasper's mother said as she stroked Jasper's cheek. "You will help me care for Jasper."

Jasper's father scooped Jasper into his arms. Jasper's head fell against his father's chest. His father smiled and nuzzled the top of his head.

"Are we going home?" Jasper asked in a very weak scratchy voice.

"Yes," His mother said as she tucked his tail into his father's arms. She then smiled at him and nuzzled his forehead with her nose and lips. "Oh my poor son."

"He will only want to sleep. That is fine, but please feed him at sunset and make sure he drinks water." Esme said.

Carlisle stood and placed his hand on top of Jasper's head. "You put up a good fight boy. I did not think the rookka root would put you to sleep. I think you are going to make a fine man."

Jasper's father smiled for a moment before his lips fell again. "I hope you gave those boys the lashing they needed and then some."

"Do not worry. Seth and Collin will be punished for days to come. The lesson they learn will be one that will not be forgotten by either boy."

"Good. I will be checking later."

"Their fathers are giving them quite the lashing now." Carlisle said, his tone somewhat brisk.

His father nodded and walked out of the hut, holding Jasper close to his chest. His mother followed before turning her head over to Alice.

"Come on," She said to Alice. "You are going to help me wash Jasper before we feed him."

Alice jumped up and followed, not seeming to care that she was completely naked. Esme shook her head sharply and pointed at Carlisle.

"You better not have gone easy on either of those boys."

"I did not," Carlisle said, his nose flaring in anger. "The fight was only moments long. Alice happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Things happen."

Esme growled. "Regardless, Alice got hurt. Those two boys could have really hurt her and Jasper could have killed people."

Carlisle put his hands on her shoulders. "Boys fight. It is what they do at this age. You know this. You are on edge and feeling overwhelmed. You have been for a few days. It is time for you to rest."

"Carlisle," Esme said in a warning. "You better not—,"

Suddenly, Esme fell into his arms snoring lightly. Carlisle scooped her up and laid down with her on his chest. Edward was staring at his father with wide eyes.

"She will not be happy when she wakes up." Edward said in surprise.

"No she will not be," Carlisle sighed. "You two leave for a while."

Edward quickly got to his feet and carried me out of the hut. I didn't question it as he hustled down the ladder and away from the hut. The village was buzzing with activity. I was about to ask Edward what had happened, but we were immediately stopped by several people.

"Praise the goddess you are awake," An older woman said as she placed her hands on me. They all put their hands on me, even the little girl, except she placed her head directly onto my lower stomach. She nuzzled her face several times against me.

I looked over to see that Edward was also surrounded by people who were touching him. I noticed that Emmett was pressing his forehead against the back of Edward's.

"Thank you," I said after a few moments. I pulled away and placed my hand on the older woman's cheek. "I think all of the beautiful singing is what helped lead me back to my family."

She smiled widely and nuzzled her nose against mine before pulling away. She gave me one last smile before grabbing her large basket of fruit and walking away. As soon as she walked away, the rest of the people removed themselves from us and continued on with their tasks. As Edward and I walked, several more people stopped to tell me that they were glad I was awake and to nuzzle against me.

"So, what happened this morning?" I asked as Edward and I walked towards a large, flowered arch and away from the the populated heart of the village.

"A fight between some of Alice and Jasper's littermates. Alice was too close, and she was knocked down. When she fell, she cut her arm." Edward sighed heavily. "Seth and Collin are in very big trouble."

"Awe," I frowned. "What were they fighting about?"

He shrugged. "I am unsure. Sometimes the boys fight over silly things. Fighting is enough to get a punishment, but if a female gets hurt then that punishment is quadrupled."

"Ah. So, how was Jasper involved? He looked really sick."

"Alice getting hurt triggered Jasper's inner hunter. That made an even bigger problem because once their inner hunter is triggered, and at such a young age, the hunter is wild and uncontrollable. If my father had not intervened, Jasper would have killed many people. He was put to sleep by the rookka root. It is very hard to wake up once the root has been eaten."

"How did your father get Jasper to eat the rookka root?"

"Jasper was biting wildly; it was very easy to place the root into his mouth. My father was bit a few times before he was successful."

"Wow," I said. "Poor Jasper."

"He will be fine," Edward smiled at me.

A few moments later, we arrived at the large river that I remembered bathing in before the mating ceremony. There were several people swimming and playing in the inviting water.

"Would you like to swim?" He asked as he stepped into the water. He turned back to me and splashed up a large wave of water.

I gasped, "You jerk, you didn't even give me a chance to answer!" I growled as I shook off the droplets. I looked up at him and glared. "You're going to pay for that."

Edward grinned and crouched down. I copied his position before lunging at him. As I tackled him, I saw the look of complete shock in his wide eyes. I was confused for a moment as to why he was shocked, but then I realized that I had knocked him completely off of his feet and onto his back.

"Oh my god I'm so sorry!" I gasped as I quickly jumped off of him. "Are you okay? Did I hurt you?"

Edward sat up still staring at me with his wide eyes. "H-how did you knock me down?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. I'm sorry."

He got to his feet quickly. "Do it again."

"W-what?" I asked in confusion.

"Knock me down again," He said as he crouched. "I am ready this time. Do it again."

"Edward I am not hitting you again." I said as I crossed my arms.

His eyes narrowed slightly. "Because you cannot do it again?"

"Don't try to challenge me. It's not going to work."

"Are you afraid that you are weak and are not strong enough to knock me down again?"

My nostrils flared slightly. "Quit taunting me. I'm not knocking you over again. Even though I could totally do it."

"No you could not." He said with a slight grin.

"Yes I could." I said as I uncrossed my arms and put them on my hips. "I don't want to swim anymore, let's go—hey!" I gasped as he splashed me again, "Damn you! Stop that!"

He laughed and splashed me again, "I will stop if you try to knock—,"

I cut him off by running into him again. This time he stayed on his feet, but stumbled as he wrapped his arms around me to hold me.

"I didn't knock you off your feet, but you did trip a little, so I win."

"I am in amazement," Edward said, his arms still around me. "I do not understand how you can do this. You were not this strong before."

"The goddess told me I would be strong when I woke up," I said as he let me out of his arms. "She said I would be stronger and faster. Not as strong or as fast as you, but clearly she was wrong." I grinned.

He laughed. "You only knocked me down the first time because you surprised me. I was still standing the second time."

"Hm," I said as I walked around him. "Maybe I was just going easy on you."

He laughed again. "Well thank you for going easy on me."

"I don't think I appreciate your sarcastic tone." I said before leaping onto his back. He was laughing hysterically… until my teeth clamped down onto his ear.

He gasped and flipped me over his back. Before I hit the water, he caught me. I was grinning when he looked at me.

"You are a cheater." He said, glaring down at me.

I giggled. "You are just a sore loser."

As I giggled at him, I noticed several people staring at us with strange looks upon their faces. I blushed and pushed against Edward's chest so he would let me down. I turned to them and tried to smile.

Edward placed his hand on my back. "Why do you feel embarrassed?"

"Everyone is looking at us." I said as I walked out of the water.

"So?" He said.

"It's just embarrassing for me," I said. "Let's go find food, I'm really hungry."

He smiled at me. "Of course, let me feed you."

I chuckled and grabbed his hand so we could go back to the village. Truthfully, I wasn't hungry, I wanted to swim, but I was embarrassed.

"You said the goddess told you that you would be faster and stronger." He asked. "What else did she tell you?"

I bit my lip for a moment before answering. "She told me a lot of things."

He stopped and grabbed me by the waist to place me on a tree stump, so we were at eye level. He placed his large hand under my chin so I would continue to look at him.

"There is much on your mind that is weighing your heart down," He said. "You must tell me. I do not want your heart heavy."

I shook my head. "I-I can't Edward."

He put his forehead against mine. "You must. Your pain is my pain. You cannot be in pain. I want to relieve you of it. Please."

Maybe it was the pleading tone of his voice or possibly the puppy-dog eyes he was giving me, but I couldn't stop myself telling him everything. Well, almost everything.