I am SO unbelievably sorry for how long this chapter took! I would've had it up sooner but when I went back to proofread it I realized that I completely FORGOT A CHARACTER and had to go back and change at least half the story. To make up for it, I made this chapter EXTRA long for you all. I hope you enjoy it and please let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight *cries*

Chapter 5

The Hunt

"Penguins..." I scoffed and I could hear Emmett's deep, throaty chuckle in the background. "Lovely." I continued to stare at him incredulously, "You must be joking." I laughed when he shook his head, "Then what are we waiting for?"

I followed him out of the back door and we started running. If I thought that running with Edward before was amazing, I was very wrong. My feet hitting the ground almost too quietly for even my ears, the wind causing my hair to whip against the side of my face. It was exhilarating. I could see every little detail even as the trees would be a green blur to the normal eye. Every raindrop that drenched the earth, every brown, decaying leaf littering the ground. It was all suddenly clear to me as if I were a newborn who had opened her eyes for the first time, which, in a sense, I was.

It felt like a mere second since we had first started running in Phoenix and then, as spontaneously as we had started, we skidded to a stop in front of the familiar white house that I had seen so many times before. "Why are we-?" I began, but Edward cut in.

"You didn't think we'd be running the whole way, did you?" I frowned. I definitely wouldn't have minded the exercise. Oddly enough, it didn't surprise me in the least that the run between states had taken absolutely no stamina. I wondered if vampires had caffeine constantly pumping through their veins. I'd have to ask Carlisle later. I chuckled. "You know, it's infuriating?" he asked suddenly, twirling a piece of my hair delicately between his thumb and forefinger and tucking it gently behind my ear. It was as if nothing had ever changed, as if a slight, miscalculated movement could still break me just as easily as before.

"What is?" I asked simply, smiling innocently and leaning into his touch as he caressed my cheek. I had already known what he was going to say. Edward had always been irritated that I was the one exception to his special ability and, every time I said something cryptic, never ceased to remind me.

He apparently guessed that I already knew because he replied, "You, are a tease and that, is unfair," he chuckled and we climbed into the back of Emmett's jeep. Edward eyed me as I gauged the distance from the ground to the seat and began to edge toward me to lift me into the seat.

"Wait, I can make it!" I protested and he put me back down on the ground reluctantly. I crouched backwards and leapt smoothly into the seat, grinning back at Edward childishly as he and Emmett shook their heads and laughed. And, just to annoy me, Edward jumped swiftly into the seat beside me as if he were simply walking on a flat surface. I stuck my tongue out at him and he rolled his eyes. "Show off," I muttered.

X x X

After nearly three days of Rosalie's hectic driving, of which she insisted was caused by the fact that she was merely annoyed at having been stuck in a car with me and Edward for too long, twenty-eight glares at Emmett as he proceeded to hum "Ninety-nine Bottle of "Blood" on the Wall" (his own ingenious creation) until Edward threatened to kick him out of his own car and Rosalie responded that she, "was not going to waste the time it takes to stop," we finally arrived in Alaska.

We arrived at a large white house, much the same as the Cullens' except that there was scarce vegetation. Instead, a thin layer of white, powdery snow covered the ground. I climbed easily out of the jeep and looked towards the house nervously. "Are you alright, Bella?" Jasper asked from behind me. Edward and I looked over at him quizzically, "You're awfully nervous." Of course, he would notice that, and now Edward was worried.

"I'm fine," I sighed half-heartedly. "I guess I'm just worried..." I didn't continue. I could tell that Edward had understood. He looked as if he were about to burst into hysterical laughter. I frowned at him. Please don't make this any worse, I pleaded to no one in particular. Of course, my pleas meant absolutely nothing.

"Bella, I can't believe you!" he chuckled. Everyone stared at him confused and surprised. "You can't possibly be worried if they'll like you or not!" He was unable to conceal his laughter now. I remembered back to the day that Edward had first brought me to be introduced to his family and I had been worried, not because I was headed to meet a house full of vampires, but that they wouldn't approve of me. We were both laughing now, unable to hold back the stream of giggles at the memory. How silly I was back then. His family, our family now, was still watching us confused, so Edward explained and we were all laughing in harmony now. It was a beautiful sound. Before James, I hadn't believed that a vampire could ever be dangerous. I stopped laughing at that point, cringing and kicking myself internally for every thinking of that horrid name. "Bella?"

"Sorry. I was just, thinking." They all knew what I had been thinking of. Nobody pressed the issue.

"Well, come on Bella." Alice pulled my arm. There seemed to be a lot of pulling me around today. "I'm sure everyone is very anxious to meet you." She led me through a wide door. It was a dark mahogany that contrasted with the entire white interior and exterior. I chuckled at how similar it was to the Cullen house. It was like I wasn't moving at all.

She led me up two tall staircases with rich mahogany railings that matched the door and through a maze of narrow, dark hallways. Finally, we reached what seemed like the fifth living room that we had passed and she stopped and leaned against the couch. "They'll be here in a minute," Jasper assured. Sure enough, less than fifty-eight seconds later, four breathtakingly beautiful women and a rather handsome man entered the room.

The group was led by a graceful, semi-tall woman with strawberry blonde hair pooling around her shoulders, stopping just below the middle of her back. She was followed by a slighter woman with bleach blonde hair who looked to be no more than twenty and another blonde with shoulder length hair. The last two to enter was a dark haired woman, with about the same hair color as my own and a man with almost black hair. "Tanya, Kate, Irena, Carmen, Eleazar..." Edward gestured to each in turn, introducing us. "This is my Bella," I felt my pride inflate to an impossible size. His Bella. It sounded so right. I nodded to each of them. Kate was the first to rush forward and pulled me into a hug that would have shattered my ribs had I still been human.

"Bella! I've been waiting for so long to finally meet you!" Kate exclaimed. I could sense Edward's glare coming from behind me. She apparently noticed too because she quickly corrected herself. "Well, I guess I expected to meet you while you were still..." It wasn't helping. "Sorry..." she mumbled.

I smiled, "It's okay. It's nice to meet you too." She seemed similar to Alice as she beamed a blinding smile towards me. I could tell we were going to get along just fine. Tanya also walked up, albeit slower and cautiously but, nonetheless, she pulled me into a loose hug. She seemed almost reluctant. I smiled what I hoped was a reassuring smile and returned the hug. Edward was scowling at her.

"I wish you luck in your new life," was all she said and with that, she turned and walked towards Alice who was still hovering close behind me.

Irene walked up slowly as Carmen and Eleazar stood back a good ten feet or so, and pulled me into an absent-minded hug. It was like she wasn't really there, like she was concentrated on something else. Edward seemed anxious towards something in her thoughts. "Bella," she murmured, nodding her head in greeting.

I nodded to her as well since I couldn't think of anything to say. She drifted off absently towards the staircase and sat down, looking up. As she did, a shadow cast across the wall and a tall man with black hair walked swiftly down the stairs. "Laurent..." I whispered, shuddering. Laurent had been in James' coven. Had he known that his fellow coven member had been killed?

"It's nice to see you again, Bella. You look lovely." Laurent walked towards me and looked me over. I could hear low snarls erupting from Edward's chest. Obviously, he was just as happy as I was about Laurent's appearance. It hadn't actually been Laurent's fault, what had happened. He had warned us, said he was lethal. It was my fault. I smiled sweetly at Laurent, causing Edward to send anxious glances in my direction, probably questioning my sanity towards the man who had been in league with my enemy.

"Thank you, Laurent. It's nice to see you again also." I hesitated, wondering whether I should say more or not. Edward looked stunned and to my surprise, Laurent looked puzzled also. He was tense, as if he expected a fight to break out any moment now once I dropped my facade. I continued, "I know you think that I'm probably mad at you," I directed this more to Edward who looked slightly panicked, "but you never did anything wrong to me. You warned me about James and I thank you for that." I sighed, hoping that would make them understand better.

To my relief, both of faces showed instant understanding. "I'm glad I have your forgiveness then, Bella. I'm sure your friendship will mean a lot to me in the years to come." Laurent shook my hand eloquently and went to sit next to Irena, stroking her hair gently.

I gasped almost inaudibly and turned to Edward, whispering. "Is Laurent her...?" He nodded silently. Just then, Carmen and Eleazar walked silently to us, Carmen pulling me into a hug and Eleazar shaking my hand cordially. I noticed that Laurent's eyes were no longer the horrifying crimson color that they used to be. So he must be getting used to this life as well, I thought to myself, smiling.

After what seemed like seconds of catching up with times that had been missed, Carlisle stood up. "As much as I'd enjoy chatting with you more, I'm afraid it will have to wait until later. I'm sure Bella is getting very thirsty." The flames engulfed my throat again and I nodded silently.

We walked slowly to the front door, the Denali clan standing patiently behind us. "I'm sure you'd like to take Bella on her first hunt alone, so we'll leave you to it." Tanya nodded to us and closed the door politely.

We ran about fifty miles through thick trees, that would've seemed almost identical to Forks had there not been snowflakes falling through gaps in the leaves rather than snow, and arrived at a large waterhole. Edward walked slowly to my side and held my hand in his, "What do you see?"

This comment confused me. "I see a waterhole. What am I supposed to see?" I looked at the waterhole again, wondering if I was missing something and saw fish darting back and forth underneath the surface. "Are we going fishing now?"

Edward chuckled, "Look deeper, what's below them?" I looked again and saw dark shapes flitting underneath, devouring the fish.

I gasped and broke into laughter. "You were serious?!" I giggled as I watched the penguins slide up onto the opposite bank, staring at us like we were some kind of deformed penguin ourselves. He just nodded and surveyed me, watching what I would do next. "What am I supposed to do?" I looked around confused.

"Do you smell them?" he asked, glancing at the now curious birds that were edging around the lake to get a better view of us. I nodded. They actually smelled rather similar to catnip. I shook my head and rubbed my throat. It had a steady throb to it now, still painful but calmer than before, it was like my body sensed that food was near. "Then do what you think you should. Let your instincts take over."

I took a deep breath of air through my nose. I could still smell the strong herbal and fish smell coming off of the penguins but there was another scent now, a sweeter smell. I peered into the woods and instantly located the source. A large white shape was lumbering between the trees, about twice my size. Next thing I knew, I was across the lake about twenty feet from the bear. I crouched into an attacking stance and just as the bear turned and noticed me, lunged for it gracefully, grabbing the side of it's throat with my teeth.

I could tell that it was definitely better than a penguin could ever be. The warm pooling blood soothed my aching throat instantaneously. I looked down relieved that I hadn't gotten my clothes covered in blood. I could only imagine Alice's reaction if she saw the brand new silk garments that she had bought for me stained in blood. I leaned back grateful now that the aching was gone and impressed with myself for being so, natural.

I vaguely registered everyone standing behind me with shocked expressions. "Edward, she's a natural!" Alice shouted gleefully. "Did you see yourself, Bella? You were so graceful!" I stood up and she was there, pulling me into a tight hug, "You are truly a Cullen," she said proudly.

Suddenly, everyone tensed. "Hold your breath!" Edward growled to me. Alice flitted quickly to Jasper's side and was holding his hand tightly. Edward was already beside me, watching my reaction carefully.

I had no clue what was happening, "Why?" I asked, shocked. I smelled the air again and froze instantly. The smell was...repulsive. I couldn't understand what it was. I looked around at everyone's tense stances in a circle around me and understood. I gasped, "Human..."

(A/N) I will try to have chapter 6 up soon but I can't promise that it will be tomorrow. So please be patient for me while I figure all of this out. I hope you enjoy!