Chapter Thirty Three
Peter
By the time Em and Rose got back we had Charlie all tucked up in the flat bed with Bella and The Major so they climbed in too, keeping Charlie wedged in nice and tight while Garrett joined Charlotte and myself in the cab.
"Right, its about an hours drive from here into the National Park. This time of year it will be quiet so keep an eye out for anyone showing too much interest. I'm hoping to get up into the hills before it gets light and I'm driving without lights as far as possible so if you see anything I should avoid, like a big fucking hole in the road please shout. OK?"
Garrett nodded and wound down his window sticking his head out so his hair blew out behind him.
"All clear Peter head out. I'll listen for any traffic headed our way."
I drove as fast as I could on this only half remembered road praying it hadn't been closed by a landslip or tree fall. And we finally got a real break, not only was the road open but it was deserted and we made good time. After dropping the others off Charlotte and I took the truck away to dump it, there was a town about fifty miles away and I knew the rougher side of it. The truck wouldn't be there long which suited me, then we'd hunt before returning.
Bella
The cabin was deserted and looked very run down but it was shelter for Charlie and that's all I was worried about. Garrett and Em carried him inside and as his torment was almost over I persuaded Jazz to leave him and hunt with me. The others could babysit Charlie for a while, I was worried about my mate. He looked gaunt and the bruises under his eyes were now black and almost circled his dark eyes which shone with the hunger that was tormenting him. Garrett nodded his approval when I took Jaspers hand and pulled him away from Charlie and out the door.
"That's enough, you need to hunt. Jazz"
He looked around, his eyes unseeing, and I took his face between my hands and looked into them,
"Jazz, it's over now, I want you to come back to me"
He didn't react to me so I pulled on his arm and led him away from the cabin and into the trees testing the air for prey, if he couldn't hunt for himself then I would do it for him.
Peter
We left the truck doors open at the back of an abandoned building close to the bar then left to hunt before checking back a couple of hours later and were pleased to see it had gone. If whoever stole it got away then good, I doubted it had been missed yet or at least not reported we'd just have to wait and see. Taking Charlotte's hand I started to run, we'd been away long enough and had some planning to do if we were going to stay free and more importantly alive. The area around the cabin was empty of human traces then we came upon Bella's trail so she'd taken The Major to hunt, good because I hated having the responsibility of making decisions, he was welcome to it as far as I was concerned.
"You want to find them?"
I shook my head,
"No give them a little while, we'll go back and see what's happening with Charlie, he should be waking up soon, or at lease I fucking hope so."
Garrett
I was nervous with Peter and The Major both away because we all knew that as soon as news of the slaughter reached Volterra they would act and I wanted us all together and Charlie awake by then.
"Garrett quick"
Hearing Emmett's panicked shout I ran upstairs and into the bedroom expecting to see Charlie awake and destroying everything in his path. Instead of which he sat up looking around, red eyes gleaming but with interest not fury, what the hell was going on? Emmett and Rose were standing well back and looked relieved to see me,
"How long has he been like this?"
"Just a few seconds but its weird, after all we'd heard about newborns I was ready for a fight."
I nodded, Charlie wasn't acting the way any of us expected so I moved forward very slowly then crouched down so I didn't appear too threatening..
"Charlie, you OK?"
He turned to study me flexing his muscles experimentally before answering,
"I gotta tell you Garrett I'm feeling a lot better than I did when I first saw you. No pain, no stiffness, and the arthritis has gone."
He cocked his head to one side,
"I can hear things moving about outside, animals and insects."
He got to his feet so fast he almost overbalanced,
"Wow, I'll need to practice moving before I break something."
"No sweat Charlie, I demolished a few rooms before I learned to control my movements."
"Em you're still learning. Only a few weeks ago you ripped the door off a closet."
He grinned at his mate,
"Yeah well it's what comes of being a hunk"
We all laughed as Charlie walked to the window,
Charlie
I felt great, no pain, no stiffness, and my hearing and sight were crystal clear, losing my human life didn't seem such a bad thing to feel this good. The only slightly uncomfortable thing was the burning in my throat and I put my hand up to rub it.
"You thirsty Charlie?"
I nodded, so that's what this feeling was, I hoped it would ease if I hunted which presented my first challenge and decision. I knew Bella, Jasper, and the Cullens were animal hunters but Garrett, Peter, and Charlotte hunted humans. Bella had explained that it was the more difficult choice, living on animal blood but I was pretty confident that I was strong-willed enough to keep to the diet I chose.
"Emmett, I'd like to try hunting animals if you'll help me"
"Sure Charlie but Garrett will come along too, just in case"
"In case?"
"Yeah, you're acting really strange for a newborn, its gonna freak Peter out when he sees you."
"Sorry, would you prefer it if I threw a few things around?"
"Well it would be more normal if you did but I guess we should have expected as Bella's dad that you'd throw a spanner in the works. Come on then"
Emmett and Garrett jumped through the open window and without thinking I followed them, landing cat-like on the ground below with a whoop of delight then chasing after them into the trees ready and eager for my first hunting lesson. It was strange to be hunting animals for food without a gun but exhilarating too. I just hoped I wasn't about to make a complete ass of myself in front of the other two.
Emmett
Charlie kept up with us easily, he was fast, almost as fast as Edward and on par with Jasper. We gave him a good run then stopped to listen for prey. The woods were teeming with wildlife and we waited for him to concentrate on an animal that would be suitable. He listened, tasting the air and we both saw the moment he zoomed in on the heartbeat of a moose about four hundred yards away. Without looking at us he was off running again but silently and slower, checking the air every few seconds. When he caught sight of the moose he stopped and his eyes darted around checking his route of attack then went in for the kill. The moose never even saw him coming he was so fast. Garrett nodded to me,
"Pretty impressive I'd say for a newborn"
We stayed back as Charlie finished, it was safer if he came back to us which he did wiping his hands on his pants and looking very pleased with himself,
"Was that good?"
"You'll do Charlie. How do you feel now? Need to hunt some more?"
He shook his head,
"I want to see Bella."
"Home it is then, they'll be back soon along with Peter and Charlotte."
Just a warning, you might not get any chapters tomorrow but I will try. Thanks for the reviews everyone. Jules x