This chapter is my least favorite. I can see the battle brewing, but I had to add this in to segue into it. The fight is amongst us.
Chapter 17: Meeting
The flames licked the night sky, and the smoke billowed upwards. The large bon fire was warming up the surrounding area. Jacob and the other wolves were scarfing down the food at a rapid pace. I couldn't help but smell the preservatives and chemicals seeping out of the hotdogs when they were set near the fire. To think, I actually used to eat that. The fire cast eerie shadows on everyone's face. Even with my vision, the shadows caught my attention. My family stood away from the fire and watched as the pack and the rest of the tribe circled around. Jacob took Renesmee's hand and led her to a log, where she sat next to him. Edward and I followed and sat next to them, followed by Jasper and Alice, Rosalie and Emmet and Carlisle and Esme. Angela sat in between Edward and Alice. Due to the last Voulturi threat, most of the younger boys had shape shifted. One of them had shifted during school, during his math test. After that, there were no more secret shape shifters in La Push. The whole tribe was in on it. Everyone now believed in the stories about the 'cold ones', and other than the jokes about our smell, everyone got along great.
"And then the vampire held the dirty thing up and said, No thanks sir, tea time!" Leah roared. Leah had slightly warmed up to my family, but she lived to give us a hard time, especially Rosalie. Jacob covered his mouth, trying to hold back a laugh. Quil and Sam found the joke too funny to ignore. Rosalie growled.
"First off, that's just disgusting. Second, we wouldn't be attracted to THAT. We wouldn't even really notice it, and third, you are sick." Leah laughed again.
"I know I am, blondie, but even you have to admit it was funny." Emmet smiled and nodded.
"I don't hear a lot of vampire jokes, that one was pretty good." He noticed that Rosalie was still scowling. Emmet looked away. Claire had wandered over towards Renesmee and insisted on playing princesses. Renesmee looked over to Jacob, but resigned to playing with Claire. It must be so strange to Claire. Renesmee was her best friend a few years ago, and now they look to be about ten years apart.
"Claire, it's time for the stories." Renesmee reminded her, in almost a begging type of voice. Claire looked over towards the campfire.
"I don't wanna hear Billy's stories. I've all ready heard them ALL!" she whined and sat back down to play tea time." Renesmee looked over.
"Claire, I've never heard the stories. Do you mind if I listen to it?" Claire looked torn between playing and letting Renesmee listen to the stories. She pouted.
"Okay, Nessie, we'll go listen." She led the way back to the campfire. The fire was almost scorching as I sat on the log a few yards from the fire. None of the other people around the fire seemed to notice the flames, but I did. I looked around and noticed that Carlisle had yet to take a seat and Esme and Rosalie were leaning back away from the fire. I was not the only one avoiding the fire. I looked at my skin. Instead of a cool white or cream color, my skin looked almost orange. The lights from the fire made my skin look like crackling fire also. The campfire was nothing compared to my rebirth fire. I can still remember the eternal pain I felt when I was being changed. I shivered, despite the heat. I took my attention off of the fire and looked over to Angela, who was patiently waiting for the ceremony to start. She glanced up and smiled at me. She then immersed herself into staring at the fire. I followed her gaze to small twigs burning in the inferno. As I watched, the twigs came to life and started to twirl at the base of the fire. The scene was partly hidden from the view of the others. Soon, the fire had caught up with the twigs and they stopped dancing and continued to burn. Angela looked back up at me and shrugged her shoulders, then looked at all of us. She stood up.
"I'm a little warm." She stated out loud. "Emmet, Edward, would you mind moving the log back a little bit, so I can cool down?" Edward and Emmet were moving the log before she finished her sentence. Angela was a life saver. I sat down and felt the orange color drain from my face.
"Thanks Angela." Alice smiled gratefully. The tribe turned their head to the clearing. Billy Black appeared. He was being pushed by my dad, and Sue was next to him. Billy looked almost regal as he took the center nearest the flames. The crowd turned their bodies toward him and no one made a sound. Even in his relaxed attire, Billy demanded attention.
"Tonight, we have learned that Cold ones are planning on attacking our new friends." I watched as the group looked from Billy to us, and back to Billy again. "They have asked for our help, Sam will not force anyone to help our friends, but if you will, it will be greatly appreciated. They have helped us fight the Cold ones before, and I believe our alliance has never been stronger with anyone, as it is with the Cullens."
"I will join and help the Cullens." Jacob stood and proclaimed. Jacob's proclamation did not take anyone by surprise.
"I will join in the battle to help the Cullens." Leah's proclamation was a surprise. I turned to her and she shrugged. "If you die, who will I pick on?" She looked around the campfire at the all the startled faces, and she sat down. As much as Leah pretends, deep down, she likes us. Or, so I think.
"I will join the battle also." Many more wolves joined after Leah. There was an energized current flowing through the circle. Billy raised his arm, everyone stopped their excited whispers.
"Are the witches going to join in on the fight also?" Billy directed his question towards Angela. She looked surprised to be noticed. I was actually surprised they noticed her. Billy, nor any of the tribe, had said much to Angela. I wondered if she was working her magic to stay hidden.
"We are planning on being at the fight. The witches hope that there is no need for violence." She delivered her lines with poise and severity. Jacob snorted.
"What fun will it be if the leaches go running before the fight?" He looked at Renesmee and then quickly added, "The bad guys are leaches, not you and your family."
"How will we know when to join the Cullens?" Sam asked. "They don't live in Forks anymore, and we have no idea when the attack will be." Billy looked at everyone in the circle.
"I can't see when the attack will be." Alice shook her head and let it hang. "They won't decide." Billy smiled.
"The battle with be during the Cold moon." Billy stated the fact simply. I looked over to Alice, who still looked confused.
"I'm sorry Billy, but I still don't see them attacking. How do you know it will be during the cold moon?" Billy smiled.
"I have found that the cold ones enjoy theatrics. They love the battle and the show. The perfect lighting for their battle would be during a full moon. And the best time for them to set the battle would be during the cold months. If they plan on exterminating you, they do not want to give your family the chance to build up alliances, so they will advance quickly." I felt my jaw drop. Billy Black knew more about the Volturi than we did.
"So, if they don't set an exact time, and they just decide to attack once they're here, we only have a day or so to plan." I looked toward Billy, and he nodded. "And as long as they don't cross our destinies right away, Alice won't be able to see them." Alice looked up, and was out of her own thoughts.
"So that's why I can't see them?" She looked relieved. Ever since the wolves had come into our lives, Alice had doubted her psychic ability. I was instantly reminded of Victoria. She had been able to take my clothing out of my old house, back in Forks, without Alice having a vision. Had Victoria be able to communicate this to the Volturi?
"I've noticed that there are a lot of new wolves." Jasper roused from his silence. "I think it would be beneficial for them to learn how vampires usually fight." I looked out into the crowd. A few teens looked nervous, while others were boasting and acting excited in their friends presence, but their eyes gave away the fear they were feeling. "We should teach these children how trained vampires fight. Don't worry, we won't hurt anyone, we're just giving demonstrations." Everyone stood and started rushing to the clearing near the beach. Angela stood up and I followed close behind her.
"Bella," Billy Black quietly whispered. I turned around. Angela noticed that I had stopped following her and she turned with me. Billy looked around to make sure the people that were still standing around were not paying attention. "I've also noticed that the clan, the one pursuing you, is one for dirty fights. I would have your family keep an eye out for a surprise attack. One that might cripple the family or make them lose their heads." I nodded, numb from the idea of anyone getting attacked. My dad stayed by Sue, and behind Billy. He was silent. He had learned the truth behind what I truly was just recently, and I know the idea of me fighting in a battle against mythical creatures is a bit much for him. Angela and I started down towards the clearing. While walking I heard a crinkling sound of leaves, crushing beneath a light footstep. I quickly looked around and noticed something skitter into the woods. I thought about following it, but I didn't want to scare everyone, and then look foolish. Angela looked up at me and gave me a look that meant that she was worried.
"I heard a noise, and I'm just a little jumpy." I assured her. She smiled
"Let's go, I really would like to see how vampires and werewolves fight." Her mood helped lift my spirits. But I couldn't shake the feeling that the image I had seen was a pair of red eyes and a flowing black cloak.
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This chapter was hard to write. I am getting right up to the battle. I am close to it, but I needed to iron out a few things. It will be there soon.
