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Music:

Wind of Change – The Scorpions

Born to be wild - Steppenwolf

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Chapter 1: Bella – Strange visitor

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The morning after the big confrontation with the Volturi was glorious, the snow glistened in the little rays of sunshine, pushing through the clouds. I walked up to the big house with Edward and Renesmee at a casual pace, enjoying the moment.

Behind us I heard Jake's strong heartbeat approaching, he soon walked beside us and Renesmee, who was a little ahead, turned and jumped in his arms to greet him. They were both smiling with happiness. At the doorstep Jake put her down, she was full of energy.

As we entered the living room, everyone except Alice was there. She walked in a moment later from the kitchen, the smell of freshly baked bread followed her. She placed a vase full of flowers on the table and looked even more pleased than the rest of us. I wondered why and looked at Edward, who seemed surprised. Alice looked up at us and said: "We're going to have a visitor today." She saw us at the field yesterday and was curious."

In my mind I immediately went over some of the faces of the witnesses I'd seen, but couldn't think of one that stood out. Edward had seen Alice's thoughts and said: "She's lives like us?" I raised my right eyebrow, no, I didn't see this stranger, I would've remembered that!

It seemed I wasn't the only one thinking this, because Alice went on; "No, we didn't see her, she was probably up in a tall tree, she likes roughing it, she's not as sophisticated as we are." But she's a good person, kind, with an open mind." That surely made me curious. What did she want from us?

"Can you estimate when she's coming?" Edward asked. "Sorry, Alice said, she hasn't quite decided yet and there are some blind spots." That meant the wolves were involved, I hoped they wouldn't hurt her. Leah was leading the morning watch-patrol and I couldn't imagine her to be friendly to strange vampires, even if they had yellow eyes.

But Alice didn't seem worried, so none of the others were either. Jake walked into the kitchen to eat, he made it obvious it tasted good, trying to entice Renesmee to come eat too. After a few minutes she gave in and followed him.

Hours slowly creped by. Most of us watched tv and Carlisle sat at the computer. Jake, Renesmee and Rosalie passed time outside, throwing snowballs at each other, their laughter echoed across the lawn. Around noon they came inside, shaking and brushing off the snow at the doorstep.

Edward suddenly looked to the front door and moments later we could hear quick footsteps and rushing paws. Then they stopped near the front-door and I heard growling. I recognized Leah immediately.

Carlisle opened the door, on the porch was a girl, crouched down, she held her head down and didn't look at Leah and turned her body sideways. She looked vulnerable like this, but not scared, her breathing was steady, her muscles relaxed. Because Leah still showed her teeth, the girl made a soft whining noise. Then she seemed to notice us, she looked up at Carlisle, but didn't move from her position.

Jake moved forward, filling the doorway. "Leah, it's all right, she means no harm, Alice saw her coming." Jake's voice sounded calm, but guarded, this stranger had to earn his trust first. He moved back and picked up Renesmee, protecting her just in case.

The girl slowly got up, she seemed about my age, 5'7", her dark-brown, curly hair reaching just to her shoulders, bounced around her face. Her skin was like milk-chocolate, with the pale complexion of a vampire. Her body was muscular and athletic. Her bright yellow eyes were friendly as she observed us more closely.

She turned to Carlisle and reached out her hand, he shook it and she said: Hello, I'm Timmain, I'm sorry to show up without calling first, but I have no phone and couldn't wait." Her voice was gentle and sounded like soft guitar-play. She had a bit of an accent, Australian maybe?

Carlisle replied: "Welcome Timmain, I'm Carlisle and this is my family, won't you come in please."

She glanced over her shoulder to look at Leah, who was sitting down now, but keeping a firm eye at this girl. Seth and the others were sitting beside her. That assured her it was ok and she stepped inside. At that point I noticed her clothes, which reminded me of Jake and the pack.

Just a plain shirt and shorts, no shoes and they looked worn. I could see why Alice would call her unsophisticated. She quickly viewed the room before turning her attention to Edward, who was reading her thoughts of course. I wondered what impression she got of us yesterday, did she know many of us were gifted?

She seemed to wait for Edward to say something. After about 30 seconds he said: "Timmain is very observant, she picked up a lot yesterday and she understands some of our gifts because she's gifted herself, though I don't understand it."

Timmain raised her right eyebrow for a moment and said: "that's quite a short version of what I showed you, but I understand this part of my gift doesn't make sense for a vampire to have." The two I've met, made me realize that." But here's the other part." (she probably showed Edward a memory) "Which seems to make more sense, though I don't see it that way."

Now I felt a bit confused, what was she saying, she knows only two vampires, and has a strange ability?

She was about to explain it further, but was interrupted by Renesmee, who asked for attention. Edward looked at her with a loving smile and listened to the questions in her head. Then he replied: "She understands what you are and has a good idea of how your gift works."

"But, because of her gift; she can copy the gifts of others by touching them, "– I think you should ask her your other questions the normal way." She's unsure of what will happen, she only just discovered she can do this." - Wow! Really? I thought.

Renesmee turned her attention to Timmain and asked: "You smell different, your scent, it's softer than that of others, why is that?" An awkward question, but Timmain wasn't fased. And answered: "I don't know for sure, maybe it's genetics." I didn't pay much attention to my own scent as a human." Or maybe it's because of my diet, I like big seals, they keep me going for weeks, they're very nutritious."

An interesting answer, Emmet surely looked like he wanted to know more. Then Renesmee fired her next question at her, and the answer would leave us all stunned.

"What were you doing outside just now, by the door?"

Timmain looked at her and at Jake – her eyes said she knew who he was – and answered; "I was showing Leah I was no threat. Also it was a sign of respect, I'm in their territory. But maybe I should tell you my history, because it's quite different – I think – from most vampires."