*A/N: Thank you to all those who commented, reviewed, and critiqued my last few chapters, willingly I hope. It really was not my intent to force reviews. I appreciate both the help and even the not-so-supportive suggestions. Every little bit helps. I will work on incorporating some of everyone's tidbits into my writing for future chapters and stories. Just bear with me while I still learn. :-)

I am posting chapters back to back so your guys don't think I am dragging out the battle. I was really writing and rewriting to make sure all was okay. I hope this action scene appeases you, the readers.

Chapter Summary: The scene of the newborn battle. Heroes emerge as each side takes a stand, united against a common enemy of Forks and La Push.

*Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, and I dedicate this chapter to Paul, my own 2nd in command after Jacob; 'cause when Jacob's busy, Paul lets me rub behind his ears.

Chapter XXXIII Title: 'I'm Alive,' by Disturbed

(APOV) Author's point of view

The battle was not expected to be quick, but no one could foresee that it would last this long or had either side been able to anticipate the fury and the drive they both had to win this fight. It was a losing battle that would clearly have one side a winner and the other side would lose. There would be no draw, no mercy, and no lies to cover the truth of what was really going on. This was not a fight for glory, but for a continued existence. They each had a score to claim though one side clearly had more to lose than the other. Which side would endure the lost and be annihilated? Which side would you choose to win?

Sam's huge black body actually shook with anticipation for the fight to begin. Embry and Jared stood flank while Leah and Paul shifted their weight from their front to their hind legs. The other four wolves, Colin, Seth, Brady, and Quil hung back a little, but not willingly. Although Leah had been later to phase after Quil she would not allow herself to be pushed too far back out of chauvinism. She wanted blood for her Harry. She wanted blood for the loss that Seth and she would suffer. She wanted her regret to be spilled with her enemy's meaningless existence of life and she wanted it now. Leah's tension and Sam's anxiety made the entire wolf pack count the seconds until the newborns would reach the clearing. The pixie called out in a low voice, "They're coming. A few more minutes." She hadn't needed to say anything. Their sickly sweet smell permeated through the trees of the Quileute's land.

This battle was indeed personal.

Thump.

Thump, thump, thump, the sound persisted.

That was all the wolves the wolves felt sane and calm enough to hear; each other's heartbeats. The hardest working muscle in the human body ached in each of the pack's ribs, almost breaking the bones from the constant friction against their chest, and it completely dominated their coherent thoughts. Anything that they could hear was better than the approaching hisses and mushy stomps that the newborn vampires were casting closeby.

These newborns were too new at this; they did not yet know or care to know how to sneak up on prey, staying so deliberately quiet that all they would have to do is reach out and pull back a strand of hair or latch onto a bit of sturdy clothing before their intended victim was theirs. Either that, or no one had bother to teach them.

Victoria did not train them well at all, Jasper thought smugly. Or these newborns really were bred for one purpose. He felt sad suddenly. So many of their lives had been cut short all for another's revenge. Just as easily as Victoria had created them, she hastily thrown them away. As if dropping them into a melting pot of raw ingredients that were not yet ripe; however, the newborns were not at a complete disadvantage. They were still fueled by their insatiable need to feed. Fight well, wolves. Jasper thought. Fight well.

The sun's intensity beat down on the vampires and the pack. Normal wolves were nocturnal and preferred the hunt in the night because of the dislike for the sun's heat, but even the Fork's sun provided enough cover for that. Emmett was growing restless waiting and his eyes darted between the opening of the clearing and Rosalie's perfect features. His stone fingers brushed a single blonde hair back from his mate's face before a noise rang out from one of the wolves.

Paul had growled soundly from the rapidly approaching stench emitting from the enemy. Sam took a side-step, blocking half of Leah's sight purposely. Leah's toes practically danced on the small patch of ground before her. She panted furiously, sulking a little inside because Sam had pushed her to his back flank though he had said he wouldn't. Liar!

What am I doing here? She cried inside. I deserve to be in the front. I deserve to be the lead. The leeches killed my father-my dad! A part of Leah's family had been stolen before she could make amends. Before she could fix things. She could never tell her father how sorry she was, show him how proud he could have been had he lived passed the battle.

Focus, Leah, Sam thought passively.

The bloodsuckers are mine! Leah snarled back. I deserve to taste their demise! Let them feel the pain that I am doomed to feel for the rest of my life before I sever their head! she continued, feeling bloodlust.

Alice's eyes moved as she stepped closer to Leah, away from an uncomfortable looking Jasper. The anger from Leah was becoming too much for him to be able to keep a straight face on. He needed a bit more tranquility. Alice could sense this and took a big risk moving close to the volatile werewolf, knowing that Leah had not been very friendly with her or her family during practices.

"Not yet, Leah," Alice addressed her softly.

Leah's neck gave a snap in disgust. Who is she to speak to me? Leah thought angrily. She tensed, drawing back from the soothing voice of the pixie leech. She doesn't know me. My own father never knew me either and now he never would! It's their fault, Sam! Let me-

Wait your God-damn turn, Leah, Paul voiced. Paul agreed with his pack mate whole-heartedly, but her internal musings and guilt was plaguing his nerves. She mimicked his feelings perfectly; this alliance with the Cullens were unnecessary. When this is over, Paul swore to the rest of his brothers-and of course, one sister-that big bear of a leech is mine.

More seconds went by, feeling like an eternity that crept along, gnawing at the sides of the brave, young pack.

What's taking so long? Paul whined, sounding almost human.

They're not as anxious to die as other parasites, Jared answered.

Maybe they're lost, Embry offered.

'Maybe they're lost,' Jared mocked.

Fuckin' pussy, man, Paul added. If they're lost, go find them and bring them here.

Jared wheezed out a chuckle to relieve the tension he was feeling. He had been standing so long that he finally felt the need to do something mobile before he went nuts. Paul glanced at him, but shook off his own questions about Jared's behavior.

Stop laughing, Sam barked in annoyance, attempting to regain control over his pack.

Jared paid little heed, his one weakness taking over. Ten bucks says I snag ten bloodsuckers before you can even get one, Paul, he called.

What? Paul questioned back, already enraged.

You heard me, Jared taunted. You game?

Jared, knock it off, Embry butted in.

I'll take a piece of that, Quil chimed in, getting into it. We'll all get some before Paul can even get a start on one.

I'm warning you guys, Sam started.

Look, Paul needs help standing up for himself. Paul has Sam fighting his battles, Jared thought in an obnoxious tone. You can't help him, Sam. He's going to lose either way.

Paul took a small step forward, taking his eyes off of Jared to narrow them at the still empty clearing. His back left foot touched the covering of an uprooted tree, preparing to launch himself into the first newborn that was unlucky enough to cross his path.

Count him down, Q, Jared called.

One, Quil began.

You want 'em? Jared voiced softly, the sound echoing in Paul's head. Paul's neck and ears lowered as the saliva he bore dripped down his teeth. Pat! Pat! Pat! went the drops, a new sound.

Two, Quil kept at it, without provocation now.

Paul-Jared-Quil, stop it! Sam threatened, not even taking a breath in between their names.

Do you really want 'em, Paul? Jared repeated. His own voice became his personal war anthem. Go get 'em!

A strawberry blonde newborn appeared, tearing through the thick brush of trees, with three others following close behind from a couple of low branches, dangling a foot or two above the forest floor.

Three! Quil shouted in a bark. The four newborns looked across the field, their attention grabbed.

A howl that did not come from Paul let loose in the air, making the smallest wolves, Colin and Brady, shrink back momentarily. The howl that erupted was too much like a war cry; a human war cry.

What the-? Jared started, but was pushed aside by an unseen matter that was too quick, even for his amazing eyesight.

Leah's eyes had caught sight for one fraction of a second of another apprehensive, but determined looking newborn with dark hair and deep garnet-colored eyes before her legs carried her from out of her assigned spot, Sam's ass. The pack members dispersed from their positions as a reflex before they could collectively think together fast enough to stop her. Except for one.

Sam's wolf face was in agony. LEAH! DON'T—!

Leah practically sailed over the agitated Paul, flicking dirt in his face as she flew past him and straight onto the field, now crawling with at least ten other newborns. The pack did a double take, using up a second more than they needed before they howled, and charged ahead the rest of the way, Seth and Sam neck and neck for the second lead behind Leah.

Leah ran, already burning from the anxiety by the time she made a very forceful land on the dark-haired newborn's back she had seen not long ago-and then her frightened yowl sounded as three other newborns jumped onto her back.

It was a trick.

And the battle began.

Emmet sighed, making a tiny move toward Jasper. "Animals, right?" he joked with his adopted brother.

Jasper hummed his non-reply and went forward with the rest of the Cullens, taking their pre-designated positions with their bows in hand.

Already feeling drained from the painfully long adrenaline rush, Leah could not throw the leeches off. Sam growled and ran to her aide as quickly as his legs would carry him. The three fair-haired newborns did not give on their hold of Leah and Sam snapped and snarled near their limbs to make them jump back. Other newborns were slowly closing in on an unaware Sam and Paul rushed to his side, throwing his body at five other vampires whom had foolishly stayed so close together.

Jared and Embry tore into the neck and back of a nearby brunette and pulled her apart to throw her limbs separately to a close Esme. Esme gauged the eyes of the head and ripped the rest of the extremities almost exactly in half before tossing them into a fire she had just started.

Alice and Carlisle had their hands full with four other newborns that had come into view from the dense forest and they used their inhuman strength to keep the other side at bay. Seth ran and pulled one very close vampire sneaking up behind the pixie and used his teeth to toss him up and into a tree. The sickening crack hung in Seth's ears as the creature's leg and wrist were broken upon its landing.

Leah howled as one of the newborns managed to get its arms around one of her haunches and squeezed. Sam threw himself into the offending creature, shaking all three of them bit. The newborn moved to get a better grip when Sam's teeth tore into the creature's shoulder and he fixed his head to the side to break its nose next. This newborn had a particularly large nose. Sam succeeded and the creature stepped back from not being able to see as clearly before Paul appeared from behind and ripped out its back and the side of its abdomen. Leah landed softly, her side already starting to heal and she ran toward the other side of the leech to finish the kill. They both threw the remaining limbs into the side of the forest for one of the Cullens to pick up while Sam covered their endeavor by fighting off the other two vampires that remained.

Seth suddenly halted, skidding toward one lonely vampire that had been watching from the sidelines. The solid crimson-colored eyes moved across the unsure face of the young, inexperienced sandy-brown wolf. It was toying with him for a few moments more before it would attack him, finishing the job it had been set out to do. The newborn vampire did not like the smell of this big, hairy dog, but it enjoyed the unsteadiness of the wolf's feet.

"Be scared, little doggy," it said calmly. "Be scared."

Suddenly it's dead irises seemed to have moved, looking alive-or imitating the life that it once had-and it went up into the air, it's ebony hair sweeping behind it's falling grace and body. Seth leaned to his left, his side stinging as the newborn came crashing into him, claws already extended. Seth winced and wrapped his mouth around the creature's extended shoulder, whipped around, and tore it clean from its socket. The young wolf grimaced from the bitter, metallic taste, snapped his head back, and slapped the bloodsucker with it's own arm.

The newborn howled and quickly became the one unsteady on its feet. Seth dropped the arm without thinking, and arched his back, ready to leap when abruptly the fallen arm grabbed his ankle, digging it's still extended nails into Seth's heel. It drew blood.

Seth 'uumphed!' loudly upon his fall, losing the upperhand. The vampire sneered and began to crawl to a stand, taking a gingerly step forward when it was attacked from both sides at once; Jasper ran and tackled the upper half as Embry grabbed the legs with his mouth. Their combined efforts tore the body to shreds, stunning a drastically ashamed Seth.

Get up! Leah barked unsympathetically.

Seth sucked his teeth within his wolf jaws, but quickly obeyed, lest he must be saved again. I had the bloodsucker, he whined to his pack mates.

Sure, you did, Jared retorted, not far. You get half of one for that. Then Jared grunted as he used his front legs to stop a blow from a small male newborn. Jared ended up extending his paw, tripping him, and then ripped off his head by grabbing into its scalp. How many is that, by the way? What did you get, Paul?

Busy! Paul snapped, looking around in duress. He had to kill a leech-something-anything-for himself. He just had to.

The pack, with the help of the Cullens, began to make a small dent into the numbers of their resilient foes when another roar ripped into the air and Brady was pushed aside by a huge dark-grayish shape. Embry jumped but was also flung back, howling from the pain of hitting a nearby boulder and Esme rushed to his side. The vargulf, with its dark yellow teeth and scarlet eyes took a giant step toward the Cullen's mother figure when Jasper and Emmett let loose a swift and numerous amount of arrows from the bows they had tied securely to their back that early morning. Rosalie stole three more arrows from Carlisle's satchel and two of the three hit the huge beast in the perineum while Emmett succeeded in getting one in the side throat.

"Bullseye! My rover hit Rover!" Emmett chuckled at his small joke before the animal turned back toward the other pack members. The vargulf felt tiny stings from the pierced arrows, but it paid it no mind. He did bleed, afterall. It was natural for it to be feeling some pain. The memory of his master's voice from earlier soothed his ears and muscles as it continued to advance in attack. His large appendages sunk into the ground a little before Sam roared back for the other wolves to disengage their attack on the newborns that were left to fight off the bigger enemy. Sam stood on his hind legs, but was barely able to meet the beast eye to eye, and the vargulf's attack stance stood unmoved, unwilling to be intimidated by what was thought to be an inferior creature compared to it.

Sam regarded the movement, and in haste approached the vargulf by running first. The vargulf, feeling confident, allowed the black Alpha to move within three feet before he swiped at him with his paw. Sam was nearly taken down by its lion-like claws as his evasive maneuvering took him toward the back of the vargulf's tail where he caught it in his mouth and bit down hard. Sam's teeth was the culprit behind the vargulf's tortured scream—the hairy purple flowered mountain ash (native to Texas and southern parts of Oklahoma) that had been collecting in Sam's saliva for the last couple months made the vargulf whip around to lash out at Sam's own tail for revenge. Sam let go of the creature as Jasper, Emmett, and Rosalie continued to fire their arrows into its back. The vargulf was clearly feeling winded and ill prepared, but would not back down from its task. It was meant to provide a distraction and that is what it would do.

The other newborns that had not been taken down began to close in behind the wolves, but Carlisle signaled to Alice and little Colin, whose paws were still too big for his newly acquired wolf form, and began to silently tear the limbs of their rivals. One of the twelve vampires that were left took a hold of Seth's hind leg intending to crush it and Quil bit and pulled it from Seth's rump. It let go and Quil's massive jaws snapped the vampire's neck with one easy twist. Seth's body flew under Quil as another vampire approached the two wolves and Seth thanked his pack brother by crushing the sneaky foe's head with his jaws and teeth.

Sam turned to make sure his other pack members were safe as the rest of them descended closer to the vargulf, and began attacking him with numerous bites to his legs, shoulders, and hindquarters. The vargulf continued to feel infuriated at the incessant pain the pack was causing him, and started to jump a little each time they snapped their flailing jowls at him. The creature achieved in making contact with another pack member, Brady's muzzle, breaking his nose and nearly blinding him in one eye. Brady stepped back from the fight and was kicked by accident from one of his pack members.

Stay still, Brady! Jared urged.

Brady started to roll, unable to keep his balance. He was healing, but not fast enough. A staggering newborn who had had its legs ripped off crawled quickly toward the injured wolf. Jasper threw his bow into his sack and jumped onto the threatening newborn's back, crushing it down into the earth. He threw the rest of the body's remains toward the wood edge.

Emmett called to Rover, the huge beast that had been seemingly staged in the middle of the fleeting newborns, by way of whistling, with a small, coy grin spreading across his lips. Emmett displayed his incisors in a threatening matter, throwing his bow to his side, intent on taking the creature on with his bare hands. And one lone arrow.

"You're much bigger than a grizzly," Emmett stated.

Rover snorted as if he understood what the other supernatural being meant and did not hesitate; the vargulf stood not more than twenty feet away when he changed direction and went for Emmett. Emmett turned himself further into the angry and snarling mug of a huge dog as it pulled his teeth back into a growl, but Emmett had it all figured out; he was ready to fight the towering creature.

The other pack members rushed to regain what control they had had over the bleeding beast, but Paul got there first.

"WOO-HOO!" Emmett bellowed a second before Rover closed the gap between them and was on him an instant thereafter. Emmett's confidence did not disappear even as his pale, but solid body did under the vargulf. The vargulf was just over his face now.

As the vargulf's plunge toward Emmett's face grew nearer Paul's speed sought to make himself known to the unaware opponent. Paul landed his two feet into the vargulf's side, twisted his head around one-hundred and seventy five degrees exactly, and pulled off the ear and half the nose of the vargulf at the same time. The venomous vapors of the vargulf's saliva seared the skin and fur of Paul's precious grayness just as he felt the sharp pain of the vargulf's teeth. Paul was taken off his guard and he fought with the instinct of his body to not go limp.

The vargulf wouldn't let go even as the other pack members continued to bite and rip into its body. Paul's paws hit and scratched the face of the vargulf as he was turned around, his back against the dirt floor with the Vargulf half over him. Paul gathered his strength in time to see one opening for the vargulf's throat and went for it. The beast's jugular was squeezed and it seemed to have popped like a balloon with too much air; the blood seeping out even hissed like one. The immediate loss of life was evident in its body coordination as Emmett took his last arrow from his back and used his bear-like strength to thrust it into the vargulf's head, straight through the skull. Emmett barely felt the arrow twinge and give as he forced it into the bone; he was that sure it was going in.

It fell after that.

Paul sputtered under the weight of the now dead vargulf, and then howled in agony as his side burned with something that felt like poison in his blood. This was worse than a phase. His eyes betrayed him as he cried, the burning relentless as it continued to surge itself through his body. His paws turned human as he writhed and groaned along the floor, surrendering to the ache of a black out. Emmett, Rosalie, and the pack members surrounded him as the other Cullens rushed to clear the rest of the newborns' bodies off of the field.