getting hurt。
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It had e on slowly； but I could feel it now—the raw； massive strength thrilling in my limbs。 I was
suddenly sure that if I wanted to tunnel under the river； to claw or beat my way straight through the
bedrock； it wouldn't take me very long。 The objects around me—the trees； the shrubs； the rocks。。。 the
house—had all begun to look very fragile。
Hoping very much that Esme was not particularly fond of any specific trees across the river； I began my
first stride。 And then stopped when the tight satin split six inches up my thigh。 Alice！
Well； Alice always seemed to treat clothes as if they were disposable and meant for oime usage； so
she shouldn't mind this。 I bent to carefully grasp the hem at the undamaged right seam between my fingers
and； exerting the tiniest amount of pressure possible； I ripped the dress open to the top of my thigh。 Then
I fixed the other side to match。
Much better。
I could hear the muffled laughter in the house； and even the sound of someone gritting her teeth。 The
laughter came from upstairs and down； and I very easily recognized the much different； rough； throaty
chuckle from the firstfloor。
So Jacob was watching； too？ I couldn't imagine what he was thinking now； or what he was still doing
here。 I'd envisioned our reunion—if he could ever forgive me—taking place far in the future； when I was
more stable； and time had healed the wounds I'd inflicted in his heart。
I didn't turn to look at him now； wary of my mood swings。 It wouldn't be good to let any emotion take
too strong a hold on my frame of mind。 Jasper's fears had me on edge； too。 I had to hunt before I dealt
with anything else。 I tried to forget everything else so I could concentrate。
〃Bella？〃 Edward called from the woods； his voice moving closer。 〃Do you want to watch again？〃
But I remembered everything perfectly； of course； and I didn't want to give Emmett a reason to find
more humor in my education。 This was physical—it should be instinctive。 So I took a deep breath and
ran for the river。
Unhindered by my skirt； it took only one long bound to reach the water's edge。 Just an eightyfourth of a
second； and yet it was plenty of time—my eyes and my mind moved so quickly that one step was
enough。 It was simple to position my right foot just so against the flat stone and exert the adequate
pressure to send my body wheeling up into the air。 I was paying more attention to aim than force； and I
erred on the amount of power necessary—but at least I didn't err on the side that would have gotten me
wet。 The fifty yard width was slightly too easy a distance___
It was a strange； giddy； electrifying thing； but a short thing。 An entire second had yet to pass； and I was
across。
I was expecting the closepacked trees to be a problem； but they were surprisingly helpful。 It was a
simple matter to reach out with one sure hand as I fell back toward the earth again deep inside the forest
and catch myself on a convenient branch； I swung lightly from the limb and landed on my toes； still fifteen
feet from the ground on the wide bough of a Sitka spruce。
It was fabulous。
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Over the sound of my peals of delighted laughter； I could hear Edward racing to find me。 My jump had
been twice as long as his。 When he reached my tree； his eyes were wide。 I leaped nimbly from the
branch to his side；
soundlessly landing again on the balls of my feet。
〃Was that good？〃 I wondered； my breathing accelerated with excitement。
〃Very good。〃 He smiled approvingly； but his casual tone didn't match the surprised expression in his
eyes。
〃Can we do it again？〃
〃Focus； Bella—we're on a hunting trip。〃
〃Oh； right。〃 I nodded。 〃Hunting。〃
〃Follow me。。。 if you can。〃 He grinned； his expression suddenly taunting； and broke into a run。
He was faster than me。 I couldn't imagine how he moved his legs with such blinding speed； but it was
beyond me。 However； I was stronger； and every stride of mine matched the length of three of his。 And
so I flew with him through the living green web； by his side； not following at all。 As I ran； I couldn't help
laughing quietly at the thrill of it； the laughter neither slowed me nor upset my focus。
I could finally understand why Edward never hit the trees when he ran—a question that had always been
a mystery to me。 It was a peculiar sensation； the balance between the speed and the clarity。 For； while I
rocketed over； under； and through the thick jade maze at a rate that should have reduced everything
around me to a streaky green blur； I could plainly see each tiny leaf on all the small branches of every
insignificant shrub that I passed。
The wind of my speed blew my hair and my torn dress out behind me； and； though I knew it shouldn't； it
felt warm against my skin。 Just as the rough forest floor shouldn't feel like velvet beneath my bare soles；
and the limbs that whipped against my skin shouldn't feel like caressing feathers。
The forest was much more alive than I'd ever known—small creatures whose existence I'd never
guessed at teemed in the leaves around me。 They all grew silent after we passed； their breath quickening
in fear。 The animals had a much wiser reaction to our scent than humans seemed to。 Certainly； it'd had
the opposite effect on me。
I kept waiting to feel winded； but my breath came effortlessly。 I waited for the burn to begin in my
muscles； but my strength only seemed to increase as I grew accustomed to my stride。 My leaping bounds
stretched longer； and soon he was trying to keep up with me。 I laughed again； exultant； when I heard him
falling behind。 My naked feet touched the ground so infrequently now it felt more like flying than running。
〃Belial he called dryly； his voice even； lazy。 I could hear nothing else； he had stopped。
I briefly considered mutiny。
But； with a sigh； I whirled and skipped lightly to his side； some hundred yards back。 I looked at him
expectantly。 He was smiling； with one eyebrow raised。 He was so beautiful that I could only stare。
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〃Did you want to stay in the country？〃 he asked； amused。 〃Or were you planning to continue on to
Canada this afternoon？〃
〃This is fine；〃 I agreed； concentrating less on what he was saying and more on the mesmerizing way his
lips moved when he spoke。 It was hard not to bee sidetracked with everything fresh in my strong
new eyes。 〃What are we hunting？〃
〃Elk。 I thought something easy for your first time 。。。〃 He trailed off when my eyes narrowed at the word
easy。
But I wasn't going to argue； I was too thirsty。 As soon as I'd started to think about the dry burn in my
throat； it was all I could think about。 Definitely getting worse。 My mouth felt like four o'clock on a June
afternoon in Death Valley。
〃Where？〃 I asked； scanning the trees impatiently。 Now that I had given the thirst my attention； it seemed
to taint every other thought in my head； leaking into the more pleasant thoughts of running and Edward's
lips and kissing and。。。 scorching thirst。 I couldn't get away from it。
〃Hold still for a minute；〃 he said； putting his hands lightly on my shoulders。 The urgency of my thirst
receded momentarily at his touch。
〃Now close your eyes；〃 he murmured。 When I obeyed； he raised his hands to my face； stroking my
cheekbones。 I felt my breathing speed and waited briefly again for the blush that wouldn't e。
〃Listen；〃 Edward instructed。 〃What do you hear？〃
Everything；I could have said； his perfect voice； his breath； his lips brushing together as he spoke； the
whisper of birds preening their feathers in the treetops； their fluttering heartbeats； the maple leaves
scraping together； the faint clicking of ants following each other in a long line up the bark of the nearest
tree。 But I knew he meant something specific； so I let my ears range outward； seeking something different
than the small hum of life that surrounded me。 There was an open space near us—the wind had a
different sound across the exposed grass—and a small creek； with a rocky bed。 And there； near the
noise of the water； was the splash of lapping tongues； the loud thudding of heavy hearts； pumping thick
streams of blood___
It felt like the sides of my throat had sucked closed。
〃By the creek； to the northeast？〃 I asked； my eyes still shut。
〃Yes。〃 His tone was approving。 〃Now。。。 wait for the breeze again and。。。 what do you smell？〃
Mostly him—his strange honeylilacandsun perfume。 But also the rich； earthy smell of rot and moss；
the resin in the evergreens； the warm； almost nutty aroma of the small rodents cowering beneath the tree
roots。 And then； reaching out again； the clean smell of the water； which was surprisingly unappealing
despite my thirst。 I focused toward the water and found the scent that must have gone with the lapping
noise and the pounding heart。 Another warm smell； rich and tangy