Drowning

14

Training

"Again!" Emmett demanded as Jasper threw him for the third time.

"Don't you get tired or losing?" I whispered.

"Watch it, Jo." Emmett huffed. Before we could get into it, Edward arrived with Bella, which then prompted the arrival of the wolves. I found myself at Jasper's side, nodding at Sam's wolf form.

"They don't trust us enough to be in their human forms." Edward informed, most likely reading Sam's mind.

"They came. That's what matters." Carlisle stated. "Will you translate?"

Bella greeted Jake, and I moved away from Jasper to stand beside her. Just in case.

"Welcome." Carlisle greeted the wolves. "Jasper has experience with newborns. He'll teach us how to defeat them."

"They want to know how the newborns differ from us." Edward translated.

"They're a great deal stronger than us because their own human blood lingers in their tissues." Carlisle answered. "Our kind is never more physically powerful than in our first several months of this life."

"Carlisle's right." Jasper spoke, taking Carlisle's place in front of the wolves. "That's why they are created. A newborn army doesn't need thousands like a human army, but no human army could stand against them."

The wolves let out soft growls, either out of disbelief or disgust, I couldn't tell. Bella looked to me, but I kept my eyes trained on Jasper, who now spoke with a harsher tone, and stood with extra rigidity. He was slipping back into his Major role.

"Now, the two most important things to remember are, first, never let them get their arms around you." Jasper continued. "They'll crush you instantly. And second, never go for the obvious kill. They'll be expecting that, and you will lose. Emmett."

Jasper stepped through our family and into the small clearing, coming face to face with our competitive brother.

"Don't hold back." Jasper teased with an easy grin.

"Not in my nature." Emmett smirked. Predictably, Emmett's shoulders rose, indicating that he was going to start running. And he did, he ran right into Jasper's awaiting arms, and the two went sliding backward about twenty feet before Emmett launched Jasper into the air. In an instant, Jasper was back on his feet, and Emmett was running at him again. Emmett threw a punch, which Jasper ducked under and then swiped Emmett's feet out from under him. Emmett landed with a harsh thud and Jasper smirked down at him.

"Never lose focus." Jasper said, helping Emmett up and walking back over to the family. "Edward, Carlisle, you next."

The two stepped forward while Jasper stood slightly off to the side, watching their movements. Carlisle nodded at Edward, and they both ran at each other. Carlisle dropped and slid while Edward hopped over him. They met again in the center of the clearing, and after a minor struggle, Carlisle threw Edward off of him and onto the forest floor. Edward didn't let that deter him, though, as he rounded on Carlisle and pinned him to the forest floor with one hand. As he stood, a proud smile on his face, Jasper approached him with a smug smirk.

"One more thing." Jasper said, eyeing Edward as Carlisle flipped Edward over and pinned him. "Never turn your back on your enemy."

The next pairing was Rose and Jasper. With a nod from Jasper, Rose threw a few punches, only missing Jasper because he leaned out of the way. As he ducked one of her punches, he gripped her ankle and threw her upward, sending her body spiraling through the air before she crashed on the forest floor.