Hurricane ► Jasper Hale [1]

[23]

ALLISON DIDN'T KNOW how she had ended up in this situation; standing in the middle of the woods with Bella by her side. She vaguely recalled agreeing to go hiking with the girl, but that had been late the previous night. The young girl hadn't been sure what all Bella's idea of 'hiking' entailed, but she hadn't expected this either. Allison had expected something like walking trails, not stomping through the woods with no obvious path.

The brunette sighed as she jumped over a fallen log, grumbling under her breath as Bella stumbled along ahead of her. Allison picked up her pace, grabbing Bella's arms as the girl teetered backward off of a particularly slippery log.

"Careful, B," The warning slipped lightly off of Allison's lips, followed by a happy chuckle.

Bella mumbled an apology, smiling back at Allison over her shoulder. Bella was beyond happy that her best friend was showing more and more of her previous self. The girl had noticed a change in Allison shortly after she had met Paul, and Bella wondered if he was the reason for her sudden happiness. If he was, Bella would have to remember to thank him.

The two girls trod on, both taking in the scenery as they walked. Allison found herself smiling at all of the green that surrounded her. When she first moved to Forks, she hadn't been very fond of all of the trees and moss, but now she found herself being able to appreciate everything that the town offered.

The girl halted her movements, stopping to look at a flower that looked very out of place in all of the green. The flower itself was white and orange, and it reminded Allison of a large petunia. She departed from Bella, walking toward the flower. The brunette heard Bella stop briefly, and Allison took the time to call out to her. "You go on, I'll find you in a moment."

"You don't even know where we're going, Al." Bella protested, and Allison could hear her shuffle her feet impatiently. The elder of the two smiled at her friends antics.

"I'll find you," Allison repeated, looking back briefly at her Protected. A smile graced both of their lips. Bella shook her head, still smiling as she began to walk away.

The girl turned her attention back to the flower, peering down at it. She was almost afraid to touch it, as it looked so beautiful. She felt that if she touched it, she would disrupt it's beauty, so she simply gazed. Allison did, however, trace the wood on the tree that it was perched upon. Even the bark of the tree seemed ethereal from the effects of the flower.

The girl released a sigh, turning away from the flower. She knew that she should go after Bella before she managed to get lost, even if the girl claimed to know where she was going.

As she leaped over the nearest log, she heard Bella's voice infiltrate her ears. The girl felt herself still, and she shuddered as her blood ran cold.

"Laurent," Bella spoke, her breaths becoming uneven as she was faced with the vampire that had traveled with James and Victoria.

Allison felt herself running before she realized it. Panic filled her veins as she ran, as she didn't believe that she was ready for this. The Protector knew that she had been training hard should this moment ever arise, but she was so nervous. Thoughts of battle strategy were flitting through her head, along with heavy worry.

Allison pushed herself faster worrying for Bella's safety. The Protector wouldn't let anything happen to her Protected; she knew she would fight with her life if she had to. Allison had no doubt that she would die fighting for Bella's life if it came down to it.

"I didn't expect to find you here." Laurent spoke calmly, his voice holding an air of serenity. "I went to visit the Cullen's, but the house is empty. I'm surprised they left you behind. Weren't you, and your friend, sort of pets of theirs?"