DAWN (a Tori Vega and Jacob Black fanfic)

Chapter 1: The Songvogal and the Big Bad Wolf

The wind blew through the forest, rustling through the tree branches. The sun shone through the gaps in the trees, bathing the forest in its yellow light. The birds sang high up in the tall trees, out of sight of predatory eyes. I walked with my father, twigs snapping beneath our feet.

My father was a hunter. He went in the woods and caught food for our family and the other people in our small village. He was well respected among the people. One day, I wanted to be just like him and provide food for the village. But I was young- only four years old. It would be a few years before Father could start teaching me how to hunt. Nonetheless, I was very eager to start and couldn't wait until I was old enough.

He looked down at me and smiled, "Will you do something for me, my little Songvogal?"

I giggled. My name is Victoria, but my father calls me his little "Songvogal" a lot. I was a good singer- even at the age of four. People loved to hear my singing. My voice, people said, was angelic. "Her voice can bring a smile upon the face of the saddest of men," they would say. And it, in a way, was true. For if a person of the village was sick, I would be asked to sing for them to try to try and make them feel a little happier. Hence, giving me the nickname "Songvogal," meaning songbird in German.

"What is it, Father," I questioned, looking up at him with my chocolate brown eyes.

"Sing for me?"

I nodded eagerly, a grin on my face. Father picked me up and rested me on his hip. I started to sing the lullaby Father sang to me at night. He had read it in a book when he was younger.

"Deep in the meadow, under the willow

A bed of grass, a soft green pillow

Lay down your head, and close your sleepy eyes

And when again they open, the sun will rise.

Here it's safe, here it's warm

Here the daisies guard you from every harm

Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true

Here is the place where I love you."

As I finished the song, I saw Father smile. I smiled, too- glad to have made him happy. Father kissed my forehead and set me down on the ground.

With the smile still on his face and a twinkle in his eye, he looked down at me and said, "You have a beautiful voice, my little Songvogal. Now, ready to go home and have dinner with Mommy?"

I nodded eagerly and we started heading home.

***

I stood behind the tree, watching the deer as it munched on the grass, lifting its head every so often and looking around. It sniffed the air for danger, but I wasn't worried. I knew it couldn't smell me. The wind was blowing south, towards me, carrying my scent with it. After a few seconds, the deer put its head back in the water.

Now, I thought. Now, while it's distracted.

I pulled back on the loaded bow in my hands. I stared at the deer, which was still drinking, and took aim. After a few seconds, I let go. The arrow whizzed through the air and shot the deer in the hind leg. The deer's head snapped up as it cried out in pain and tried to run, but fell. I cringed,

I'm sorry, little deer, I thought, feeling sorry for the injured animal.

Approaching footsteps broke me out of my thoughts. I turned to see my father walking up to me from where he had been observing me from a few yards away.