The Hybrid (A Twilight Saga Continuation) (Slow Updates)

22: Who's Thirsty?

I was being followed. By the quick footsteps and lack of heartbeats I knew they weren’t human or animal. I couldn’t smell them because I didn’t want to inhale but I could reach out with my extra sense and felt Edward. I was surprised to also find Jasper and Emmett.

I stopped and turned towards them. They stopped and crouched ready for an attack.

‘What are you doing?’ I was startled, ‘I’m not going to attack you unless your hearts suddenly start beating again.’

“We apologize. We just had to be cautious.” They quickly straitened.

‘Really, is that why you two are here?’ I gestured towards Jasper and Emmett. ‘I finally went crazy so you two came along as back-up?’

At least Jasper looked guilty but Emmett smiled, “I told you I wanted some excitement.”

I pictured myself jumping on him and pulling his head from his shoulders knowing we could just put it back later. Being hungry obviously made me grumpy, irritable and violent.

‘I’m glad this is exciting for you.’ My words dripped with venom; Emmett’s smile faltered slightly and Jasper stepped in between us feeling the violence in me.

“Mikenna, ignore him. We’re here to help.” He put his hands up in surrender.

I shook off the anger and clutched my chest as the burn scorched my insides.

“Let’s get you something to drink.” Edward stepped forward. “This is easy. You just need to find your prey and let your instincts take over.”

I nodded still apprehensive. He placed his hands on my shoulders.

“What do you hear?”

‘Everything. Every heart beat for miles is pounding in my ears and I can’t make it quiet.’

“You need to use your ears and nose together to find something specific.” He paused just noticing something, “You’re not breathing, and that’s why you’re not speaking?”

I nodded, ‘It was all too much; sensory overload.’

You need to breathe. You need to smell and taste the air. We’re here to make sure you don’t lose complete control.”

‘You mean so I don’t go crazy?’ I quickly glanced at Emmett who was still smirking. I felt a blanket of calm confidence wash over me.

‘Thanks Jasper.’

“No problem.” He drawled.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. There was so much information in that one lung full of air. I tensed trying not to lose myself.

Edward squeezed my shoulders reassuringly. “Good. Now weed out anything that sounds small. A lot of those are reptiles and the mammals are too small for what you need right now.”

I singled out the big, steady, wet heartbeats and nodded when I was focused on their directions.

“Now ignore anything north of here.”

That eliminated the three largest heartbeats and I realized they were Seth, Leah and Jacob. I relaxed slightly.

“With your next breath you’re going to single out the carnivores. They won’t smell too appetizing but they will smell better that the herbivores.”

I immediately knew what he was talking about. Everything smelled bitter but some smelled better than others. It was the difference between Brussels sprouts and unseasoned boiled chicken. I wanted fillet mignon.

They laughed when my face wrinkled in disgust.

“I know. Not the best choices but I don’t think you want the alternative.”

I thought about what fillet mignon was in this situation.

I shook my head and finally spoke, “No I don’t.”

“Thought so,” he dropped his hands and stepped back, “Pick your target and go.”

I zeroed in on the largest and closest carnivore, two miles southwest, and began my hunt quickly but silently.

High in the trees was a cougar lounging and cleaning its face. I climbed a nearby tree to attack from above. When I jumped to the top of the tree where that cougar was laying he paused for a moment then continued his hygiene routine.

I sprung and knocked him from his perch to the soft forest floor. He fought, hard. I heard my clothing ripping but the claws only tickled my skin.

I pinned his head and shoulders leaving his neck open. I could see the veins pulsing under his skin. I lowered my head to quench my thirst and he made one last failed attempt to get free. His cry sounded familiar and distracted from my original goal. I looked into his green eyes and saw the deep brown eyes of my African cousin, Noemi.

I threw myself back off of the cougar and into the tree we just dropped from.

The cougar did not hesitate to right himself and sprint in the opposite direction. I dug my finger into the tree trunk and held myself there when I really wanted to chase the cougar and reclaim my meal.

The guys came out of where they were watching from a distance.

“What happened? You had him and you can still catch him.” Emmett couldn’t understand why anyone would let a meal go but Jasper and Edward understood.

I felt Jasper’s artificial calm sweep over me and it helped. Edward knelt in front of me w/ his bodyguards close behind.

‘I couldn’t. I can’t’ I was twitching and the edges of my vision were turning red.

“I know, but you have to drink something; try a deer or bear or even a chipmunk. The longer you wait the less control you will have. You do not want to hurt someone you love.”

I agreed with him but it was already too late, I was too gone to consciously choose any specific animal but the three to the North sounded the most appetizing. I was becoming the monster I feared.

In the jumble of hunger and heat I heard one clear, reasonable, saving voice.

‘It starts in your heart. Embrace it.’ I couldn’t tell if N’Mai was actually talking to me or if it was just a memory but I knew what was necessary.

I relaxed every muscle in my body, letting go of the tree, and let the heat in my heart spread through my vessels. With that first heartbeat the fire in my throat sputtered and died. I became my very own fillet mignon.

I sighed happy the pain was gone but I was still so thirsty. My mouth was dry and my throat was parched. I felt so weak and tired. It was worse than any exhaustion I’d ever felt.

I tried to stand up but my legs wouldn’t hold me. I fell back against the tree, “Water. I need…” my voice cracked and before I could finish everything went black. I lost time.