Saving Renesmee was a war of the mind. In the end Rhydian had jumped over the cliff and caught her in his arms, and with a brief yet hesitant sense of heroism, he had used his power to lower them somewhat gently into the ground.

He clearly hadn't been concentrating hard enough-the girl's heart beat thumping against his chest had been a unwilling distraction-and time had stilled around them for only seconds before a quick harsh wind knocked them to the side, further away from the vampire and wolf that had been watching them with tense, panic-stricken eyes.

Rhydian had taken most of the impact into his back, holding the brunette against his chest carefully as they slammed into the ground.

He didn't know where the instinct had come from. The spur in the moment decision left his mind reeling to catch up, reality crashing into him like the snow that fell above his eyelids.

He had endangered both himself and this girl, this strange unnerving specimen that seemed just like himself. Her speed and unusual smell was what had lured Rhydian into following her. She looked human, but she just didn't smell as such.

Only when she had tripped over the edge of the cliff had Rhydian even considered the possibility that he scared her.

Her cry of help had shot through his body like a peal of the thunder and he had lunged forwards to catch her before his brain could have caught of to the movement of his body.

In fact, before these events, his thoughts had been lead by a childish almost naive sense of curiosity that had caused him to follow the girl, who seemed immortal like himself.

But now that he looked down at her, he almost couldn't believe how wrong he was.

This girl was warm. And it wasn't just the temperature of her skin, or the vibrant hues of her hair. She was warm. Her pecan colored eyes were so light and curious, so unafraid as she stared into the crimson of Rhydian's eyes.

The warmness of her skin soaked through his dark jacket as he held back the urge to bathe under the new sensation. He stayed still for a moment, prey evaluating predator, before the girl placed her warm palm slowly against his cheek.

The action was slow and calculating, almost hesitant, and once Rhydian came in contact with her hand, he held back the urge to cringe in surprise.

A flash of images seeped through his mind like sand, memories that didn't belong to him intruding into his head as he stared at them with unfocused eyes.

"I am Nessie. Who are you?"

If Rhydian had not heard this girl's-Nessie's-cry of help before hand, he would have been astounded by the sweet yet chiming voice that echoed from inside his ears.

He was bought back to the present when Nessie took her hand off his cheek, and he stared into her eyes for a long almost paralyzing moment before he parted his lips to reply.

For the first time in nineteen years, he spoke to someone who he had no desire to eat. "I am Rhydian." He smiled at her, an awkward action that seemed to bring a smile to Nessie's face in return.

There was a look in her eyes, half dazed half dazzled as she held his gaze, before they both looked up at the sound of footsteps approaching them.

The first pair was light and uneasy, almost noiseless, while the second where thudding and crunching against the snow, followed by a heavy heartbeat that echoed in is sensitive ears.

Rhydian got up in a fluid movement, brushing the snow off his shoulder and lending his hand out for Nessie to take. She interlocked his cold fingers with hers as she heaved herself up, but didn't let go of his hand.

He stared down at their hands for a moment before looking up at the feeling of presences standing before them. His eyes narrowed quizzically, half grim, half amused at the sight of a woman and a wolf.

The woman was a vampire like himself, as sublime as she was dangerous, crimson eyes narrowed with emotion. She was tense like a spring, and her brown hair blowing against the wind was the only part of her that moved.

Beside her, the wolf was the same bronze shade of a sun-burnt copper as the Nessie's eyes. The animal's heartbeat hammered like a drum within his rib cage, either from fear or adrenaline, Rhydian couldn't tell.

A horrible stench emitted from it's tousled fur, and the blonde haired boy allowed himself to recoil with a scowl, earning what he could make out to be an eye roll from the giant animal.

Its eyes were sharp enough to be human; quick in a way Rhydian had learnt all animals lacked.

The vampire female took a cautious step forwards. "Renesmee, honey, come here."

The girl did as she was told, tugging Rhydian with her as she approached the two. The blonde boy made a face of protest, as did the animal.

When they were a foot away from the animal and the woman, Nessie lifted her hand and pressed against her cheek, causing the woman's red eyes to widen in surprise.

It must be a gift of hers, Rhydian wondered dubiously.

The three before him seemed to sense his curiosity, and the brown haired vampire smiled kindly. "Hello, Rhydian. I am Bella and this is my daughter Renesmee, and her pet Jacob."

The pet, Jacob, made a chocking sound under its breath that caused Rhydian to crack a small smile.

The animal paid it no mind, making a strangled noise of shock and protest between his teeth shaking its head in a motion of denial.

Bella shot him a narrow-eyed glare, eyes shining with a secret that gave Rhydian a clue that he wasn't getting the whole truth.

He didn't comment, merely looked down at the tight grip Nessie held into his hand, not quite surprised that he was being left in the dark on whatever big secret the three had to hide. He was only a stranger, after all.

He turned his gaze to Renesmee fully just as she sent a thought her way.

"Do you want to come to my home, Rhy?"

He pursed his lips. Curious. Cautious. Both.

He locked eyes with her, this specimen sort of like himself, and smiled. And once, just once, he pushed everything aside did the one thing he shouldn't have done.

For the first time in his nineteen years, he did something irresponsible. He burdened other than himself. He put a happy ending to the test.

He nodded.

†††

and so the plot thickens. this chapter is dedicated purely for NewGenesis8, whom i've made wait for way too long for this. sorry for the wait and thank you for reading.

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