Chapter 18

           Theyemergedonebyonefromtheforestedge,rangingadozenmetersapart.Thefirstmaleintotheclearingfellbackimmediately,allowingtheothermaletotakethefront,orientinghimselfaroundthetall,dark-hairedmaninamannerthatclearlydisplayedwholedthepack.Thethirdwasawoman;fromthisdistance,allIcouldseeofherwasthatherhairwasastartlingshadeofred.

           TheyclosedranksbeforetheycontinuedcautiouslytowardEdward’s

           family,exhibitingthenaturalrespectofatroopofpredatorsasitencountersalarger,unfamiliargroupofitsownkind.

           Astheyapproached,IcouldseehowdifferenttheywerefromtheCullens.Theirwalkwascatlike,agaitthatseemedconstantlyontheedgeofshiftingintoacrouch.Theydressedintheordinarygearofbackpackers:jeansandcasualbutton-downshirtsinheavy,weatherprooffabrics.Theclotheswerefrayed,though,withwear,andtheywerebarefoot.Bothmenhadcroppedhair,butthewoman’sbrilliantorangehairwasfilledwithleavesanddebrisfromthewoods.

           Theirsharpeyescarefullytookinthemorepolished,urbanestanceofCarlisle,who,flankedbyEmmettandJasper,steppedguardedlyforwardtomeetthem.Withoutanyseemingcommunicationbetweenthem,theyeachstraightenedintoamorecasual,erectbearing.

           Themaninfrontwaseasilythemostbeautiful,hisskinolive-tonedbeneaththetypicalpallor,hishairaglossyblack.Hewasofamediumbuild,hard-muscled,ofcourse,butnothingnexttoEmmett’sbrawn.Hesmiledaneasysmile,exposingaflashofgleamingwhiteteeth.