Chapter 21: First Hunt

[Alphie]

Una is working overtime this week, so loads of thanks to her for this chapter!

1. How easy does it seem that Bella learns how to control her body and movements? Do you find it odd that for someone who was so clumsy, she can easily emulate Edward’s movements?

2. What were your reactions to finally being on a hunt? Was Bella’s first hunt what you expected? Why or why not?

3. Do you feel that Bella is behaving like a normal newborn vampire? Think about Riley and the descriptions that Jasper gave regarding newborns in Eclipse, how much different does Bella seem? Why do you think she has more control over thirst?

4. How do you feel Edward is coping with Bella being transformed? What adjustments do you think he is making and what do you suppose he is feeling?

5. Bella is now coming to understand the bond of mating between vampires. What are your reactions to those feelings she is discovering? Does experiencing her feelings give a better insight to how Edward may have been feeling in the previous books? Do you think this understanding may give you a different perspective when you think of the “break-up” scene in New Moon?

[azzjazz]

I loved this chapter. espicallt in the end when bella end edward feel on the ground

[TeamEmmit]

1. How easy does it seem that Bella learns how to control her body and movements? Do you find it odd that for someone who was so clumsy, she can easily emulate Edward’s movements?

She seems to adjust easily when she figures out how fast her body reacts to her thoughts. It's not odd because Bella has had to be so careful and mindful of her movements to not fall all the time and, since vampires are so good at the physical things, now she is more precise and has extra control over her new body.

2. What were your reactions to finally being on a hunt? Was Bella’s first hunt what you expected? Why or why not?

It was exciting to see how the vampires hunted. I did not expect Bella to accidently start hunting humans, but I did expect she would get messy and i did not expect her to take down a mountain lion.

3. Do you feel that Bella is behaving like a normal newborn vampire? Think about Riley and the descriptions that Jasper gave regarding newborns in Eclipse, how much different does Bella seem? Why do you think she has more control over thirst?

Bella is not behaving like a newborn at all. Bella is completely different because she is not out of control at all. She has control because she was prepared for the thirst and because the vampires she spends time with are civilized and in control of their thirst.

4. How do you feel Edward is coping with Bella being transformed? What adjustments do you think he is making and what do you suppose he is feeling?

He has to teach himself not to try and save her in dangerous situations and adjusting to the idea that he will never lose her. Edward is happy that Bella enjoys her new abilities as a vampire and proud that she has taken to being a vampire so well.

5. Bella is now coming to understand the bond of mating between vampires. What are your reactions to those feelings she is discovering? Does experiencing her feelings give a better insight to how Edward may have been feeling in the previous books? Do you think this understanding may give you a different perspective when you think of the “break-up” scene in New Moon?

It seems like Bella is overwhelmed by her love for Edward in the same way she was as a human except she has more of a capacity to experience it. It explains his intensity towards her and why he is so desperate to protect her. His words "you are my life now" seem to have a more profound meaning when you see how much intense a vampires emotions are. In New Moon, I think it took days for him to gain enough control over his emotions to break up with her without showing any of his pain because it was like he was torturing himself to do it, but he loved her enough to put himself through whatever he had to to keep her safe and alive.

[sazykid]

1. How easy does it seem that Bella learns how to control her body and movements? Do you find it odd that for someone who was so clumsy, she can easily emulate Edward’s movements?
It seems very easy for Bella to control her body and movements. I think she was able to control her movements so easily because physical things were supposed to come easily to her now. And she was extremely prepared for what she was about to do so she was prepared to control her body as well. I expected her to be a little more clumsy than the others but I can't say i was THAT surprised that she was so graceful now. As someone says in the book later,it's as if Bella were made to be a vampire.

2. What were your reactions to finally being on a hunt? Was Bella’s first hunt what you expected? Why or why not?
I was sort of excited for Bella. I guess it was what I expected. I mean Edward always said they give themselves over to their senses and just go in for the kill, and that is exactly what Bella did.

3. Do you feel that Bella is behaving like a normal newborn vampire? Think about Riley and the descriptions that Jasper gave regarding newborns in Eclipse, how much different does Bella seem? Why do you think she has more control over thirst?
Bella does not seem like a vampire AT ALL. She is so much more controlled than any of the other newborns we have seen or heard of. I think she has control over her thirst because of her preparation and the other things Bella loves. Other newborns don't have new babies and husbands they want to have a life with. Bella has things that are more important to her than thirst to focus her attention on.

4. How do you feel Edward is coping with Bella being transformed? What adjustments do you think he is making and what do you suppose he is feeling?
Edward seems to be doing very well with the transformation. I think that is because he had to actually save her from death, and she didn't just give up her soul to be with him. As far as adjustments, I think he is probably just getting used to the idea that she will have to hunt now and he should relax when she does. He is probably also adjusting to the fact that he does not need to be so careful with her anymore and he can sort of let loose. I bet he is feeling excited (even if he won't admit it) and he even says he could be the "least sad" person on Earth. He should feel that way too. He has the woman he loves FOREVER, he can be himself with her now, and he has a daughter that he never thought he'd be able to have.

5. Bella is now coming to understand the bond of mating between vampires. What are your reactions to those feelings she is discovering? Does experiencing her feelings give a better insight to how Edward may have been feeling in the previous books? Do you think this understanding may give you a different perspective when you think of the “break-up” scene in New Moon?
I'm a little bit surprised by the intensity of the feelings vampires have for their mates. Understanding the way they feel about each other helps to clarify why Edward was always so protective of Bella and worried that something bad would happen to her. He physically could not handle the pain it would cause him to lose her. I always felt bad for Edward during the break-up because I knew he loved Bella and he was just doing it for her own good. However, I never really thought about what the break-up did to him. Having a better understanding of how much vampires feel I can't even fathom how he was feeling. In New Moon he says that Bella was doing much better than he was and it seems to be true because she would have eventually moved on, and he never would have been able to.

[Elisabeth33]

1. How easy does it seem that Bella learns how to control her body and movements? Do you find it odd that for someone who was so clumsy, she can easily emulate Edward’s movements?
It seems like she does it without even thinking about it. No, I don't think that's odd because she says in Twilight that even Emmett is graceful.

2. What were your reactions to finally being on a hunt? Was Bella’s first hunt what you expected? Why or why not?
I thought it was cool. No, I didn't think they'd run into people and then I didn't think she'd be able to resist.

3. Do you feel that Bella is behaving like a normal newborn vampire? Think about Riley and the descriptions that Jasper gave regarding newborns in Eclipse, how much different does Bella seem? Why do you think she has more control over thirst?
No, I know she isn't because Jasper's so surprised at her. I think she has more control over her thirst because of her preparations and like Edward says she never does what he expects.

4. How do you feel Edward is coping with Bella being transformed? What adjustments do you think he is making and what do you suppose he is feeling?
He's coping very well. I think he's stopped being careful with her the way he used to. I know he's very very very very happy.

5. Bella is now coming to understand the bond of mating between vampires. What are your reactions to those feelings she is discovering? Does experiencing her feelings give a better insight to how Edward may have been feeling in the previous books? Do you think this understanding may give you a different perspective when you think of the “break-up” scene in New Moon?
I like the feelings she has. Midnight Sun gave me the best insight into Edward and I read that before Breaking Dawn. The break up scene in New Moon is just as terrible for me as it always was. Their break up has been the worst I've been through yet and I've been broken up with a few times.

[pennybug84]

1. How easy does it seem that Bella learns how to control her body and movements? Do you find it odd that for someone who was so clumsy, she can easily emulate Edward’s movements? I was a little surprised at first. But considering Bella always described all vampires as graceful, it would make sense that she'd gain that as well.

2. What were your reactions to finally being on a hunt? Was Bella’s first hunt what you expected? Why or why not? It was kind of weird but cool at the same time. Like Bella I've always wondered at how the Cullens hunt & it was cool to get an idea.

3. Do you feel that Bella is behaving like a normal newborn vampire? Think about Riley and the descriptions that Jasper gave regarding newborns in Eclipse, how much different does Bella seem? Why do you think she has more control over thirst? She is way different then the other newborn vampires we've seen. I was suprised that she was so controlled, but I didn't really know or understand why.

4. How do you feel Edward is coping with Bella being transformed? What adjustments do you think he is making and what do you suppose he is feeling? I think he has mixed feelings on it. He doesn't have to be careful with her anymore whenever they touch & are near each other. And he's not fighting every minuter they're together to drink her blood. But I think he also would enjoy the fact they're more equal & that she isn't a fragile human anymore & they are going to be vampires together forever.

5. Bella is now coming to understand the bond of mating between vampires. What are your reactions to those feelings she is discovering? Does experiencing her feelings give a better insight to how Edward may have been feeling in the previous books? Do you think this understanding may give you a different perspective when you think of the “break-up” scene in New Moon? It was unexpected for me to have her feelings intensify like they did. But it definitely helps to understand Edward and why he was always so careful & would pull away from Bella when he thought they were going to far. Helps to understand why he thought he could accidentally kill her. I don't know about he breakup in NM. I never thought about it before. I just have always understood he did because he believed him & his family being in her life was always putting her in danger & he didn't want that. So I don't have an answer for that.

[Riddalyn]

1. How easy does it seem that Bella learns how to control her body and movements? Do you find it odd that for someone who was so clumsy, she can easily emulate Edward’s movements?
I think it seemed a little to easy for her... but oh well, I guess that is the way of the vampire.

2. What were your reactions to finally being on a hunt? Was Bella’s first hunt what you expected? Why or why not?
For me it was kind of... anticlimactic, I guess. In my head, I expected to hear tribal drums and get an adrenaline rush just reading it, but I didn't. But, that's okay. I still liked it, being able to finally be there for one.

3. Do you feel that Bella is behaving like a normal newborn vampire? Think about Riley and the descriptions that Jasper gave regarding newborns in Eclipse, how much different does Bella seem? Why do you think she has more control over thirst?
Of course she's not... we've all read that newborns are damn near uncontrollable when it comes to thirst, but Bella... she turns away from the hunters in the woods, so right off the bat, she's different.

4. How do you feel Edward is coping with Bella being transformed? What adjustments do you think he is making and what do you suppose he is feeling?
I think he is coping really well. I thought on the one hand that he might feel a little guilty... he alwayas wanted her human, to see her blush and grow... but on the other hand, I imagine it is a relief. To know that he will be with her for eternity, to know that he saved her from death.

5. Bella is now coming to understand the bond of mating between vampires. What are your reactions to those feelings she is discovering? Does experiencing her feelings give a better insight to how Edward may have been feeling in the previous books? Do you think this understanding may give you a different perspective when you think of the “break-up” scene in New Moon?
I really have no new insight on the break up scene... it's still terrible!! But the feelings were so intense, which is what I expected from the honeymoon scene... I wanted to read of that passion and longing and absolute need for each other.

[inhiding]

1. How easy does it seem that Bella learns how to control her body and movements? Do you find it odd that for someone who was so clumsy, she can easily emulate Edward’s movements? I guess this is where, for the first time, I thought Bella was totally unrelatable. I suspected all along that she was practically designed to be a vampire. But I think part of me was still waiting for her to wreak some colassal damage as the only clutzy vampire!

2. What were your reactions to finally being on a hunt? Was Bella’s first hunt what you expected? Why or why not? I thought it was a little funny. It was definately a new kind of experience- for Bella but also for us, as readers. I don't think I had any particular expectations about her hunting. I will say, that what did surprise me about her first hunt, her first few hours with Edward, was how the whole world was new to her again.

3. Do you feel that Bella is behaving like a normal newborn vampire? Think about Riley and the descriptions that Jasper gave regarding newborns in Eclipse, how much different does Bella seem? Why do you think she has more control over thirst? Okay, but think about Carlisle's story and Rosalie's story. In case I haven't made my feelings clear on this subject, I don't understand how anyone in the family was surprised by Bella's behavior as a newborn. I think Bella thought she would turn practically feral, and that was the assumption we made along with her. Jasper's stories of newborns, and Riley as well, were those of vampires who were specifically made TO KILL. Bella was brought to the vampire life with love. I don't know if it was in Stephenie's intentions to seperate them with this distinction, but Carlisle's coven were all brought into the vampire world as an act of love or compassion, not out of greed or for war or revenge. I think that somehow, this is just as much a part of the reason why Bella can control herself as much as her own self-control was.

4. How do you feel Edward is coping with Bella being transformed? What adjustments do you think he is making and what do you suppose he is feeling? Oh, what a fun question! To imagine what is going through Edward's head as he sees Bella transform! Relief. Awe. Respect. Admiration. Passion that he no longer has to contain. Humor as he can finally play without having to protect her. Happiness now that they can truly be together forever and no longer have to have THAT debate. Closeness now that they share this. Thrilling now that they can ... be intimate... without restraint. I agree with sazykid in that despite all of his arguing about it, there has to be some part of him that is excited!

5. Bella is now coming to understand the bond of mating between vampires. What are your reactions to those feelings she is discovering? Does experiencing her feelings give a better insight to how Edward may have been feeling in the previous books? Do you think this understanding may give you a different perspective when you think of the “break-up” scene in New Moon? You know, I never really thought of it specifically in the context of "the bond of mating between vampires." I truly thought it was just unique to Edward and Bella. I don't know if I can look back at the break up scene with this perspective. I definately look back at the "Isle Esme" chapter with different perspective- ha ha!
There was one other thing I thought about concerning their bond as described in this chapter, and that was when he said in New Moon that his kind was easily distracted. About how that part was kind of true. She's so distracted by all of the new sensations, and her... well I'll just say lust... for Edward that she almost forgot about the baby!!! It's easier to see how hard it was for him to control all of his passion around her, especially those few nights when she was pushing his buttons! It's also easier to see how he believed he loved her much much more than she loved him.
This was a good question because I hadn't really thought of this chapter in this way before, I was honestly irritated with her for being so easily distracted and I just wanted her to be reunited with Renessmee ASAP. Having thought of it this way, it's a little more understandable and see all the emotions Bella was having to deal with on her first night as a vampire! I think, given all of this, it's even more defining considering why she acts so differently as a newborn. Everyone else had to sever ties with their human lives and give themselves wholly to being a vampire- never got to see their parents again, their siblings, pulled away from the human world they knew. Bella gets to keep her husband, her child, her best friend, and eventually her parents. She got to successfully merge her human life with her vampire life.... but I digress...

[Dovrebanen]

1. How easy does it seem that Bella learns how to control her body and movements? Do you find it odd that for someone who was so clumsy, she can easily emulate Edward’s movements?
I didn't find it odd. She had become a vampire, and vampires are naturally graceful. She was a bit surprised herself with the speed of her movements, but once she got used to that, she was a natural at it. I always thought that Bella would be excellent as a vampire. She knew a lot about what to expect, since she had a lot of time to prepare and she had observed vampires firsthand for a long time. So I definitely didn't expect that she would still be clumsy as a vampire.

2. What were your reactions to finally being on a hunt? Was Bella’s first hunt what you expected? Why or why not?
I was excited to see how they hunt. It was pretty much as I expected. Her going with Edward, and him showing her what she needed to know before she let her instincts take over. But I did not expect her to encounter humans on her first hunt.

3. Do you feel that Bella is behaving like a normal newborn vampire? Think about Riley and the descriptions that Jasper gave regarding newborns in Eclipse, how much different does Bella seem? Why do you think she has more control over thirst?
Bella is nothing like other newborn vampires. We know this based on what Edward has told Bella about what to expect in her first year, and Riley and Jasper's stories. If Bella was anything like those vampires, she would have had to be restrained in order to not run downstairs and kill Renesmee. But she didn't. She didn't even notice her thirst before she was reminded of it. So clearly she is totally different from other vampires.
I think she had more control of herself because she knew what to expect. She knew a lot about what being a vampire meant. And she was ready for it, and she wanted it so she could be with Edward forever. So I think being a vampire came very naturally to her. The second reason I think is Renesmee. She is half human, and Bella needed to be strong so that she could take care of her daughter.

4. How do you feel Edward is coping with Bella being transformed? What adjustments do you think he is making and what do you suppose he is feeling?
I think Edward is doing okay with Bella's transformation. The way it happened, he saved her life, and there was no other way. He respected her choice to keep Renesmee, so Edward knew there was no way around Bella becoming a vampire. And even though I think he still mourns the loss of her humanity, I think he is happy. He gets to keep her forever, and he has a beautiful and healthy daughter on top of that.
He needs to adjust to the fact that Bella isn't so fragile anymore. I think in a way Edward will always be protective of her, but he needs to learn that she can take better care of herself now. He also needs to get used to the idea that he doesn't have to be so careful with her now. I think the fact that Bella had an easy transformation was helpful in getting Edward to accept the idea of her being a vampire.


5. Bella is now coming to understand the bond of mating between vampires. What are your reactions to those feelings she is discovering? Does experiencing her feelings give a better insight to how Edward may have been feeling in the previous books? Do you think this understanding may give you a different perspective when you think of the “break-up” scene in New Moon?
I think that Bella's love for Edward was close to the bond between vampires even before she became a vampire. She was completely broken when Edward left. Her love for him was stronger than a normal human love, I think. But I think now she can truly see how Edward felt for her, and they could share an even stronger bond.
It doesn't give me a different perspective on the "break up" scene, because I already understood how much that hurt Edward. He couldn't stand to live in a world without her, and so, he had to leave her to make sure that she wasn't hurt. It shows the extreme sacrifice he was willing to give. He would give up his only chance of happiness to make sure that she was safe. And when he thought she was dead, he went to kill himself. It show the unbreakable bond between them.

[clpviolet]

1. How easy does it seem that Bella learns how to control her body and movements? Do you find it odd that for someone who was so clumsy, she can easily emulate Edward’s movements? It seems very easy for her to adjust to her new thought process and movements. With her mental preparations before she was changed she was able to remember that all that is normal.

2. What were your reactions to finally being on a hunt? Was Bella’s first hunt what you expected? Why or why not? I wasn't really expecting anything in particular I was open to whatever happened on her first hunt. I definitely was not expecting her to take down that mountain lion the way she had.

3. Do you feel that Bella is behaving like a normal newborn vampire? Think about Riley and the descriptions that Jasper gave regarding newborns in Eclipse, how much different does Bella seem? Why do you think she has more control over thirst? No, I don't think Bella was behaving as a normal newborn vampire. She is definitely in more control of her actions and adjusting to the vampire life a lot sooner than expected. Especially when she ran away from the humans on her first hunt and seeing her father on her second day as a vampire.

4. How do you feel Edward is coping with Bella being transformed? What adjustments do you think he is making and what do you suppose he is feeling? I think Edward is coping very well with Bella's transformation. I think he is mostly happy that everything worked out well and they get to be together forever. He probably has to stop himself from protecting her from most dangers like he did before.

5. Bella is now coming to understand the bond of mating between vampires. What are your reactions to those feelings she is discovering? Does experiencing her feelings give a better insight to how Edward may have been feeling in the previous books? Do you think this understanding may give you a different perspective when you think of the “break-up” scene in New Moon?I am happy for her that she finally gets to fully experience the love that she and Edward share. I think she now understands what Edward meant when he said that he loved her more than she loved him and she now has the capacity to love him just as much as he does. I think it does give us a better idea of what Edward was feeling when he broke up with her.