The Wolf Trials

Chapter Forty Two

~ Author Note ~ It's been a while, but I thought this story finally deserved to have an ending, so here we are. Thank you for accompanying me on this story, and I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have. ~

Frypan was alive. One of his old friends was still alive. Thomas couldn't quite believe it. He clapped Frypan on the shoulder. "How are you holding up?"

Frypan shrugged. "I've been worse. This place got hit a little while ago. There's a few of us hiding in one of the other buildings. It looks worse than it is really." Thomas took in his words, eyeing the damage. People were now Cranks. His people. But some of them are still okay. We all made it- Most of us. Thomas swallowed back a sigh. It had been a long journey to get back here, and everything was a mess.

He almost jumped when Newt appeared beside him. "Everything is just bricks and mortar. We can fix it. Can't we Tommy?"

Thomas turned around, realising everyone was staring at him. Lydia was smiling, though he could see the exhaustion in her eyes. Liam was nervous, swaying on his feet. Minho was looking left and right, always on guard. Malia was the same. And Scott, he just looked relieved. To see someone else instead of another Crank? I don't blame him.

He squared his shoulders, plastering on his best grin. "We're here, together. We've come this far. What do you say we go meet some new friends?"

The pack burst into cheers. It was a nice sight, to see everyone getting along. Thomas gestured to Frypan. "Lead the way."

It was a fairly long walk, trudging through bushes and undergrowth until they were deep within what was like a wood. The journey had been worth what he saw at the end. A cabin. Two stories high. It looked old, but in good condition.

The wood blended in with the trees. And the smoke rising from the chimney filled his lungs. It was a strange feeling, but he'd missed it. The smell of fire, bitter and ashy, mixed with the freshness of the outdoors. It wasn't the Glade, but it was certainly going to do. Frypan whistled loudly, making Thomas blink. Suddenly the cabin door was tossed open, and about a dozen people piled out. They were armed with what looked like spears carved from trees, and dustbin lids. Thomas cleared his throat awkwardly as everyone came to a standstill. His Pack were oddly calm, nobody was moving. And the other side, they were both studying each other. Thomas clapped his hands together. "We've got some new friends. And by the looks of it, a new place to live." He cleared his throat, dreading the awkwardness of the atmosphere. To his relief, Newt stepped in. "Don't just bloody stand there, welcome Tommy back won't ya?"

The tension suddenly dissolved, bursting into an array of chatter. Lydia was the friendliest of the pack, followed by Scott. Everyone else seemed to be warming up to each other though. Newt looked the most at ease that Thomas had seen him in a while. Newt turned to face him,  Thomas took a moment to realise he was holding a hammer. He didn't know when he'd picked it up, nor where he'd grabbed it, but he realised it didn't matter. Newt smiled at him and held out the hammer. "We have ourselves a new home to build Tommy."

He grabbed Newt's hand, clasping it around the hammer. The two of them looked at their friends, who were gathering around a smaller campfire in front of the cabin. "We lost our home once..."

Newt shook his head. "We didn't lose anything. We gained something. A new family. A... New feeling."

Thomas felt a corner of his lips quirk at that. "That we do."

Thomas let out a relieved sigh as he took in the world before him. He'd faced many trials, but in the end, they'd only been leading him to this very moment. The hammer in his hands reminded him of one thing.

His next trial was still to come.

And with Newt and his Pack, or family, by his side, Thomas knew he could accomplish anything. He nudged Newt with his shoulder. "Are we really here?"
Newt gave him a slow nod. "We are. We actually did it Tommy- We escaped."

Thomas squeezed his hand. "And we're never going back." And with that, and the setting sun just disappearing beyond the tree line, Thomas walked with Newt towards the cabin. It was his home. Their own haven. He had nothing else to worry about, all he had was this.

This moment of peace and prosperity. And Thomas would be dammed if he didn't choose to enjoy every last second of it. As Newt closed the door of the cabin behind them, a realisation hit him. They were safe. They were finally in a place to call home.