The next morning was an early one. Every morning seemed to be one since Niklaus took Rosalie. She understood why though, he had waited his whole life to sire his own species and didn't want to hesitate a moment. She pressed her lips together as she looked at the forest in front of them. She knew how this would go, they would walk a few metres and then decide that she simply was too slow. Then he would pick her up and run through the forest with his vampire speed.
"Can we just skip the part where I get myself some blisters before you swoosh in and carry me with your superpowers?" Rosalie looked towards the hybrid next to her.
"I can always carry you, love. You just have to ask." He grinned at her, "But today we actually need a slower pace. You see, I know there's a pack in this forest. Our friend Marcus has some acquaintances from there, but since he's never been to their hiding spot, we need to slow down and sniff them out."
"So I can walk on my own?" Rosalie was surprised. Though she didn't know what she preferred, being dizzy from speeding through trees or going on a hike.
They weren't even walking for half an hour when she wanted the first break. Niklaus was leading them criss cross through the thicket of the forrest. She frowned when she looked at her sneakers who were now covered with mud, meanwhile Niklaus didn't seem to struggle with not messing up his outfit. Somehow he knew exactly where to step and simply didn't share that information with the human.
"I think I need a break." Rosalie broke the serene silence of the forest.
The hybrid turned around and looked at her, "Alright. Do you need something to drink or any other human stuff?"
"Some water would be nice." Niklaus set Rosalie's backpack, that he had been carrying so far, on a rock and fished out a small water bottle. He handed it Rosalie, who immediately big gulp. When she finished drinking she gave the bottle back to the hybrid. "Alright, we don't have anymore time to waste."
She groaned, but continued following the hybrid. Niklaus mind wandered as he was hiking through the woods, making sure Rosalie could keep up. He worried about the human, even if he couldn't admit it to himself. They hadn't acknowledged what happened last night. But she seemed to be struggling with it all. Had he pulled her into something she couldn't handle? Was she perhaps simply too weak for his world? But then a scent stung in his nose. He lifted his head into the air and breathed in deeply. "I found them. They aren't too far."
Rosalie now quickend her pace a little, but when they were still walking an hour later, she slowed back down. She groaned, "How much longer? My legs hurt."
"We're getting closer. Should I carry you?" He asked, but he knew her answer. For some reason she preferred the pain in her legs and feet over the humiliation of showing weakness. Stupid, he thought to himself, she was a weak human after all. But then something made him stop in his tracks. He could hear them. Their voices. "We're almost there. I can already hear them."
And soon enough he could see them too. They were carelessly dancing around, while some of them played their guitars. He smiled watching them from the distance knowing their happy moments were ending.
The music stopped and people stared at the hybrid as he entered the clearing. He noticed some curious looks going to the girl behind him who was still out of breath from their hike.
"Who are you?" A woman in her 30's spoke up, watching the stranger carefully.
"I am Klaus Mikaelson." He grinned viciously at the pack as he saw the fear spread in their faces.
"You're the hybrid." A shocked voice exclaimed from the crowd.
"You've heard of me." He smiled. "Fantastic. I'm here to-"
