In Another Life

The Hunters

For some people, the edge of the world was Antarctica, the southern most tip of the globe. For others, it was the county lines, where their world stopped because everything they needed were inside the town borders. 

For Vic Stilinski, there was no end of the earth. Whenever she looked at the horizon there was always something more. Another street, another country, another ocean to cross before she saw everything that lay on the other side. Even though she was in India, there was so much left for her to see. 

Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Japan. There were always more places to see and each one was different. For example: India. Hot, humid, sweaty, and of course there were people. Compared to India, the states sounded like a damn countryside. Even India's countryside was packed. 

It wasn't her favourite place in the world. But at the same time she wanted to see it, to experience it. 

Vic parked her truck at the hostel, taking in the site of the place. It was five stories with orange walls and boarded windows. She took a breath of the last bit of AC she had before she turned off the truck. She grabbed her bag from the backseat and left the truck. She locked it, stuffing the key in her pocket. She knocked on the door of the hostel. It opened to reveal a woman wrapped in a colourful sari, her feet bare and dark hair hidden beneath fabric. 

Vic bowed her head in respect and spoke the words that the wind gave her. "Ami thakara jayaga khumjachi," she said. I am looking for a place to stay. 

The woman smiled and opened the door. "Aso, aso," the woman told her. Come, come. "Bichana ekaso taka." Beds are a hundred rupee. 

Vic nodded. She took out the money and handed it to the woman. "Ami bhala khabara kothaya paba?" she asked. Where do I get good food?

The woman pointed down the street to a vendor. Vic smiled, thanked her and walked down the street. The line was long but the smell of the food was enticing. It smelled like some kind of meat with strong spices and oranges. She looked down at her phone, no messages but her lockscreen of a forest was still in place. She knew if she'd open it she'd see the faces of her pack. 

Scott had opened an animal shelter in California, near San Fransisco. Malia was working with Derek at his garage in Beacon Hills where he was raising his recently turned six year old son Eli. Lydia was a big buisness CEO at a tech company for creating renewable energy. Stiles wasn't too high up in the FBI but he was still doing what he loved, solving mysteries, helping people. Mason had become a deputy in Beacon Hills, making Vic cry a but in happiness. Liam had gone with her for their trip across the country, then he met a girl in New York and moved to Japan with her. He seemed worried about Vic's response but she understood. He had to do what he needed. 

Sure she was on her own again now, but it didn't feel like it had been with the Wild Hunt. She knew that with one phone call, they would all come running. They were a pack. That wasn't something that wasn't something time or distance could destroy. 

Vic smiled in greeting at the man behind the stand. She ordered tandori chicken and stood off to the side, waiting for the man to call her. She looked around the street, both just taking in the atmosphere and observing. 

People were everywhere. Most with brown skin and dressed colourfully. They spoke in quick words, some harsh, others light but all of the loud because the market was loud. People drove by in trucks, vans, bikes with jerrycans. They honked and yelled in road rage that reminded her of Manhattan but with a... cleaner and hotter feel. Manhattan it was people, noise, construction and pollution. Here it was heat and humidity and hot food and colourful clothing and people who sometimes wanted a picture with an American.