Burn - N.M & E.M

Chapter 30

Chelsea is traipsing up the mountain, walking a little ways behind Klaus and Stefan, who is carrying Ray. Her legs burn, she is not used to this much walking especially going uphill. She wants to rest but she doesn't want to show weakness.

Klaus turns to look over his shoulder at her, "Do you need me to carry you?"

"Go fuck yourself." Chelsea huffs as she steps over a root.

"It would really be no problem." Klaus offers.

"I'm fine." Chelsea states despite feeling like her legs are going to give up on her at any second.

Klaus continues to look at her a little longer, obviously not believing her before deciding not to push it. He then turns to look at Stefan.

"And what about you? Is Ray getting heavy?" Klaus questions.

"I'm fine." Stefan echoes Chelsea's earlier statement.

"You sure about that? You know, we've been walking for quite some time now. If you need some water or a little sit down..." Klaus suggests, and Chelsea thinks that both of those options sound wonderful. Why isn't she taking them...because she's stubborn.

"You know, I get that we're, uh...we're stuck together, but if we could maybe just skip the chitchat, it'd be great." Stefan informs.

"So much brooding. Your self-loathing is suffocating you, my friend." Klaus taunts.

"Maybe it's cause I'm a little tired of hunting werewolves. We've been at it all summer." Stefan says.

"Thanks to our pal Ray, we found ourselves a pack. There." Klaus points out as Stefan and Klaus stop walking.

Chelsea takes a few more steps before she has caught up with them and she can see what they are looking at. There is a group of people, Ray's pack, setting out camping gear while they laugh and talk with each other.

Stefan starts walking forwards again causing Klaus and Chelsea to follow after him. Stefan enters the camp and practically throws Ray's body down onto the ground causing everyone to look over worried. One woman seems to recognise Ray, however and she runs over.

"Ray! Oh, my god. What's going on? Who are you?" the woman exclaims.

Chelsea moves over to a fallen tree and sits down on it, finally giving her legs a rest. Klaus walks over to where Stefan is standing, making his presence known.

"The important question is who am I." Klaus begins.

"A major annoyance." Chelsea murmurs as she pulls water out of the bag she carried with her.

"Please forgive the intrusion. My name is Klaus." He introduces himself.

The woman crouching by Ray's body moves away as she states, "You're the hybrid."

Klaus smiles brightly and Chelsea has to look away.

"You've heard of me. Fantastic." Klaus exclaims.

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Klaus and Stefan have both moved to sit down on opposite sides of her, as Klaus explains to the group of werewolves what being a hybrid entails.

"It's fascinating, actually...a werewolf who isn't beholden to the moon, a vampire who doesn't burn in the sun. A true hybrid." Klaus explains.

Ray shoots up gasping for breath and looking around in fear.

"Excellent timing, Ray. Very dramatic." Klaus compliments.

"What's happening to me?" Ray asks confused.

"Stefan?" Klaus prompts.

Stefan stands up and walks forwards to address the group. "Are any of you human? Your friend here needs human blood to complete his transition to vampire. If he doesn't get it, he will die."