Turning Year

Chapter 5: The Hunt

Derek woke up first. He didn't even realize he fallen asleep.

When he looked down to his chest, he saw the small boy cuddled up close to him. Stiles. He looked so small like this. He had noticed that even in the short time he had known him, the kid was a spaz, talking with his hands and mind working a mile a minute. Now he was quiet, seemingly dreaming, eyebrows furrowed and forehead creased.

Derek had the urge to run his callused hand through Stiles' soft brown hair, but he refrained, feeling weird that he had even thought that, and regardless, he didn't want to wake him. He did however, have to move eventually, because he had to go pee. He watched the boy, trying to give him more time to sleep, until his bladder said 'times up.'

He sighed and started to carefully lift Stiles' arm that was draped across his torso. Stiles shifted, but didn't wake, so Derek proceeded to untangle Stiles from himself.

He eventually got Stiles' arm and leg off of him without disturbing him, so he got up and made his way a little farther into the woods so he could relieve himself.

When he was done, he walked back to where Stiles was, and noticed the boy was still sleeping, cuddled up, hugging his arms. He smiled. He really didn't want to wake him, but they had to get a move on if Stiles wanted to be in his village in less than a week. He sat down next to Stiles and ruffled his hair. He was right, it was soft. Stiles scrunched up his nose and groaned.

"Don' wanna get up. . . five more minutes."

Derek smiled softly.

"I'm afraid you're going to have to kid, we've got to get a move on."

Stiles groaned again and opened his eyes, squinting at the harsh rays of the sun. He turned to look at Derek and smiled. Derek returned the smile.

"Fine, but I'm starving. . ."

Stiles stood up and stretched his arms above his head, exposing some of his skin right along his midriff. Derek stared at the exposed skin, until Stiles snapped him out of it.

"Derek? Are we going to eat something or. . ."

"Huh? Oh yeah. . ." He said licking his lips nervously.

"I could hunt for us, what do you like?"

"Uh. . . I don't really have a preference, I will eat any kind of meat." Stiles said, he wasn't used to fending for himself when it came for food, unless he ordered a pizza or had to find a pop tart.

"Okay, do you like rabbits? There are a whole lot around here."

Stiles looked up at Derek in horror. "No! No rabbits! Ever!" He shouted, eyes wide.

Derek was stunned, what had made him snap like this? He held up his hand in surrender.

"Okay! No rabbits, I got it! How about elk? It's my favorite."

Stiles cleared his throat. "Yeah, sounds great."

Derek nodded. "Okay. I'm going to go hunt, just stay here in this spot, I will only be a little while." Derek turned and started to walk off deeper into the woods, but Stiles stopped him after just a few steps.

"Wait! How do you expect to kill elk, tough guy? You don't have anything except maybe a pocket knife. . ." Stiles smiled, raising his brow.

Smart ass.

Derek smiled and turned around toward Stiles. "Yeah, but I have these." He said, pointing to his now extended teeth.

Stiles eyes widened. "Oh, and these." Derek held up a hand, showing off his claws.