Turning Year

Chapter 8: Arrival

Today was the day. They had been traveling for a very long time, and at last, today was the day. Stiles would be changing tomorrow, and Derek had promised they would be arriving today, perfect timing.

Stiles was most anxious to see his dad. He missed him a lot, though he didn't realize he would until he wasn't with him. He also wanted to just be back already, having a little 'vacation' with Derek had been nice, besides being lost in the woods, discovering a creepy village, and almost dying from a wolf attack, that is.

Stiles had a hard time making friends, and so did Derek. Stiles' only friend was Scott, a curly headed kid with bad asthma. Derek honestly didn't really have any friends, but the person he spoke most to was Jimmy, mostly because Jimmy always wanted to talk to him, but hey, it still counts.

Both Stiles and Derek had formed a great bond, and had shared things about each other that they certainly didn't expect to.

Without Derek, Stiles definitely would not have made it this far, he would have probably never made it back to his village, he would be cooked up and served in some chili, if Jimmy hadn't found him before any of the others.

Though he seemed frightening at first, he seemed like a genuinely nice person, once you got past the exterior. Jimmy also trusted Derek, which didn't mean that Stiles did immediately, but looking back, he realized that if someone like Jimmy trusted someone like Derek, either the guy was more sketchy then he thought or Derek was better underneath his shell.

They both wondered what would happen after Stiles got back to his village. Stiles would like to remain friends with Derek, but would he be required to return back to his own village? He couldn't imagine traveling all the way back to South-East side alone, even if he was a werewolf.

Derek may ever admit it, but how could someone not get lonely on a several day long walk in the woods? Of course, he could probably make it a lot faster than a human could. Stiles felt bad he made the trip so long, feeling like he slowed him down, though Derek didn't want to come in the first place. 

"Derek?"

"Yeah kid?" Derek seemed to address Stiles as kid more than anything else, even his own name.

Stiles paused. To Derek, Stiles may just be some annoying kid. After all, why would Derek take Stiles back to where he belonged? Especially after the way he treated him when they first met. Maybe Jimmy offered to pay him, or give him a vacation.

"Never mind." Stiles whispered.

Derek looked at Stiles questionably, but then looked away, leaving Stiles to his thoughts. 

"So, are you ready kid?" Derek asked.

"For what exactly?"

"Well. . . everything I guess. Being back in your village, seeing your family, changing?"

"Yeah I guess. I'm not excited to see the chiefs of the village, they always lay on the 'you are high and mighty when you change.' thing real thick. But I am glad to see my dad, he is the only family I've got. Changing though. . . I mean I guess I definitely want to see my animal, to change, feel power coursing through my veins and all that shit, but I don't want the village to be disappointed if I turn out to be a squirrel."

Derek laughed. "I could definitely see you as a squirrel."

"Shut up, we just ate those." Stiles said, smacking Derek in the stomach. He was wasn't phased, but stopped laughing soon enough.

"So is everyone a animal in the village? You keep saying that you don't want your people to be disappointed, but what is classified as strong and important?"