Midnight Rising

Power Trip

Smoke rises, rolling it's way lazily through the pine trees. Dirt and rock crunch underneath hiking boots, bugs buzzing around heads, looking for salty sweat. Birds call out to each other, gossiping about popular food spots and suitable mates. A few steps ahead of the rest, the self proclaimed leader. Behind, two warriors, joined together by intertwined fingers; ready to take down any challengers. The drunk, poor unfortunate soul, rides along, tugged up the mountain with no knowledge of the long journey he's come on.

Klaus stops, turning back to Stefan, "You okay? Is Ray getting heavy?" I don't know if Klaus thinks he's being funny or is trying to make a dig at Stefan. Either way, I don't like his tone.

"I'm fine," Stefan asserts, looking through the older vampire. Whatever reaction Klaus was hoping for, he isn't going to get it from Stefan. Since last night the younger Salvatore brother has been stoic, keeping my hand help tightly in his. For the first time on our trip, Stefan slept next to me, his body curled protectively around mine. Whatever battle he's fighting, Stefan is finally letting me help.

"You know, we could have taken the access road. Driving in would have been easier," I call ahead. Klaus puts up with my bitching for reasons unknown to me. He lets me push back in ways no other has ever been able. We joke and make fun of one another like siblings who are as thick as thieves.

Instead of snapping back, Klaus looks over his shoulder, giving me a shit eating grin, "I thought you liked camping, little one."

"Camping yes," I assert before waiving my free hand around to the trees and hiking trail, "hiking needlessly through miles and miles of forest, not so much. Haven't you ever heard the phrase work smarter not harder?"

Klaus slows his pace, letting Stefan and I catch up. Once on a level field, Klaus slings his arm over my shoulder, shooting a glance at Stefan. And just like that, I'm caught in the middle again. Klaus will turn my loyalty into a pissing match. "Had we driven they would have known we were coming."

"Like they don't already," I answer with an eye roll, shrugging out from underneath Klaus's grasp. He doesn't own me. My loyalties have been with the Salvatore's since the day I met them. Klaus should already know this.

Frustrated with my blatant display of choosing sides, Klaus once again turns his attention to cutting Stefan down, "You sure you're okay? You know, we have been walking for quite some time now. If you need some water or a little sit-down...."

"You know," Stefan cuts the dirty blonde off, giving him a defiant stare, "I get that we're uh—we're stuck together, Klaus, but if we could maybe just skip the chitchat, it'd be great."

Klaus shakes his head, holding his hand to his heart as if Stefan's comment really hurt him, "So much brooding." He looks over at me. "You talk to her."

"That's cause I actually like her," Stefan readjusts Ray, slinging his arm over my shoulder as he brings me closer into his side. I smile up at the man, giving him a kiss on the cheek, which he returns, pressing his lips quickly to my forehead.

Klaus, choosing to ignore the display of solidarity, shakes his head, raising an eyebrow at Stefan, "Your self-loathing is suffocating you, my friend."

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

Klaus makes a grandiose gesture, sweeping his arms out to the side as he stops in front of a crude camping site. "Well, thanks to our pal Ray, we've found ourselves a pack."

Various tents and camping trailers cram together in the small clearing. Many of the canvas sides of the tents have been patched, creating rainbows of patterns. People dressed in jeans, t-shirts, and camping boots wander around the campsite, some working to keep the fires burning, others conversing. A few eyes land on us as Stefan lets Ray's body slump to the dirt covered earth.