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❛ 𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝙏𝙒𝙊 ❜ ════ ⋆★⋆ ════
The trek up to the Smoky Mountains in search of Ray Sutton's pack was a hot and windy road. Rory wasn't tired the way she usually would be if she was a human—she supposed that was the best part about being a vampire; your stamina is basically limitless. Everything that would have tired her out as a human no longer affected her. Despite that, both Stefan and Klaus were adamant that she shouldn't have to help in carrying Ray up to their campsite, the momentarily dead werewolf still slung over Stefan's back as he continued in stride next to both Rory and Klaus.
"Rory," Stefan suddenly called, making her pause in her tracks. She turned to give him a questioning look, to which he tilted his head in a gesture for her to come towards him. Klaus regarded them in curiosity, but Rory quickly brushed him off and made her way towards the younger of the two male vampires. "I know we're not that close, but it was still your birthday yesterday. So, I got you this."
Stefan reached into his pocket, holding out a charm that was in the shape of ballet slippers. "You can add it to your bracelet that Klaus got you if you want," he said as Rory took it into her palm. "I was there when he bought it."
A small smile came onto Rory's face as she gave him an appreciative glance. "Thanks, Stefan," she said, tucking the charm into one of her pockets. "I'll find a store to get it done."
"You're welcome," the sandy-haired male replied.
Rory was a little surprised that he had given her a gift—he was right, the two of them weren't that close at all; in fact, despite that they spent most of their summer together, the only thing they could really bond over was when they were sharing a meal. Rory spun on her heel, a warm feeling in her heart. Klaus waited for her expectantly—it was clear that he knew exactly what Stefan had gotten her—his Original vampire hearing ensured that he would be able to listen in on what was happening basically everywhere.
"You okay?" Klaus questioned as he turned to Stefan. "Is Ray getting heavy?"
"I'm fine," Stefan retorted, slightly irritable.
"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—"
"—You know, I get that we're, uh... stuck together, but if we could maybe just skip the chitchat, it'd be great," Stefan interjected as he bypassed both Klaus and Rory, speeding up his walk.
"So much brooding; your self-loathing is suffocating you, my friend," Klaus commented with a smirk.
"Maybe it's because I'm a little tired of hunting werewolves. We've been at it all summer,"
Rory had to agree. The only downside to the fact that she was able to test her vampiric abilities to the best of them was that it came with the condition that Klaus had to make a pit-stop now and then to try and make more hybrids. She normally would be fine with it, but werewolves were so scarce that every single stop they made was a dead end and they'd have to keep moving.
