The Longer I Live

Chapter 9: Okay, Uh, That's Disconcerting

"If you read Chapter 25 of your textbooks, the Industrial Revolution made some innovations in technology from cotton picking to gas lighting..."

Adrian Harris began writing his notes on the chalkboard, but Stiles was too distracted to copy them down for history class, as he stared behind Scott McCall. It had been a week after he discovered that the mysterious new student was always a skin-walker and he kept himself constantly on his guard. Those few days spent with the Aeiwa provided him an insight into the tribe and more about spirit wolves and their supernatural abilities.

Apparently, spirit wolves had more than the skills to shift between three phases. They also had the ability to heal humans. After Stiles was attacked by Boyd, Derek healed his head wound by licking away the bloody gash from his forehead. A spirit wolf's saliva had regenerative properties, a gift from the moon goddess Hanwi, and these guardian spirits use their talents to assist humans harmed by skin-walkers. Unfortunately, a spirit wolf's healing powers could not heal a human if their mortal wounds were fatal, if the person was dying, and they could not bring mortals back from the dead. Such things went against the laws of Death and guardian spirits respected the rules of the underworld. Inwardly, Stiles wished there was a way to reverse that ruling so that the aningan could heal his cancer but even that was a pipe dream.

In addition to discovering the guardian spirit's talent for healing, Stiles learned that skin-walkers were also barren. Unlike spirit wolves who could breed children with humans, the yee naaldlooshii were made infertile by the great Creator to prevent these monstrosities from reproducing and spreading their vermin.

However, in their arrogance, the skin-walkers still believed they could breed even though they had to make new servants to join their pack. Similar, to a mythical werewolf bite, victims of these creatures went through series of symptoms before making the final transition into full blooded yee naaldlooshiis.

"Mr. Argent!"

Stiles woke up from his daydream. "I'm up!"

"Can you explain one innovation of the Industrial Revolution?" Mr. Harris asked.

"Um...the Real Housewives of Atlanta reality show?" He joked.

The class erupted into laughter to which the history teacher appeared not amused.

"Not quite, Mr. Argent." Mr. Harris frowned. "Please see me after class."

The bell rang as students shuffled to their next class. Stiles grabbed his backpack as he walked up to Mr. Harris's desk.

"You wanted to see me?" He asked.

The history teacher pushed his glasses back, opened a drawer in his desk, and pulled out a sheet of paper to hand it to the teen. Stiles glanced at the sheet and saw a B on top of his pop quiz.

"A B!" He exclaimed. "I did better than I thought!"

Mr. Harris smiled. "You're definitely improving, Stiles. However, even with this project I've assigned you, this doesn't excuse you from doing the work in my class. Please read the chapters I assign."

"Will do," replied the young man.

"By the way, how is the history project coming along on the Aeiwa?" The history teacher inquired. "I hear from Laura that you learned some interesting facts about us."

"Like the full moon celebration?" Stiles turned his lip. "You wouldn't happen to be a part of that?"

The history teacher put a finger to his lips. "Like Laura, I too have the spirit wolf gene." He admitted. "My great grandmother was one, so I inherited her ability to shift. Since we're being honest, I also know who the yee naaldlooshiis are."