After what felt like a long pause, the deer’s right ear twitched and it bounded into the forest. Stiles let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding, “Good one. Scare the human.” 

“No,” Derek shook his head like he was trying to clear it, “Stiles there was no sound, and then everything came back.” 

“Hmmm,” Stiles worried his lip, “maybe that spell jammed up those superhero ears wolfboy. Maybe they didn’t use the organic rat tooth or something. Clues first, then Deaton. Maybe he can make sure you’re up-to-date with your boosters.” 

Stiles would have been impressed by how quickly the coven was able to take Derek and him down with one handy spell that involved a bunch of dust and a flash of blue light before darkness hit. 

By the time Stiles came too, Derek was pacing around the edge of the circle, red eyes locked on a deer in the tree line, staring back at them.  

“Why are we scaring Bambi?” Stiles squinted, trying to analyze the scene.

Stiles adjusted the focus on his binoculars on the hooded trio below him when he felt a gentle press of a leg against his own. He didn’t need a werewolf’s sense of smell to know it was Derek who had joined his little stakeout. 

“Took you long enough,” Stiles whispered, watching one of the group place a tacky-looking bell on the makeshift altar. 

“How did you even find out a coven is here?” Derek growled.