#alongsidetoothandclaw

Part 1

He knew it wasn’t wise to leave the house on the full moon. His mother was very adamant about that before she died. Said that it wasn’t safe for anyone to go out there at such a time, but especially for them. He knew there were things out there in forest. Everyone knew really about the things that went bump in the night. Though no one chose to comment on that. But with his dad working more and more, and his curiosity own curiosity wearing thin.

It was fr this reason he found himself on the eve of his 12th birthday unlatching the backdoor to his home and stepping out into the moonlit night. With his heart beating fast in his chest he entered into the woods behind his home and what he found there would alter him for the rest of his life.

Part 2

There was light streaming through his curtains and birds chirping outside announcing the beginning of the day. But that wasn’t what woke him up. Blinking slowly he tried to catch the last remnants of the dream he was having. It was the same one he’d been having for the past 6 years. It was the night he first met the Hales.

He had been so much younger then, filled with a courage he had not yet known he possessed. He was already deep into the forest when he met him. All glowing eyes, sharp teeth and claws. A boy, for he was not yet a man, not much older than he. He had looked at Stiles in such a way that made him feel as though maybe he was scared of him. Though the boy was the one in possession of such monstrous qualities.

The sight was just as he had read in his mother’s well hidden books. A creature not completely man nor beast. Something he found he did not fear but was in awe of instead.

That first meeting when both their eyes were transfixed on nothing but each other trying to gauge whether the other was a threat. Laughable really, to Stiles now, since he has gotten to know the Hales and all they were. But at the time it was understandable.

It was soon after that that someone far more fierce came into the clearing the two of them were standing in. A woman so beautiful and so imposing entered. The look in her eyes filled Stiles with fear but not the kind that made him wish to run and hide. But a kind that he would never forget the feeling of. He was in the presence of someone far greater and stronger than he. A predator so much more than anything he had encountered before. And in the moment she saw, she did a most unexpected thing. She looked at him, then the other boy and then back to him. Her expression changed to something he still cannot name and smiled at him.

Stiles smiled at the memory his dream brought with it. At the time he never thought he’d get to know them. A family much like anyone elses but so much more than they seemed to be.

Part 3

Today was the full moon. Much like it had been so many years ago. But this time he wasn’t going to leave the safely of his home. As he never did again after that first encounter. By he did leave the doors of his home unlocked and his windows open You never knew who might need to climb through. The farthest he would go was the porch swing in his backyard. He would be safe there.

As the moon rose he sat on his swing to wait as he did many times before. Slowly as the night grew darker and more and more creatures roamed about, he finally heard it. Somewhere in the distance a sound resonated through the forest instilling fear into many who listened for it, though he no longer felt it. A howl deep and beautiful went through his bones and he smiled at the sensation. The wolves were on the hunt.

A time later when he was swinging to himself and looking into the forest, he finally caught sight of him. A figure emerge from the shadows, large, muscular and imposing. With eyes glowing blue, armed with teeth and claws. Much as he had on more than one occasions prior. Though he and Stiles no longer looked at each other warily but with affection.

Stiles sighed, smiled with a wry grin and said “Hey Derek, wanna join me and this beautiful night?” the man just huffed, rolled his eyes and stepped forward to join him on the swing.

Pleased with himself Stiles smiled and laid his head on the other man’s shoulders thinking to himself how lucky it was his curiosity got the better of him all those years ago.