Soldiers of Destiny

Summary:

Everyone would tell you that the real craziness started when two hikers found a dead body in the woods. Judith Quinn would tell you that her entire life is crazy, and as she stands beside her friends (who were caught up in the mess), the craziness seems to grow. Judith soon learns that even a life lived among the shadows carries a few skeletons.

Part I

Chapter One

"Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."

― William Jennings Bryan

Climbing out of the cherry-red 1969 Chevelle, Judith hums under her breath as she carefully shuts the door. Pulling the single-strap of her messenger bag over her head, the brunette double checks her door is locked, fingers curling around the keys as her hands fist into the pockets of her jacket. Crossing the parking lot of Beacon Hills High School, her humming is cut off as tires screech against pavement and the stench of burnt rubber fills the air. Turning her gaze to her right, she glares down at the bumper of the Porsche, her boot-clad foot lashing out to send a firm (but non-damaging) kick to the bumper.

"This is a fucking parking lot, Douche-more! Learn how to fucking drive," Judith shouts, flipping the blonde-haired prick behind the wheel of the car.

Ignoring the curses and warnings about the paint job, the brunette continues on her way, sauntering up the entrance steps and slipping in through the doors. Stopping at her locker, she sets her bag down at her feet, her other hand twirling the dial to her lock. Taking off her jacket after opening the locker door, she hangs it on one of the hooks at the top of the compartment, straightening out the long sleeves of her red-and-black flannel, Judith takes the time to adjust the thin-corded leather bracelet around her wrist.

"Quinn."

The informal, curt greeting pulls her from her subconscious actions, light-green eyes turning toward the blonde-haired bombshell standing two lockers to her left. Corina DeVahn. The curvaceous blonde was everything Judith wasn't. Clothing fashionable and tailored to her body, tall and curvy, well-known and popular among their peers.

"DeVahn," Judith greets, giving the slightest nod.

"Hey! Quinn," Judith rolls her eyes, turning away from Corina as a familiar Porsche-driving douche, Jackson Whittemore. "Next time you kick my car, you can expect to have your ass sued."

Pulling two of her class books from the locker, she slams the door shut, clicking her tongue dismissively, "Aw...what are you gonna do, Douche-more? Get Mommy and Daddy to press charges for a little kick? I'll have no problem explaining to the cops that your dumb shit-for-brains was speeding through the high school parking lot and nearly ran me over? Yeah...you'd win that case hands down." Stepping back from her locker, she shoulders her bag once again, "Sorry, Douche-more. You're just not worth my time."

Sauntering down the hall, a smirk playing at her lips as Jackson's string of curses follows after her. Snickering to herself, she shakes her head at the pathetic tendencies of the majority of her peers. Sometimes she misses being home schooled. If it wasn't for the fact that it was suggested that she spends at least two years in a public school system for the social aspects, she would have finished her schooling by now and be on her way.

Two classes later, Judith once again begins to hum under her breath as she weaves her way through her fellow peers.

"Judith!" Glancing up, she barely manages to catch her center of balance as the familiar whirlwind of hyperactivity slams into her, "Dude, girl! You are not going to believe what happened last night."

Extracting herself from the grip of Stiles Stilinski, Judith meets wide, light whiskey-colored eyes, "Did you and Scotty finally admit your undying heterosexual partnership?"

Scoffing, Stiles nudges her shoulder, "Please. You know I claimed ownership of his life when I shared half of my cupcake with him in first grade."

Giggling as she follows Stiles into their Economics class, "Aww...it's simply adorable how much of a puppy he is."

"Hey. How come you didn't answer your phone last night?" Stiles asks as he slides into the empty desk next to her, "Like...I had big news."

"Oh, last night was my check-in with my Dad," she responds, "Did your Pops and Mama McCall finally clear the air of the UST?" Seeing the stunned silence on her friend's face, Judith lets out an airy laugh, only for the laughter to grow when knuckles lightly smack against her shoulder, "Alright, sorry. I shouldn't say stuff like that, I know. So...what-"

The sound of Scott McCall plopping down at the desk to the right of Stiles, greeting Judith with a wide, playful grin and warm expression. If there is one thing Judith adored about Scott it was the depth of his hopeful humanity and heart. The kid wasn't cynical-minded like Stiles or herself. He is a bit of an idiot at times.

"Dude. I think I dropped my inhaler last night. If I lose it, Mom's gonna kill me," Scott states, looking worried.

"Dropped where?" the brunette asks, leaning across the isle slightly. "You sure you didn't leave it at home?"

"No. I think I dropped it in the woods last night," Scott explains, absentmindedly trailing off as Finstock enters the room, his booming voice calling for everyone's attention.

Judith sighs, mentally groaning as she wonders why she even needs Economics. It's not like she's ever going to need it. A sense of nostalgia falls over her as she remembers being curled up on her uncle's couch, a warm cup of coffee set on the end table as she delves into endless books riddled with copious amounts of knowledge.

"Now, most of you have probably heard by now about the body found last night in the woods," Judith's mind falls blank, her eyebrows raised as Finstock continues, "but I have been told that a possible suspect has been apprehended and we are to concentrate on your classwork."

A body in the woods? Huh. Something clicks in her mind and her eyebrows narrow as she turns a sharp gaze to Stiles. Seeing the apologetic shrug, she darkens her glare in order to get him to mouth the words, 'Tell you later'. Turning away from him, the end of her pen begins to tap against the desk, mind drifting. They couldn't possibly be dumb enough to actually go to a crime scene. Inwardly snorting, she shakes her head. Of course they are. Taking out her phone, she sends a descrete text to Stiles.

You'll explain after Practice.

Ok.

Suspect means possible murder. Maybe it's just a case of someone stashing a body? Mentally groaning, she rubs the back of her shoulder, trying to ease the sudden tension. God are people psychotic.

"You did what?!" Without hesitation, Judith cuffs both of the boys along the back of their heads, "What if that girl's murderer had still been out there? Are you both stupid? Or just suicidal?"

"Aw, come on, Jude-"

"Don't call me that!"

"-ith," Stiles swallows thickly as the trio stand at the sign leading to the Preserve. "Nothing exciting ever happens in this town."

"Exciting? You think the fact that some innocent girl being dead is exciting?! Are you fucking mental?" Ignoring the winces, Judith tugs at the lapels of her jacket and takes a step back from the two, "Let's find your goddamn inhaler, so I can be done with the both of you idiots."

Motioning for the two boys to take the lead, Judith trails after them with reluctant steps. Honestly. What is it with people these days? How is someone's death supposed to be someone else's entertainment?

"-hear things I shouldn't be able to hear and smell things."

"Smell things? Like what?"

"Like the mint mojito gum in your pocket."

Stiles pauses mid-step, reaching into his inside pocket, "I don't have any gum in my-"

Judith tilts her head, eyebrows knitting together as the hyperactive smart ass trails off, pulling a piece of gum from his pocket. Enhanced senses? Scott can barely breath in flower pollen without having an asthma attack.

"So this all started with a bite?"

Judith's mind falls blank as the two boys bicker, Stiles egging the oblivious teen. Looking at the ground, in an attempt to ignore the playful howl Stiles lets out, Judith feels a sense of hyper-awareness flood through her. Inhaling deeply, trying to calm herself, she forces her trembling fingers to curl into themselves, fingernails biting into the palm of her hands. She isn't a fan of wooded areas. Of open spaces. Where anyone can just jump out at the last moment.

The slightest sound of a twig breaking causes her spine to straighten before an unfamiliar voice asks, "What are you doing here?"

Turning toward the voice, Judith watches as the dark-haired man stalks closer. The skin along her body feels tight, the slightest rise of her pulse thrumming through her veins. Instinct tells her this is weird. Tilting her head, she takes in the slight confrontational stance the man's body takes on as he informs the three of them about the area being private property. Remaining silent as her idiot friends stumble over themselves, explaining their presence, Judith studies the man, her face stoic and eyes cautious.

It isn't until the man turns to stalk away after tossing Scott his inhaler that Judith finds the ability to release the tension crawling under her skin. Damn, does she hate meeting strangers. It happens to everyone. The instinct. The drive. Simply knowing that nothing is ever what it seems, and yet sometimes Occam's Razor needs to be taken into account.

"Dude. That was Derek Hale."

Both Judith and Scott tilt their head's curiously and ask, "Who?"

"His family? They all burned to death in a fire like ten years ago," Understanding flickers on Scott's face, but Judith stares blankly at the never-ending encyclopedia standing in front of her, pointing at herself as if to remind him that she only just moved here last year. "It was a really big tragedy. The Hale Family was a big part of the community."

"Not to sound like I don't care, because house fires suck ass," Judith cuts in, glaring at both of them, "but thanks to you, I feel like I just had a shot of adrenaline straight to the heart and I am going home. Next time something like this happens, try not to act so callous of others. That girl probably has family members looking for her."

Without a second glance at her friends, Judith walks off, cursing their stupidity. Locating her car, she climbs in and doesn't hesitate to drive off.

"Hey, kiddo!"

Sighing as she slips into the house through the back door, she smiles at the sight of the man standing at the stove, "Hey, Uncle Trick."

"Dinner should be ready in about forty minutes. Go wash up; you're tracking mud inside."

Rolling her eyes, Judith toes off her boots and sets them on the back porch before sliding the door shut. Placing a kiss on her uncle's cheek, the brunette moves her way out of the kitchen and up to her room, ready to put the whole day behind her. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.

Can you come over? I need someone's help.

Judith sighs as she knocks on the front door of the Stilinski house. Honestly. Two days of crazy and the brunette is wondering when it will all be over. Stiles doesn't even hesitate to reach across the open doorway and drag her inside, kicking the door shut behind him as she is forced upstairs.

"Sty, if you value your life, you'll let go of my arm," Judith bites out, shaking his grip off as the bedroom door is shut behind them.

"Listen. I know this is going to sound crazy, but I really need you to hear my out. Do you remember the other day when we were in the woods?" At her deadpanned stare, he swallows thickly, "Right. Anyway, I'm sure you've noticed the changes in Scott lately," Nodding curtly, Judith wonders how no one noticed the sudden one-eighty transplant Scott seemed to have. "Scott said he was bit by something in the woods and that he heard a wolf howling that night." Judith's eyes widen as Stiles carefully grabs her shoulders, the serious gleam in his eyes causing her breath to catch in her chest, "I think Scott might be a werewolf...and tonight's the Full Moon. He won't listen to reason."

"That's because most people would think reason is crazy," Judith replies, watching his eyes widen in surprise, her hand reaching up to clap him on the outside of his shoulder, "Don't worry, Sty. I think you might be onto something."

"Really? You don't think I'm-"

"Crazy?" she states, offering him a supportive grin, "Look. Why don't you go to that party tonight? Keep an eye on him. Make sure he is able to get away, in case this is all real. I'll stay here and pull together facts and information for you. I know when I was home schooled, I collected any book that interested me. I may have some books on old legends and occult lore."

Hands cup the side of her face before a thoughtless kiss meets her lips, the brief touch gone within a fraction of a second, "Dude, you are the best. I'll call you if something happens."

Rolling her eyes, she watches as Stiles begins to race around, quickly changing his clothes. Dropping into his computer chair, she immediately looks over the endless websites and documents pulled up.

"How much did you take today, Stiles?"

"A lot."

Sighing, Judith turns a sharp gaze on him, "Try not to over-do it. I'd rather not have to visit you in the hospital."

"Sorry, Judith. I've gotta run. I'll call you."

Left in hopeless silence, Judith ponders over the information before jotting down a quick note for Stiles, indicating that she would get with him later. Leaving the Stilinski residence, the brunette wastes no time in returning to her own house. Moving to the den area, which had been transformed into a cozy study. Lit up by an automatic fireplace, she pulls several of them off the shelves and toss them over to the riding niche.

The Legend of Romulus

Settling into a comfortable spot, Judith gets lost within the pages.

Author's Note: Thank you for reading. Please understand that any romantic interests hasn't actually been decided yet. So that brief peck of the lips wasn't anything special, nor was it meant for anything more than relief. Like you would do to a close friend in a complete subconscious, absentminded spur of the moment. This story will follow canon, but veer off on occasion so people aren't reading the same stories over and over again. And for those interested I'm not sure about the romantic interest yet, if this is going to be Stiles/OC, Derek/OC, or maybe even a super slow-build to Sterek/OC (being that the three of them share a certain level of emotional connection and understanding between them and an indication that the story may not stay within canon.)

Tell me so far what you guys think. Leave a review. Apologies to all if this seems a bit slow to start, but I don't want Judith to just be thrown into every single moment of the show, because she isn't going to be. She does have a life of her own and her own problems to deal with.

Hope you enjoyed!