Author's Note: I haven't touched this one in a while but here goes. I own nothing.
5. Journey And Discovery
Stiles felt weightless, like she was floating around in the clouds. She didn't recognize the voice that spoke in a soft whispered tone. She smelled smoke, but it wasn't unpleasant, it smelled like lavender and rosemary, just like her mom used to. The voice whispered again.
"There we go, breathe it in." She breathed in deeper and felt a shock. It was like the smoke had caught in her lungs but she couldn't cough. But there was another feeling too. The same one she'd gotten when she was using the mountain ash in an attempt to trap Jackson as the Kanima. When she'd let go and believed in herself she'd felt something. She had never told anyone, she didn't want them to think she was crazy but it was very similar to this feeling. She reached for the familiar feel and the choking feeling faded until all she could feel was that, for lack of a better word, spark. Then there was a pain across her temples like someone was pouring hot coals onto her face. She tried to scream but no sound escaped.
Peter hadn't been expecting that. He'd done his research he knew what she was but he hadn't been expecting quite the light show, or the barrier that seemed to be separating her from her powers. It wasn't reacting well with the catalyst he'd stolen from the local vet. Bright red lights skittered around the circle he'd placed around the still unconscious girl. Her eyes rolled under their lids as the smoke swirled around her.
Stiles was still screaming when she felt something inside finally give way. It was like a blanket being pulled off her head. Suddenly the pain eased and her muscles went lax. She felt a warmth wash over her as she let go to the feeling of the spark.
It didn't take Jackson long to find Lydia. She was dressed in the same outfit she'd worn to watch Lacrosse practice what felt like ages ago. Her jeans were muddy though and she'd lost a shoe. Her hair was a mess with leaves and twigs in it and her eyes were glassy as she wandered away from him.
"Lydia!" She didn't even twitch. He raced up to her and cupped her cheek gently. She was freezing but she didn't seem to notice. He pulled off his jacket and she tried to wander away. He caught up with her easily swinging his jacket around her shoulders. He cupped her cheek again.
"Lydia. Lydia, it's me, Jackson. Lyds, talk to me." She blinked a few times and her green eyes came slowly back into focus. She blinked again and looked around startled like a deer in the headlights.
"Where am I? Noooo this can't keep happening." Jackson turned her face towards him again.
"Hey, Lyds its ok. I've got you." She sank into his embrace with a sob.
"This keeps happening. What's wrong with me Jackson?" Jackson ran a hand through her hair and picked her up. She squeaked and wrapped her arms around him looking at her feet.
"Where's my shoe?" Jackson shook his head.
"No idea Lyds. I'll find it later ok. Let's get you to Deaton, he'll figure out what's going on." Lydia nodded. Then sniffled. Isaac came barreling out of the woods and Lydia jumped, Jackson tightened his grip on her keeping her from falling. Isaac sniffed the air and his eyes flashed gold.
"Stiles." Jackson turned his head away from Lydia and sniffed deeply. Isaac was right there was a trace of Stiles here and there too fresh to have been her going on a walk within the past few days. This trail was only hours old if that.
"You follow the trail. I need to get Lydia to Deaton." Isaac hesitated.
"But Derek told us to find Stiles." Jackson snarled at Isaac who's hackles instantly rose.
"Derek can find his own girlfriend, I need to make sure Lydia is alright." After a tense moment between the betas Isaac nodded and stood down.
"Alright, just keep your phone on, we might need you. If what Scott's told me about Derek's Uncle is true guy's a nasty piece of work." Jackson nodded and raced off back towards the Porche. He didn't realize it, so wrapped up in making sure Lydia was going to be alright, but he ran right past Sheriff Stilinski who was currently trying to wrap his head around what he had just seen. He couldn't really believe it but in hindsight it did make all kinds of sense and he would bet Stiles' college fund that if he checked most of the weird shit that had happened in around Beacon Hills matched up with the full moon. That only left two questions in his mind. Was his daughter a werewolf? And what exactly had Mr. Whittemore meant when he'd said Derek could find his own girlfriend?