Nate and Tyler were fighting each other in the woods. "You're pretty good."
"I'm a receiver on the football team. Plus, I took karate with Matt when we were kids." Tyler said. "So, can we take a time out?"
"Sure. I'm sure you wanted to ask me something, anyway." Nate said.
"How did you meet Mason?"
"We knew each other in high school. He moved from this town." Nate explained.
"How old are you, anyway?"
"Nineteen. Same age as Maria." Tyler looked at him in shock. "I know, at her height she looks about eighteen."
"And how do you know of to control it?" Tyler asked.
"It's just instinct. You just focus on protecting your friends and go after those that oppose you." Nate said.
"And when did you first know you were a werewolf?"
"I don't know. It just happened. I was on spring break the first time I turned." Nate explained. "I was visiting Penn State, I was drunk, the next thing I know, I was with Maria and Allison."
"That's something I don't get. How did you know you could trust them?"
"I didn't." Nate told him. "Not at first, anyway. I remember waking up in some kind of living room after I turned, covered by nothing but a blanket. Maria explained things. At first I didn't trust them because they were vampires. It wasn't until they saved me I actually started to trust them."
"Save you from what?"
"Apparently some wannabe werewolf hunter, like the ones you see in the movies." Nate told him.
"There are actually wolf hunters?"
"I didn't know I had to be careful. He used to be my friend." Nate explained. "The girls saved me from him. I met Jules a few months later and she helped me adjust. Then I left the pack, and it was a good thing I did. The next time I ran into girls, they needed my help."
"Wow." Tyler said. "That's kind of similar to me. I didn't know the supernatural was real until Uncle Mason told me about the werewolf gene."
"Yeah. And given the circumstances, I'm guessing Katherine had something to do with you triggering the curse." Nate said.
"I didn't know it at the time, but she compelled a couple of my friends to fight me until I killed them." Tyler said. "I thought it was an accident. Then I noticed how strong Caroline was, and then I found out about her and the others. Care helped me get through my first transformation."
"You two became close, didn't you?"
"She kind of got me because it was similar. Of course, I messed up." Tyler said. "Jules and her pack nearly killed her because of me and if the Salvatores hadn't shown up…"
"Hey, we've all made some pretty stupid mistakes before." Nate pointed out. "Heck, if I'd trusted Ali sooner, maybe I wouldn't have nearly gotten myself killed."
"Speaking of, when did you meet Lauren?"
"The three of us were on summer break when we met her." Nate explained. "She was barely a high school freshman at the time. Now it's my turn to ask questions. I know you're still a newbie, but you don't want to hurt people. How did you avoid…"
"Mason used to chain himself up. I did the same." Tyler said.
"I see." Nate said. "It still hurts when you turn, right? After the first few times, it starts to hurt less and eventually the pain disappears."
"I didn't know that."
"I see Jules didn't teach you much."
"Well, I was only gone about a month. Then Klaus hurt my mom, so we ended up returning here." Tyler explained. "What about you? Any parents?"
"I've been on my own since high school." Nate explained. "Left home, pretty much didn't trust anyone. Meeting the girls changed that. They made me remember what it was like to be part of a family. Afterward, I ran into Jules' pack."
"It was really weird when I first found out about all this." Tyler said. "Some of the group still don't trust werewolves very much."
"Because you accidentally bit Damon?" Nate asked. Tyler looked at him. "Maria."
"Of course."
"But they all know you didn't mean it." Nate pointed out. "Trust me, you're not the only one around here that's made that mistake. I don't remember what happened when I first turned, but I might have hurt someone."
"I wish that Jules and her friends were more like you." Tyler said.
"Well, looks like they learned it the hard way." Nate said. "I heard most of the pack split up or got killed. Anyway, we better get back to practicing."
"Right. Our defense really needs some work." The two of them started sparring again.