While the meat cooked everyone took the chance to setup their tents and figure out sleeping arrangements. Isaac, Boyd and Erica all took the largest tent, it would seem they had grown close being the first 3 betas of the pack, and Isaac had trouble sleeping alone so it was for the best. Scott and Jackson both took another tent, which ok, kind of hurt that Scott didn't want to tent with him but at the same time he has had enough sleepovers with Scott to know that it is impossible to sleep through his incredibly loud snoring.
Stiles took one of the remaining 2 tents and set it up closer to the fire and Derek took his tent to the opposite side of the clearing and set it up there.
They all gathered back around the campfire, Boyd announcing that the food was ready. They all sat down and started to eat the venison(bland it may be, still, not everyday you eat fresh deer, or at least, not for Stiles).
Scott started off the campfire talk with a lame ghost story about some kid who got lost in the woods and eaten by a rouge bear. Which honestly was a little close to home since "rouge animal attacks" were the favorite headlines of the Beacon Hills newspaper due to all the supernatural happenings in the past months. Boyd broke the tension with a surprisingly interesting tale of the constellation, Orion's Belt. Which led Stiles and Erica to break out into a horrible rendition of "The campfire song song" from sponge bob because Erica was secretly a nerd at heart. Everyone groaned but eventually joined in, even Derek who quietly hummed to himself. A gleam in his eyes that said he was truly happy.
Breathless they all settled back into their seats and that's when Jackson took over. Jackson had been silent the entire time(well aside from the singing). Now he had a mischievous look upon his face as he cleared his throat to gain the circles attention. Everyone turned to see what he had to say. "I have a little horror story" he starter. "oh god, please not another lame story like McCall's" Erica let out a groan. "Hey! My story was not lame" Scott protested, "right Stiles?". Stiles pondered it for a second, "actually…". Scott looked defeated. "Anyways, no, it's not at all like Scotts" he said, maintaining his grin. "Well then, on with it" Erica chirped.
Jackson proceeded to tell the scariest story Stiles had ever heard, he was pretty sure including both copious amounts of blood and that much description in the same story was illegal. Half way through everyone was thoroughly unnerved. Erica and Boyd were leaning into each other, their faces betraying there otherwise calm posture. Scott was digging his claws into the log beneath him, cringing when necessary. Isaac had pressed himself up against Stiles, gripping Stile's knee tightly. Derek, Derek was sitting there glaring at Jackson, like he could keep the scary parts from happening with a simple glare. Suddenly though, he stood up and excused himself to the bathroom, which really, what bathroom. Pick a tree any tree, step right up. Whatever, Derek stalked off into the tree line and Jackson continued his story. He leaned in close as he talked, everyone unconsciously moved closer to him. He must have noticed because his voice took on a new, more sinister tone.
"They were everywhere. Crawling through the streets, out of windows. Flesh, if they had any, sickly yellow and rotting off the bone. The thick smell of rot and bodily fluids choking the air. There were some people left. Some. Though the number of zombies was increasing by the minute. Anyone they managed to harm would quickly become one of them. Starving, dead, hungry for the flesh of their old companions. The boy had witnessed this all from the window of his bedroom. He was suddenly distracted however, by the sound of feet dragging over the hallway floor. A low moan just yards from his bedroom door. He could see the shadow as it crept under the door, stretching across his bedroom. Then a knock. The boys heart was pounding. Another knock. He quickly ran over to the door to lock it before the monster could get in. He reached for the knob and then BAM-"
As Jackson screamed the last word a large black beast like figure roared and flung itself into the middle of their circle, teeth snapping, claws that could shred through flesh and bone, pelt blacker then the night.
The effect was instant. Boyd and Erica both flung themselves backwards over the log, Scotts claws broke through the log he was clenching, shifting immediately into full beta mode. Isaac threw himself at Stiles, sending them both hurtling to the ground, Isaac clinging to Stiles tightly, more then likely bruising a few of his ribs.
Jackson. Jackson was howling. Not in pain or agony, but in joy. The beast in question was slowly shifting back from his alpha form. A grin on his face and a gleam in his eyes.
"What the fuck, that wasn't funny" Scott, still in beta, screamed at Jackson, who was still laughing his ass off.
"Your dead!" Erica screamed at him, her and Boyd untangled themselves and lunged at Jackson, who took off towards the woods, Scott fallowing right behind, all in beta mode.
Stiles realized he was still being clinged to by Isaac who hadn't lifted his face from Stiles chest. He started rubbing Isaacs back and Derek came over, grin gone with a concerned look on his face. He leaned down and rubbed the back of Isaacs neck, the younger boy immediately loosened his grip on Stiles, who could breath again.
He took a deep breath and choked on it when he felt a sharp pain in his side. He took a second to get his bearings and then finally realized that he was laying there on the ground, Isaac curled around him, Derek leaning over them in nothing but a pair of boxers. He must have taken his clothes off before going alpha. "shit" Stiles promptly passed out. From the oxygen rush, definitely not from having a half naked Derek Hale 2 feet from him.
He came to a few minutes later, Derek still leaning over him, Isaac right next to Derek, who apparently had put on some jeans and a shirt. Thank god.
"Are you alright" came Isaacs voice,
"Yeah, yeah I think so, just a little winded"
"I'm so sorry" Isaac pleaded, looking like a kicked puppy.
"No no its fine, you were just a little startl- Ah what the hell?!" Derek was removing Stiles shirt, face inches away from Stiles side. He inspected the bruises that were slowly beginning to show on the surface.
"They are just bruised, no cracks or breaks from what I can tell, just sit back, im going to reduce some of the swelling."
Before stiles could question Derek placed his hand over the bruises. At first there was nothing, then a weird tingly sensation on his skin. Like someone was suctioning the skin there, it tickled, a lot. Stiles was unable to hold back the little giggle that passed his lips. Then it stopped, and the pain on his side was gone. He looked up at Derek who grimaced a little, clearly, whatever he just did took a lot out of him.
"What was that?" Stiles asked, voice almost a whisper. Still completely audible to the wolves though.
"It's just a little trick that we can do" Isaac interjected. "Scott and Deaton showed me at the vet office a while back." This was the first Stiles had heard of it.
"Well um, thanks, yeah, thank you Derek." All he got was a grunt in response from the alpha who was now resting on one of the logs around the fire. Isaac offered him his hand and helped him up.
So, where did the pups run off to?" Stiles asked. Derek replied with a simple "3.2.1" and like that there was a blur of Jackson flying into the campsite, then a flash of Scott, Erica and finally Boyd all in hot pursuit.
"STOP!" came the sharp command from the alpha.
Jackson stopped. Big mistake. Scott and Erica both slammed into him causing all 3 to go spiraling over the ground, right into Stiles tent. The sound of metal bars snapping and fabric ripping could be heard and then it all went silent. Scotts head poked up from the rubble that was Stiles tent, emphasis on the was, no amount of Alpha power and Moonlight were going to resurrect his tent. Nope.
"Come on!" Stiles whined as the three, now human, betas climbed out of the pile and returned to the fire guilt splayed across all their faces, even Jackson's.
Boyd, who had managed to stop himself was standing beside Derek who was look somewhere between amused and pissed.
"Sorry sorry, I couldn't stop myself in time" Scott was saying, Erica nodding in agreement and trying to make herself look small, Jackson just stood their with a stupid frown on his face, like he was expecting stiles to rip his throat out. Actually, he just might.
"So, where am I supposed to sleep now?" he asked, regretting the words as soon as they left his lips.
"Well I guess you could bunk with me and Jacks, I mean, it'd be a little tight but we could all fit."
"Oh no, im not going to sleep anywhere near you two destructive forces of nature, id wake up in pieces, all over the forest. Probably mistaken for a chew toy while you sleep. I for one have no plans of being chewed on anytime soon, and most certainly-"
"He'll sleep with me" Derek interrupted stiles rant. Stiles blood immediately went cold, frozen solid in place he couldn't even turn to look at the alpha.
"Uh-I mean, I wouldn't want to impose or anything, not that I don't think sleeping with you is a bad thing, well not like that, I mean sure yeah, thanks I guess." Stiles stumbled over his words, brain to mouth filter completely bypassed. He was going to die tonight. Yup DIE. 'Rip Stiles Stilinski, couldn't shut up and had his throat ripped out by an angry alpha werewolf.' That's what his headstone would read.
"Well, now that that's settled, lets get back to the fire" Erica chimed in, practically beaming at Stiles, that sick twisted woman. He will never understand her obsession with his misery.
Alright, here she is as promised. Next chapter will be up tomorrow i hope. Few things i want to touch on real quick
1. Jacks story, that little portion of the writing is the reason this wasn't published yesterday. I suck at horror, i know.
pain relieving bit. We saw this in the series once. As far as we know, its animal only. Oh well. I think it's a cool little trick that isnt mentioned in fics enough, not to mention, they showed it on the show, it will clearly have SOME sort of significance.
3. My writing style may change from publish to publish, i tend to get into different moods while writing and so my Vocab and dialect may swinging a little. Im apologize.
4. You guys rock, seriously. Love the reviews and im glad everyone seems to like it.
Edit: Sorry, probably no update today. I decided to finally read "Slipping Away" big mistake. The feels, THE FEELS. Im also looking for a beta for this next chapter.