Chapter Seven: Fae (pt 2)

"Okay, so, where are we even going?" Stiles asked the fairy as he trudged through the woods, weaving his way around trees and over rocks.

She'd insisted on riding on his back- something about 'if he turned out to be untrustworthy- it would be a more compromising position for him, and she'd have a better chance of killing' or some other really disturbing reason that a little thing that looks like a miniature six year old should not have.

She was only as high as his forearm, so she didn't weigh much at all…but for someone who was bleeding- and had obviously been pinned to a tree for a while- she had a fucking strong grip.

"We are going to my people." The little fairy responded, kicking him in the butt with her bare foot….it seemed over the hour he'd spent walking with her (her giving directions and him following), it had become quite a hobby of the fairy's.

"And where are your people?" Stiles grumbled, stumbling over a rock and muttering curses under his breath.

"Where you're taking me of course." The fairy responded- and Stiles groaned, willing his patience to last just a little longer.

He shut up after that, walking for a long while, his back starting to strain- even under her weight. He just kept following all the calls of 'turn here' or 'three more steps- no, wait two!' and so. The forest was getting darker and darker- the sky and his phone- indicating the time was about 5pm.

He honestly wondered if the little thing was just playing with him, besides, he was supposed to be back home hours ago…was his dad getting worried? Probably. But then again- he always ran off to places with Scott without warning- so maybe not.

"How do you even know we're not going in circles?" Stiles asked, his voice probably sounding like a whiny child's. Not that he cared though. His feet hurt, he was thirsty and hungry…and this little thing was the most annoying creature, including Peter Hale! That he'd ever met!

"This is my home human! This is my place of being. I know every single inch of it- every single rock." The fairy growled, high and mighty, and kicked him in the butt again.

"But doesn't it change every day- with, like the wind and animals and stuff?" Stiles asked.

He got another, harsh, kick for that.

"Quiet. Keep walking!" she demanded- so he kept walking, but on the inside, he knew he'd won this round.

So they (or he, really) walked, and walked…and walked, until finally he was called to a halt.

"Wait. Stop. Here. Stand here." The little thing said, patting him on the hair over and over.

Well, at least it was better than the kicking. Maybe they were making some progress?

Then she kicked him, probably just for good measure.

Either way- where they had stopped (he hadn't really noticed it until then- to busy being angry at the little brat on his back)…it was breathtaking.

They were in a medium sized clearing- just enough for a camping ground, and directly cut off by a small stream trickling over pretty white rocks.

The clearing was surrounded by…mushrooms? Or toadstools? And mossy, old rocks.

And off to the side was the HUGEST freaking oak tree Stiles had ever seen in his life, like, it was probably as wide as a limousine was long…and taller than Stiles dared to look up- what with something alive and injured clinging to his back.

The tree was covered in moss and…toadstools? Okay, weird. But pretty.

Well, a giant, beautiful oak tree in the middle of a pine forest, that hadn't been flocked by locals as a 'must see' was also weird. But hey- it was Beacon Hills. Freaky things happened.

"This place…" Stiles breathed…taking in the canopy of leaves, the afternoon sun just twinkling in…the bright, almost energetic green of the moss and grass that covered almost everything in the clearing…the pretty little stream over the gleaming white rocks…"It's beautiful."

"Yeah it is." The fairy breathed, and for the first time- she sounded nice, sincere and not a snarky little sass-monster. She sounded full of love and warmth, and in that instant- Stiles knew this was her home.

"Sooo…" he started, and resisted the urge to lean up and scratch the back of his neck (considering he had a little fairy on his back- it was probably a bad idea), "Where are your- uhh…people? You called them your people, right?"

She made it sound like a gang. Huh, now Stiles was picturing her in a leather jacket and sunglasses. It was hilarious!

The fairy nodded-unaware of Stiles' imagination running awry.

"Yes- they're already here- they're just making sure it's safe first." She whispered into his ear.

Oh. Okay- that makes sense…so how does he show them it's safe?

Maybe he should convince them? Show them that he was a cool guy? Totally hip and awesome and stuff?

Stiles cleared his throat awkwardly, scrunching up his face.

"Uhhh, I won't hurt anyone- or you know. I don't have any bad intentions. I'm just trying to get this fairy on my back to someone who can help her." Stiles declared in a loud clear voice…feeling kind of stupid talking to a giant oak tree. But considering the encouraging nods he could feel his little companion giving- he seemed to be heading in the right direction.

"So- ahh. I didn't even know fairies existed before a few hours ago. I was actually going around screwing up some hunter's traps- because I didn't want any of my…my friends getting hurt- and then I found your friend and-"

Stiles was interrupted when a deep, and again indeterminate of accent, but distinctly female voice called out.

"You are the one who has been leaving the ironic childish human toys in those traps? Making those fiends so angry and confused?" it said, sounding surprised, and vaguely amused.

Stiles had no idea where the voice was coming from though…it seemed to be just coming from everywhere…like it was the entire forest speaking to him.

It made him grin though, thinking of his pranks.

Yeah- he was so awesome.

"Yup. I totally did? Why? Did they react badly? Please tell me they did!" Stiles was excited now, not really caring who, or what the voice was…as long as it had the info. Like the priceless looks on the hunters faces when they saw what he'd left them.

The voice chuckled, and it was kinda weird hearing a forest chuckle.

"Well- they were very confused. You say you did this to protect friends…who might they be?"

"Ahh…werewolves? Yeah- my best friend constantly gets caught in traps that I have to get him out of before hunters arrive and come chop him in half." Stiles sighed at the memories. But still felt a bit nervous…what was a fairy's take on werewolves anyway?

"Mmm. We don't much associate with those. But our kind, as you have obviously seen for yourself- can get caught in those traps as well. You've been doing us a great favour boy- I judge you safe." The voice sounded fond- but Stiles didn't have much time to ponder that, because suddenly, the groves and dips in the oak opened.

Like, freaking split into an opening. A hole. Where a bunch of things came out.

A bunch of things, meaning metre-high naked winged creatures with flowers in their hair.

Seriously, what the fuck?

"Uhhh." Stiles said, just as the oak closed up again, right behind, probably…twenty- twenty five? Fairies.

They were all naked- and Stiles was trying to avoid looking at the little, miniature genitals as best as he could.

At least the fairy on his back had been child shaped- so it hadn't been awkward carrying her. Jesus.

These were all adults. With, like boobies and pee-pees and stuff.

Most of them had red hair…some brown or auburn, and green, blue or hazel eyes.

Their ears were pointy and their cheekbones high…their skin the colour of…curly fries? Yeah.

Their skin was painted with red, gold and purple body paint- intricate designs of birds and flowers, wind (like- how do you even paint wind?), eyes (?!), foxes and runes.

They all had wings too, mostly folded behind their backs. Some were feathered like birds', some viny like bats', see-through like bugs' and basically each fairy had wings linked to a different creature…he knew the fairy on his back had a pair like a dragonfly's.

They were quiet beautiful to look at once Stiles got over the whole nudity thing.

The fairy that most stood out, though, was standing out at the front- a few feet in front of the rest, smirking at him.

She had long, curly, cherry red hair that was weaved with blue-bells and violets. Her frame was small and skinny, but Stiles could see by her face and her dark honey eyes- that she was old – and not just 'When I was young I didn't even have a VCR' old either.

Unlike her comrades' who were heavily painted -her body was painted only once, a beautiful picture of a sleeping dragon right on her thigh in golden paint.

Her wings…now they were definitely the most stunning…they were the wings of a Sunset Moth – by far one of the most beautiful winged creatures on the planet.

All these different colours-blue, orange, black, red…wow.

"Uhhh." Was all Stiles could think to say. He was both intimidated and definitely in love.

The beautiful fairy chuckled.

"May we please have Odette back? She needs to be tended to for that wing?" the intimidating fairy asked him, and in the same voice- the voice that was speaking to him from the forest.

"Odette?...Oh you mean! Yeah! Sure!" Stiles picked up the little fairy- Odette, off of his back and cradled him in his arms- she stuck her tongue out at him as he shifted her. He did the same in return. He was really gonna miss the little idiot.

A middle-aged looking male fairy with barn-own wings came forward, taking Odette out of Stiles' arms. He nodded his thanks and started fussing over her- carrying her over to the oak tree- which immediately opened up and swallowed them. Huh. They must have some weird secret fairy realm or some shit.

Well, see ya Odette.

That was a shot goodbye as goodbyes go.

"Is she gonna be okay?" Stiles asked, tearing his eyes away from the large oak.

Odette had been annoying, sure- but Stiles was still worried about her.

The beautiful fairy just laughed.

"Oh don't worry boy! That child gets into more trouble than you would believe! But…thank you, never the less- for helping her. The hunters are a nuisance, and you have proven to be a friend to our people." The fairy came forward then, and Stiles, being polite, knelt to her level.

"What is your name boy?" the fairy asked, staring intently at him with beautiful honey eyes- actually they were kind of like his own- so was it vain to think of them as beautiful?

"Stiles- Stiles Stilinski." Stiles replied, blinking at her.

"Well Stiles Stilinski- you have won a lot of allies today. The fairy people do not forget when they meet one as kind as you." The fairy smiled, her eyes lighting up and whole face happy.

"Uhhh, all I did was walk and follow directions." Stiles muttered, embarrassed and not really understanding why his actions were such a big deal.

"Yes- but to get her you would have had to walk for hours and with intent. You can't just get her off of a map Stiles Stilinski. This place is magic. You need to prove your worth before you can just enter our domain!" the fairy laughed and looked at him with pride.

Huh. Really? He proved his worth? He spent hours arguing with a little brat and tripping over rocks? That was proving his worth?...Okay then."

The fairy suddenly looked serious, her eyes sparkling and her teeth flashing in a warm smile.

"It has been so long since a human has done that. I was only a child back then. My Gods I was only Sixty!" the fairies behind her laughed, but Stiles didn't get it…Sixty that was kinda a big number. Whatever…maybe they had like, a big lifespan or something?

The fairy looked at him, as he knelt in confused silence, and picked up both his hands in her small, soft ones.

"My name is Aubrianne- elected chair councillor of the Beacon Hills Fae people," wow- that sounded oddly modern, "and if you ever need help with something Stiles Stilinski- you just ask."

Oh he was soooo getting the Fairy section in his Bestiary complete! Awesome.

Sageandmilk:
So I did, like, minor amounts of research for fae names and I got:

Odette: "Elfin Spear" - 'cause I thought she was feisty
Aubrianne: "Rules with elf-wisdom" - 'Cause she's wise and stuff.

So, do I bring Odette back, Yes/ No?

P.S: Due to the replies and comments: Toby is on his way back- rejoice my pretties, rejoice!