The sun was low in the sky. After I left my dad I needed to get away for a bit. I headed up to my usual spot in the forest. It's a hidden little stream (more like small river) I found one day exploring as a kid. There's a big flat rock on the edge that somehow has the sun on it all day making it nice and warm, just right for nodding off a bit. And an old peach tree hangs down, its branches reflect over the water; I've often climbed it to get the best peaches on the top. The shade it makes is perfect in the late spring and summer. The best part: no one knows about it. My spot is too deep in the woods for anyone to venture, for risk of animal attacks and even if one were to get lost in these deep woods, it's still impossible to stumble across because of the thorn bushes blocking anyone from approaching. I've never had to worry about any attacks, but I've definitely would of just passed it if it wasn't for the rabbit that caught my attention. It slipped under the thorn bushes, my curiosity got me to investigate. As I got closer I heard the stream, my curiosity got the better of me and I cleared a small path through the bushes. Since then it has always been my spot, and I'd always come here when I needed to get away from the world for a while.

I removed the dead thorn bushes I placed in front of the small path I torn all those years ago. It's been a while since I been here, I've been busy doing work around the house and in my mother's field.

"Just like I remember." I walk up to my rock, when I noticed something odd.

It was quiet. Really quiet. Besides the small babbling of the stream, there wasn't any other sound. Normally I'd hear a couple of birds or some small creatures playing around. I quickly grew tense. I shifted around trying to see who could possibly have found my spot.

"Come out." I waited for them to talk, or at least indicate someone was there. It took a minute but I finally heard a rustling up in the peach tree.

Down climbed a woman. She was about a few inches shorter than me. She had semi-long black hair with a slight wave to it, but not as wavy as my mother's; as she turned to face me, I noticed her dark brown eyes. She held a peach in her hand and held a stance like she was bored with my presence. I couldn't smell what she was, it was unnerving.

"Who are you. And what are you doing here."

She just snorts "Was that a question? I'm eating. What does it look like?" and promptly takes a bite out of the fruit.

I growl. "Not what I meant."

"Oh calm down." And she smiles, a faint little smile like she is pleased. "It has been a while Derek."

I tense even more. "How do you know my name?!"

She sighed and shock her head "I'm not surprised you don't remember me. We've met before, when you were a tiny baby." she used her hands to emphasize "I wasn't so big either, maybe up to my knee, but I was big enough to remember." Then she smiled that smile again. "It is good to see you." I didn't hear a lie, but I still stayed on guard.

"Sorry, I can't say the same." She laughs at that. "How did you find this place?"

"I was wandering around, got a little lost, and found the dead thorn bushes blocking the entrance." She shrugged.

That wasn't a lie either I calmed down somewhat, but my suspicion wouldn't let up. "Why can't I smell you?"

"Oh, sorry about that. I have this little bag around my ankle. It's filled with herbs to mask my scent, to protect me. It's a drag, I know, but I promised I wouldn't take it off. If it helps, I'm an alpha." She tosses the peach away, and lifts her dress slightly to reveal the little brown bag. I raise a brow, but don't question her.

"You still haven't answered what you are doing here or who you are." I cross my arms.

"Sociable aren't you? It's Laura genius. And believe it or not I was actually looking for you."

"Why?" there is probably doubt all over my face.

Suddenly she got all serious. "Derek. The world is collapsing. Soon earthquakes, volcanoes, tornadoes, and a whole series of shit storms is about the befall us. I have searched high and low for four other chosen beings to help save humanity, and you Derek. Are one of them!"

"… What?!" I balked.

Laura holds her face for a total of five seconds before she bursts out laughing. "Oh My Hale! HAAHAAhAhhahaha! You should totally have seen your face! It was hilarious! HAhahahaaaha!" She falls to the ground holding her stomach. "Haha, Ouch it hurts! HAhaha!"

My anger was starting to boil up. I turned around and started to leave, trying to avoid maiming the laughing alpha. "My parents are expecting me for dinner."

Laura quickly sobers up. "Oh, don't be like that der-bear."

I growl again. "Don't call me that." I continue to leave.

"Hey. I'm sorry, I was just having a little innocent fun."

I roll my eyes "Its fine, but they really are expecting me."

"Ok. Well I'll just be here."

I turned to face her. "You don't have a place to stay the night?"

"No, I just got here."

I really wanted to just leave, but my mother would kill me if she knew I left someone alone and without even offering a place to sleep. "You can come stay the night with us. I'm sure my folks won't mind."

"No. I'm good, this seems like a nice enough spot, and there wasn't any signs for rain today."

"You sure?"

"Yes, I will be fine. Night der-bear!" She grinned evilly at me.

I shake my head and head out. It's not till I get half way home I realized she never told me why she was there. I'll find out later.

When I got home it was sunset and my parents were standing at the door waiting for me.

"Mom? Dad?"

"Son, Your mother and I have something to tell you. That we should have told you a long time ago."

We sat for dinner and they told me everything. I was adopted and then went on to explain how I was found. After I processed everything, to say I was shocked was an understatement. However, it did explain a few things, and settled my mind on some issues.

"If I was adopted, then who are my real parents? Where did I come from?"

"This was around your neck when I found you." He gave me the medallion.

"That is how we knew your name. And on the other side is the triskillion. The symbol of the hale gods." Mellissa said.

I stared hard at the thing. When I looked up, my father or step-father, was holding my mom, step-mom, in his arms. "Dad, Mom. Even though you aren't my blood, and I have a real mother and father out there somewhere. You will always be my parents." I got up and gathered them in a hug. They patted me on the back with teary smiles on their faces. I looked at the medallion once again. "It's just…"

"No need to say it son. We will have a bag with everything you will need in the morning."

"Thank you." I smile at them.

"Now off to bed with you! You have a big journey ahead in the morning." Mom said pushing me to my bed.

"Alright, alright. Night ma, night pop."

"Goodnight der."

"Goodnight son."

"Dad, wait a moment."

"You need something Derek?"

"Do you know anyone by the name of Laura?"

"No. At least I don't think so. Why?"

"No nothing, just a question."

In the morning they sent me off with a teary good luck (it wasn't goodbye). I had my bag, in it was the medallion, some food, a change of robes, and a small amount of money. I knew to go to the temple of Talia Hale, but first I had to get some answers from Laura.

I found her lounging under the peach tree throwing pebbles into the stream, scaring the fish probably.

"How do you know me." I demanded

"Again with the questions that aren't a question. And what, no hello?"

"You said you knew me when I was a baby. My parents don't know anyone named Laura. I ask again. How do you know me?" I stressed the question.

"You see der-bear, that was a question. Not too bad right?" She slowly got up and jumped over the stream. "What's with the bag?" She went to grab it, but I moved it out of her hands way.

"I asked you something."

She gave me an eye roll. "I don't think it's my place."

"I know I was adopted. Do you know who my real parents are? And why do I have this thing?" I took out the medallion and held it out for her to see. "I'm going to the temple of Talia Hale because of the hale mark on the back of it."

"Deaton made that. It is supposed to be a good luck charm."

"Who is Deaton?" I knew she was avoiding the parent question, but I was desperate to know anything.

"Deaton is the keeper of Talia Hale's Temple. No one is allowed in the temple without his permission. Usually he is petty lenient about it, but there is always a long line to get in everyday and he only allows a few people a day to enter."

I clenched my jaw. The fact that the temple was a few days journey was bad enough, but now I have to wait on a line? And it wouldn't even be a guarantee I would enter the same day. This certainly wasn't good news.

"You know him?"

She grinned like a cat that just caught her prey. "In fact I do. He was the one to make me the little baggie on my leg."

"You are from around the temple?"

"No, but Deaton is a close family friend. He made the long journey to give me the thing because of a request from my alpha mother."

I narrowed my eyes at her. Who could she be that her family has the keeper of Talia Hale's temple on house call? I sighed, if I want to make sure I get in the temple, I will probably need Laura. "You won't tell me anything about my family?"

"Nope. Sorry der-bear." No way in hell she was sorry.

"Could you at least come with me to the temple and talk to Deaton to try and get me in sooner?"

Her grin turned feral "No problem. I was planning on following you anyway when you said you were heading there." At least she was honest.

I grunted at her and started to head off. She followed silently behind me. I could only hope that she wouldn't bother for the rest of the trip; but from the impression I got of her, it's not likely.