Stiles got back to the village just in time to see the people carrying the bundle that was Derek's canine sister out into the woods. Swerving out of the way, he wondered what he was going to do. He wandered the village a bit, going nowhere and seeing nothing, until night fell. Beyond the wall a howl could be heard. Stiles wondered if it was Derek. Sitting up, he knew sleep would not come tonight. Too much had happened. He got out of bed and got dressed, sneaking stealthily to the door and then beyond it to the village and then to the wall. The gates were closed at night, and not the best climber, Stiles made no attempt to go beyond it. He pressed his hand to the barricade, feeling trapped like an animal in a cage. He knew there were other ways out, there was a small tunnel on the left behind a house, but Stiles had grown too big for it. Some people kept ladders in case they needed to fix leaks on their roofs. He needed to be past the oppressive air behind the wall, the enclosure seemed to be crushing him, but how would he get back in? Deciding to worry about that later, he stole over to a house with a ladder leaning against the roof, and pushed it to the wall. It only went half way, but Stiles was pretty sure he could climb the rest. He got up the ladder quietly and began climbing the rest of the way to the top. Sitting atop the wall he felt cool air against his skin and freedom course through his stagnant veins. Not sure how to get down, he stayed there like that for a while, staring up at the stars and feeling perfectly alone. Blue eyes were watching from the shadows of the trees, careful, patient, waiting. Stiles sat up, looking down on the outside of the wall, deciding to climb down it. He got about half way when his foot slipped. And he began falling. There was a snarl and a flash of blue and black and warmth as strong muscled arms grabbed him out of the air and landed with a soft thud on the ground.
"What the hell are you doing?" Derek asked in irritation.
"You saved me." Stiles said in surprise. Derek said nothing, but set Stiles down and began walking back into the woods. "Wait!" Stiles called chasing after him
"Stop." Derek said rounding on the boy. "Stop coming into the woods. It wont be safe for a while." Derek said pushing the boy backwards out of the line of trees.
"Then it wont be safe for you either!" Stiles huffed running back to Derek.
"Don't you get it?" Derek snapped. "My family kept the other predators out for your precious little village. We had a deal, you didn't hunt us, we didn't hunt you. But then your people broke our agreement and now theres just me and Uncle Peter left. We're going to punish the people who did this." Derek said angrily.
"Then i'll help you." Stiles said.
"No." Derek growled before turning to leave.
"Listen to me you mean old sourwolf!" Stiles snapped. "You looked after us, let me return the favor. Let me help."
"Just stay out of the way. Out of the woods." Derek snarled over his shoulder before melting into the shadows. Stiles thought of his mom. He visited her in the woods every day. How could Derek ask that of him? What was he supposed to do? Where was he supposed to go? He could not get back into the village and the woods were now "forbidden territory". Sighing he walked along the wall, his hands randomly touching rocks and trees and the wall until he got to his mother's grave.
"Hey mom." He was met with her usual silent response. "I know its night and you worry, but i missed you." He said softly touching her headstone. "I miss you every day. At least i still have dad. Derek doesn't have anyone but his uncle, so i know a little about how he feels. Thats why i need to help him." Stiles said softly. "I don't want him to be alone like i am. I don't want anyone to be alone." Stiles said resting his head tiredly on her headstone.