Aleatha

I woke up in the middle of the woods on a tree stump. I didn't recognize the constellations in the sky. The last realm I was in had no sky, so where was I? I sat up. I felt sore all over. I looked around. I searched my body for wounds. I turned my head and my neck hurt. I found blood on the back of my neck. I slid off the tree trunk. I looked down at it.

Power.

Whatever this was, it had held lots of power over the centuries. It could tell me where I was. I pressed my hand against it. Images filtered through my mind. Pain. Loss. Love. Danger. I yanked away from the trunk. Red eyes. Blue eyes. Banshee. Demons. Kitsune. Werewolves. Humans. Were Coyotes. Creatures I had never even heard of. I needed to get away from this stump. Staying near it too long was a very bad idea. I ran away from it. I kept a hand on the back of my neck. It was still bleeding. I had no idea how I got injured. I stepped into a clearing. I saw bright lights and fell to the ground. I heard a screech. The lights were hurting my head.

"Oh my gosh. Scott, did I hit someone? Please tell me I didn't hit someone. My dad will kill me" That name sounded familiar.

I didn't know why. I tried to look up, but the lights were too bright.

"Hey are you okay?" I looked up.

I saw a child. No. This was not a normal child. This was a werewolf. An alpha. This was Scott. From what the tree showed me, I could trust him.

"I need help. I'm injured and require aid. Will you help me?" My eyes began to glow as I tried to heal the wound on the back of my neck.

I flinched. Something was stuck in the wound.

Scott looked surprised, "are you a werewolf?"

I frowned. I didn't know if it was wise to share what I was. However, he would know if I was lying.

"I'm an elf," he tilted his head, "then why did your eyes glow?"

"Magic. I was trying to heal my wound, but there's a foreign object in the wound." I felt my hair being removed from the back of my neck.

I lifted my hand.

"Uh, Scott? I think you should come look at this." I didn't like the sound of the other boy's voice.

He sounded extremely concerned. Scott stood up. He looked at the back of my neck.

"Is it just me or is that a claw stuck in her neck?" What?

I haven't been here for very long. So how did something from this world attack me? I thought the wound was from before I appeared in this odd little town. One that is clearly a beacon for the supernatural based on what I learned from the tree stump.

"We need to get her to Deaton." An arm wrapped around my waist.

I wasn't going to question who this Deaton was. I was sure I would find out soon. I was on my feet. I glanced at who lifted me up. It was Stiles. The one who had been possessed by the dark kitsune. He looked concerned.

"Are you okay? You're, like, really light." I winced as he helped me into the giant metal carriage.

"It's normal for an elf. We are considerably lighter than any human. Especially the females." Scott climbed in the back.

Stiles shut the door to the metal carriage and ran to the other side. He got in and slammed the door. He turned to me.

"You should buckle up." I was confused.

"What do you mean? This is a metal carriage is it not?" Stiles gave me a weird look.

He reached over and grabbed something. I watched as he fastened the leather strap at my hip.

"First of all this is a Jeep, aka a car. This is a seatbelt. It's to protect you while I drive." I nodded.

I clutched onto the seat as Stiles began to drive. This car was fast. Far faster than I was used to.

•••

I was the first out of the car. I hated that thing. I much preferred a carriage or horseback. I still had my hand against the back of my neck. The building we were at was odd. It had a picture of an animal on it.

"What is this place," Scott smiled at me, "this is where I work. My boss is someone who can help remove the claw from your neck. Do you trust me?"

Yes.

I did trust him. I saw what kind of Alpha he was when I touched the tree stump. I nodded my head and followed him and Stiles inside.

"Deacon. We're here." I heard shuffling from the back.

A human man stepped out. He smiled.

"Come in." I followed Stiles and Scott.

I felt a weird chill as I passed through a doorway. I froze on the other side. It felt like a protective barrier.

"What was that?" The human man looked surprised.

"It's called Mountain Ash. It protects me against supernatural beings who mean to harm me. You were able to pass. You aren't here to harm me. Now tell me, what happened to you?" I glanced at Scott.

He brought me here, because he trusts this human. I was still a little unsure though. Scott nodded. I took a deep breath.

"I'm not sure. I know where I woke up, but I do not know how I got the wound upon my neck." The human motioned us to follow him.

"Come, I will look at the wound. Where did you wake up?" I followed the human.

Scott and Stiles weren't to far behind me.

"I woke up on a tree stump. It was large and I could feel the traces of its power. I do not know it's name, but it showed me things. It's why I know of Scott and Stiles. Why?" I looked at Scott and Stiles.

They were worried. I turned back to the human.

"What you found was an ancient tree stump. It has been there since the druids used it as a sacred meeting place. It's a beacon for the supernatural. We call it the Nemeton." I didn't know why I was here or what I had just gotten dragged into, but I knew itdefinitely wasn't good.