Chapter 26

What the hell are you doing here" McCall snarled quickly recovering from the shock of seeing the rather nondescript man.

"It's a nice town, thought I would visit" Phil responded easily looking calm and with a hint of a smirk. He noted that the other deputies were watching the interaction while desperately trying not to look like they were eavesdropping. "I admit I am surprised to see you here. What on earth did you do to piss off your bosses to get sent here?"

McCall quickly looked around before locking on to the sheriff. "What is he doing here?" he demanded pointing at Phil.

Noah smiled easily. "Not really sure that is any of your business Agent McCall. Mr. Coulson has business with the town that doesn't really involve your investigation."

McCall looked back at the agent and sneered. "Really? What business does a worthless agent turned traitor have?"

Everyone reacted to that statement except Phil. "Wow. Drama is definitely not one of your strengths Rafe. You know if you had spent even a little more time on actually trying to be a good an agent, you wouldn't be quite the loser that everyone says."

McCall's eyes flare and Noah quickly steps up, putting himself between the two men who appear to be on the edge of actually throwing punches. "That's enough!" he yells out. "McCall, I don't particularly care for that implication. You better have some evidence if you are throwing those kinds of words around."

McCall doesn't take his eyes off Coulson, but he steps back, a little. "He was with S.H.I.E.L.D. Stilinski. You remember them? The guys that hid the world's largest terrorist organization. The guys who gave our enemies access to our most classified and dangerous information. Why don't you ask him about how he was at the center of it all?"

Noah looks back at Phil with a questioning expression. Phil hadn't twitched or blinked during the entire rant and he looked calm, cool, and collected, especially next to the raving FBI agent. "I was with Shield Sheriff, but I was cleared, as were a great many loyal agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I will admit to being taken in and deceived. Hydra was probably the greatest at infiltration and deception. But I have been cleared as I am sure you know and I am working as a civilian now."

"Hah!" McCall interrupted. "I ought to arrest you right now and we will see how innocent you are."

Noah did not look happy about that statement. "Arrest him? For what, exactly?" he asks staring at the agent. "From what I see there is a rather respectable man standing here, working for a company that the town is very interested in having a relationship with, being verbally insulted by a, frankly, unhinged agent who seems to be looking to 'shoot first, ask questions later'. Perhaps another call to the field director is in order?" he asks staring down McCall.

The agent snarls and looks back at Phil and dismisses him. "You aren't worth my time you has-been." He turns to the Sheriff "I will speak with you about the case in private" he orders and spins around and heads into the Sheriff's personal office leaving the two men behind.

Noah looks after McCall in surprise. The man has always been a hair trigger off, but he has never seen him act so out of control. He looks back at Coulson. "Bad blood?"

Phil smiles and shrugs. "I really never gave the agents at the bureau much thought or attention I'm afraid. Kind of gave them a complex as they typically were relegated to crowd control whenever we arrived. I think it annoyed them" he offers with a tone that said 'what can you do'.

Noah heaves a deep breath. "Is he going to cause any problems for you?" he asks after a second and looking at his deputies and silently reminding them to get back to work, or at least pretend to.

"No. Stark's lawyers are literally the best. He doesn't want to deal with that. I would be more concerned with the fact that he is currently alone in your office."

Noah swears and spins around and power walks to his office, Phil following behind. He walks in and sees McCall flipping through the files on his desk. "What the hell, McCall!?" he yells.

The agent looks up without a trace of guilt or concern at being caught and steps away, hand in his pocket, as he comes around the sheriff's desk. "What's wrong Stilinski? Surely you have nothing to hide."

"How exactly have you not been fired yet?" Phil asks with what sounds like genuine concern. "I mean the drinking alone should have gotten you bear duty in Alaska."

McCall snaps and it catches Noah by surprise, he leaps at Coulson, blood in his eyes, but the man had been watching for it and side steps. McCall isn't done though and manages to grab Phil's arm and swing the agent around, followed by a leg sweep. Phil spins and with a twist he delivers a rather stunning right cross to McCall's square jaw sending the man to one knee. McCall stands quickly and reaches out to grab him, but Phil catches the Fed's fist and twists the man's arm behind his back and up causing a grunt of pain. He grabs the thumb and yanks and McCall swings again but this time he is off balance and ends up hitting the floor, hard.

"ENOUGH!" Noah yells as McCall scrambles back up. The agent looks rough with a bloodied lip and a suit that looks like he just played football in it. Coulson looks just the same as he did before. "This isn't over Coulson" Raphael snarls and turns around and leaves, slamming the door behind him. Noah watches through the blinds as the FBI agent tears out of the station, the deputies making no move to stop him. He looks back at Phil with a smirk. "Nice moves. He must really hate you to act like that. I have almost never seen him lose his cool like that."

Phil nods and hums absently as he walks over to the Sheriff's desk looking at everything curiously. "No he doesn't, does he?" he asks putting his hand into his pocket and grabbing his phone and pulling it out. "Seems he is letting his desire for petty revenge get out of hand. Looking around in your office trying to find some mistake you made or report you messed up" he indicates with a wave of his hand at the papers on the desk.

Noah frowns realizing that he had pretty much forgotten that part. "But those files have nothing to do with anything. Except a missing dog" he adds with a mutter.

"Mmhmm" Phil nods and opens an app on his phone. Watching, he smiles as he gets a reaction on the detector. "I guess. He was always right on the edge. I really am surprised he hasn't been fired yet with his complete lack of ability" he says idly and picks up a pen and paper and scribbles on it. "But I really do need to speak with the mayor if you have any suggestions on what she is like, I would appreciate it. Maybe her favorite coffee I could bring?" he says and holds up the paper.

"Americano" Noah says dully reading the pad and looking at the man with shock. 'He planted a bug' written clearly.

Eddie walks into the coffee shop glad to have finally gotten some time to himself. He really appreciated Derek and Stiles accepting him, not to mention Scott and Melissa, they've all been great. Giving him a home as well as a new alpha, but it is hard. He hasn't had a chance to really think, let alone deal with the loss of his family and his pack. The young beta had been running on adrenaline for so long, that once he could relax, it all came crashing down. He tried to stay strong, not show any weakness, but he didn't really do a good job. He had been alone in the woods, trying not to cry when Derek had suddenly appeared. Eddie had been surprised, but the High Alpha had just sat beside him without speaking.

He had expected the man to say something, but he hadn't. He just sat there with him. Eddie didn't last long before the dam holding everything inside collapsed and he broke down. Derek had apparently been waiting for that and had pulled him in close and just held him while he cried. He was ashamed, but the man didn't flinch or pull away or anything, he just let him let it all out. After a while he finally stopped and was just breathing really heavily, silently crying when the Alpha started talking.

It was stupid. He talked about how his mom loved cooking big dinners. Then about his little brother breaking one of his toys while his older sister pretty much tortured him while they were growing up. For the next hour, the Alpha talked about his family and Eddie just listened. Finally, the man seemed done, at least he had stopped talking, but he still held the boy close. It took another half hour before Eddie told Derek about his sister cutting her hair one time and their mother screaming at the sight of it. That led to another and another until he was telling him story after story about his pack. Until finally he got quiet as well.

"The others don't understand. Losing your pack, they can't know what it's like. And I will do everything I can to make sure that they never do. But Peter, Cora, and I, we get it. You can always come to us when you need something" Derek had told him.

"Why didn't you want me as your beta?" Eddie had asked in barely a whisper.

Derek had squeezed the boy's shoulder a bit tighter. "I wanted you, but Scott really needed someone and with you living with him, I felt that it would be better for the both of you. Besides, I may be High Alpha, but I really have no intention of going up against Melissa and she wasn't about to let you live with anyone else."

Eddie had snorted at that. Melissa wasn't a wolf, but she had the soul of one. Eddie was surprised she hadn't asked for the bite, but then she really didn't need it. She could get just about anyone to obey her without it! They had talked more about packs, family, and that the Hales and McCalls would be there for Eddie and it had helped. Knowing that his Alpha's Alpha understood, did make things easier. Not to mention they had the scariest Emissary Eddie had ever seen. Lydia Martin was a terror!

'Excuse me!" a voice said as he collided with someone his own size in the line. He looked up at the green eyes staring at him from a mop of black hair and a very flustered expression. "I'm so sorry! I seem to be messing up everything today."

"It's fine" Eddie assures the other boy who was holding a coffee that had barely even spilled on his hand. "Are you okay?"

At the question, the boy seemed to almost deflate. "This town is so weird" he says with an almost whine. "I don't know why we had to move here."

"Are you new too?" Eddie asks suddenly interested. If he was the same age, maybe they would be in school together.

"Yes" the other boy replies. "We just moved here. You're new too?"

"Yes. I came to stay with friends of my family" he says quickly. "I'm Eddie. Eddie Henderson." He sticks out his hand with a smile.

The other boy takes it easily and shakes. "Hi Eddie. I'm Billy. Billy Disonno. Are you starting at Beacon Hills High? I'm going to be a freshman there."

"Me too! I'm thirteen, but I will be fourteen soon."

"Cool, I turned fourteen a few months ago. Have you met some of the kids at the high school yet? Some of them are kind of scary" Billy said looking around to make sure that none of them were nearby.

Eddie laughed, picked up his own order and followed the other teen to a table. "Kind of. The family I am staying with, my al…cousin, goes there. His name is Scott so I have also met a bunch of his friends."

"I have only met a few, and one guy was a total jerk. Personality of a lizard. His girlfriend was pretty amazing though. Red headed, smart, beautiful, but somehow really scary."

Eddie almost choked in his coffee. "Jackson and Lydia" he finally managed to get out and saw Billy suddenly blanch.

"You know them!?" he squeaks.

"That was the best description of both of them" he manages to get out around his laughter. Billy looks like he is about to bolt but pauses at the other boy's laughter. "Oh god, Scott calls him Godzilla" he gets out before laughing again.

"Um" Billy looks around furitively making sure no one is listening to them, but no one is close. "Did you get permission from the werewolves who live here to come?" he whispers.

Eddie's eyes widen with fear. "What?" he squeaks out.

"You're a werewolf right? I'm a witch so I can tell, your aura you know?" he says casually with a reassuring smile.

Eddie stares at the other boy for a second "you don't look like a witch" he says doubtfully.

Billy looks around again and then wriggles his fingers over his coffee cup and Eddie watches as it disappears in a flickering light. "Ta da" Billy says before reaching into the empty space and suddenly the cup is back.

Eddie is a bit worried but if Lydia has seen the guy and he's alive, then it might be okay. "Does the pack know about you?"

Billy shrugs. "I've only met the two and then only once. Well, I did see red again and she was better without Godzilla" he smirks when he sees Eddie smile slightly. "But I keep feeling like someone is watching me. There are no local covens that I can tell so I haven't really worried about it."

"Are your family witches?"

Billy looks sad for a moment. "My mother was, before she died. My father dabbled in magic, but he had other commitments. He's off traveling so I am here with family and they don't have any magic."

"Oh, you probably need to talk to our Alpha then" Eddie says.

Billy frowns. "Why? I mean I can, sure, but witches and weres usually don't really interact."

Eddie looks uncomfortable. "It's complicated. And I am really not supposed to talk about it without permission."

Billy snorts. "Typical. The adults always make decisions for kids without asking them what they think or want, like we are too stupid to have an opinion. My brother is like that. Does whatever dad wants and is sooo popular. The 'golden child' that can do no wrong. Well, he used to be" he adds with a chuckle.

"He 'used to be?', what happened?" Eddie asks leaning forward. This sounded good.

"He did wrong and got a bunch of friends to go along with him, caused a huge mess" Billy said flatly with no expression. He held for about five seconds before they both started giggling. "Dad was really mad. Kicked him out of the house and everything. I mean he forgave him like always, but it was funny for a while."

"I didn't have that issue, but my sister once shaved half her head. Like almost bald."

"Wait, half? You mean one side?" Billy barks.

Eddie starts to snicker and shake his head. "No. She shaved the front. Ear to ear, all the way to her forehead. Could reach the back" he snorts.

Billy joins in the laughter and then Eddie starts talking about some of the others in the pack. Finally, he has a friend of his own to talk to.

Tara walks back into the station after responding to another fun call. Celeste had let her know that apparently a horde of Brownies had arrived in the area and were taking up residence. She really didn't know why she was getting the call, but both of the sisters felt it important to notify her and the Sheriff about their arrival. Tara was going to brush it off when a tiny man popped up, seriously he couldn't be more than two feet tall, and gave her a serious inspection, one that she apparently did not pass based on his tutting and frowns. Celeste introduced him as Mirkle and apparently after his inspection he simply nodded and disappeared in a puff.

"What was that?" she had asked the woman.

Celeste had laughed and told her she now had a roommate. Tara hadn't been amused but the woman had explained that Mirkle had 'claimed' the deputy and would now be taking care of her and her home. She also explained how to 'pay' him. Apparently, she didn't get a vote in any of this. Celeste had tried to soothe her over with a box of her special cream puffs, Tara's favorite she admitted, but she was still peeved. The Sheriff had one too and she was told to speak with him, so she headed back to the station with her treats.

"Oh, what did you bring?" Sandy asked from behind the dispatch desk. The woman had become as addicted as the rest of the station.

"Cream puffs" she replies and sees the other woman's eyes light up before looking regretful.

"That's not good. Those are so dangerous."

Tara laughed but she spotted Martin, Rodriguez and Ryan all trying not to be noticed as they tracked her, well what she was carrying actually. "I don't think you will have to worry, the boys are already eyeing them.

Suddenly determined, Sandy grabbed one of the delectable puffs from the open box Tara was holding to her before she suddenly grabbed a second one. Tara winked, she had already had three on the drive over. Finally placing the box down, she grabbed two, one for the sheriff and one for Parrish before she left the rest defenseless. The other deputies fell on them like piranha as she headed over to the Sheriff with his share.

"Thanks Tara!" Ryan called out. The deputy had a definite weakness for Celeste and Arwen's delicacies. Frowning, she wondered if it was time to bring more deputies in on the secrets. After the Argent girl had told the group about werewolves, she and Parrish had encountered a lot more, but she wasn't sure that the Sheriff had told Martin, Stevens, and Rodriguez about all of the other stuff happening, let alone anyone beyond werewolves. She would have to ask as it would be nice to share the joy of say finding out that dragons were real. Then again, Martin and Rodriguez had been a bit standoffish after seeing Isaac in the station and seemed to be struggling with working with the pack. Maybe it would be better to leave them be until they adapted a bit more to things like she and Parrish had. Strange considering they knew about this stuff for a lot longer.

Phil shuts the door to the hotel room and moves over to the small desk on the side of the room with a sigh of relief. After his rather eventful conversation with the Sheriff and convincing the man to leave the bug alone so that whoever was listening wouldn't try something different, he was tired. First, he had found two other bugs, including one on the Sheriff's jacket before they had slipped outside to argue over them. Stilinski had been ready to go after McCall and arrest him, but Phil had reminded him that they didn't actually have proof it was the agent who had planted the bugs. Besides, knowing they were there allowed them to control the flow of information. They could let them hear worthless info, even some decent info that suited their purposes, while insuring that nothing of consequence would be overheard. The Sheriff had informed Coulson that anything that needed privacy would be done at a bakery in town that he knew. Apparently, the owners were very trustworthy, but Phil had a sneaking suspicion that it was more than that.

Sitting at the desk, he pulls out his tablet and opens it up, establishing a secure link with the new Shield network that Stark had created for them, one that Hydra would be hard pressed to even find, let alone hack. The man was arrogant as hell, but he did amazing work. Phil quickly sorted through the notices and messages and was relieved that nothing seemed to require his immediate attention. He pulled out a USB drive from his pocket and inserted it into his laptop.

Phil smiled when the file explorer box opened up and the folders with various innocent sounding names showed up, all designed to make sure that if it was found, it would be deemed useless. He even knew that if he opened the folders he would see documents, photos, and other files one might expect. But it was a front. He clicked on the item count and typed in the password despite there being no sign that one was expected. But as soon as he did, the real data appeared. Moving to the first file, he opened it and started to read.

Twenty-six minutes later he picks up his phone and dials. "Coulson?" the female voice on the other end answers.

"I'm sending you secured files. Read over them and begin putting together a plan" he instructs as he begins to send the files through their network.

"Anything more specific?" she asks with a resigned sigh used to the man's ways.

"I really don't think I will need to explain May. Call me back in two hours once you have assembled your teams and plans for the strike force."

"You were supposed to be staying out of trouble Phil" Melinda says letting a bit of frustration into her voice.

"A long planted seed is finally bearing fruit May. You are going to like this one" he promises her before hanging up. He smiles, this is going to be fun.

"If you wanted to be alone, we could have just eaten at the loft" Derek says with a smirk. Stiles had declared that they were having an afternoon picnic and had a basket, blanket, and everything. Derek was carrying most of it, of course, but they were now trekking through the woods, about three miles from both the Hale house and Stiles' clearing.

"We are not alone there" Stiles replies with a snort. Between the pack coming and going, Peter and Cora dropping in, not to mention Yvette and the upcoming visit with the Night Lord tomorrow, Stiles wanted a break. And while he loved Usilis for all of the little guy's help, it was a bit weird knowing he was hovering around when he wanted a little private time. "Besides, I need a break from everything."

Derek appreciated that. His own schedule was pretty full. Peter had left this morning to visit the Flores pack and see about setting up meetings with a pack or two in Oregon who had reached out to Alpha Flores after they felt the effect of Stiles' territory growth and the rumors of the High Alphas. Derek was certain however that Peter's real motivation was to be far away from the Lord of the Necromancers in case the man decided that his resurrection violated some rule or another. He was also pretty sure that based on Lizzie and Dr. Strange's comments that the man wouldn't do anything like that. There appeared to be a rather convoluted political dance around all of them and Stiles and the Alpha didn't think that the Night Lord wanted to go to war, which attacking a member of Stiles' pack would pretty much guarantee. But it did give him a little pleasure to see his uncle more than a little flustered about it. "Are you worried about tomorrow?" he finally asks after a few moments of unusual silence from his mate.

Stiles frowns and doesn't immediately respond, but instead shifts their direction and suddenly they are in another little glade next to one of the ponds in the Preserve. Derek remembers coming here to swim with his family and almost laughs at how he forgot about it. "Not really" Stiles finally replies. "I mean I don't think he is here to cause trouble or anything. Yvette has been very polite, but she really hasn't told me anything."

"She may not know" he suggests and Stiles nods.

"Considering how Deaton and Morrell act around Lizzie, you are probably right, but it is a bit weird. I mean Martinique has talked to the High Witch and she is apparently satisfied with what she was told and doesn't appear to want to visit. Lizzie told me, and Wong confirmed, that the Grand Enchanter and Lord Alchemist probably haven't even noticed anything has happened yet. But the Night Lord is really different, everyone is really wary of him and really of all necromancers."

"The spell you used for Peter and me to talk to our family, that was necromancy, right?" Derek asks

Stiles nods. "Shadow necromancy actually. The books talk about Light, Shadow, and Dark" Stiles offers as Derek puts their blanket down and starts getting out the food as he sits down.

"What's the difference? I mean I assume dark is bad?"

"Eh, not really. It's more about intention and methods. Light Necromancy is about guidance and peace. Helping spirits go to their rest, removing hauntings, purify land, that kind of stuff. Dark Necromancy is more about undoing or twisting death. That is where we get zombies, ghouls, ghasts, and the like."

"Vampires?" Derek asks handing Stiles a bottle of water.

"Actually, while vampires use necromantic magic, they aren't actually created by it. More like the 'curse' of werewolves, passed down from sire to spawn." He actually made the finger quotes on that one.

"And Shadow?" Derek prods when Stiles is quiet for a bit.

"It's the in-between. Seances, communing with the dead, prophetic magics, basically anything to do with ancient knowledge. All necromancers can use all three types, but why they do something really determines if they are 'good' or 'bad'" Stiles shares his research.

"Can creating zombies be good?" Derek asks skeptically.

"According to some beliefs" he says easily. "They can be near immortal guardians or protectors. It pretty freaky, but I did read about some of the creatures created by dark necromancy and they are kind of like supernatural vultures or carrion eaters. They are supposed to 'clean things up' I guess." Stiles then proceeds to explain all sorts of fun facts about the undead while Derek is glad that their meal is basically sandwiches, fruit, and chips. He isn't sure he could manage if anything looked even close to guts or brains like pasta.

"So you aren't concerned about tomorrow" Derek asks again after Stiles pauses in his recitation to eat a bit.

He shakes his head, but slowly. "Not concerned, just cautious?" he finally manages to say. "Yvette pretty much said that he isn't mad or anything and just wants to meet me is all. And apparently helping your family find rest was a bigger deal than I realized."

Derek frowns. He didn't really like that others were even in the know but he guesses he has to concede that the most powerful Necromancer probably would be able to figure that kind of thing out. "Bigger how?" he asks instead of complaining.

Stiles leans back until he is laying flat, looking up at the sky. 'The supernatural or magical community often doesn't find peace in death and so their presence upon the earth can be a source of great tragedy for those that encounter the angry remnants.'

Derek looks at Stiles for a second. "That sounded like you were quoting someone."

"I was. Spiritual Magic and the Veil. It was one of the first books I got, actually the one I found the spell I used on you and Peter. Humans, mortals that is, seem to have a much easier time moving on after death. Some hang around, but most don't. For the supes, it's the opposite, few move on and most stay around."

"Doesn't that mean that there should be a lot of undead problems?" Derek asks.

"Sort of. I mean not every leftover can actually do something so sometimes they are just lost souls unable to move on or act out. A few can haunt while others, if they prepared, can become undead. The necromancers usually find those spirits and help them to move on. At least according to Yvette. Most times people never realize that a necromancer has even been around."

"Then why didn't anyone come here after the fire?"

Stiles sits up. "Technically, they would have to have been invited. Since this was Hale territory, they wouldn't trespass. Laura could have called for one if she had known or had stayed around long enough for Deaton to mention it. And, since Peter was still here, the Hales were still 'in possession' of the land so they stayed away. Basically, it is all that political stuff about the different magics not interacting with each other. Not to mention that the necromancers don't have the best reputation." He shrugs like 'what can you do?'

Derek pulls out one of the apples and with a flick of his claw starts to peel it. Stiles stares before laughing at the sight. Derek sighs and rolls his eyes. "It's not a big deal Stiles" he tells his mate.

Gasping for breath, Stiles looks over with tears in his eyes. "I am just imagining you with potatoes or onions. Who needs a knife when you have claws?" He laughs again at the rather disappointed look on Derek's face.

"You know I have knives in my kitchen" he reminds the other man.

"I know, I know. It's just that…." he suddenly drifts off, his eyes unfocusing as he cocks his head like he is listening to something.

Derek, recognizing the signs, opens his own senses. He hears a large number of animals, but then he usually does around Stiles whenever they are in the Preserve. Rabbits, foxes, moles, birds, insects, and even some nearby deer. He can also hear a faint buzzing that tells him that there are a half dozen sprites about a mile away to the east. But nothing else. He takes a deep breath in through his nose and another in his mouth, searching for scents and flavors on the air, but besides them, there is nothing but the forest smells. Soil, trees, flowers, and the animals. He knows that at least from the north and west, there is nothing within five miles that is out of place. South and east is currently downwind, but based on the animal sounds, he doubts anything is near. Since things are clear in the local area, he focuses on his pack, testing the bonds but everything seems normal. No stress or emotional issues from anyone as far as he can tell. He opens his eyes and looks back at Stiles. "Stiles?" he prods gently.

"Something is here. Very close."

Derek stands up and looks around. He would swear that there was nothing, but he trusts Stiles' senses. It might be something that can confuse werewolf senses. "Do you recognize it?" he asks carefully.

Stiles shakes his head, but he finally comes to enough to stand up and start looking around. "No, and it's really hard to figure out. I know I feel something, something powerful, but it is like trying to grab fog. I know it's there, but I can't see or touch it. Only feel the effects."

"Should I call the pack?" he suggests but the teen's body language isn't one who is threatened or fearful.

Stiles concentrates. "No?" he finally asks, not says. "I don't think that is a good idea."

"Mighty One?" a delicate feminine voice calls out behind them and both men spin around to see a dryad standing there. She is tiny, only about four feet tall, with skin like tree bark and flowers in her hair. Her feet are grass stained and her dress appears to be woven of grass and leaves. She seems much more insubstantial than Eriphise appeared when she visited.

"Hello?" Stiles says carefully not wanting to spook the ephemeral being. "Are you what I was sensing?"

She shakes her heads and laughs, a sound like wind blowing through leaves, but still somehow joyful. "No, Lord. They come to speak with you and the Great Wolf. They mean no harm to you."

Derek looks at Stiles who seems to be mouthing the words 'Great Wolf' and an expression like he is planning on having t-shirts made. "We speak to any and all who come in peace to our home" he tells the dryad trying to be serious but non-threatening.

She smiles and dances away, vanishing into the shadows under the trees. Derek and Stiles look at each other before looking around. "Do you sense anything?" Stiles asks in a whisper.

Derek shakes his head. He didn't detect the dryad, but then again, she smells like trees so not sure how much he could help there. But he doesn't see or smell anything.

The two of them are standing there, waiting for what they don't know, and Stiles is about to make a joke about their situation when one of the trees steps out of the shadows, walking towards them. Stiles stops and blinks but it's still there. Once it moves a bit closer, he can see it is less a tree than it is tree-like. It is man shaped, at least Stiles is assuming it's a male with the beard of moss. There are leaves and twigs surrounding him and inside the rather impressive horn/branches on his head. He is wearing some kind of tunic with a appearance like moss and there are pinecones hanging from all over including the gnarled wooden staff he is leaning on. He steps out fully and looks at both of them and bows his head politely.

Derek and Stiles return the bow. "Hello?" Stiles says looking at the…tree spirit?

"Greetings Lord of the Land. Greetings Wolf Walker."

"I am Derek Hale, Alpha of the Hale Pack. This is my mate Stiles Stilinski, Arcanist." He stands tall even though the green man is hunched over and doesn't appear threatening, especially since the shy dryads seem to have vouched for him, but Derek is not about to take any chances.

"It has been a long time since a magical bridge has walked the earth" he says smiling at Stiles. "And almost as long since wolves have declared a High Alpha to follow. You two shake the very earth with your footsteps."

"Sorry?" Stiles says looking embarrassed. He is reminded in many ways of the Queens and he feels that this being deserves respect or at least politeness.

"No apologies are needed. The world calls forth what is right when the need is greatest. A terrible darkness is coming, and she needs you to hold onto the light through the coming storm."

Stiles really doesn't like the sound of that. "What darkness?" Derek asks as his eyes flash crimson.

"I do not know Walker" he says with a sigh. "I cannot see clearly what is to come, only that it does. It is beyond my powers, but your actions here are changing the land, restoring it to a state not seen in centuries. It calls to us."

"I don't mean to be rude, but who are you?" Stiles asks finally unable to hold it back. He thinks he should know who the man is.

He smiles. "I have been called many things. The Green Man by some. The people of your mother and father called me Leshy" he says to Stiles who suddenly recognizes the name. "All are both right and wrong. I am a warden of the green, caring for the forests of the earth. A servant of nature. When the dryads here awoke, their songs called to me and I came."

"Are you alone?" Derek asks looking around but not spotting anyone. But then he hears something moving in the woods. He looks around sharply but then the Leshy chuckles.

"You will have no greater success catching that one than your pack did Walker" the Leshy laughs. Derek stares at the green man.

"Wait? The thing that has been chasing my pack around that Stiles hasn't been able to find? It's real? Another Leshy like you?" Derek demands. Stiles looks surprised but also looks at the Leshy.

He shakes his head. "No Walker. I am the only of my kind. You may call me Iskender. My companion today is Mielikkar. He is another Guardian of the woods."

"But he's been here a lot longer. Even before we realized the dryads were here" Stiles says looking around and stretching his own senses. But he can't spot anything easier. Iskender is hard enough to spot and the Leshy is only a few feet away. His nature magic makes him blend into the land so smoothly that Stiles can't pick him out with his magic. This Mielikkar must be the same.

"He came the night of your ascension Lord. He was part of the ritual of the Queens. He is how they bound you to this land in truth" Iskender explains.

Derek and Stiles both look confused and stunned. "But I thought it was Derek" Stiles says while Derek shakes his head.

"It was. The Queens said it was a three-fold ritual. Birth, Blood, and Breath. He was born here, he bonded with the land using his blood, and I bit him and accepted him as the sign of the land's acceptance of him" Derek says remembering that night.

"All true Walker. But while you are a champion of the land, you are not it's only one. The Nemeton once stood here, a most ancient and powerful wellspring of magic and life. Your pack was born, fought, bled, and died here, and in any other place, that connection would have been enough. But these lands are home to ancient and powerful magic. They host one of the few remaining true Nemetons left in this world. And those wellsprings of magic for the world change what can be."

"Wait, what do you mean 'one of the few remaining'?" Stiles said feeling a hint of panic.

Iskender looked miserable. "Man's actions have caused much damage to the land, sea, and air, but none as great as the loss of the Nemetons. Where once twenty-seven stood, wellsprings of magic and life, collectors and givers of both, now only five remain. This one was dying until you took on it's burden and now, with your lungs breathing air, your heart pumping blood, you are helping cleanse and restore the magic. That is why the lands here are reacting so strongly."

"So this Mielikkar helped out that night, even though we didn't see him?" Derek finally manages to put together.

"Yes."

"Did the Queens or Lizzie call him?" Stiles asks looking grateful, if confused.

"No Lord. No Queen of the Fae would dare do such a thing. It would be a crime most foul. Nor would the Morgaine. Such an action would be an act most profane. Mielikkar cannot be compelled or forced by any power, neither captured nor held. The most powerful magics would simply slide off him and fail their master's intention and instead serve him. Even your power Lord, even here in the center where your power is greatest, you cannot force him. He chose you to receive his blessing, for he wishes you success in your efforts."

"Uh, okay. Well, thank you!" he calls out to the woods. "I really appreciate your blessing!"

Derek looks like a cross between embarrassed, worried, and mortified. "Stiles" he growls lowly but out of the corner of his eye he catches a flash of bright white and starts to turn but then freezes.

"Hey, I'm being polite" Stiles replies not noticing Derek's reaction. "If this guy helped me out, I want to say thank you even if he is shy. I mean he apparently likes to give the pack the run around, which is actually kind of funny if you think about it. I mean everyone has been chasing after him and not even getting a glimpse of the guy." He stops and looks at Iskender. "Is he a guy? I mean you said he earlier, but you are kind of a guy, I mean you look person shaped. But Frommenth is a guy and he isn't guy shaped." Derek grabs for his arm but Stiles dodges. "Dave is a guy too and though big and hairy, he is still pretty guy shaped. The Centaurs aren't, not really. They are half-guy shaped wouldn't you say Derek?" he asks and hears a small whine and looks over at the Alpha who is standing there frozen.

"Derek? Dude? What's wrong?" he asks looking at Derek who doesn't move or respond. Stiles comes around and sees Derek staring ahead but the expression on his face is indescribable. One of exaltation and disbelief. "Derek" Stiles tries again much more gently but the Alpha doesn't even blink.

Stiles slowly turns to follow Derek's line of sight and sees the flash of white before he finally looks and he freezes at the sight. There, standing under the trees in a shaft of the afternoon sun is a sight that sucks the very air out of his lungs.

At a guess, he is pretty sure that this is Mielikkar, even though he is definitely not guy-shaped. He stands about six and a half feet from his four feet to the tips of his ears on his head. And he is white, a white that Stiles has never really seen anywhere but he cannot believe is actually real, nothing could stay that clean, but he is. His coat glows like mother of pearl in moonlight and his hooves are black, but that only makes the white coat even brighter. His mane and tail are thick strands of white, metallic silver, and some kind of iridescence that seems to be all colors at the same time. And his eyes, good god those eyes! Large, deep, and a midnight blue-purple that seem to hold the answers to every question you could possibly think of. And there in the middle of his head is a both delicate and fierce twirling horn of white iridescence like his mane. Every description, drawing, movie, or fan page that Stiles has ever seen depicting a Unicorn failed to utterly capture the majesty of it standing there in front of them.

"This is Mielikkar" Iskender says gently. "He wishes to speak with you both."

"Okay, let's go over this whole lost Nemetons explanation again" Lydia says flipping to a clean sheet of paper on her notepad.

"Lydia! It's been two hours! I need a break!" Stiles says dropping his head to the table top with a loud thump. It's not like he doesn't understand. He and Derek had called the pack in after they got back from the meeting to update everyone and they had all showed up, minus Peter and Eddie, and were significantly surprised by their alphas' news.

Everyone had been excited to learn what Erica and Boyd had first seen had been identified and was a friendly, but the blonde had been a bit annoyed that they hadn't gotten to actually see it. Everyone had questions and demanded Stiles go over everything multiple times. Jackson, Scott, and Boyd had lasted about 20 minutes before they drifted off and started quietly playing video games. Cora and Erica lasted another 15 before they both got bored and left. Allison and Isaac had stayed through the first hour, but they didn't last much longer. Lydia however appeared to be willing to go marathon distance with this. Stiles was fairly certain that a big part of it was that she was pissed off that she had once again missed out on meeting someone. Especially someone like Mielikkar.

"Enough Lydia. You can continue later" Derek says cutting them both off before either could say anything else. "Besides, it might be worth it to give us some time to digest everything we were told. We might remember more details" he suggests and Stiles holds in the laughter at seeing the suspicion in the Banshee's eyes as she tries to figure if Derek is being honest or manipulating her.

"This is important Derek" she reminds him.

"Agreed. When a living embodiment of life itself shows up to talk to you, it reminds you that you are not as big a deal as you thought you were, and you can say that it made an impact" he tells her.

Surprisingly, it is Jackson who looks up and over at that. "What do you mean not a big deal? I mean it came to you didn't it?"

Derek looks at his beta and nods. "He did, but as we've been trying to tell all of you. Being in his presence was like nothing I have experienced. Not even the Queens made me feel that way. If you could imagine what 'right' feels like as a being, he was it. I think if he told me that he needed to run me through with his horn because it was necessary, I am not sure I would argue."

The other pack members looked more than a little concerned at that statement. "Derek…" Scott says slowly "…that's not right. Nothing should be able to do that."

Derek shakes his head and looks at Stiles for help in explaining this. "It's not that Scotty. It's just that if he did ask, there is would be no doubt whatsoever that it was the truth and that there was no other way, that it was the right thing to do. You know me, you know how suspicious I am of everything and everyone" he says with a shrug.

Everyone nods in agreement at that. "Well, I trust him. 100%. You can't meet him and not. He is literally goodness made real. It's just hard to explain how it felt."

"Lord?" a piping voice says softly and Stiles looks over and sees the Brownie standing there with a look of awe on his face and holding a wooden box with absolute devotion.

"Usilis? What is it?" Stiles asks going over to the Brownie and kneeling down.

"I was told to bring you this. A gift to the new Lord of the Land. From one Guardian to another" he adds and holds out the small box, no bigger than a deck of cards.

Stiles takes the box, a warm brown color and smooth surface, almost like it has been polished, and gently opens the lid.

"Stiles, be careful" Scott shouts looking nervous.

Stiles sucks in his breath at the contents and then looks over at Lydia. "This might help you understand" he says and holds out the box.

Lydia, looking curious, comes over and looks in and gasps. "Stiles, is that what I think it is?"

"A treasure beyond words or price. Worth more than anything" he says as he looks over at Derek and hands him the box.

The alpha looks down and gasps, inhaling deeply and feeling a sense of absolute rightness flood through him. That scent! "Stiles" he whispers looking at his mate.

"I know Derek. But it is a gift that if used right, can do wonderful things."

"Oh god, what is it?" Erica demands, no longer able to hold it in and she rushes to Derek who shows her the box. She squeals in delight. The others rush over to see the small wooden box. Inside, sitting on the bare wood of the plain box, are several long iridescent hairs.

"Uh…what are those?" Jackson asks confused. Scott and Boyd both seem to agree with the beta while everyone else looks annoyed at them.

"They are strands of hair from Mielikkar" Stiles says respect clear in his voice. "Unicorn hairs."

There are several oos and ahs from the others, but no one tries to touch them. The wolves all inhale the scent of the hairs and Stiles can see the moment that smell hits them by the almost drunken swaying that follows. "Wow" Scott whispers. "Dude, did he really smell like that?" he asks Derek.

"No" Derek says and the other wolves all look a bit disappointed. "It was so much more. This is the barest whisper" he says dreamily. The pack all look fascinated and Stiles sees both Erica and Isaac taking another sniff.

"What will you do with them?" Cora asks curiously.

"I'm not sure. For now, we will put them someplace safe. But they are unbreakable. They cannot be cut, burned, or damaged in any way. I am going to have to do some serious research about it" he says with a sigh.

"So…about the Nemetons" Lydia says slyly and Stiles gives her a dirty look.

"Where is he?" Araya Calaveras quietly demanded of the three men in front of her.

The men all looked uncomfortable and were trying to avoid their Matriarch's gaze, but she wasn't having it. The men knew that angering her was not in anyone's best interests.

"I am not going to ask again. Where is my son?" her voice was calm, but then again she didn't need to make threats. She kept a tight rein on her hunters but her son had been acting out of character. And then he along with four of her hunters had disappeared. He had been rather annoyed after her return from the Council meeting as she hadn't taken him with her as he was dealing with a problem in the south, but she knew he had been angry at California being declared off-limits.

"He went on a hunt" Miguel finally broke and told her.

"I see" she replies leaning back in her chair and looking at the man. "And where is this hunt, exactly?"

Miguel looks at the other men, but they are avoiding his gaze, hoping to perhaps avoid the Matriarch's wrath by remaining silent. It doesn't work. With a glance, her man steps up and knocks Diego to the ground, grabbing him and pulling out a knife, shocking the other two men.

"Lake Tahoe" Miguel says quickly.

Araya narrows her eyes. Her son surely cannot be so stupid as to go against the edit of the Council. An Interdict means that she cannot act or interfere, or worse, take vengeance. She turns to Joaquim "Get ahold of my son or any of his hunters and tell them to return immediately."

"Do you want me to send a team?" Joaquim asks.

Araya pauses. She wants to. She really does. But if everything she learned is true, she could be starting a war on her doorstep that by the Code she would be without allies or aid. "No. That is too close to the Interdict. If they have entered California, then they are disavowed" she states flatly. The men all look shocked at that. The Calaveras are strict to the Code, but Severo is her eldest son.

Damn it, Araya thinks. She didn't even get to explain why the damn place was forbidden. Her fool of a son has run off, quite likely to his death, not knowing that it's not the pack that's the threat, it's the boy. And knowing her son, it is unlikely that he will even think to consider a human dangerous. But there may be another way. She cannot send her people there, but she has other contacts. Contacts that are not hunters who could try and intercept her son. She dismisses the men, urging Joaquim to make every effort while she considers her best chance of success.