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The Nemeton noticed the pattern before Stiles did. It was subtle, so Stiles didn't feel too bad about not noticing.
"Something's not right out in the Preserve," Stiles told Peter over breakfast. "The Nemeton reached out and nudged me about it last night."
"What does 'not right' mean?" Peter frowned. "There's been nothing on the wards."
Stiles shrugged. "It's an intelligent tree. Not like I'm getting a memo. Could be anything."
"True. When do you want to check it out?"
"After breakfast is fine," Stiles replied. "It felt... more curious than urgent, if that makes sense?"
"Like you say, it's a tree. It could be anything," Peter smiled.
"I'll call Julie and see if she can watch Jamie while we're gone," Stiles said. "I think Rob's on day shifts this week and Sarah should be in school. Julie should be free to babysit."
Eighteen-month-old Jamie was happy to see Julie when she came into the Den, even if Julie's teenage daughter Sarah was his favorite babysitter. Jamie clapped his hands and babbled happily at her. She scooped down to pick him up. Then she wrinkled her nose. "Hey! Your papas are mean to both of us. You need a diaper change!" Julie was a 'wolf and dirty diapers were essentially a bio-hazard.
Stiles grinned. "You're like ten minutes early and I was just going to do that."
She shrugged. "I'll do it. You're clearly off to do something important and probably the sooner you can leave, the better you'll feel."
"I'll give you that," Stiles admitted. "Thanks. We'll probably be at least a couple of hours. I don't think it's dangerous, but, well..."
"Yes, I know!" Julie nodded. "I already had dinner in the crock pot and the kids will be fine if they get home before I do. I texted them both to let them know I'm here if they need me. And Rob won't be home until at least six. So I'm yours for the day!"
"Thank you!" Peter scented both Julie and Jamie as he went with Stiles to get ready.
Despite the not urgent feel of the message, Stiles made sure they were fully kitted out for any eventuality. That meant leather jackets, waterproof hiking boots, weapons both magical and mundane, and a backpack with both water and meal bars. Although Stiles thought Peter looked particularly hot in his fitted leather jacket and handgun in a thigh holster -- they found it always unexpected when a 'wolf pulled a gun. By Peter's smug smile, he knew it, too.
It was a cool, Spring day and the walk out to the Nemeton was actually nice. The sun was shining and nothing seemed out of place or unusual during their hike, which made Stiles a bit antsy.
"Not seeing anything," Stiles sighed as they stopped along the way. He stood still for a moment before making a slow, full turn as he scanned the area.
"Well, you did say it didn't feel urgent," Peter said patiently.
"Well, as long as we're here, we can check out the Nemeton itself. Maybe I can get more information with proximity."
"That's why we're here," Peter agreed.
Stiles took the long way through the Preserve to the tree. It was as good an excuse as any to check out some of the boundaries of the Preserve and to go through some of the less-traveled areas. Stiles was huffing slightly as they climbed over the edge of one ravine. Peter hauled him over the edge and they stood together.
"It's beautiful out here," Stiles said.
"It is," Peter agreed with a small smile. "It's good to keep at least some of this space pristine and unused."
They had disturbed some small animals along the way. Since it was Spring, there were flowers blooming and birds flitted high up in the canopy of the trees.
"Okay, just over the next rise," Stiles said.
"I'm not sure we've come this way before," Peter commented.
"Well, not doing that ravine alone if I can help it," Stiles admitted with a grin. "It's sort of an emergency access to the Nemeton but I've not come this way before myself. I knew it was here, just too dangerous on my own."
"We might be able to set up an emergency cache there," Peter said. "I'll bring Derek back here and we can check into it. I'd like to see what he thinks."
"I don't think it gets a lot of water, since the bottom wasn't too wet," Stiles nodded. "That is probably a good idea."
"Since it's near-ish to the tree, it should be safe from people."
"And I can set some wards to keep any animals from getting into it."
"Good. Now, how much further?"
"Just over there," Stiles pointed.
"Okay, go and do your thing," Peter said. "I'll do a patrol."
"Thanks!" Stiles leaned in for a soft kiss before Peter walked off.
Stiles took off the back pack and set his weapons to be at hand before he settled down next to the tree. Especially at the Nemeton, Stiles knew he had to be prepared for anything. He patted the stump gently. "Okay, let's see what's going on." He leaned back and closed his eyes.
The sun had moved significantly before he opened his eyes again. He blinked for a minute and then opened the back pack to grab some water and a meal bar. He was tired, but in a good way. He had finished the bottle of water and the bar before Peter came up to him.
"So?"
Stiles shrugged. "I think we have a baby magic user in town," he said. "They can't get to the tree but they're in the Preserve, attempting a spell of some sort. They've been here about three times, maybe four. Once a month and just after the full moon."
"That's the waning gibbous moon," Peter commented.
Stiles nodded. "Whatever they're doing, it's... personal, I think. So it's for themselves and not against anyone."
"That's good."
"Whatever they're doing, they don't have enough power to actually complete the spell," Stiles went on. "There's a sense of frustration with the last attempt, which is what finally drew the attention of the Nemeton."
"Any idea of who it might be?"
"Nope. Sorry. The tree doesn't have any sense of the human side of the person, just that the effort is under powered."
"What would cause that?" Peter asked as he helped Stiles get to his feet.
"Two major factors. One is that the person really is a low-powered magic user and what they're attempting is beyond them," Stiles outlined as he packed up his empty bottle and wrapper.
"Drink some more," Peter said firmly.
Stiles gave a wry grin and took another bottled water out of the pack. "The other reason is that it's someone who hasn't grown into their powers. Like a teenager or, less likely, someone in their early twenties."
"Which means it's someone we should be on the lookout for," Peter frowned.
"Yes. To make sure they don't do something harmful, if nothing else," Stiles agreed. "There's still lots of garbage on the internet about using magic. If they're trying a spell they found on the internet, it's probably not going to work. The dangerous part is if it works badly."
"How likely is that?"
"Meh. If it wasn't for the wards in general, they'd radiate power and attract something dangerous before they'd get their spell to work. So we're at least protecting them and us from that happening. If it was something deliberately dangerous, the tree should recognize that and would have let me know." Stiles shrugged. "It's something we need to take care of but we now have to wait until next month to catch them at it."
"I'll make sure Derek is available to stay with Jamie after the next full moon, since we'll probably have to camp out at least a couple of nights to catch them," Peter said.
"It's definitely not the night of the full moon but the waning gibbous moon is seven days," Stiles sighed. "So it could be any night in that window."
"Do we know where they were?"
"Only vaguely," Stiles admitted. "And since the spell was a bust, there won't be much residual magic to trace. We won't get enough information to be worth the work."
"Okay, then. I'll make sure we have some comfortable camping gear," Peter said. "It'll be warmer in another month, so that will be better."
"And in another month it will be rainier," Stiles pointed out. "So plan on it being wet."
"I'll take that into consideration," Peter promised dourly.
Stiles laughed.
Stiles let his dad know what was going on, just as a precaution.
"Do you need me to do anything?" John asked as Jamie climbed all over his grandfather.
"Nah. I'm pretty confident it's a teen and he or she hasn't learned enough to be dangerous," Stiles replied easily. "If I can't control them, the Nemeton will help. I just wanted to let you know in case it's someone trying to do something dangerous."
"So I can be the bad cop?" John teased.
"No, I'll be the bad cop," Stiles said seriously. "By the time I'd be done with them, they'll be glad to be turned over to you."
"Ah!" John nodded.
They didn't talk a lot about how powerful Stiles was, although Jamie was evidence of that. It was easy for John to sometimes forget the powerhouse his son was. And that Peter was no slouch himself. Spending time with them as family made it easy to see them as just people and not the supernatural power couple that they were.
The night of the next full moon was clear but the weather prediction included rain on and off over the next week.
"Lucky us," Stiles moaned. "We'll be swimming in the Preserve."
"Do you think the rain might discourage our problem child?" Peter asked.
Stiles shrugged. "Depends on what they're trying to do and how 'desperate' they're feeling about it. If it's a teenager, then the desperation may drive them to try again no matter what the weather."
Derek came to stay with them a week before the full moon. He had been spending time with Cora in South America, as well as simply traveling. But he was glad to help Stiles and Peter out when Peter called and explained what they needed to do.
Stiles prepared a space for them to camp out, putting up wards so they wouldn't be noticed. Peter arranged for a small tent and sleeping bags, knowing that the dampness would make it cool. He also had a small cooler of food and drink, to help them stay awake. They could talk softly if needed but they mostly needed to be silent. Stiles was actually relying on the Nemeton to let him know if their 'problem child' showed up.
"I think we've had record rainfall this week," Stiles complained. "I'm tired of being cold and wet."
"At least you're not running for your life," Peter pointed out.
"There is that," Stiles conceded. "But I'd be warmer if I were running."
"It's just boring," Peter added. "One more night and the moon moves away from waning gibbous."
"And the weather forecast is for even more rain," Stiles sighed. "I'm guessing the weather is keeping them away."
"Then we try again next month," Peter said practically.
"True."
Another frustrating night and they had to give up and wait another month.
Rather than go away and come back, Derek hung around for the month. Stiles knew Peter wouldn't always admit it but he was glad when Derek would stay with them for an extended time.
Fortunately, the weather was predicted to be reasonable just after the next full moon.
"I think I had mushrooms growing between my toes," Stiles complained.
"It wasn't all that bad," Peter rolled his eyes. "I was there, too."
Stiles leaned in for a kiss. "Yes, you were! Thank you!"
"Hey! Take that upstairs!" Derek protested. "There are other people in this house!"
Stiles grinned and dragged Peter back to their room. Not that Peter protested.
"Thank the Moon it's both warm and dry this time," Stiles said as they settled into their camping space.
It was the third night after the full moon that it finally happened.
"They're here!" Stiles said softly. "This way!" He pointed.
"I'll be off to your left," Peter reminded him.
Stiles slowly made his way to the source of the magic. He crept along, avoiding making noise until he came to the source.
"Well, hell," Stiles swore to himself as he saw the source of their problem.
They were smaller than almost any teen would be, so a child. Damn. They were curled in a ball, weeping softly. Stiles moved closer.
"Hey, little one..." Stiles said gently.
The boy startled and scrambled to his feet, ready to run.
Stiles held his hands out. "I'm not here to hurt you. We're just checking up on who's in our forest."
"We?" The boy frowned.
Peter ghosted up from the far side. "We're just checking. Promise."
The boy looked between them.
"I'm Stiles and this is Peter," Stiles said. "It's kinda our property and we're just checking to see who's on it. Especially at night."
The kid sighed, too world-weary for his age. "I'm Luis. I just... it's like your forest wanted me to be here. It's nice." There was a light Spanish-flavored accent to that statement.
"Nicer than home?" Stiles asked.
A shrug. "It's a foster home. They're okay but..." That trailed off and silent tears fell.
"What happened?" Stiles prompted Luis.
"Mama and I were moving to live with Tia Elisabetha in Oregon. We were taking the bus but, Mama, she got real sick. We didn't have much money so we were staying in a shelter and the people there called an ambulance and sent her to a hospital. I waited at the shelter a couple of days but no one could tell me anything. So I tried to find the hospital so I could be with her and I got lost. Immigration people think I'm an illegal but I'm not!"
"How'd you end up in Beacon Hills?" Stiles asked.
"Immigration first put me in one of their so-called shelters and then there was some kind of a church group that adopted a bunch of us. I got picked by the O'Hanrahans and, well, here I am." Luis scuffed a foot in the leaves.
"What were you doing out here, then?" Stiles asked. "It could have been dangerous."
"Nah," Luis grinned through his tears. "The forest feels friendly. And Mama and I would often go out into the woods to talk to the Moon goddess. She told me it was best just after the full moon because she would hear my wishes that way."
Ah! Wish magic! Sometimes the most powerful magic of all.
"Do the O'Hanrahans know you're out here?" Peter asked.
Luis blushed and shook his head. "I sneacked out the window of my room. It was easy."
"How about if you come home with us tonight?" Peter offered. "We can make hot chocolate and we can figure out what to do next."
"The O'Hanrahans are going to be disappointed in me if I don't go back," Luis warned.
"Some people need to be disappointed," Peter said solemnly.
Stiles bit down the laugh he wanted to give.
Luis did laugh, so Stiles counted that as a win.
"Come back with us and we'll do what we can," Stiles urged, holding out a hand.
Luis looked up at the moon and then nodded. "She says I can trust you." He took Stiles' hand.
Stiles looked up and then back at Luis. "She says I can trust you, too!"
Luis' eyes got big but he didn't let go of Stiles.
They made their way back to the Den and went to the kitchen.
"I think I promised some hot chocolate," Peter said, getting out the necessary pots and ingredients.
Luis looked interested. "I've only had the instant kind, what are you doing?"
Peter explained about heating milk and using multiple kinds of chocolate as Stiles withdrew from the kitchen. He called his dad.
"Dad? Hate to wake you but we found the person in the Preserve and it's a kid!" Stiles said. "I haven't asked yet, but he's like only eight or nine!"
"What do you need me to do?" John asked.
"He's being fostered by the O'Hanrahans. He snuck out his bedroom window -- " Stiles blushed when John laughed -- "and they're going to miss him by morning. We have him here for now."
"Right. I remember something about a church group taking in a handful of illegal kids a few months ago," John replied.
"Luis says he's not illegal but that's for later," Stiles said. "Can you contact the O'Hanrahans and make sure they're okay if we keep Luis for a few days. He's got enough magic that he's going to need training soon and I'm going to bet the O'Hanrahans aren't in the know."
"Probably not," John agreed. "I think that was a pretty fundamentalist Christian church and would be horrified to know what's really out there. They aren't haters, I don't think, just... just not liberal thinkers."
"Yeah, I'm guessing that from the little we've already talked," Stiles sighed. "They'll be disappointed if they find Luis has been out in the woods in the middle of the night."
"Okay, let me get dressed and I'll go there," John said. "It's almost five anyway and if I'm waking them up, it hopefully isn't too bad. Rob's on overnights this week and I'll let him know to send any calls my way."
"Thanks!" Stiles said. "Come by and you can meet him. Seems like a good kid."
"I will," John said.
Stiles went back to the kitchen to listen to Luis and Peter debating whether mini-marshmallows were better than full sized marshmallows in hot cocoa.
Stiles's phone rang a short while later.
"The O'Hanrahans are insisting on seeing Luis," John said formally.
"Sure, you can bring them here," Stiles nodded. Because of the protections around the Den, the Sheriff could bring people there but they wouldn't be allowed access on their own.
"Luis?" Stiles said to get his attention. "My dad's the Sheriff and he went to see the O'Hanrahans to let them know where you are."
Luis shrunk back into his chair.
"I think you should stay with us," Stiles went on, which lowered Luis' shoulders a bit. "But they really want to see you and, legally, I think we have to let them."
"You won't send me away?" Luis asked with a warble in his voice.
"Nope," Stiles promised. "But they do need to know you're safe and well taken care of."
Luis nodded reluctantly. "Okay. I guess."
"And I suspect, you're supposed to go to school?" Peter asked.
Luis nodded. "But I'm ahead, so I can miss a couple of days."
Stiles grinned. He wanted to dig into that!
John drove up about half an hour later. The O'Hanrahans got out of the cruiser and waited for John as they walked toward the house.
"Come in," Peter invited. They had already warned Derek about mundane company and to keep Jamie upstairs while they visited.
"Luis." Even Stiles could hear the disappointment from Charlotte O'Hanrahan.
"Are you okay?" Patrick O'Hanrahan asked. "You gave us quite a scare, disappearing like that!" At least that was a better reaction, Stiles figured.
"Mr. Stiles and Mr. Peter found me!" Luis nodded. "I... I just missed my mom so much and I wanted to go into the woods like we used to." He looked down at his hands.
"Luis tells us he's not an illegal alien," Peter said. "I have the resources to look for his mother and check his story out. He seems to be a good kid who's ended up in a bad situation. You've done the best you can," he added hastily, "but I think it will require some work to find his family for him."
"The church is supposed to be doing that," Patrick replied. "But there were half a dozen children brought to Beacon Hills and another couple dozen to other towns. So I know their resources are stretched."
"We can look into that," Peter said. "But we can start with Luis and see what we can find."
Patrick went over and crouched in front of Luis. "We do love you, Luis but I think you're old enough to at least have a say in this."
"If they can find my Mama..." Luis said hesitantly. "I'd like to stay here for a while."
"We can bring him to visit any time," Stiles offered. "Especially if there are other children he's been playing with?"
Charlotte shook her head. "Our daughter is grown and moved away. So it's just the two of us. And Luis."
Stiles turned to Luis. "How about we all get some sleep and then we can go to the O'Hanrahans and talk some more later this afternoon?"
Luis nodded shyly.
"If that would be acceptable to you?" Peter asked the O'Hanrahans.
Charlotte gave a sharp nod and Patrick shrugged and said, "Sure! Not a problem. Whatever is best for Luis."
"We'd love to take you out to dinner, then," Stiles offered. "I'd like to get to know you better and we can make informal arrangements for Luis' care. I don't want to steal a kid from you."
"Let us talk about it?" Patrick asked with a look at Charlotte.
"Not a problem at all!" Stiles agreed easily.
They settled on time to meet later, John demurring since he had to work at that point. The O'Hanrahans got back into the cruiser and waved as they left. Luis waved back.
Back inside, Stiles sat Luis down. "Okay, first of all, we are going to get some sleep before we do anything." Luis nodded. "We have a room upstairs you can use. Then we'll go to the O'Hanrahans and we will need to talk to them about what they might know and who to contact in their church. Peter and I won't just give you back, we'll talk to you before we do anything. We can't make any promises, but we can help look for your mom and your Tia Elisabetha. And we'll talk about that school thing somewhere along the way. Okay?"
Luis nodded and smiled at Stiles. "Okay!"
Stiles tucked Luis into bed, after washing him up and finding some clothes to change into. "Call if you need, we're just down the hall. There are other people in the house but they won't bother you."
"Read me a story?" Luis asked.
Stiles laughed. "Sure! Let me get a book!"
Once Luis was settled, Stiles climbed into his own bed, next to Peter.
"Huh. Looks like we're going to have another kid for a bit," Stiles said.
"Only you!" Peter grinned before kissing him.