For Sharp Edges

He had no idea how long he’d been on the road. Tyler Lockwood had nothing more than just the clothes on his back and bag with some hastily crammed clothes into it. The young man was a hybrid. To anyone watching him along the side of the road trying to hitch a ride, would never realize that two different creatures lived inside this young man who was running away from his troubles. He was a werewolf by birth but also now a vampire because of a cruel twist of fate.

As his steps continued along the side of the highway, he had no idea where he was. OH he knew he was in the United States, but he didn’t know if he was in Virginia or wherever the hell else, his running had gotten him. Fortunately though, with his status as a hybrid, he didn’t have to worry about changing with the full moon. Being a hybrid had solved that issue.

He could hear the sound of a car coming from behind him as he walked. Lucky thing was that not only was his hearing better as a werewolf, but toss the vampire into it and he could hear a fly taking a p/iss on a decaying piece of food someone tossed out of their car while they were driving down this long stretch of road that had mountains surrounding it. Tyler turned around and stuck out his thumb when the car got close enough. When the car sped up just to spin dust in his face, he started cursing louder than anything before. “REALLY? REALLY?” He turned back around kicking at a few rocks as he continued his walk.

He pulled the bag over his shoulder higher because of his anger and disgust at everything. He wished that he didn’t have to leave Mystic Falls. He knew he couldn’t be there because of what had happened. Klaus Mikaelson, the author of his condition as a hybrid had ordered Tyler to bite his girlfriend knowing good and damned well that it would end up possibly killing her. Klaus didn’t care about it. All that the hybrid cared about was his war and winning everything no matter what the cost. The image on the face of Caroline Forbes when they both realized that he bit her was absolutely horrifying. Caroline was only a vampire. The bite of a werewolf was deadly to a vampire. Klaus had ordered Tyler to kill the girl he loved. Instead of being strong enough to overcome that command, Tyler fell in compliance like a good little soldier. He couldn’t stay after what he’d done. Caroline wouldn’t be safe as long as Tyler was nearby and he hated Klaus for it.

Stomping harder with each step, Tyler was determined to find a way to break this sire bond with Klaus. Klaus was his sire. He turned Tyler into this… this thing he was now. He was stronger, faster and better than both werewolves and vampires now because he was both monsters in one. What ruined the whole thing was his damned tie to Klaus. It was too bad he couldn’t just kill the bastard and be done with it. If Klaus died, so would he. “Convenient.” He muttered to himself. It was no wonder that the Original Hybrid lived for as long as he did. He changed people into monsters and left them to protect his sorry a/ss. But still, Tyler was determined that there had to be another way out of this. He was heading in the direction that Jules and Brady had told him were more wolves. Wolves tended to like the woods a lot, so the only woods he knew of even close to Mystic Falls were in Tennessee and North Carolina. The Great Smoky Mountains was his destination. He just had to find a way to get there. Leaving his own car behind was not the best decision he’d ever made, but it wouldn’t be hard for anyone to find him using credit card receipts as he stopped for gasoline. He couldn’t risk any of that, so he left on foot and hoped for the best.

Another car was coming up behind him. Tyler turned around to find another car approaching. He stuck his thumb out hoping that this would actually work this time. Much to his surprise, a car began to slow down for him. With a spring in his step, Tyler raced to the door. He was happy to see an older man sitting behind the wheel of the car. He had mostly white hair with a hint of black in the middle of the white that was curly. The shade of the mustache under his lip matched the hair that was on top of his head. He had quite a bit of hair for a man who was obviously in his 70s which made Tyler smile. Friendly chocolate hues looked back to the young man as he stood at the window of the old Ford Aerostar minivan. “Need a lift?” The old horn rimmed glasses had been back in style now, but Tyler had a distinct feeling that this gentleman had gotten these first hand when he was a youth some time ago. “Hop in.” The man told him.

“I really appreciate it!” Tyler opened the door and climbed inside. The low music of Hank Williams Sr. played from an CD player that seemed oddly out of place in this older model minivan. He smiled back at this man who helped him out in the middle of his time of trouble and inane self pity. “How close am I to The Smokies?” He asked of the older gentleman.

“Not too far.” The man replied to him. “Is that where you’re heading?” There was something deeply welcoming about the older man to Tyler. Judging by the state of his minivan and the lines of age on the man’s face, Tyler easily surmised that he was someone’s dad and granddad, maybe even a great granddad which put the younger man at ease. “A young wolf such as yourself is far away from his pack.” The man observed.

Tyler was surprised when the man sized him up as a werewolf. “Yeah, you could say I am.” He canted his head to the side much in the way that a dog would do in sizing up a situation before him. “You..you’re a werewolf too?” Tyler began to see the smaller things that only someone would really see if knowing where to look.

The older man chuckled warmly. “That I am. Found out when I was in the Mekong Delta. Helluva way to find out that you’re a werewolf in the middle of a Police Action. But I ended up serving my tour and coming back home in one piece. Been home 50 years now.” He nodded at the young wolf as he continued driving down the road.

Tyler was momentarily stunned by the fact that he’d found another wolf this easily, or well this wolf found him. Jules and Brady were right about heading to the mountains after all. “Where’s your pack?” He asked oddly curious.

“Oh they’re around. Pack life is important for you to derive your strength from Son. Don’t let anyone else tell you different.” It was pretty obvious that the young wolf had no pack and was still fairly new in this entire lifestyle. He took a few turns and pulled up at a bar. He put the minivan in park. “Several packs call this place home. If you head in there, you’ll find someone that should help you with what troubles you. Just remember that your strength is in the pack. Those are the only bonds you can truly trust.” He started to reach into his wallet and handed the young man a twenty dollar bill. “Take this. Get them to make you a cheeseburger with fries and drink a draft beer on me, Alright?”

Tyler was grabbing his bag and raised his hand to open the door. The extended greenback was there in the middle of the air. “I can’t do that to you. You don’t know me.”

The older man insisted. “I don’t have to know you to know you’re in trouble and need help. It’s the thing about being a wolf. It’s all about family.” He held out that bill closer to the young man in his passenger’s seat.

Tyler took the money offered him and stuffed it in his pocket. “I really appreciate this. You just don’t know.” The gesture touched him more than anything else ever had. “My name is Tyler.” He held out a hand to shake the older man’s in friendship.

The older man shook his hand in friendship. “It’s good to meet you Tyler. I’m Thomas. You’ll be in good hands here. I promise.” A hint of gold flashed from the man’s rich brown eyes that was in no wise threatening. “We’ll likely see each other again soon, I’m sure.”

Tyler smiled at the older man as he climbed out of the van shutting the door. He waved at Thomas as he drove away. He then pulled his bag back over his shoulder and headed into the bar. He put in his order for the cheeseburger, fries and a draft and then locate a table off by himself to sit. He actually felt oddly at ease. This was an unusual feeling. Tyler like feeling this way. He was still a babe in the woods when it came to being a werewolf. Maybe he was finally going to get the answers and the help he needed.
 

Tyler Lockwood/Cerberus