Okay, this is NOT my first time posting on . This is, however, my first attempt at playing in the Supernatural sandbox. Hopefully, this isn't too horrible. This actually started off in my head much, much, MUCH smaller, but as of right now, is over 16 pages long, and still going full-bore. So....I'll post this. Let me know what you think, and if you'd rather I continue to post this in chapters, or just finish writing it and post as 1 giant post. Which will be massive. If I get no reviews, I will assume no one really likes it, and just take the whole thing down. *takes a deep breath and turns loose the chapter*
The phone call hadn't provided much information for them...Bobby had deflected a case over to them, something about an old friend and a water spirit problem. He'd work it, but he was currently elbow-deep in a shapeshifter chase, and really, it's right in the next state. Oddly, no address, but he had given them coordinates, so it was another hunt, another day, another fugly going poof. And the odd cryptic comment: Just...don't shoot nothing, ya idjits.
Odd, to be sure, but when your last name was Winchester, what did you expect?
It was close to midnight when the Impala growled to a halt in the meadow just off the road. Dean popped the trunk as they got out, loading up their go bags with a wide assortment of various weaponry. It was just a water sprite of some form...apparently in the middle of nowhere. They had left the outskirts of the town a few miles back, and the lonely twist of the road continued past them into the darkness. Sam frowned as Dean loaded the rock-salt shells into the sawed off. "Didn't Bobby say not to shoot anything?"
Dean rolled his eyes, snorting as he swung the barrel up and the bag over his shoulder. The drive had done nothing for his mood, and the last motel they had seen was several miles behind them. Right about now, laying down sounded awesome. But first, there was a baddie that needed to poof outta here. Simple routine hunt, quick and easy as pie, and they could get outta here. And with the quiet pond in the middle of the field, there weren't even civilians to worry about.
He never did figure out exactly what happened. The fugly was in his sights when he heard the bark of a massive dog, saw the headlights across the fields, and felt the sudden presence of another creature. A routine job had abruptly taken a turn south. Sam wrestled against the second creature as Dean fought to keep from drowning while on land, and in the blink of an eye, everything changed. Sam's monster dragged him kicking to the water, and with a sly grin at Dean, dragged him under the churning waters. Time froze there for a second, then kicked into overdrive as the truck snarled to a halt before silencing. He lunged towards the last place he'd seen Sammy, but the wraith intercepted him, tossing him effortlessly several yards away. She grinned twistedly, obviously enjoying thwarting him.
The driver of the truck hit the dirt running, shucking her jacket as her feet pounded towards the pier. "Lady, get back! It's not safe!" Damnit, but he really didn't have time to deal with civilians.
"You take care of her. I've got him!" She snarled the words at him, and dove gracefully into the now still water, after his brother. Damnit Sammy. Something large and furry pushed past him to snarl and bark at the water spirit, and he fumbled for his shotgun, firing off a round at the beastie when her attention shifted to the invisible barking.
Water flared up in a gyster as the pond lit up like day, and he heard twin shrieks of agony from the water-twins. The water was bright enough he could see the scene underwater: Sam limp in the embrace of the woman, whom was swimming frantically for the surface, and the beastie that had it's hand on her ankle. He realized it was where that contact was that the light was coming from.
As they broke the surface, he felt the brush against him again, panting at the shoreline as she dragged Sam clear of the sand and further into the field. "Come on, dumbass. Get in the truck!" she hollered back to him, and he'd be damned if she was taking Sammy anywhere without him, even if he looked like hell. At least he was responsive, if not entirely with it. She was struggling under Sam's weight despite his stumbling attempts to walk, and he took his brother from her, freeing her to wrench open the truck's door as she dove across the bench seat.
On the seat of the old truck was a shotgun, and his respect went up a notch.
Between the two of them, they got Sam folded up and situated, and she cranked the engine, muttering under her breath as the truck shuddered for a second before snarling to life. As she dropped it into drive and floored it, the ass-end of the truck sliding before biting into the dirt and getting purchase, she glared over at the older hunter and shook her head. "I told you guys, I'm getting a hunter out here soon to help me get rid of the bitch. Can't you people leave that pond alone until then? She almost had another snack."
"What the hell was that?"
Dark blue eyes flickered over to Sam before focusing on the dirt trail again. "It's called a Kelpie. I don't know what they're doing in the pond, but they've done enough damage. We'll get you patched up, and then you and your boyfriend can head home until the hunter gets rid of the nasty. Then the pond is all yours again." She pushed sopping wet bangs out of her face, eyes flickering to the rear-view mirror as something large thudded into the bed of the truck. Dean swung the shotgun around, eyes scanning the bed as he saw...nothing.
"It's okay." Her eyes were watching Dean more than the rear-view mirror, and he reluctantly edged away from the window. Enough was enough.
"Alright lady, spill. What the hell is going on? We got a call to come clear out this damned pond, and instead, Sam almost drowns, and you seem to know entirely too much about what's going on." Dean wasn't entirely happy with what was going on. This had gotten mucky too quickly, and worse, they were still headed opposite of the Impala.
He didn't expect the reaction he got out of her. She froze, the truck sputtering for a moment, before she shook herself and glared at him. "Where the hell is Bobby?"
"How do you know Bobby?"
"Old friend. Why did he sent you two idjits? I asked him for his help, not two bumbling puppies. Jeez, he's dealt with these before." She slammed her hand against the steering wheel, wrenching it to the side as they snarled onto another dirt path.
"He was busy. If he's dealt with it, why couldn't you handle it on your own?"
"Because, as you saw, there are 2 of them damned Kelpies. It's easier if there's two people to take care of it. He didn't warn me he was sending someone else. I was expecting him on..." she trailed off, head cocked and ear pulled back oddly, eyes distant. "Oh hells no. Let me guess....Sam and Dean Winchester. Great. Just....great."
Sam blinked at her bewilderingly for a moment, then nodded. "How did you know?"
"A friend just told me. Great." She sighed a moment, then eased up on the gas, patting the steering column. "Sorry Jazz. Anyway, let's try this again, shall we? The name's Autumn." The truck slowed as she took her foot off the gas, and they shuddered to a halt, a massive house just starting to be illuminated by their headlights.
"What are you doing?" Dean demanded. She sighed again, and twisted in her seat to face the boys.
"Long story short, I run a sort of half-way house. I will happily house Hunters while they're in the area, but to go any further, we have to agree on 1 basic rule. If you can't agree to it, then we'll just turn around, and I'll drive you into town. There's a motel on the far side, and while it's overpriced and filthy, it's also the only other real option."
"What's the rule?"
"Don't hurt any of my other guests."
"Seeing as we don't hunt humans, it should be all good."
"They're not all human. And you've hunted humans before. You cleared out a coven in Sturbridge."
Dean smirks at her, eyes hard. "They weren't human. They were witches."
"And what do you think just saved your asses back there?" She smirked right back at him. She snagged the edge of the neck of her shirt, yanking it down to display the pentacle tattoo on her chest.