Dean and Laura had been on the road for hours yet neither one of them had spoken a word, the radio even wasn't on. Laura would steal a glance or two at Dean while he just glared at the road. It wasn't until Tim, the cat, tried to crawl into Dean's lap that the uncomfortable silence was broken. "Get away", Dean snapped at the cat not taking his eyes off the road.
"He's just trying to comfort you", Laura said placing Tim in her lap. "He knows you're upset about your brother."
"I don't want to talk about it", Dean said.
"I know", Laura said. The car was silent for a few minutes. "So where are we going", she asked.
"Sioux Falls South Dakota", Dean said, "I have a friend there."
"Is he another hunter", Laura asked.
"Yeah", Dean said turning on the radio. "His name is Bobby and he has one of the largest libraries on supernatural stuff. He may be able to help with figuring out what you are; to see if I need to kill you or not."
"Oh", Laura said clutching Tim tighter and wondering if she made the right choice.
"So you said you learned some stuff from a witch", Dean asked after a while.
"Yeah her name is Alyssa. I lived with her for about two years before I had to run. She taught me a lot of stuff."
"Like", Dean prompted.
"How to hide in a tree", Laura said with a laugh but got nothing from Dean. "And how to sense Demons or Angels, how to keep all the animals in town from following me, how to heal, and a bunch of other stuff."
"Like curses", Dean said.
"I know of them", Laura said, "but I used them. It frustrated her no end. But I don't want to hurt anyone if I don't have to."
"But she does", Dean said.
"It's not like that", Laura said.
"How", Dean scoffed.
"She only does what she feels necessary to protect herself and her home", Laura said defending her friend. "She may be a little rough around the edges but the last time I checked so were you." Dean remained silent and Laura sighed slumping back in her seat.
"My dad taught me that if it hurt people it had to die", Dean said after a while.
"Well maybe "IT" couldn't help itself", Laura said coldly. When Dean looked at her she explained. "While I'm all for killing things that prey on mortals not everything that causes harm is evil. Take Alyssa; if people left her alone and stopped harassing her she wouldn't feel the need to curse them to teach them a lesson. And have you ever run into nature spirits on a rampage trying to protect their homes? If humans paid more attention to the other inhabitants of this world than just themselves they wouldn't constantly put themselves into danger."
Maybe", Dean said, "but it's a hunter's job to kill monsters."
"So I'm a monster now", Laura said quietly. The rest of the drive was just as uncomfortable as the beginning and Dean was happy to pull into Bobby's drive way. Dean got out of the Impala and walked right up the steps but Laura stayed in the car. "I don't know Tim", she said, "Do you think I can trust these guys?" Tim looked at her and then jumped out of the car. He ran right up to the porch and curled up on the railing. "I guess that answers it", she said but she was still unsure.
"Bobby", Dean called once he was inside.
"How was it", Bobby said coming from the kitchen with a scowl on his face. "Where's Sam", he asked wheeling himself around to face Dean.
"Gone", Dean said. Bobby's eyes got wide for a moment but he didn't push it further. He figured Dean would explain when he felt like it, if at all.
"So you gonna tell me what the hell happened or do I have to beat it out of ya", Bobby said turning himself towards his desk. "Where there as many demons as Rufus said?"
"No worse", Dean said walking to the kitchen.
"How could it have been worse than a whole town of demons", Bobby asked.
"There were no demons just the horseman War", Laura said slowly closing the door behind her. "Hi...um… I'm Laura", she said unsurely. Bobby looked from her to Dean confused.
"So you dumped your brother for a girl", Bobby said as if he couldn't believe it.
"Ah…no…you see", Laura stammered.
"She's a monster", Dean said plopping on the couch chugging a beer.
"I am not a monster", Laura growled emphasizing each word.
"How do you know", Dean said with a smirk, "You don't even know what you are."
"Fuck you", Laura said quietly with tears forming in her eyes.
Bobby looked at the two young people in front of him slightly confused. If she was a monster then Dean would have killed her. If she wasn't then why did Dean think she was? "Why don't y'all start from the beginning?" Since Dean made it clear that he wasn't in a talking mood Laura told Bobby what had happened in River Pass. "You're sure it was "the" War", Bobby asked.
"Yeah", Dean said finally, "red horse and everything."
"And he tried to kill you", Bobby asked Laura. She nodded. "So what's your story", he asked kindly. Laura took a deep breath and told them her story. When she was done Bobby rubbed the back of his neck not knowing what to make of it all.
"So what'd think Bobby", Dean asked.
"I never heard of anything like this before", Bobby said, "And I don't even know where to begin lookin'."
"Alright", Dean said getting up, "Cas get your ass down here right now!" Laura looked at Dean like he was crazy. But as soon as she heard the fluttering of wings her heart dropped.
She jumped when she heard a rough voice from behind her say, "What do you want Dean?" Laura turned around to face a slightly irritated Castiel. When their eyes met both became very still. Laura's eyes became wide with fear and Castiel's face grew even sterner. Dean and Bobby glanced at each other and then at the woman and the angel.
"No, no, no", Laura said looking for an exit. Seeing none she closed her eyes and a wind began to blow in Bobby's living room growing stronger all the while.
"Dean stop her", Castiel shouted. Dean gave him a look. "Now before it's too late!" Trusting Castiel more than the woman in front of him Dean wrapped his arms around Laura and pulled her down to the floor.
"No", she screamed causing the wind to pick up more, "I thought I could trust you! I thought that you were going to help me!" Tears fell from her eyes as she struggled against Dean but too distraught to break free. Finally she released her magic and fell to the floor sobbing. "Just get it over with quickly", she said not lifting her head.
"Now hold on a minute", Bobby said, "you'd mind tellin' me what in the hell is going on?"
Castiel didn't answer him. He only looked at the woman as if he was trying to decide something. "If you promise to not do anything he will let you go", Castiel said.
"Whatever", Laura said blandly. With a nod from Castiel Dean released Laura and waited for an explanation.
"So you gonna elaborate or what", Bobby said roughly.
"Where did you find her", Castiel asked.
"River Pass", Dean said, "Along with War."
"The Horsemen are walking the earth", Castiel said surprised. "I thought we had more time."
"Apparently not", Bobby said crossly. "Now you gonna explain or not?"
"She's an enemy of Heaven and Hell", Castiel said.
"Ok", Dean said surprised, "what the hell does that mean. What the hell is she exactly?"
"She's a dryad. The oldest of creatures", Castiel said.
"I'm what", Laura asked lifting her head to glare at the angel.
"Dryad", Castiel said, "commonly known as a nymph."
"Is she dangerous", Dean asked.
"No", said Laura.
"Yes", said Castiel.
"I'm only dangerous to those who attack me", Laura snapped at the angel. "Nearly all of my life I have been hunted by Demons and Angels alike. I have lost my parents, my friends, my life! If you bastards would just leave me alone I wouldn't be a danger to anyone!" Castiel looked at the young woman noting her dark brown hair and bright green eyes. He suspected that there was more to her than just being a dryad but he wasn't going to say anything just yet. "So are you gonna kill me now", Laura snapped placing her hands on her hips. "'Cause if you are can you get on with it. I'm tired of running."
"I'm not going to kill you", Castiel said surprising Laura. "She could be useful in stopping the Apocalypse."
"Hold on a minute", Laura said before Dean or Bobby could open their mouths. "You and your kind have been trying to kill me and now you want my help?"
"Yes", Castiel said.
"Fuck you", Laura said shoving past him to walk out the door. Castiel went to grab her but Laura flung her arm away causing Castiel to fly into the wall. Her eyes got wide again and she cast a quick glance at Dean and Bobby to see that they were equally surprised. Laura then ran out the door, grabbing Tim and ran to the yard. Dean ran to follow her but only got as far as the porch. A fierce wind had appeared again. "Orahn, Othent, Marnt", Laura said. The wind had picked up the dirt from the yard and the cars to form a tornado around her. Dean backed up into the house with his arm over his eyes. When the wind had died down Laura was gone. The only thing that was left was a patch of rich green grass in a perfect circle.
"Will someone tell me what the hell is going on here", Dean said looking at Castiel.
"She ran", Castiel said simply.
"We can see that idgit", Bobby said rolling up to the angel. "Now you care to elaborate?"
Castiel sighed. "Dryad's are older than anything in this world. They're even older than angels and demons. Perhaps even God. They were the protectors of the sacred spaces in nature."
"Were", Dean said sitting on the couch.
"God declared them to be dangerous so they were hunted down and killed", Castiel said. "But not all of them are gone. They liked to lay with humans so there are many people who carry their blood it their veins. Sometimes that power gets awakened and an angel is sent to kill them."
"She said that demons came after her first", Bobby said.
"Yes", Castiel said with a sigh, "demons would try to turn them to their side."
"Why not just possess them", Dean asked.
"Dryads can't be used as vessels", Castiel said. "But they can cast an angel or demon out of their vessel."
"I need a drink", Dean said getting up.
"Make it two", Bobby yelled after him. "So is that it?"
"For now", Castiel said. "But there was something else about her that was different from any dryad that I have met."
"War tired to kill her", Dean said holding two glasses of whiskey. "Do you know why?"
"Dryads are the most powerful beings in existence", Castiel said, "They are power over God and Lucifer's creations. We don't really know why. If a dryad with great power or a large numbering of dryads wanted to they could exile us back to Heaven or Hell and reclaim the earth."
Dean downed his glass in one gulp. "So how do we find her?"
"You won't", Castiel said.
"Great", Dean said sarcastically getting up and walking to the kitchen to pour another drink.
"But you may be able to find other's", Castiel said.
"How", Bobby asked but Castiel had already disappeared. "Well that's fantastic."
"Here this should help", Castiel said from the desk holding an old book and three scrolls. "These will almost tell you everything there is to know about the dryads. I have to go."
"No wait", Dean said but Castiel was already gone. "Now what?"
"Read I guess", Bobby said wheeling himself towards the desk.
Meanwhile in a deep forest the nocturnal creatures were going about their normal routines without a care in the world. An owl stalked the night looking for its next meal. He had just spotted a mouse that was foolish enough to leave its borough and prepared to strike. Suddenly a strong wind whipped through the forest disrupting the night time activities. When it had settled down a young woman with dark brown hair collapsed to the ground. She released a scrawny grey cat and slowly rolled over on her back breathing heavily. The spell that she used to transport herself had taken its toll on her. She cursed when she realized that she wasn't where she had intended to go. And try as she might she didn't have the strength to pull herself up. As she laid there wondering what to do next there came a chucking from behind her. "Wore yourself out I see", an old woman said walking up to her. "I bet you did this in a hurry too."
"You can lecture me later Alyssa", Laura said. "Just right now help me."
So there you go I hoped you like it. And as always please review. I am very upset to see that this story has no reviews. It makes me sad. Till next time. The Gypsy.