It doesn't take them long to reach the forest, Dean stopping the car at the small parking lot situated in front of it. No-one's there, which was a very good thing, but it didn't take away the feeling that somehow they were being watched.
Dean places a comforting hand on Sam's thigh, and smiles almost forcefully, "Are you ready to take this bitch down?"
Sam didn't even blink as he utters, "Yes. Not another child will go missing after we've dealt with her." He then took his seat-belt off, and proceeded to exit the Impala, Dean following, as they both headed to the trunk to acquire the needed weaponry, charms and the like in order to finish off Baba Yaga as quickly as possible.
This would go a lot faster if I just blow her away with my powers! Sam mulls over as he and Dean check their weapons, make sure that they're fully loaded, before filling their pockets with much as they can with the charms, and ingredients for the spells that they'll use to weaken her magic considerably.
"Ready?" Dean asks, Sam nodding, "Then let's go. Sooner we get this done, the sooner we can get these kids back to their parents…assuming, that is, that she's kept them alive, but if we are dealing with ol' Baba Yaga, then there's a high possibility that they could be…"
He doesn't say it. They've known it too well now.
After Dean shuts the trunk, and locks his Baby up, he leads the way into the forest, using the path as guidance. Based on Slavic folklore, she will either help or hinder those who are looking for her, and judging by their intent to end her considerably long life, she's gonna choose the latter. Thankfully, the boys are wearing the belt buckles that most hunters wear when confronting a witch, ones that are made of pure iron which makes it very hard for any witch, especially a powerful one like Baba Yaga, to sense a presence within their vicinity, and use their powers on the wearer(s).
Which means that they had the drop on her. Trouble is, now they just have to find her house…with the chicken legs, and to add more fuel to the fire, they're also being followed by an unlikely presence.
"Dean, we're being followed," Sam uttered, sensing the person's presence even without utilizing his powers. Whoever it is who's tailing them, isn't at all professional, their intent is obviously not to kill them.
"I know," he whispers, holding up his gun from its original position out in front, "He's been tailing us since we left the motel. What the hell does he think he's doin'?"
Sam sighs knowingly, "He's just doing what he thinks is right, don't tell me you wouldn't do the same thing if you were in his place?"
"You know I'd do it in a heartbeat, but he's going to get himself killed."
There's a moment's silence. Then Dean and Sam look at each other, both knowing what they have to do before they disappear into the trees on either side of the path, waiting for the guy to approach so they can have a little talk with him.
Kent Murphy-Shephard has been following the detectives since they'd left the motel. He'd followed them to their motel after they'd visited his house, and spoke to his fathers about Cal's disappearance.
They were very thorough in their investigation of Cal's room, and knew that if he'd followed them, they'd eventually lead him straight to Cal, and his kidnapper. He may still be finding it hard to believe what had happened last night, what with that witch and all, but that didn't matter. She was going to pay for what she'd done to his family, the other missing children's too, and if she's touched one hair on Cal's head, then he can't be held accounted for what he's about to do when he's standing face-to-face with her.
Holding his father's gun by his side, he ventures further into the forest, following the young detectives as best he can without arousing their suspicion. However, he looks away for a split second when he thinks he hears something behind him, but when he reverts his gaze back to the detectives, they seem to have disappeared.
He looks to his left, he looks to his right, but they appear to be no-where in sight.
How the hell? They were here just a second ago!
Venturing forward slowly, but surely Kent raises his gun a little, slowing down his breathing so it's barely only a whisper, clicking the hammer back, ready to fire if necessary. He doesn't get very far or use the gun in his hand because someone has already made the drop on him.
"Don't move. Don't even make a sound. Drop the weapon, and put your hands on your head," the gruff voice commands from behind, Kent realizing that it's the older of the two detectives. Kent realizes as he puts the gun down on the ground that it's now or never.
"Just listen to me for a minute, please!"
Dean, with the gun still aimed at Kent, pats him down with his free hand to make sure he's not hiding anything else.
"You've got half. You shouldn't even be here anyways. This is a federal investigation." Dean replies, nodding to Sam as he appears from his hiding place to grab the gun from Kent's feet.
"Can I put my arms down at least? They're starting to get tired," Kent asked, getting the "go-ahead" from Dean who still had his gun aimed at his back. "I followed you two here 'cos I wanted to help in nailing this bitch! I couldn't stay at home, and simply do nothing! He's my little brother for god's sake! It's my job to protect him! I can handle a gun, I can take care of myself! Just please, let me come with you. I won't be any problem."
Sam approaches Dean, lowering his gun as he realizes that Kent's definitely not a threat to them, "Dean, I know this definitely isn't a good idea, working with a civilian, but maybe we could use this to our advantage."
Dean's eyebrows crease as he looks up at his brother in confusion, "What? How? He has no training, he has no idea what he's about to get into, all we'll be doing is putting him in even more danger!"
"Just listen for a second. Baba Yaga can't detect us, right? Not while we're wearing these belt buckles, which means she probably knows that Kent's already within her vicinity. We can have him focus all her attention on him while giving us all the advantage we need to kill her for good."
Dean doesn't like it. Not one bit. Using civilians for their gain never seems to end well, but the look in Sam's eyes tells him that he can trust him, and his plan. Sam does have a point, with their belt buckles allowing them to roam Baba Yaga's domain undetected, and giving them pure immunity from her powers, they could slip into her "chicken-legged" house, and take her out in one swell swoop.
Dean lowers his gun, knowing with every fibre of his being that this isn't a good idea, nevertheless it's the only plan they've got. Holstering the weapon, Dean gestures to Sam to give him Kent's gun as he takes a good look at it before passing it back to him.
"Nice piece, but I don't want to see you use it, understand? If I see it at all, I'm hauling your ass back to the car!" Dean orders, seeing Kent's shocked face as he nods in agreement, "Sure, sure. Whatever you say."
With that over and done with, Sam and Dean gesture to Kent to come over so they can formulate a plan to get rid of the witch with the best possible outcome...with all the missing kids, hopefully alive, including Cal, and to ensure the safety of their bait, Kent.
It feels like they've been walking through the forest for hours, not a sound can be heard except for the crunching of branches beneath their feet, and their breathing. It's too quiet, and when that occurs, it means trouble's not too far behind.
Coincidently, it's around this time that they eventually find the infamous "chicken house" of Baba Yaga's, settling itself right in the middle of the forest, or thereabouts. Whether it is coincidence or just dumb luck, Dean doesn't really care. The bitch will be dead soon, and this place will cease to exist.
As they approach, they can see that it's surrounded by a fence made out of bones, complete with skulls on the top of each one with glowing eyes. Huh, least that's true to the so-called lore. The house's alsofacing away from them, and standing way up high on chicken legs. Seems like that part's true too.
"Now you remember the plan?" Dean asks, seeing him nod back, "You keep the witch's focus on you, okay? We should be able to enter her house without her noticing, and then when the time's right, we'll strike," he gestures to himself and Sam, "Now do you remember the incantation to open the door. We won't be able to get in otherwise."
Kent looks at the foreboding-looking house before nodding furiously.
"Good, just remember we'll be here with you every step of the way. Anything goes wrong, we'll be here to make it right," Sam replies, giving Kent a comforting smile and a pat on the shoulder.
Kent appreciates it, swallowing the lump in his throat before he ventures pass the bone gate and into her "garden" of sorts. You can't even call it a garden as there are no flowers, ornaments or anything else to portray it as a garden. All it has is the grass that grows from the forest, nothing else.
Once he reaches the house, he looks up, and takes a deep breath before shouting in a strong, clear voice, "Hut, hut, turn your back to the forest and your front to me!"
For a moment, it seems that the incantation has done nothing, the house still looming overhead, but then its legs begin to step around, shaking the very ground as it does, until it's facing Kent, settling the house down so whoever spoke can enter.
The door suddenly swings open, a gust of wind blowing out nearly sweeping Kent off his feet, but he manages to stand his ground. Cal's life depends on him, and he's not going to be swept away from some mere blast of wind. He turns then to give the boys the all-clear before venturing in, Sam and Dean hurrying up before the door abruptly closes behind them…