Chapter 7
"This is the last time I let you kill me."
"Technically I didn't kill you," Angela pointed out calmly. "You're in a trance to enter into the spirit realm and then pass on to the Valley of the Dead."
Dean grumbled at that, "Well you still killed me." He couldn't help but pout as he crossed his arms over his chest as he looked at what looked like a desolate desert. There was nothing but gravel and boulders. Very aptly put to being called the Valley of the Dead.
After taking the body and moving away from where they were attacked, Angela had prepared a funeral pyre. Dean tried to help but Nanuq kept him from helping. He didn't like that since he was used to giving a hand and she accepting it. This… making a pyre was a two man job. He should know because he had to burn his brother's Adam's remains. It was a hunter's burial and he got it.
Angela though said to let him help. It was only after she said that Nanuq obeyed. Dean figured that it had to do with the fact that she was the shaman so to speak and he was reverting back to what he had been trained and had done all his life. He could get that. What he didn't bargain on was the price that he had to pay for helping.
At first he thought Angela was going to do astral projection like what he and Sam did with Pam. As much as it restricted him there were some pretty cool things you could do as a ghost. He got a wakeup call when Angela said that they weren't going to do that. She said that they were going to crossover to the other side. Dean took that to mean actual death.
What it actually entailed was that he drink a bit of that deer blood she had kept in that marked jar. That was nasty stuff. Then she had him mimic her movements. He was sure that she had done it on purpose just to make him look like an idiot. But it worked since all of a sudden he felt his body just drop to the ground and he was staring up at the sky, his breathing shallowed and then the next thing he knew he was looking at himself and Angela on the ground.
Angela had to tease him and ask him if it looked familiar. It had him scowl a bit and he didn't notice that she had grasped his hand. It was a good thing too since what he saw pulled away and the next thing he knew he was in the place they were in now. He commented that it felt like when Castiel used Angel Air on them and she said that at least it didn't give him constipation. That was an upside to things.
It startled him when they met the girl that they had burned. She looked at them and asked, "Why are you here? You are not dead?"
Angela replied, "We are looking for a friend." Her tone was sober and almost sad. "I am sorry that you died without naming your First."
"You know our ways?"
Angela nodded, "I have been trained in the ways of the shamaness. This is an initiate." She gestured at Dean.
The girl nodded, "Then come. The way to the gate is this way." She gestured in the direction they were to go. "Do you think you can pass through the gate and come back?"
Angela made a slight nod and a shrug. "That is up to the gods but I hope that it is possible or that at least call someone back through the gate."
"What you speak of… it's not possible."
Angela was quiet and thoughtful as they continued to walk through the wastelands. That didn't set right with her. Not with the fact that she had seen someone who should have passed through the gate appearing before her. There were more questions and she hoped that she would be able to find them here.
"Why not?" Dean had to ask the question and it had him curious.
"Passing through the gate is to enter eternity, the land of rest. You could say that it is heaven," the girl replied. "Those pursuing the way and they die with honor, they are given the reward of passing through to eternity."
That sounded like a pretty good deal in Dean's mind. They were doing good. A bit bloody perhaps but they were doing some good. It did have him wondering though and he asked, "And what about those that… don't do what you do?"
The girl paused and looked at Dean. She then looked at Angela and said with a slight smile, "For an initiate he certainly doesn't know much."
"He is new to the way," Angela replied without missing a beat. She took a step forward and added, "He is of the thunder in the sky."
The girl glanced a Dean and then looked at Angela. They shared a silent look before she nodded and turned to keep walking. "Impressive, shamaness."
Angela felt her lip twitch. It was some acknowledgement that she was impressed. She was just going with a hunch from what Nanuq had said to avoid awkwardness. She knew that initiates would have the basics down. She didn't have that time with Dean. She had to get him through this and get some measureable defense set up for what was to come. This was the first step.
Dean sensed that he should be quiet and that maybe he had said a few things that he shouldn't have. It was all new and strange to him and he wanted to understand. After the rather interesting rebuke, he just remained silent, figuring that he would have his answers in due time. Also it was probably better to ask Angela when they were not in a state of death or a trance. It paid off though when Angela came to a full stop and just stood there.
The girl also noticed that Angela stopped and she looked up. The woman that was there was looking stern and firm. She was dressed like the warriors of ancient times wearing a tunic and pants and boots. Her sash was tied to the right and held a knife. On her back was a pair of blades. She was wearing a headband and had dark hair like Angela. She looked at the three of them with a firm expression and narrowed her eyes said, "You are not welcome here."
Angela took in a breath as she stepped forward. The girl they had been traveling with said, "It is alright. They gave my body proper rites."
"It only shows that you remember the ways," the woman replied as she looked at Angela. "Not that you really believe in them."
Angela stood there with an impassive look, "I know you think I am a traitor. The sight of me must be a torment to you. For others too."
The woman didn't say anything but continued to stare at Angela. Dean felt like it was a showoff and that he was privy to something that had happened a long time ago; one of those times she said where even though she did what she normally did, it didn't end well. Whatever Angela had done must have been something to piss the other woman off even if it might have been the right thing. Now he was thinking that they were in a situation that could mean a fight to the death.
The girl stood there staring and said, "This shamaness performed the rites. She allowed my soul to move on."
"There is no moving on," the woman said. She looked at the girl and then at Angela. "But I shouldn't be speaking to you. She wants to see you."
Angela lowered her head slightly to acknowledge the woman. "I only came to see her. Just take me to the gate and I can pass through."
The woman snorted at that, "And you think you can just pass through the gate into eternity and come back? You are not dead."
"But I have been to eternity and back," Angela replied softly. "Multiple times." She looked up to eye the woman with a gentle and firm look. "Please. I need to speak with her."
The woman looked at the girl and then Dean before looking back at Angela. She turned and gestured, "Come on then. Follow me."
Angela took in a breath and moved in step behind the woman. She looked ahead, not saying anything and certain that Dean would follow. The girl would follow because she had to make her journey to the other side. She was quiet until she head the girl whisper, "You know who that is?"
"Yes," Angela replied softly. She kept her gaze forward as she continued, "She is Inola. The Black Fox."
"The Black Fox? The warrior queen?"
"One and the same." Angela gave a slight look that had a half smile to it. "The one who killed ten demons in one fight and even when injured, she didn't stop fighting. She had the spirit of the one who fought for the light." She looked at Inola's back, knowing that she had heard every word that was being spoken. Angela never lost her admiration or respect for the woman.
"Actually it was five until I got injured. But I got up and did my duty. More than I can say for you." Inola wheeled and looked at Angela. She stared at her long and hard as she continued, "Running away when you were needed the most."
Angela stared back as the memory came back. She knew well what Inola was talking about. She could see flashes of that memory. She could smell the smoke and ash and then the blood… She could smell the blood and hear the screams. She heard the laughter and the shouts and the war cries. She swallowed slightly but didn't break contact with Inola's gaze. That was one lesson she never forgot when she started training and Inola pretty much perfected.
Dean watched Inola stare at Angela. He sensed tension there and it had him concerned. He had been warned by Angela that harm in the spirit realm where they were at could happen to them in the waking if they died here, they died where their bodies were at. He really didn't want that to happen but Angela did warn him that there might be some fighting, the kind that meant that you drew blood. He tensed, ready to help out just in case but for once, not looking forward to a fight.
Angela continued to stare, knowing that this could go on for some time. The stare off was a means of daring the other to attack. Inola had used it on her the first time, striking first and then getting them into a fight. She didn't want to get into that now but she knew Inola responded better with physicality than worlds but she wasn't just a brute. The woman was intelligent and was brilliant in coordinating the warriors as needed. She was also sly when it came to one on one tactics. It was how she learned her tricks.
Inola continued to stare, challenging Angela to strike. The woman was refusing to rise to the bait but not backing down either. It was the same as the beginning but there was something different about this time. She could see it in Angela's eyes and while she was upset at what happened, she was pleased. It meant that something stuck. Her pursed her lips in a wry smile and nodded. "You have learned, Shifa'. I am impressed."
"You should be, Inola. You taught her as I instructed," a new voice entered.
Angela shifted her gaze to the new person that arrived. Her eyes widened slightly as she tried to process what she had come to find out. She remained silent as she stared at the woman who basically started the changes in her life.
Inola noted the expression on Angela's face and chuckled though it was closer to a scoff, "And she still has that stupid look. I can't believe you wanted me to teach her the way."
"We had to. And Lord Shiva did the rest."
Dean listened to the conversation and couldn't help but interrupt, "Wait a minute. You trained Angie and then sent her to the guy that is married to the goddess that calls her beloved?"
"Dean," Angela hissed to get Dean to be quiet.
The newcomer and Inola looked at Dean, the former with an amused expression. She said, "So I see you decided to take up your calling, Shifa'. And I thank you for giving proper rights to the girl"
Angela swallowed and replied, "The dead shouldn't be dishonored. It is good to see you again, Sigrid."
"Likewise."
"Angie, do you know the other woman?"
Angela knew that there was more involved now and she was certain Izhu was behind it. Something was wrong if the woman who changed her life was here. "Yes. She was my master."
Nanuq looked around, keeping an eye out for things that could do harm. While such a journey is conducted in the open, these were dangerous times. He knew because they found the First dead. She was the only one who could take over as shaman and now… He felt that he failed his master, the one who trained him in the ways of the warrior.
Run, Nanuq! Run!
He could see the snarls of the creature that came after him in his mind's eye. He couldn't be distracted though. He had to protect the shamaness warrior and her initiate while they were conducting their business in the Valley of the Dead. He held his blade to be at the ready just in case the dark shamaness sent her soldiers.
He didn't know much about the history between Angela and the dark shamaness but he knew that it was a longtime feud. And that was what Angela had been able to tell them. He knew that there was more that hadn't been said but he figured that would be revealed throughout this quest. He wasn't going to pry though. The other though had him curious.
He knew that Dean was doing this to find his brother. It puzzled him that the shamaness would do this for him since he was essentially an outsider but when he started talking to Dean, some things were made clear. He figured that the shamaness and Dean along with his brother were close and certainly from their conversations it was apparent. There was that easygoing banter that while insulting at times, it revealed a closeness much like how it was in the tribe. Both cared about the brother that was lost and yet to Nanuq he sensed there was even more.
It was fun to speculate but he didn't keep that up for long. His job was to protect their bodies and let then complete what they needed to do. He remembered his first time entering the trance and gaining his spiritual powers. It was a bit scary but the shaman was there the entire way, being the guide until he was certain of himself. That was all it would be for Dean but the only downside was that he was being thrown into it. Going into the spirit realm took months if not years to make it to that point. He concluded that the shamaness he was helping now was powerful enough to do that. She had to be if she was the Shifa' that had been told in the stories.
A slight sound caught his attention and he shifted to see the two dogs sitting and looking around. They were beautiful dogs even though they were mixed breed. He could tell that much and yet they didn't look like mutts. If anything they could be the start of a new breed. He recognized the wolf hound in them but their muscular builds were something else and they were pretty intimidating. The female made that clear when she growled at him. They would do just fine and from the looks of things they already were fine.
Sighing, Nanuq looked around to keep guard. It was then that he heard Zeppelin emit a low whine and then growl. He looked to see Moira sitting primly but alert. She was ready to spring if necessary while Zeppelin was on all fours and his posture alert. He focused his attention and reached out with his senses while twirling his blade. He could feel the familiar wisps of power swirl around him as he became more in tune with the world around him.
It didn't take long until he straightened up and smiled, "You're getting sloppy, Nita."
There was no response but he heard it. It was the high pitched whine of an arrow flying through the air. He started to maneuver to take care of the arrow when a flying ball of fur flew and caught the arrow midair. Nanuq blinked as he realized that it was Zeppelin that had caught the arrow and was holding it like he would a Frisbee. He didn't let up though and held his blade off and swung in a backhand to deflect the second one. He straightened up and said, "Nita. I know that was you."
The woman who fired the bow appeared out of the tall grasses from where she had been hiding. She had a somber appearance as she approached. She stopped short when Moira gave a warning growl. She eyed the dog warily and looked at Nanuq and said, "Seems that you are keeping new company, Nanuq."
Nanuq glanced at Moira and then at Nita and replied, "They are only doing what is being asked of them. We are guarding." He glanced over where Angela and Dean were lying. "The spirit journey had been enacted."
Nita looked at the bodies on the ground. One didn't look like one of the people but the other, the woman… She looked like she belonged and yet not. She gestured at her, "Is she the one? The one of legends? The one that you have been sent to find?"
Nanuq looked at Angela and gave a slight shake of his head. "I don't know. She gave the name of the one called healer. And she knows of the dark one."
Nita looked at Angela and then at Nanuq, "She does? Is she with the enemy?"
Nanuq shook his head. "No. The dark one tried to kill her. So her story goes. And I believe her." He looked at Nita to dare her to challenge his assertion. "She performed the rites for the First. We found the First dead."
Nita stopped for a moment, "The First is dead?"
"Yes."
Nita looked at Nanuq and then at the bodies lying on the ground. She recognized the trance since she had gone through it herself. She then looked back at Nanuq. She knew that he had gone to find the one their master had sent him to find after that night. He wouldn't have returned if he wasn't sure that this was the one. Looking at the bodies in trance and then at the two dogs. She raised her brow at the male that still had her arrow in his mouth. She lifted a hand to her mouth and gave a shrill whistle.
From out of the grass emerged several more warriors, men and women. Some had bows and others had spears. Nanuq was one of the few that had learned to wield a sword. They moved in behind Nita looking at Nanuq. Nita was the one that said, "Nanuq has returned to us and he had found the one called healer."
Nanuq stood his ground just in case they didn't believe him. He had given his word and he also knew the dangers of harming the body. It could break the trance and he knew that Angela needed to finish her mission. He held his blade in his right and made a slight sweeping gesture with his left as he said, "She is a shamaness and she has gone to the other side. He is an initiate. This is what the First mentioned before she passed." He stared at the tribe with a firm gaze.
The group looked on, not sure if it was true or not. They didn't move closer more because Moira and Zeppelin were making their presence known. Nanuq was also standing before them in a defensive posture. They knew that he had sworn some form of oath. If the woman was a shamness then he agreed to follow. He would not break form because he was a member of the tribe. They were at a loss and even Nita wasn't moving. It grew eerily quiet for a short time until a young man came out from behind the group. He approached Nanuq, slowly even though Nita warned, "Don't tempt their wrath, Quentin."
Quentin ignored Nita as he stepped forward. He kneeled to look at the dogs. They were postured to attack. He sat still and stared at them. Nanuq didn't say anything but let the dogs decide. He watched as the male took a step forward sniffing while still holding onto the arrow. The female was more reserved but she shifted enough to indicate that she was not sensing a threat. The male then trotted up to Quentin and returned the arrow.
Quentin was surprised and he couldn't help but grin. He was only eighteen and not even gone on the initiate's journey simple because the First said he wasn't to be one. He could fight though and had done hunting so he wasn't useless. He just didn't see the world like the others did. He had seen the dogs and knew that they had the blood of the hell hounds in them and yet they were not hell hounds. He had a feeling and went with it. He grinned as the male brought the arrow to him and allowed himself to be touched. The female was more reserved but he could tell that she was allowing it.
Petting the one that brought him the arrow he said, "We should move them to the cave."
Nanuq studied Quentin and gave a nod. He was allowing it since Zeppelin and Moira were indicating a level of trust. "They are on a journey."
"I know," Quentin replied as he stood up. He turned to look at the others and they moved to get what they needed. He then turned back to Nanuq and said, "She is the one."
"I know," Nanuq replied. "She gave me her name."
"And she could have easily tricked you. But she didn't." Quentin looked at Angela. "She needs to finish what happened."
"You know something."
"Perhaps."
Nothing more was said as the small tribe made two litters to carry Angela and Dean to the cave. Having done this before, they were able to move the bodies with minimal fuss. There were a couple of jolts that would have been felt but nothing severe enough to wake them before they were finished. Once they were in the cave, they settled to wait while Nita tended to the prisoner that they had captured. They would deal with him later.
Patience was one of the things their tribe learned and Nanuq had quite a bit of it as he sat closest to the bodies and waited. Even though he was no longer outdoors, he was still alert. There was still a chance of minds being changed even with Quentin's assertions. He stayed and was the first to notice the signs of waking up plus an unusual sight and it drew the others to watch.
Nanuq kept them back as Dean was the first to wake and looking like he had seen a ghost and asking, "What's going on?"
Dean's question didn't get answered since Angela was stirring and her left hand was glowing. She woke up and frowned briefly before getting up. She stared at the group that had gathered and seemed unaware that there was light protruding from her clenched left hand. She asked, "Who are you?"
"They are my tribe," Nanuq answered as she turned to look at him. "I trust the journey was well."
"You could say that," Angela replied as she looked around before lifting her hand and took in the glow that was starting to look like fire emit from her hand.
"I think it worked, Angie," Dean said once he moved away from the others.
Angela made a slight sound as she stared at the flame. She stared as she slowly opened her hand. Her fingers uncurled and the fire seemed to flare slightly but didn't burn her hand. The flame brightened slightly before dying to reveal the ring that was in the palm of her hand. Only then did she mutter, "Sigrid."
A/N: Looks like Dean got more than he bargained for going to the Valley of the Dead and back but it it's a step closer to finding Sam. More to come on Sins of the Soul...
