It was the next day when they realised something was happening. It was gone noon but Jess and Sam hadn't left the guest room all day which was particularly bizarre considering how Sam only usually slept 1-3 hours every night.
They'd actually partly forgotten about their supernatural visitors until there was a loud crash which refreshed their memories. Both hunters looked up at the ceiling in exasperation before they set off for the stairs.
Sam and Jessica were sat on opposite beds with their heads leant together in conspiracy. A large map was set out between their knees as Sam's finger was tracing along a line. Sam was talking enthusiastically while Jessica looked utterly appalled at the concept. Nevertheless, her eyes followed where Sam's finger led.
"This is a stupid idea, Sam." She was ranting.
Dean wanted to be clued up on whatever idea this Werewolf and hybrid were cultivating, "What idea?" Dean interrupted their flow.
Jess rolled her eyes in clear objection to the plan as she explained it, "Sam has been summoned to Kansas and he actually wants to go. I swear, Sam, this is the blood talking."
Dean stilled looked blankly at the people on the beds. Jessica could see his expression so elaborated.
"During war, there is a tradition of summoning your enemy to a specific place for a fight to the death. Whoever wins gains control of the whole community. It's bullshit."
"Stop making it sound so batshit crazy!" Sam cried, clearly feeling targeted, "It's an honourable tradition!"
"Like you give a fuck about tradition, Sam." She hissed.
Bobby spoke up, "You've partaken in one of these before?"
Sam nodded then wiped his large palm over his face, "Several. They're never pretty but they're sometimes necessary." He admitted as though he was haunted by the memory.
"When is it then?" Dean burst, "We can all go and help."
Sam peered down at the map to avoid every set of eyes in the room. Jessica took it upon herself to explain.
"It doesn't work like that. It's between the two people who are fighting to lead. Nobody can interfere."
"Just don't go then!" The younger hunter stepped forward.
Sam shook his head where it hung down low. It took him a few moments to gather an answer. He brushed his hair out of his handsome face when he finally managed to lift his head, "I have to go. Otherwise, it automatically goes to the opposition by default."
Dean's mouth hung open and Bobby babbled for something to say which would somehow solve the issue. There was a silence as everyone in the room scoured their minds for a hint of information which would be helpful and perhaps release Sam from this bond that he no way wanted to partake in.
"I leave tomorrow morning." Sam's words rang out throughout the room.
Sam was ready to leave by the time everyone else had finally woken up. He had a small bag which he would carry with him to Kansas where he planned to defeat his enemies and continue this period of peace he had created for those supernatural creatures around the world.
He wasn't even sure who'd show up to fight him. Perhaps one of those from the clearing but he hoped not as he didn't have high chances against an enchanter. Strength holds nothing against magic and curses.
Even he knew this was verging on a suicide mission but he had to try.
"What's going to happen?" Dean asked Jessica as they stood on the porch and watched Sam walk out to a car he was taking.
"I don't know." Her voice was soft, "I wasn't around for the last time."
The Rays from the rising sun reflected of the trail of water on her cheek which was left by a single falling tear.
Dean watched this man go and felt a tugging in his chest. Despite everything that had happened he still remembered what they had before everything collapsed around them. He could remember how Sam would hold him close and look at him as though nothing in the world matter as much as he did. Dean prayed to every deity that he didn't believe in that Sam would return triumphant but, most importantly, safe.
The car was quiet but Sam couldn't bring himself to switch on the radio. The disturbance of the crisp silence seemed almost unsanctified on his journey. He chewed at his lip in worry and the urge to vomit only increased as the distance decreased. He didn't know what was waiting ahead of him but what he did know was that he was prepared to fight for what he believed in. He wanted peace and no barbarian who wanted to live by the rules of the dark ages would take that away from him.
The road stretched ahead of him, smooth and unwavering. He breathed and fought onwards.
He considered Dean. Their relationship had altered beyond belief since the reveal of not only what he was but the whole community he had built. He missed what they were but knew that Dean would no longer want him. The hunter was only sticking around now to ensure everything remained in its usual homeostasis amongst the supernatural.
He saw the first sign for Kansas several hours later. The waiting was killing him.
"That's it!" Cried Dean, throwing himself out of the armchair he'd been sat in for several hours and grabbing weapons. He hurried around the house at full speed.
"What are you doing?" The woman asked from across the room. Her eyes watched him suspiciously.
"I'm going to Kansas. Even if we can't help we can at least be there for whatever happens to Sam afterwards!" He ran out to the Impala where he stashed more weapons. "You coming?" He called into the house.
Jessica and Bobby shared a brief consulting look before they both grabbed their belongings and headed out to the front of the house. Jess jumped into Baby with Dean while the older man followed behind in his old but reliable truck.
We're coming for you, Sammy. Dean thought to himself.
He was in a clearing again. Sam could never understand why Supernatural creatures found comfort in hiding in the woodlands. He personally found a nice lounge or conference room far more appealing.
Things were cracking underfoot as he slowly paced around the small area; he didn't want to be caught out unaware. His hazel eyes constantly scanned the trees around him. He knew someone would be on their way any minute now to try and kill him.
His senses particularly alert, he heard a sound from amongst the trees behind him. He turned immediately to face his enemy. Out stepped a tall man with dark skin. His eyes shone, giving hints to his supernaturalness.
"Who are you?" Sam called to the man. He was a stranger which was not something Sam had expected. He knew nothing about this creature which put him greatly at a disadvantage. The man eyed him almost predatory in nature and they began to circle each other instinctively.
"I'm offended you have to ask." The man's voice was low and almost sounded heavy. "I've been watching you for so long, Samuel." His steps were powerful.
"Surely you would have had the curtesy to introduce yourself? People get all sorts of ideas when people lurk in the shadows." Sam's voice was light and polite. Purposely unthreatening as he trod.
"I did not lurk, sir. I just didn't make myself particularly pronounced to your little circus. I'm sure you wouldn't understand since you're not a Pure blood." He scoffed and stepped closer to Sam.
Sam knew the rituals and traditions, he had no choice but to step further into the ring too. He leant his head until his neck clicked loudly. He smelt the air and was relieved that nobody else was close by. On one occasion many years ago, his opponent had hidden others in the forest with a plan to all kill Sam at once. He had been lucky to survive.
"I'm not a Pure Blood but I want peace and that's it."
"We can't have that, can we?" The man grinned, "It looks as though we have a conflict of interest." He needed the violence within him. He enjoyed death.
The man leapt toward Sam and, while mid-air, he transformed. A large wolf landed on Sam, sending him falling backwards onto the hard floor. The wolf already had an advantage.
Closing his eyes for barely a second, Sam bought forward what dwelled deep within his very being. His fangs descended and eyes became black. He pushed the large wolf off easily and it fell several feet. It hardly stumbled though as it was already jumping back up at Sam's neck. The hybrid used his razor sharp claws to create great gashes on the beasts chest. However, it wasn't enough as the dog managed to bite at Sam's neck. It only punctured the skin as the animal didn't have enough force to continue forward.
"You bastard!" Sam howled, leaping on top of his enemy.
The wolfs teeth nashed up at him getting dangerously close to his skin. It span, sending Sam flying off and it was on top of him again. This time his jaws gained a hold on the vampire's forearm.
Sam cried out as the beast twisted, pulling out chunks of flesh.
It suddenly become apparent to Sam that this was serious. It was going to be a fight to the death so unless he actually started to fight back he would be the one lying dead.
Sam leant up, fighting against the heavy weight, and bit into the neck. It was a hard manoeuvre considering how the dog was leaning down and tugging relentlessly at Sam's limb. He felt his teeth penetrate the skin and push through the wall of an artery. He could feel the pressure inside the blood-tube suddenly drop pressure.
The wolf wasn't satisfied with the turn of events so darted off Sam and prepared for another attack. Sam scrambled to his feet. Blood was rushing from his arm but he focused hard on his opponent. This time Sam was the first to attack as he wanted the upper hand.
He threw himself at the dog and pushed hard so it hit a tree. A yelp crackled in the air. Sam felt guilt stir in his chest but he knew that such emotions were not suited to such an environment. He forced himself to once again go for the wolf.
It leapt at the same time so they met in mid-air. It's jaws hard on Sam's neck. He could feel it puncturing and also restricting the air supply. He pushed back against the weight but the animal had predicted his move so remained low and heavy. It shifted to tighten its grip and Sam clawed at it but his most powerful weapon was being held at bay. He tried to shift out of the wolf's grip but each movement caused the long teeth to dig deeper.
Sam's heart was beating with less strength. He couldn't die like this but once he was unconscious his opponent could easily behead him.
He fought but a new weight was absorbing into his muscles making it hard to move like he were swimming through mud. He battled. His blood and the wolf's made it slippery as he tried again to gain purchase so he could throw it off. His hands slipped and the weight was too much. He couldn't breath.
His claws dug in as a last attempt to free himself. He ripped the beast's sides and undercarriage until it was merely blood and ribbons of flesh. He couldn't see the gore from where he head was being tugged left and right but his fingers could feel it. The beast thrashed harder on his neck in retaliation for the pain.
Screw the traditional beheading, Sam thought, He's just going to rip my head off like this.
There was a noise in the undergrowth but neither of them were alert enough with their surroundings to notice it.
Moments later the wolf was flat on top of Sam, the body limp and heavy. He let it rest there as he just breathed. Replenishing his body with much needed oxygen and closed his eyes.
Somebody else was speaking. They rolled the beast off Sam and began touching him. I
He felt as though he was in a bubble. The voice outside echoed around his head, not quite making sense to him.
Someone touched his face gently.
He heard more voices approaching, getting louder.
He blinked his eyes open but blood got into his eyes making him squint in pain. He weakly rubbed at his eyes with is relatively undamaged arm until the tears had washed it away. A pair of hands encouraged him to sit up.
"Dean?" The hunter slowly came into focus. What was he doing here?
"It's okay, Sammy." He hugged him close despite the blood staining every surface of Sam's body. "We're here. I've got you."
The hunter began wrapping some old fabric against the destroyed arm to stop the bleeding. He squeezed it tightly. The blood instantly began to color the light blood fabric a deep red. Sam swallowed back the nausea.
Jess entered his field of vision, "Sam, you need to change." He commanded harshly.
"I- I can't." He managed to speak. His voice was begging her not to make him change. He leant back again Dean's capable hands.
"He'd change into a wolf?" Jess nodded as Dean's question, "Why does he need to change?"
Despite her panic, she managed to answer calmly and thoroughly, "The wolf body is the best for healing. Wounds that would take a human weeks to heal can be completed in a day. He needs to change so he can survive."
"He didn't change last time." The hunter protested, referring back to the silver poisoning Sam dealt with a short time before.
"That's different. Silver is a poison so wouldn't work as well but these are just surface wounds." She argued. She knew what Sam needed but everyone was preventing her from making him do what is right.
"Jess, I can't." The weak voice broke out again.
"Sam, it'll be painful and it'll make you unconscious but you and I both know this is the only way. I'm not going to lose you after everything!"
There was a moment of silence, Dean and Bobby were unaware of what to say. Nothing could make this situation better. Only Jess and Sam had any right to comment upon what was happening. They were the only ones that knew the process.
"Okay." He whispered.
Jess pulled the hunters back so they were several feet from the injured man. He was lying in a puddle of blood and tiny waves of Crimson lapped at the shores which each breath Sam took. He lay alone.
He closed his eyes and forcefully increased his breathing. A wave of pain washed over him, drenching him. It caused him to manipulate his body into unnatural positions. The man screamed and Dean had to prevent himself from running at his partner. He needed to hold the trembling man. He never imagined a transformation including this much pain.
Pain again, almost constant now. Sam's back arched, bringing him off the floor of the woodland. His face glimmered with sweat, tears and blood.
"What is he doing?" Dean cried. He couldn't take his eyes off the gory process.
"He has to trigger a change." Jess had tears in her eyes, "It's painful to change normally. It's excruciating to force a change even when you're a full werewolf. To force a change when you're only a percent wolf... I can't even imagine it. It's going against every other programmed DNA within him. To add to the changes, his own body is trying to kill itself. Vampire, shifter, human; all that doesn't want a werewolf in it. It'd prefer to self destruct."
Her words accompanied the snapping of bones and the screams which were morphing into howls. The rest of the forest had lapsed into a complete silence in fear of what would soon emerge from the clearing.
Minutes later a wolf was lying amongst the blood. It's coat so matted with the Crimson liquid that Dean couldn't make out it's actual color. It was hard to gage whether to process was complete because the howls and halted altogether several minutes ago as it fell unconscious.
Dean, Jess and Bobby stepped closer.
The youngest hunter dropped down and touched the fur gently. Up close, he could still see the deep and ugly wounds littering it's body. It was still bleeding but less prolifically. The front leg was mangled and looked beyond repair but Dean trusted the wolf's abilities.
"Can you carry him?" Jess whispered to Dean as though in fear of waking Sam.
Dean nodded. Bobby helped gather Sam into Dean's arms but the wolf was too large and too heavy. Instead he had to hold him over his shoulder in a fireman's lift.
"Come on," Bobby spoke, "Let's get back."
"What about him?" Dean nodded his head toward the dead body lying in the clearing.
Jess sighed and shook her head sadly, "They have to find a loser to make it official."
They clambered back through the trees the way they had scrambled through earlier that day. They didn't have much light left so they prayed they'd reach to cars soon.