A/N: Thanks for taking this journey with me and here you go with Part II of these letters. I hope you enjoy the read. I really liked writing this one. Reviews would make my day. NC


T & U

Part II

It wasn't hard to find the site of the construction with the fencing, construction equipment, office trailer, bull dozed and bare land all around the place. Dean stopped the Chevy near the trailer, and they got out looking around the empty lot.

Dean wandered one way and Sam went another way scoping things out. Dean never saw Sam disappear over a small hill until he turned to tell him something and he wasn't there. His body stiffened and he went on high alert as he backtracked and went in search of his brother.

"Sammy?" Dean called, listening for a response. He hurried up the hill and looked down the incline, searching for his brother until he saw him standing by a crop of rocks kneeling and looking at something about a hundred yards away. He slid down the loose dirt trying to keep his balance until he could get better footing. "What've you got there Sammy?"

Sam looked over his shoulder at his brother as he came abreast of him.

"Look at this," Sam said moving dirt off rocks to reveal symbols that had been carved into the rocks. He kept brushing the dirt away and used his twig to clean the soil from inside the carvings.

"What is it?"

"I have no idea." Sam stood up and gazed around seeing another outcrop of rocks further away and started walking toward them. He moved around them and knelt to dig around the bottom of the rocks and after a foot found more symbols like the first. He started to get up to call to Dean when he saw him walking toward him with his hands up. Sam went on the defensive and reached for his gun but froze when he heard one cocking behind him.

"I wouldn't do that," a male voice cautioned him.

Sam slowly raised his hands and waited for his brother to join him and turned to look at the Native Americans that had them at gunpoint.

"What are you doing on tribal land and disturbing burial sites?" one asked staring angrily at Dean.

"We're looking into the disappearances of the people around here and want to stop the monster that is doing it," Dean said boldly.

"What are these symbols? Were they a barrier or spell that trapped the monster somewhere around here and when this construction started, their blasting has unleashed something back into the world," Sam added seeing the look that his words had hit a nerve with several of the men.

"Who are you?" another one asked.

"We're hunters and hunt supernatural monsters that are out there in the world killing people," Dean answered. "So, you wanna fill us in on what's going on around here?"

"You need to come with us," the oldest of the four told them. He turned to another that looked his age who spoke to him in their native language while looking at the brothers in anger.

"I'm driving," Dean stated. He started walking back to the Chevy with Sam following close behind him who was hoping no one shot them.

When they got back to the Chevy, there was only one of the four still with them. Dean and Sam got in the front and the unknown man got in the back. He gave Dean directions on where to drive that took them by a country store where he was told he needed to purchase gifts before continuing. Dean send Sam in to get the items before they backtracked to continue onto the reservation and to the village. He was directed to the outskirts of the place to a small cabin with a tin roof that sat alone from the others. There was no grass around the place, only dirt and scraggly shrub brush. The cabin needed some work, as did most of the houses there, but was livable.

After parking by the cabin, the man got out and motioned them to stay outside while he went to the door and knocked before entering. They stood in the hot sun with the gifts waiting to be invited in. Sam pushed his damp hair from his face and wiped his arm across his forehead to remove the sweat. Dean ran a hand over his face and wiped it on his jeans leg and wondered how long they would have to wait and started to move to the shade of the porch when the door was opened, and the man came out.

"Grandfather will see you now," he told them, opening the door wider for them to enter. "He is the Shaman of our tribe, be respectful. I'm Jacob."

"Dean, and my brother Sam," Dean introduced them.

Dean and Sam went in through the door into the cabin, quickly taking in the sparse surroundings. There was a living room and kitchen that was divided by a table with four chairs and through a doorway they could see a small bedroom and bathroom. They were led on through the house and out the back door to a rear deck.

Sitting in a rocking chair was an elderly Native American of undetermined age who was smoking a corn cob pipe and staring off in the distance. His hair was almost white and braided into two braids that hung to the side of his head and down onto this chest. His clothes were worn and patched but clean. His eyes held a lifetime of wisdom and knowledge. His body was shrunken, and his skin looked like tan leather from the exposure to the sun. His fingers were drawn and bony as he pulled a pack of gum out and took out a piece. He popped it in his mouth and began to chew it, a small smile on his face. A soft breeze was blowing up small dust clouds across the yard and did little to cool the day.

"Grandfather," the man spoke before speaking in his native language. He turned to Dean when he finished speaking. "Give him the gifts."

Dean took Sam's bag and stepped to the elderly Shaman and offered him the bags with tobacco, hard candy, coffee, sugar and chewing gum. He bowed his head to him and stepped back waiting to be addressed. Once the Shaman looked into the bags and nodded, the man motioned Sam and Dean to take a seat on a handmade wooden bench that groaned with their combined weight. Neither moved, afraid that it would collapse. He stepped inside for a moment and came back out with two small bottles of water that he handed each brother who gladly accepted them and quickly drained them.

The Shaman spoke to his grandson for a moment and stopped so he could translate for him.

"Grandfather wants you to know that a great evil has been released onto this world," he paused looking to the Shaman and waiting, knowing he would tell the rest of the story.

"That land was never to be disturbed, but the old ways are not practiced anymore, and our people have forgotten and become careless and weak," the Shaman spoke, his voice barely a whisper that had the brothers leaning closer to hear.

"Can he tell us what this evil is?" Sam asked looking to the Shaman with concern.

"It is called by my people a Unktehila, but it has been called by many different names over the centuries by many different tribes. It is a dangerous underworld reptilian spirit that takes on the form of a giant serpent. It will want to devour mankind and destroy the world if it is not stopped."

"How do we stop it?" Dean asked not liking the sound of this monster.

"There is only one being that can destroy the Unktehilas like they did the first time they roamed the land, the Thunderbirds."

"Thunderbird, what's that?" Sam asked perking up wanting to hear about it. It seemed he remember reading something about them in one of Bobby's many books on supernatural creatures he had.

"It is a massive. noble being that is strong, intelligent, powerful and the guardian of the upper world. It protects mankind from the likes of the Unktehilas. The Thunderbirds control the winds, thunder and lighting. With a flap of its mighty wings, thunder rolls across the sky. Lightning bolts shoot from its eyes, its beak is filled with sharp teeth and its talons are sharp and deadly. To look upon one is a great honor."

"So, how do we get this bird thing to help us?" Dean asked getting a frown from Sam at his crude bluntness.

"Only a warrior can summon the creature back to Earth," the Shaman said. He stopped and chewed his gum as he looked at the brothers with knowing eyes like he was looking into their very souls.

Sam wasn't sure what to say or do as he shifted making the bench creak but was dumbstruck with the Shaman's next words.

"It cannot be you," he started pointing to Sam. "You have a shadow of darkness in you that has yet to be released. You do not shine brightly, but there is still hope if you choose the right path."

Dean's eyes widen as what his Dad told him came rushing back. He had to save Sammy and if he couldn't, he would have to kill him. He wasn't sure what the Shaman was seeing in Sam, but it scared him and made his concern grow bigger.

"You are the warrior that will summon the Thunderbird," the Shaman noted turning to Dean who looked up in surprise.

"You shine brightly and are brave and fierce. You have seen much in your life and you will have more to confront if this world survives. Bring my medicine bag," he told Jacob who was standing beside him.

He bowed and went back inside to do as bidden. Neither brother had spoken as they mulled over what they had been told. A few minutes later Jacob stepped back on the deck with an old, tanned leather pouch and handed it to his grandfather.

The Shaman pulled the drawstring and rummaged around in the bag for a moment before pulling out a worn rolled up piece of hide.

"Take this grandson and translate for the warrior. He will need to do this today before the Unktehila needs to feed again. The more he feeds the stronger he will become."

Jacob took the hide and excused himself to go back in the house for paper and pen.

"You will need to wear this," the Shaman indicated holding out a leather thong with an amulet attached to it. "It will let the Thunderbird know you are the chosen one and to come when you call."

Dean reached out and took the necklace, looking at it for a moment before slipping it over his head to let it lay on his chest. It seemed heavier than it looked and wondered what it was made of. It was a smooth, thin, blue stone that had been carved with a language he couldn't read.

"Take these," he offered holding out several bottles of paint and a handmade, thin brush. "Your brother must be painted with the symbols of our warriors as they prepare for battle. The warrior will be required to make a blood offering for the ritual to be complete."

Sam took the vials and brush and looked at them with pinched brow. The Shaman's words had disturbed him, and he wanted to know what he meant.

"What is this shadow you see in me?" Sam asked carefully.

The Shaman looked up to Sam with wise eyes and held out a trembling hand to him. Sam got up and went to kneel in front of him and offered his hand. He tried not to wince when he took it in a tight grip and closed his eyes. Sam waited, not sure what was happening as he felt the sudden tremble in the Shaman's body before he jerked away and looked at Sam with hooded eyes.

"What did you see?" Sam asked. "What's wrong?"

Before the Shaman could answer, Jacob stepped out and handed his grandfather the rolled hide and a folded piece of paper. He looked at Sam for a moment but didn't say anything.

"You will need to follow the ritual exactly. The symbols of our tribe are at the bottom. They will need to be painted on you before you start. Go to where the land has been ravaged to perform it. The fate of the world is in your hands now. I will gather the elders and pray to the ancestors for your victory." He closed his eyes and bowed his head ending their conversation.

"You should go now," Jacob told them. "He is done."

"But I have questions," Sam started but was interrupted by Dean.

"We need to go," Dean told him pulling him to his feet and giving him a gentle push off the deck. "Is there anything on here that we won't be able to find?" he asked Jacob while holding up the paper.

"I think not, good luck."

Sam started to argue with Dean until he pulled him around the house at toward the Chevy.

"Stop it," he hissed. "I want to know what he saw."

"We've got more important things to deal with right now Sammy. Didn't you hear him, the world is at stake here. We need to do this ritual and hopefully summon a Thunderbird."

"You mean you need to, not me, I'm shadowed in darkness," he spat sarcastically. He dropped heavily into the passenger seat of the Chevy knowing Dean was right. The world came first over his needs. He crossed his arms over his chest and pouted as Dean turned the car around and headed back to the construction site.

spn

Dean drove in silence. He could feel the bitchy mood his brother was in, but there were more important things for them to deal with right now than his pouting little brother. He knew why he had been chosen because he was a warrior and had been trained that way by their Dad. He didn't like it, but now was not the time to complain. He had no choice but to do what the Shaman wanted and hoped for the best.

Sam stared out the side window, not seeing the scenery as he went by. He was lost inside himself and ignored Dean since he was pissed at him. He wanted to go back and talk to the Shaman but didn't think he would be welcome on the reservation unescorted. Sam knew he was going to have to shove these feelings and questions into a box for later and get his head in the game. Being distracted is the quickest way to get yourself hurt or killed. He had to have Dean's back in this thing and hope they both come out of this unscathed.

"Hey, are you listening to me?" Dean asked slapping his arm to get his attention.

"What?" Sam asked.

"Look at this ritual and see if we have what we need to do it." Dean pushed the paper toward him and concentrated back on the road.

Sam picked up and unfolded the paper so he could scan the ingredients and what needed to be done to do the ritual. He fumbled around in his pockets until he found a pen and went over them again, marking each one he knew they had in the trunk. The last one was blood and he looked to Dean before checking it off. He got his cell out and looked up one item he wasn't familiar with and searched it to find it could be found in the wild around here.

"There's one plant we need to find. Pull off somewhere before you get to the site. We'll have to look around in forest for it."

Dean saw a pull off that had woods on either side and slowed to steer onto it and stop.

"So, what are we looking for?" he asked squinting when Sam turned his cell for him to see the plant. The plant had white or lavender flowers that grew up on a stem with leaves a dark green with five to seven toothed rounded lobes.

"It's called Malva Parviflora or Cheeseweed Mallow. This time of year, there may not be blooms but have wrinkled, disk like fruit sectioned in lobes."

"Right geek boy."

Sam got out and stepped to the edge of the woods and stopped, looking one more time at the picture before moving between the trees and into the forest. He started looking at the growth on the ground searching for it. Sam could hear Dean mumbling about having to hike through the woods trying to find a dumb plant. It took twenty minutes before Dean yelled at him that he thought he had found it. Sam followed his voice and stopped to look where Dean was pointing at a plant that was nestled under a stand of mesquite bosque.

"I'm not climbing under there," Dean stated firmly. "I found it; you retrieve it."

Sam grunted as he dropped on his hands and knees and cussed when sharp thorns stuck him in the neck and hands. He dropped to his stomach and squirmed closer finally able to grab the several of the plants and scoot out with his prizes. He hissed 'jerk' under his breath as he checked his hands and rubbed the scratches on his face and neck.

"Let's get out of here, these bugs are having lunch off of me," Dean complained. "Quit being a bitch, it's only a couple of scratches." He headed back toward the road not checking to see if Sam was following. He could hear the breaking twigs behind him and knew he was coming. Dean swatted at the bugs as he cleared the trees and sighed with relief to be out of the muggy darkness. He went around to the driver's side and got in as Sam cleared the trees and opened the passenger side to get in. "Is that it? We have everything now?"

"Yes, we have the rest in the trunk."

"Good, I'm ready to get this over with and head back to Bobby's." Dean cranked the car and pulled back onto the road to finish the trip to the site that was still twenty minutes away. Once he was at the site, Dean parked at the fence and got out to head around to the trunk. He met Sam there and they began to gather everything needed for the ritual and packed the items in a small bag. Dean led them to where Sam had found the carved stones and looked around deciding to use a small outcrop of rocks that were about waist high.

"I need to paint the symbols on you first," Sam told him. "Take off your jacket and shirt,"

Dean huffed but did as Sam asked and removed them, tossing them to the rocks and faced Sam while he looked at the paper and picked up one of the vials of paint. He took the brush and began to draw on Dean's arms, double checking each one before moving to the next. He did his face last, carefully drawing the circles, dots and waves on his cheek. He stepped back once he was done and looked at his brother as he stood there holding his arms out waiting for the paint to dry. The heat of the sun quickly did its job and Dean wiggled his face feeling his skin tighten where the paint was and wanted to scratch it but knew he couldn't.

"Now the next step," Sam said pulling the ingredients from the pack and laying them by a brass bowl Dean had sat on the rock. He stepped back as Dean looked at the paper before dropping things into the bowl.

Sam looked around when he heard noises of something coming toward them. He couldn't see anything but could tell it seemed big and was not slowing.

"Dean, I think you need to speed it up," Sam cautioned him, pulling his gun and standing in front of Dean.

"Almost there," Dean grunted pulling a knife and stilling himself as he cut into the fleshly part of his palm and letting his blood drip into the bowl. He wrapped a bandana around his hand and looked toward where the noise was getting louder. He grabbed matches and lit one as he read off the words from the paper and dropped the match into the bowl.

As soon as the flame hit the contents of the bowl, a bright, large, orange flames shot upward toward the sky sending Dean stumbling backwards as the heat reddened is face. The flames twirled upward creating a huge cloud of grey, billowing smoke that started filling the area around the brothers. Dean coughed as it seemed to thicken and made it hard to see.

"Sammy?" Dean called to him as his brother disappeared in the smoke.

"Dean!" Sam's voice called back.

The noise was getting closer and a heavy hissing echoed through the area. Sam wiped his eyes and squinted as a dark shape continued to move toward them. He raised his gun ready to fire when it got closer.

Dean looked up into the sky when a shrill, high pitched call made him cover his ears. A strong wind suddenly swept over them, clearing the smoke away so they could see. Dean stepped closer to Sam and pulled his gun out too when he saw the huge, snake like creature wiggling toward them.

Before either of the brothers could fire at it, a large shadow moved over them and the wind picked back up. They looked up to see an eagle like bird with deep red/orange feathers covering its body. It looked as if the body was on fire as it moved through the sky. The wingspan of the Thunderbird had to be thirty feet and it stood about fifteen feet tall. It had a long flowing tail that fanned out behind it for guidance and balance. The large claws had long curved talons that looked razor sharp and its beak was filled with equally sharp teeth.

The brothers stared in awe at it, watching the Thunderbird swoop down toward the Unktehila dive bombing it and stopping it from moving on the brothers. Loud claps of thunder suddenly had the ground shaking as the Thunderbird flapped its wings fast and shrieking in rage as it extended its claws and raked them across the Unktehila's body gouging dark rows of gashes that spilled black, thick, nauseous smelling blood. The Unktehila lashed out with its spiked tail trying to catch the Thunderbird off guard.

Grey clouds began to gather overhead, and lightening bounced across from one to the other and thunder echoed across the land, but not near as loud as the Thunderbird's own. The storm was moving closer as Mother Nature released her fury onto the Earth.

Dean dove at Sam and knocked him from his feet when the Unktehila rolled away from the attack and lashed out its tail that would have hit Sam had Dean not interceded with his action. They rolled away from the thrashing body as the Thunderbird shot bolts of lightning from its eyes striking its foe randomly over its body and around it throwing up chunks of dirt into the air. High pitched wails and hisses filled the air around the brothers as they covered their ears and looked on to see the Thunderbird go after the monster again. They covered their eyes when dust and debris pelted them, feeling like little needles striking their bare skin.

With one swift move, the Thunderbird grabbed the Unktehila behind the head with its beak and in the middle of the its body with its talons and flapped its wings hard, lifting the monster off the ground as it struggled and fought to get free. The Thunderbird used it deadly beak to bite and rip at the flesh until the head was severed and fell to the earth, raining black, tar like blood on the ground below. It shrieked its victory and flapped its wings releasing rolling thunder from them. After dropping the dead Unktehila body to the ground, where it began to rot away and was absorbed into the soil, the Thunderbird glided to the ground in front of the brothers who were picking themselves up and brushing off.

It looked from one to the other and bowed its head before chirping at them. The Thunderbird took flight and with the flap of its strong wings scattered the clouds to the horizon, allowing the last of the sun's rays to shine brightly.

"Wow! Did that just happen?" Sam asked letting out a long breath as he touched some tender spots on his face and looked at pin pricks of blood on his hand.

"I don't know about you, but I say we head back to town. I need a long hot shower," Dean stated shaking his arms and grimacing at the splatter of blood on his arms and tee shirt. He sniffed and coughed hard when he caught the scent. "I was hoping that was you I was smelling."

"Screw you," Sam muttered going to the rock and gathering their things so they could leave.

Dean snagged his jacket and shirt and gave the wet ground where the Unktehila had disappeared, one final look before turning on his heels and heading back toward the Chevy. He scratched at the paint on his face and would be glad to get it washed away. He covered his seat with his shirt before getting in and cleared his throat when Sam opened the door and started to get in. He looked over at Dean frowning slightly and it dawned on him what Dean wanted. He snorted and pulled off his jacket turning it inside out and put on the seat before sitting down.

"Don't need to smell this shit all the way home," Dean mumbled as he cranked the car.

The Chevy headed back to the motel with the threat eliminated and the world save by an ancient creature summoned by two brothers. No one would know what they did, but the tribes that lived nearby.

The End