Disclaimer: I still don't own Supernatural or its characters and am not making any money on this…I'm still just having fun!
Heart of the Protector
Chapter 4 – Protector of the Woods
Sam's fevered gaze met Dean's worried one. "Dean…we have to help her…she doesn't realize…have to protect her from the spirit bear."
Dean watched as Sam's eyes closed again. "Sammy?" Dean tried to get Sam to wake up…he figured that Sam had another vision/nightmare. "Sammy…who do we need to protect and what the hell is a spirit bear?" But Sam remained unconscious.
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The woman at the table calmly continued to sip the herbal tea she had poured before her partner had arrived. She knew that the creature she had bound to her was getting stronger as her powers diminished over time. In some ways, she hated that decision she had made to work with the beast, but with the constant assault on those she protected, she had needed help.
"I'm sorry, but you know that you can only kill those who are trying to harm one of my protected animals. I sense no malice in these two and in fact, I sensed a power within one of them that may rival my own. It may be useful to me."
The being within the white bear seethed. "How dare you! These two are hunters of the most dangerous kind…they hunt me you bitch. If you don't care about me, then what about yourself? Once they have killed me, they will come looking for you!"
"Don't worry; I am quite capable of taking care of myself. Your job is to protect my animals from those who would kill them for pleasure. If you are afraid of the other two, simply hide from them. I have given you the power to hide your tracks, so that you may not be followed. There is no need to kill them."
"I do not hide from my enemies…I kill them! I can feel your power over me weakening, soon you will no longer be able to control me and then I will be free to kill them all. You should have gotten rid of me when you had the chance all those years ago; because once I am free…I will make you suffer as I have done all these hundreds of years."
The woman stood and faced the beast, fire blazing from her crystal blue eyes. "Do not presume that I cannot still disburse your evil from this forest. I am through with you!" The woman closed her eyes and placing her hands on the great white bear, she smiled as the bear turned into a common rat. "Now vermin lets see how long you last without my protection. You now will not be able to kill, but rather will spend the rest of your time in these woods trying to evade your death…now go from my sight!"
The being within the rat refused to show its fear. It was bound to this new form until his captor decided to release him…or until his powers grew enough for him to break her bond. And he had a good idea where he might be able to get the very power he needed. She may have made her first and last mistake! The rat ran out of the cabin and headed out into the woods.
The woman sighed. She hoped that she would not regret her decision. She was growing tired and near the end of her time in this forest. Soon she would need to find someone to replace her. Until then, she may have to figure out another way to protect her animals from those who would kill them for pleasure. As she thought about the young men who this moment were resting in a cabin not far from her, she wondered at the power she had felt. Perhaps, she could bind a different being to her to help in her mission. As she thought of the young man, she smiled…it could be a very pleasant partnership in deed.
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The rat hurried towards the cabin where he knew the two hunters were residing. He remembered the rush of power he had received when he had attacked the youngest one earlier. The demon within the rat was a lower level demon, but he was able to tap into the power of the young hunter as he tore into his flesh and tasted his blood. The blood of the young hunter had made him feel more powerful than he had in a long time.
If he could leach off a little more power from the young hunter, he would be able to leave this animal and merge with another, much larger animal. To break the power that the protector of the woods had over him, he would need much more…only the power released by the death of the young hunter would free him. But he would need to plan carefully. By changing him into this lesser form, she would not be able to sense his movements as easily. He knew that she could if she focused. But he was betting that she would not bother…she would regret her decision this day. But for now, he had to gather a few more friends to help him.
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Dean had gotten Sam back into bed and was in the process of checking the wound on Sam's arm. He had used an inflatable cast so that he could easily gain access to the wound. Luckily the break was just a simple fracture and would heal in time. But the wound still concerned Dean. "Ok Sammy…now that your fever is down a little, I want to take a quick look at this arm."
Dean stopped as he saw the pinched look on Sam's face. "Aw Sammy…you never get a break, do ya kid!" Dean knew the signs and prepared to help his brother the only way he could, he waited.
Sam was walking up to a secluded cabin in the woods. He was amazed at how peaceful he felt as he approached. There was no fear, only a feeling of safety. As he approached the door, it was opened by a beautiful young girl with clear blue eyes. She smiled at him and motioned him to enter her home.
Sam stopped as he saw his brother Dean sitting at the table, staring into nothing. "Dean…can you hear me…Dean!" Sam jumped as the girl beside him began speaking.
"I've been expecting you Sam."
"How do you know my name?"
"I know many things about the beings that come within my woods. What I don't understand is why you would seek to hunt me…I feel your distaste for hunting, and yet you have the hunter's ways."
"I came looking for my brother. My brother and I do not hunt for the pleasure of hunting, but because we have to. The beings that we kill are those that would harm the innocents in the world…but why would you think that we are hunting you?"
"Ahhh…you come to rid the forest of the being responsible for the hunter's deaths…yes?"
"Yes, but that was a beast with yellow eyes…probably a demon. We do not want to hurt anyone else. We have to find the one who is killing the innocent hunters."
"Sam, I controlled the beast you speak of, but you need not worry, that evil has now been dealt with. Let me ask you a question. You hunt those who would harm the innocent, the helpless and yet you condone the slaughter of innocent animals for the sake of pleasure?"
"Well, no actually I don't…but those who hunt here are restricted by our laws to only take a few. They cannot just hunt whatever they want. In some cases, it is even necessary to maintain the balance of nature."
"In these woods, I protect the balance of nature. I need no help from human kind, only that they leave me and those I protect alone."
"What are you?"
"I am the protector of the forest, I believe the closest description you would have of me would be a sort of nymph. I was created to protect the animals of the forest when man became too greedy."
"But what do you need with my brother…what have you done to him?"
"He is well Sam, but he will no longer be able to protect you as he has done in the past…he will now help me!"
Sam watched in horror as his big brother rose from the table, the gun in his hand pointing at Sam's chest. He looked at the girl who smiled "You do not need to be harmed Sam, but I cannot allow your brother to leave…I need his power to continue my task. Leave now or I will have no choice…you will die."
Sam's eyes opened as he felt his brother's soothing hands on his shoulders. "Sam, what is it, what's going on?" Dean watched as Sam tried to focus his eyes, but was not having much success. Words were forming, but none would get past his fevered lips. "Here Sam, take a sip of water and calm down…then you can tell me what has you so upset."
Sam drank the water. "Dean…need to get away now…before…before…she's after you!"
Sam's body continued to shake with the effort he had expended in trying to warn his brother. Before he could say anything more, he fell back into the blackness, unconscious once more.
TBC
Raven524: Here is today's latest installment…let me know what you think!