A/N: hello again everyone. time for another update. i want to thank everyone again for the reviews, they are very much appreciated. i also want to say sorry for the delay in updating, i dont know what is wrong with me but i have been having alot of trouble staying awake the last week. everytime i try to write i end up falling asleep. go figure. i will try to be quicker with the updates, but who knows.
i also wanted to take this time to say sorry to Dean. i swear when i started the story i had no intention of beating him up so badly, it was just the long i wrote the worse he got. i think we should all get together and give him a big hug. lol.
well, that is all from the peanut gallery. on with the show.
D: i am still waiting on my mail order winchesters.
SHADOW STALKER
Chapter 14
Joshua walked purposefully through the forest, the fog around him dissipating even more as the winds blew quick then silenced. John had made it to the other river, they were running out of time. He knew that John was on to him, knew that if the Winchesters won there would be no place for the hunter to hide. He would find him, hunt him like an animal, kill him for sacrificing his boys. But there was no other choice, nothing that could have been done. The boys were marked, a prize put on their lives, and he knew that the man who brought them in would gain a powerful protection. They were like a get out of jail free card.
He quickened his pace, knowing that John was on his way back to the boys. He wasn't sure whether he would go to the cave, Sam, or the other river first; he just hoped he could get his job done without running into him. The Asura was very weak, but by no means powerless. Joshua knew what it needed, knew what he had to do. The shadow didn't have the strength to deal with either John or Sam, both hunters being too powerful for it in its frail state. But Dean, that was another story. He was hurt, dying, and what the shadow wanted, all things that worked in the man's favor. He was just hoping that he didn't have a walkie talkie as well. Joshua needed Dean to trust him, needed him to follow him, and while he was injured, Joshua was sure he could probably still put up one hell of a fight.
He smelled the distant aroma of burnt wood, and heard the familiar sound of running water. 'As good a place as any.' Joshua thought, knowing that John would have left his son in the safety of one of those caves, and the sent of fire would help lead him on. His stomach twisted as he hunted Dean, knowing that the boy would not be with this world much longer. He had betrayed them, he knew it, and he was ashamed of it. Dean and Sam were young, far to young to die. He knew deep down that they would never both be long for this world and, despite all else, that hurt him. They were good kids, 'the best' but their father had chosen a life for them that would undermined that all. They grew to hunt, to kill, and now they were playing with the heavy hitters, fighting in a league few hunters ventured into. Yes they were still young, but they were by no means children.
Joshua took a long breath and closed his eyes, quietly praying for forgiveness. He had made a deal with a demon, with the darkness he had long ago pledged to fight. He had his reasons, 'good reasons', but that still didn't change what he had done. He had sold himself out, turned his back on everything he once believed in, and it was all because of the Winchesters.
"I'm sorry, Dean." He whispered as he saw the salt barrier across the entrance to the cave, knowing what he would find on the other side. He steadied himself before heading to the cave, bracing himself to forfeit a life that had barely been lived.
"Dean, are you there?" He called as he neared the cave a few meters away. "Dean, I found Sam in the woods, he's hurt I couldn't move him. I can't find your father, the radios are broken. Dean?" Joshua made it to the edge of the cavern and turned, heart clenching, breath freezing in his chest. It was empty, Dean was gone.
He turned and scanned the forest, looking for some trace of the middle Winchester, some sign as to where the injured boy had gone. His trained eyes quickly found the trail the young man had left, his tracking skills taking in just how injured he must be. 'I can't believe the kid is still walking.' Joshua shook his head and headed off in the direction Dean had gone. He could tell by the state of the fire and remnants of the trail the Dean had probably left shortly after his father and brother, and even though it had been a while he knew Dean probably hadn't gotten far in his injured state. He smiled to himself as he turned to the south east, heading in the direction of the final river. 'The Winchesters may be good hunters, but they are as predictable as hell.' He then silently followed after Dean, hoping the shadow would not reach him first. Joshua had his own plans, and for them, he needed Dean.
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John ran through the forest, his long legs carrying him through the underbrush at breakneck speeds. As he ran he continued to yell his youngest son's name into the radio. Where the hell was he, why wasn't he answering. A million thoughts were rushing through his head as he raced on. 'I should never have let Sam go alone, I should never have left Dean.' He berated himself as he ran, fearing he would not get to the boys in time, the terrifying idea that he may be too late all too real in his mind. He couldn't lose them, he couldn't watch them die. He knew that no amount of revenge would keep him going if he lost his sons. He would just fall apart, crumble away into the oblivion without them.
He silently thanked god when he saw the river come into view, knowing that the cave Dean was hiding out in was not far away. He just hoped his son would be ok, hoped he had the strength to hold on, to outlast the shadows.
"Dean!" John yelled as he neared the shelter, all thoughts of caution gone, he just needed to see his son, alive. "Dean." He called again as he turned into the cave, freezing on the spot, heart clenching. It was empty. 'Where the hell is Dean.'
"Oh, god." He whispered as he searched the interior of the small cavern, looking for any indication of what had happened to his son. He let out a long breath when he noticed that a few of their hunting supplies were also missing. "Damn it, Dean. When I say stay put, I mean it." He spoke out loud, momentarily relieved that Dean had left the cave of his own free will. He walked quickly back to the opening, following the trail Dean had left behind. The other river. John smiled to himself, 'good boy, Dean.' He then turned in the direction of the south river, he had to find Sam. He hastily left the cave behind him, silently willing Dean on, pushing him towards the river, praying that Dean would be able to end this all while he searched for Sammy.
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Sam could feel the ice cold air seeping into his bones, feel the wind brushing over his lips, the shadows forcing their way into his lungs. He could feel his mind slowing, his heart failing, his body freezing. They were all around him, stabbing him, suffocating him. He tried to move his tired body, his limbs protesting, his waning strength falling even further. But still he fought, he wouldn't let it end, not like this. He was not going to let himself die alone in this forest, his soul lost forever to the shadows, his strength feeding the monstrosity that dwelled in the darkness.
He push himself once more against the suffocating darkness, the shadows pulling back slightly, his weak body moving again, feeling again. He focused his mind on ridding himself of the twilight that was encasing him, freeing himself from the shadows that had taken hold. He could feel the warmth returning to his body, his mind clearing more. He continued to focus, to push, to fight.
Suddenly the air was filled with an ear splitting screech as the shadows around his body released him all together, the light overhead shining down weakly upon him. He laid there for several more minutes, his deprived lungs pulling in much needed air. He was again cold and shaky, his heart still beating weakly, but he was alive and free, the shadows fading back into the trees, dissipating into the air, watching him from just out of reach. Sam slowly struggled to his feet, his head swimming as his body continued to pull in oxygen, his hazy vision clearing more with each moment.
"Tougher then I look, huh." He spoke aloud to the silent forest as he picked up his walkie talkie and shotgun, looking once more into the cowering shadows. "It's gonna take more then that to keep Sam Winchester down." And with a cocky grin that Dean would have been proud of he turned back in the direction of the last river, his keen eyes scanning the fog, sharp mind focused completely on the hunt.
"Dad? Come in. Are you there?" Sam called into the radio, cursing loudly as a small light flashed, indicating the batteries were low. "Dad." Sam continued to radio his father as he walked in the direction of the last river, his long legs pulling him through the forest, shadows following just out of sight, afraid of the power housed within the young man.
"Sammy!" John's voice crackled through the radio, relief evident even through the growing static. "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine. Did you get the river?"
"Yeah. What happened to you?"
"Joshua, he knocked me out."
"Where is he?"
"I don't know."
"He just left you there?"
"He left me with the shadows."
"What happened?"
"Let's just say they were no match for me. They tried to take me again, but I fought them off."
"How."
"I willed them away, I guess that's the best way to put it. I can't really describe it."
"Good job, son. Where are you now?"
"I'm on my way to the other river."
"SAM!" Sam heard his name called out through the forest, his father's voice booming in the silence.
"DAD?" He called back in disbelief, staring down at the radio in his hand. 'What was his father doing all the way over here.'
"Damn it, Sam, you look like hell." John began as he jogged over to his son, placing his hands on the boy's shoulders, checking him over. "Are you sure you're ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." He answered, shrugging out of his father's hold. "I thought you were gonna go back to Dean."
"I did, he's not there."
"What!"
"I think he left for the other river."
"You think. Dad, why the hell didn't you go there?"
"I had to find you first."
"No, you had to do your job first. You should have gone to the river."
"Don't lecture me."
"Dad, Dean's in no condition to be wandering around the woods. I mean, what if Joshua found him, what if the shadow has him?"
"I just, I had to find you, Sam. I can't lose you both."
"How do you know he went to the river?" Sam asked, desperately needing to change the subject, the break in his father's voice too much for him. 'Couldn't lose them both.' Did he already think that he had lost Dean?
"The supplies I left him are gone. I'm guessing he probably headed out right after us, went to the east river."
"Why would he do that?"
"Tell me one time you brother put his own well being before yours."
"I don't think there is."
John let a small smile slip. "I guess we were dreaming when we thought he would actually stay put."
"Yeah, wishful thinking." Sam smiled too as they began back in the direction of the final river, hoping to find Dean along the way. The fog was still heavy, the air unnaturally cold, and Sam knew that his brother had yet to bless the fourth river. He just prayed that it was fatigue and nothing else that was slowing his brother's progress.
"Did Joshua say anything to you?" John asked a few minutes later, both men moving quickly through the forest.
"He said he wasn't about to let us be the death of him. What did he mean by that?"
"I don't know."
"Maybe he's trapped here too?"
"Oh, I'm sure of that. Who the hell would want to stay here if they didn't have to."
"But that's not really our fault. I mean, he's the one that sent us here in the first place."
"I wish I knew, Sam. But there is something about all this that isn't adding up, we are missing something. All the shadow's plans changed when Joshua and I showed up."
"Yeah, it wanted more time."
"But why does it need Joshua to help?"
"I think it is pretty weak. Holding us here is probably draining it more then normal."
"Yeah, but something still isn't right. Joshua is too good to just follow a demon's orders."
"You think he knows something?"
"Yeah, I do. And I'm afraid it has something to do with your brother."
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The shadow watched the scene from high above, its icy breath chilling the mountain air, its gray eyes fierce with anger. 'Where was he.' Why was it unable to find the older brother? It knew the boy was no longer in the cave, it had seen Joshua searching, following his faint trail. But it still could not see him, could not feel him.
"The boy's done something." The shadow spoke to the slowly stilling winds, its power draining with each moment. This had to end, now.
It had tried to take the younger, tried to feed off his strength, drain away his life, but the boy was stronger then the shadow had ever believed possible. It wasn't supernatural strength, oh no, it was the pure strength of the human soul. It was the undeniable will to live, to fight, to stand strong. While Sam may have been the more stationary of the family, the least likely to hunt, he was by no means the weakest. His soul, his essence, was one of the most powerful life forces the shadow had ever faced. Too powerful. While Dean was a wealth of energy it had rarely felt before, Sam was a power house of life, a force the Asura was wrong to mess with.
The boy had drained him, crippled him, nearly destroyed him. It was weak and hungry, and needed Dean now more then ever. It had to find him, had to have him, needed him to survive. The Asura took one more deep breath, pulling together what little energy it left, and swirled into the wind, misted away into the forest. It couldn't sense the boy, couldn't see him from its perch, but that was not about to stop the shadow. It would have to hunt him the old fashioned way, trailing him through the forest, following the injured young man to his death.
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Dean stumbled through the woods, cursing as he moved, his walking stick catching in the soft ground, slowing him even further. His weak body shivered in the cold air, sweat beading on his pale face, running down his back. He knew he had a fever, could feel the warmth running though his freezing body, the tremors growing stronger with each passing moment. But still he pushed on, still he fought his way to the river.
He had to save them, had to help them, no matter what the cost to himself. He couldn't let his family be lost, vanishing into the shadows of the dead forest. He would not let his recklessness be the end of them. He had been angry the other night, trying desperately to lose himself in the night, fade away from all thought. He was growing tired of the hunt, tired of holding on to things it was clear he could not have. He relished the darkness, the silence, the solitude of the night, needing to forget, to be forgotten, if only for a little while.
He had never intended to put his family in harms way, never wanted them to follow him on his path to self destruction. 'For a family that doesn't need me, they sure are clingy.' He wished for nothing more then to have life be the way it was , but he knew that would never happen. With each passing month Sam's powers grew stronger, his visions clearer, while his father grew more distant, falling away into an after thought, a distant memory. And Dean was lost somewhere in the middle of it all. He tried to be strong for Sam, but his brother's growing powers terrified him, haunted him. He was afraid of what the young man might become, afraid he would be the monster Max had been. So outwardly he joked and teased, while inside he shrank away, hiding from his brother, distancing himself from the most important thing in his life.
And their father. Dean had tried to do everything the man asked of him, tried to be the perfect son, but he knew that that was impossible. He had failed him, disobeyed him, let him down. He had ignored an order, let his emotions cloud his judgment, and the Demon had gotten away, almost taking his family with it. And now it was growing again, killing again, and he knew that it would return for Sam. He had failed his family too often, let his guard down, put them in danger. It was his fault they were there now, dying at the hands of a shadow. He had to save them, had to save Sam and he didn't care what it took. He would give his life to them in a heartbeat, because that was all he had to give.
He froze as he heard a noise behind him, the leaves at his back rustling gently, almost imperceptible. He could hear the water running in the distance, knowing the river was not far ahead, his goal finally within reach. He continued to stand motionless, his keen ears listening for the source of the noise, his hunting instincts taking over. He silently tightened his grip on the shotgun, his body tensing, right arm wrapping tighter around his crutch. He heard the noise again, footsteps. Dean took a slow, steadying breath before turning himself on the spot, gun raised to his stalker.
"Dean, easy." Joshua shouted, raising his hands, a steady smile on his face. "Don't shoot, it's just me."
"What the hell were you doing sneaking up on me?"
"I'm sorry. It's just, being in this place has me a little on edge."
"Tell me about it." Dean spoke evenly, still training the shotgun on the older hunter.
"What happened to you?"
"Had a little altercation with the edge of a cliff."
"Are you all right?"
"I'm still breathing."
"Maybe you should rest, let me help." Joshua said smoothly, beginning to move forward, but Dean only tightened his grip on the shotgun, stopping the man in his tracks. "Dean, calm down."
"Where've you been all this time?"
"Looking for a way out of this hell hole. Where's your dad?"
"Working."
"And Sam?"
"Same."
"They left you alone?"
"I'm a big boy."
"What are you doing wandering around. Why don't you stay somewhere you'll be safe. Let me help."
"No thanks, I'm doing just fine on my own."
"Come on, Dean, you can barely stand. Rest here, please."
"I have to finish this."
"I'll do it, whatever you're trying to do, I'll do it. Just, let me help you lay down, you're in no condition to be moving around." Joshua said, moving quickly towards the defiant young man.
The shotgun blast echoed through the still forest, the gun sounding more like a cannon in the oppressive silence. Joshua and Dean were both throw back to the ground by the force, the older hunter landing unconscious on the cold earth. Dean hugged his right arm close to his body, cursing the pain it had caused when he broke his fall. He coughed several times before raising himself up to his elbow, taking a long look at the man before him, the rock salt leaving his chest bloodied and bruised.
"Sorry, dude, but I don't trust you any farther then I can throw you." Dean smirked as he struggled to his feet, taking another long look at Joshua. He smiled again and then looked down at the pendant around his neck, quietly reciting an ancient incantation as he held the cool metal. He knew it would hide him from the shadow's prying eyes, mask him in the Asura's own darkness. It wouldn't last for long, much like the banishing spell, but at least it was something, at least it would give him time. He just hoped it would be enough.
He then took a long steadying breath and grabbed his walking stick, turning back towards the final river, the shadow's end within his reach.
TBC