(Disclaimer: Don't own anything except the following story)

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Return of the Dragon Slayer.

Chapter Twelve.

Eve caught up with Sam and pulled her horse up next to his as they trotted towards the outskirts of Loch Forest.

"You sure he's going to the 'Barren Lands'?" asked Eve.

Sam nodded "I know you have no reason to believe me and I have no proof to back it up…but I know that's where the dragons are; and Caleb wouldn't leave without good reason… and the only good reason he'd have is Finn"

"You think something's happened to her?" she asked.

Sam shrugged "But maybe Caleb does"

"And if something's happened to the Princess you think something's happened to the Slayer"

Sam laughed softly "Okay, while it's just you and me here, can you just call 'em Dean and Finn? The 'princess' and 'slayer' business just weirds me out"

She nodded "Okay, but only if you tell me about that" she pointed to his sword and shield.

"The sword and shield? Aaaah, they're a sword and shield"

"They bear the mark of the Phoenix. They're more than just a sword and shield" she said.

Sam sighed "Wish I could, Eve but Finn took my memories so I have no idea about what they mean or any recollection about the whole 'Baba Yaga' business. I mean, Finn told me some of it but I'm sure she left a lot of it out. So I can't really tell you anything about them"

She smiled "Well Sam Winchester….let me tell you a story…"

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Dean and Finn stood at the entrance to the main cave, waiting for Gabe to get his gear. Dean kept grinning at her "Soooo, I'm guessing your tattoo is moving as well" he grinned again "Drop 'em and show me"

She laughed softly "You kiss me and expect me to drop my pants just like that?" she clicked her fingers.

"Aaah, yeah" he grinned "worked last time"

She laughed again "Just watch yourself, Slayer"

"You're not wearing panties are you?" he raised an eyebrow at her "I don't mind" he grinned again "drop 'em"

Finn shook her head with a smile "Nope, I aim to torture you"

"Not really fair, Finn. I'm standing here shirtless, awesome tatt moving around on me, which I know you like" he laughed as she rolled her eyes "Don't start, I've seen you staring, …so the least you can do is drop your pants"

"Is it?"

He pulled her against him "Yeah, the least" he kissed her deeply. He pulled back gently, his arms still around her "You alright? You know with the whole 'dead brother come back to life' thing?"

"I have to be, don't I?" she said

"No, you don't. But you know it's him" she nodded "It'll work out, he's your brother, Finn and as much as brothers are a pain in the ass…" he grinned "well younger ones…"

"I'm older than her" said Gabe as he came back, his swords over his back and his shield strapped to his arm; the shield bore the image of a wolf, raised on its back legs, swords in its paws.

"So Finn has the griffin, you the wolf…what does Gideon have?"

"Lion" said Finn "Speaking of griffins, I'll be bringing Raja back with me"

"He the big one?" asked Dean.

Finn nodded "He's their leader. I'll meet you back there" she kissed Dean, stepped away from him and turned towards the passageway that led to the griffins.

"Ahem" said Dean; she turned back "Forgetting something?" he motioned to Gabe.

"He can ride with you"

Dean walked over to her and whispered "Finn, you're gonna have to talk to him sooner or later"

"Later then" she said. She looked at Gabe, he was watching her "I just need to get used to it is all…I thought he was dead, Dean"

"I know, I know" he kissed her softly "Go. I'll bring him" he grinned "Race you back. When I win, you drop your pants"

She grinned "When I win, you drop yours" she turned and ran down the passageway, his laughter following her.

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Sam and Eve got to the edge of Loch Forest, dismounted and checked the area for Jonas' men. It was clear. They ran back to their horses, jumped on and galloped out of the forest and towards the 'Barren Lands'.

"How long a ride are we talking about?" asked Sam.

"If we don't catch up with Caleb before then…about four hours at a gallop" she pulled her horse up and Sam slowed his "It's best that you don't speak to anyone, you're tall, so you won't stand out too much, but if anyone asks, I'll tell them you're from an outer clan, distant relative…something like that"

He nodded "What about Jonas' men?"

"We'll avoid them if we can, if not…then we fight. They know I side with Jude"

They rode in a comfortable silence, both of them scanning the land around them for any sign of Caleb and Wolf.

"He's just so damn small" said Sam "We could ride right past him and not see him" he shook his head "Finn's gonna kill me"

"Not Dean?"

"Him too, but Finn scares me more" he smiled "especially where Caleb is concerned" he scanned the side of a gully and frowned "What's that?" he asked and pointed to a form almost hidden in the deep grass.

They kicked their horses over and dismounted, Sam walking quickly down the gully and over to the spot "Oh no…" he knelt "Wolf…" he stroked the dogs head.

Eve knelt next to him and turned Wolf gently onto his back and inspected the wound "He died about an hour ago, Sam" she said softly.

"So who's got Caleb?"

They heard the sound of an approaching horse and they ducked behind some nearby bushes, both of them drawing their swords. They heard the horse being bought to a stop and then nothing. No footsteps, no sound of movement of any kind, nothing. They waited, holding their breath as they looked through the foliage.

"How long ago'd they get Caleb"

They spun to face the voice behind them "How long?" the man demanded.

Sam rose as Eve did and looked at the man who had snuck soundlessly up on them. He was 6ft10, built like a brick-shithouse, longish light brown hair and dark blue eyes. He was wearing the standard black leather outfit of most Ancients, two swords across his back and a dagger strapped to his leg. He was an imposing figure if ever Sam saw one.

"We don't know Seth. We just found his…"

"Yeah, I saw Wolf" he shook his head "Caleb loved that dog" he looked at Sam "You must be Sam" he stuck out his hand "Seth Carmichael"

Sam shook the enormous, calloused hand "Sam Winchester"

Seth looked at Eve "Eve, ride back. Sam and I'll go on from here. Tell Jude we're riding to the Citadel, they'll have taken Caleb there. We'll find him and get him out"

"Seth, if he's at the Palace, you won't be able to get him out"

"I'll get him out. If Finn gets back before we do, you tell her not to come…"

"She won't listen" said Sam.

Seth looked at Eve "You make sure Jude explains to her that she can't come, she won't be thinking straight and she'll do something stupid and get herself caught or killed"

"If you can't get to him? Then what Seth? You two won't be able to get him out alone. And what if he's being kept with the Supreme Royal?"

"If he's with Gideon, he'll be safe…well safer; and I'll be able to set someone up to watch out for him then I'll come back and make plans with Finn"

Eve nodded "I'll do my best, Seth"

They walked towards the horses, Seth stopping to pick up Wolf. He strapped Wolf's body to the back of Eve's horse "Tell Finn I'll see her soon"

Eve nodded then looked at Sam "You watch your back, Sam"

Sam "Thanks, Eve. Can you tell Dean …shit, just tell him …" he sighed "doesn't matter. Go" she nodded, turned her horse and galloped back the way they came. He turned to Seth "So how much shit are we in?"

Seth gave him a short smile "Usual amount" he put his hand to his neck "About up to here" he swung onto his horse "Come on, Jonas' men are about, we'll ride through the mountains and come in the back way"

Sam jumped onto Bull "Secret entrance?"

"Something like that" and he kicked at his horse and they galloped towards the far orange mountains.

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Gabe settled himself behind Dean "You think you could put your shirt on, Dean?"

"Nope. But keep your hands …hand…shit, sorry dude…" he grinned awkwardly "just don't cop feels and we'll be fine"

Gabe laughed "I'll try and control myself"

They looked up as they heard the scream of the griffin and saw it rocketing through the skies, Finn waving as they flew past, a smart-ass grin on her face.

"Fuck me…" said Gabe "That's freakin' awesome"

"Come on. Peluda! We're racing! You're not gonna let a griffin beat…" and Peluda shot skywards, Gabe grabbing onto Dean as gravity tried to take hold of him.

They watched as a fleet of dragons took to the air with them, flying alongside before splitting up and heading towards the mountains.

"They'll act as diversions for any of Jonas' men, make sure they don't know where we are!" yelled Dean to Gabe.

"They'll be able to spot Finn! A griffin will stand out a mile!"

"Peluda says to trust them. Come on, Peluda! She's beating us!"

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Finn looked back and saw Dean and Gabe catching up with them. She didn't care if she won…well okay, she did want to win…but the buzz of riding the griffin was enough. Caleb was really gonna pee in his pants when he saw it, she could just see the look of joy on his face when he saw Raja. She leaned down against the griffins neck "Raja, we are not gonna be beaten by a dragon, you hear me?" the griffin screamed and increased its speed. They started the rise over the mountain as dragon after dragon shot past them; there was the diversion. Raja picked up speed and shot skywards, they needed height to mask their form; Finn looked back and saw Dean heading straight towards Loch Forest. Bugger. Oh, well, she grinned…it was a win-win situation anyway.

They reached dizzying heights before Raja tipped sideways, Finn gripped tightly with her knees, put her arms around Raja's neck and hung on. The griffin, tucked its wings tight to its body and speared towards the earth, it was as exhilarating as it was frightening but she couldn't help but smile. She saw Loch Forest underneath her and Dean and Peluda sailing over the top "Come on, Raja…" she urged. They hurtled towards the clearing, she could see Ancients scattering, as Peluda sailed over the top, looking for a place to land; when they were fifty feet from the ground, Raja opened his wings and they pulled up more gently than she thought possible and he sailed over the clearing, circling back and landing just as Peluda did.

Both animals folded their wings against their body and settled on the ground. Finn stroked Raja's head gently "Thanks, Raja" the griffin tipped its head and Finn slipped off him, walking round to Dean and to the open-mouthed stares of Ancients.

Dean grinned at her "We beat you"

"Just…and it was only because we had to enter a different way. Raja would've kicked your arse" she turned as Jude came over, staring between the dragon and the griffin "Surprise" Finn said with grin.

"No shit, Finn" he shook his head "We didn't know what the fuck was going on"

"They'll be staying til we battle" she looked around "Where's Caleb?"

"Main tent" said Jude.

She nodded and walked towards it, Dean catching up with her "You know I won the bet"

She laughed "Yes, Dean" she grinned "I'm not a welcher…don't worry" she walked into the tent and stopped.

Dean followed her "I don't know what that word means…but…" he stopped when he saw Wolf's body on the floor of the tent.

They turned as Jude came in with Eve and Gabe.

"WHERE'S CALEB?!" she yelled.

"Finn…"

"WHERE IS HE?"!

"He went looking for you…he snuck out. Eve and Sam found Wolf…Caleb wasn't there. Sam and Seth have gone to the Citadel…"

Finn went to walk out and Jude stepped in front of her "No, you don't. Seth will bring him back, you know that. You stay here!"

"Get out of my way, Jude"

"No, Finn. You leave it with Seth" insisted Jude.

"It? He's my son!" she pushed past him and he grabbed her as Gabe put his hands to her head and she fell limp.

"ASSHOLE!" said Dean and put a punch on Gabe's chin, knocking him on his ass.

"Dean! She can't go after him, she'll do more harm than good, trust me" said Jude as he scooped Finn into his arms.

Dean went and kissed Finn's forehead and stormed out of the tent. Gabe ran after him "Where the fuck do you think you're going?"

"After my son" said Dean.

He didn't see the blow that knocked him out.

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Caleb sat in the cell, his back against the wall, his knees pulled up under his chin, his arms wrapped around his legs as he tried not to cry. He had to be brave, that's what his Mamma would want, but every time he thought of Wolf, the tears just came and there was nothing he could do to stop them.

He wiped his nose on his sleeve and brushed the tears from his cheeks. His Mamma would come, he knew it, she wouldn't leave him here. He heard a distant door open and he pushed himself back against the wall, he didn't want to get hit again, the last beating had been bad enough but he wouldn't tell where his Mamma was, where Dean was, where the rest of them were. He tried to make himself as small as possible as the footsteps neared, he peeked over his knees as he saw two of the men that had beat him earlier, come to the door of the cell, dragging someone between them. One of them opened the cell door and threw the person in; they fell to the floor, unmoving. The men slammed the cell-door shut, the clang of it echoing through the underground chamber.

"We'll be back to talk to you later, you little shit"

Caleb stared at them as they walked away laughing. He waited til he heard the door shut before slowly rising and shuffling over to the person on the floor. He knelt next to them, untying the hood that was around their head; he removed it gently and smiled as the man smiled at him.

"Caleb"

"Uncle Sam"

To be continued…