Re-Cap The Plot So Far… feel free to go back and check the details. But its been awhile since I updated so here's the story so far.

A small child runs away from an orphanage after she kills its abusive owner in self defense. She finds herself in Four Corners with a wolf at her side, a companion and protector. Chris takes her in and she becomes friends with Rose, Vin's ward who can read auras and has a supernatural connection with nature. The girls get themselves in a little strife when wandering into the woods. However the wolf had been watching them and fights with a Wendigo that has been hunting the girls.

Meanwhile, the Winchesters arrive at the town where Amalia had escaped. John wishes to catch up with an old friend, Grace, who had had his child. Before he can discern the whereabouts of either, the Winchesters are pulled into a ghost fight at the very same orphanage. After the fight John finds out that Grace is dead and Amalia gone for fear of the law over the murder of Kendall. They now set out to Four Corners because they heard rumors about a strange creature in the forests.

Meanwhile back in Four Corners Gabriel, aka the wolf has made his way back to town to keep the child safe from further predators.

Chapter 8

"Are you sure, you're well enough Sam?" Dean questioned, but helped his brother up in the saddle, all the same.

"It's only a broken arm. It'll heal Dean." Sam snarled. He was tired of everyone fussing about him. First the headaches and now this. He thought frustrated. Soon they're gonna think that I'll fall apart as soon as I take step outside.

John looked over at them getting stilling the bickering in one single no nonsense glare. "We've got no time for your girlie squabbles. We continue our ride to Four Corners and see if the rumors are true."

"What do you think it is?" Dean asked getting up in his horse's saddle.

"Blackhound, Wendigo, Werewolf…. There are a lot of creatures, could be anyone of a hundred." Sam muttered.

"Didn't ask you." Dean snapped.

"Sam's right. We've got no idea what it is, if it is anything at all." John said and kicked his horse into a slow canter. "Often people think they see something and then it isn't anything at all."

"Yeah, but I got a good feeling about this. We will encounter something big this time." Dean replied as they rode out off the town.

The sun had barely risen when they rode out of town. It was still early morning and the horses unusually skittish with the rising sun. All of sudden the form of a small child appeared right in front of their horses. Whining the horses reared up on their hind legs. Despite his injured arm, Sam clasped the reins tightly desperately trying not to fall off.

Once they had gotten their mounts under control, they stared at the girl, who hadn't moved from her place on the road. She raised an arm and pointed towards the graveyard, then she walked with slow steps over to Sam and called him down. John and Dean were watching the apparition warily, both holding their shotguns ready.

The girl leant close to Sam and whispered, "Miranda." Then she pointed towards the graveyard.

"Miranda? The girl who committed suicide?" Sam asked.

The girl nodded and once again pointed towards the graveyard.

"Can't you go?"

She shook her head sadly.

"Okay then. Dad, Dean, we need to set her free."

"What'ya mean?" Dean asked puzzled. "We burn her bones too?"

"Yes, otherwise she won't be able to go on. C'mon Dad she'll turn crazy after a few hundred years of roaming around like this." Sam said.

"Okay. Let's do it then." Dean steered his horse to the graveyard and grabbed a shovel from his luggage.

Half an hour later they were heading down the road again, but this time the girl didn't appear, yet Sam could have sworn he had heard a whispered "thank you," as the flames turned the girl's body into ash.

Four Corners

Rose was sitting outside the Boarding house stroking Fury's soft fur. The cat purred loudly and rubbed her head against the girl's knees, causing her to giggle. Hearing heavy panting noises, she looked up and spotted Wolf coming into the town. He seemed exhausted.

"Wolf! Where were you? Amalia was worried." She got to her feet and headed over to the animal which had made itself comfortable in the shadow of a house. As response Wolf simply snorted then put his head down on his paws and fell asleep.

Offended that he ignored her like that she crouched down next to him. Animals never disliked her. They never had and this Wolf was certainly acting strangely. She stroked his ear and Wolf opened one pale blue eye, delivering her an icy stare. Rose grinned, now she had gotten his attention.

"You can't jist wander off like that. You were gone for the whole night. Amalia could barely sleep. Chris nearly had to tie her to the bed, to keep her from sneaking out again."

Wolf got to his paws and headed over to the next closest shadow and lay down again.

"HEY!" Rose yelled indignantly. "I was talkin' to ya."

Concentrating on his aura she approached the wolf again. She would give him a piece of her mind, whether he wanted or not. He couldn't just leave Amalia like that. She had been crying for over two hours. But before she could reach him Amalia came out of the boardinghouse rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

"WOLF!" She exclaimed happily and sprinted over to him. Launching herself at the poor creature, who just wanted some sleep, she hugged him tightly ruffling his fur.

"Where did ya go yesterday? I was so worried ya had left me. I'm so sorry ifin I neglected you. I promise I won't ever do it again." She said all in one breath, covering him in kisses. Wolf tried to squirm out of her grip, but Amalia held tight, having clearly no desire to let her beloved friend go yet. So finally Wolf resigned to his fate and let her cuddle him as much as she wanted catching up for lost time. When she finally let go off him he rewarded her with a quick flick of his tongue to her face, then yawned, lay down again and closed his eyes.

"Okay, I let you sleep a bit, but afterwards ya havta eat somethin'." Amalia stated sternly. Wolf snorted.

"Okay little girl. I think it's better for him to get some sleep now. He was probably jist out huntin'." Vin said as he came over to them. He had watched her little reunion and decided it was time for the wolf to get some sleep. The animal looked pretty exhausted. Bending down he stood her up and brushed the dust of her pants. "Come, I can show ya and Rose a good place for fishin'."

"Okay." She replied. Rose skipped to their side and put her hand in his. Wolf raised his head at Vin's statement. "It isn't far away, just half a mile from town." Wolf laid his head down on his paws again.

"Can Wolf come too?" Amalia asked tentatively.

"I think he needs some sleep. He's lookin' plumb….. tucked out." He added as the child frowned.

"I suppose you're right." She replied but cast a longing glance towards her pet.

"Come now." Vin said grinning, picked her up and hoisted her up on his shoulders.

"Can we have the fishes for dinner?" Rose asked excitedly.

"If you ask Mrs. Patterson nicely, I'm sure she can make us some fish if we catch something." Vin grinned at her excitement. "But, it's now or never, the fish don't bite all day yer know, so stop nagging now, otherwise we never get out of town."

Four Corners Evening

Gabriel woke slowly up. He had nearly slept the whole day. Yawning, he stretched himself and looked around. Amalia didn't seem to be around yet, well then he could just go back to sleep. It had taken him all night to put the protection symbols around the village. Three square miles and one symbol every hundred feet. He sighed and closed his eyes. Just as he was about to drift back to sleep he picked up the scent of strangers. His curiosity won over his weariness and he got to his paws. He strode down the main street looking around for one of the peacekeepers. Chris was sitting puffing on a cheroot outside the prison.

Wolf headed over to him and lay down next to his chair. From here he could see everything and at the same time keep an eye on the Peacekeeper. Not that Chris needed protecting. The symbols would protect him also and the town for that matter, but Amalia had grown very fond of him and he of her. Like him, the peacekeeper protected her, but he was a human. The child needed a human, one of her kind and he wanted to see that continue. He wasn't sure how long he could continue this life and he sure didn't want to risk the girl's luck.

He sat there watching the street just like Chris, thinking back to when he had first meet the child. When had first encountered her, she had been shattered, constantly crying, shaking and was startled by the smallest noise. Their first meeting happened when he had been in the form of the wolf. After a while he had thought of revealing himself for her, but had decided against it. She would have probably panicked and ran away from him. It had been such a long time since he had met someone who wanted to be his friend. Of course she didn't know what he really was, but it was a good feeling to at least pretend that she liked her "Wolf".

Suddenly he felt a hand on his head and looked up. Chris was gently stroking his fur looking him directly in the eyes.

"You're surely the strangest Wolf I've ever met." Chris mused while he continued stroking Gabriel's head. "Never heard of such a thing; an animal taken care of a little child. I suppose she got you ta thank. She probably only got this far cause ya helped her." Then he shook his head and sat straighter. "What am I doin' talking with an animal?" He muttered and got to his feet.

Gabriel grinned at the man's words and sniffed in the air again. The scent of the strangers had gotten stronger, but now he could also smell Vin, Rose and Amalia.

"Do you smell Vin?" Chris asked as he saw Wolf raising his head. To his surprise the wolf nodded, stood up and went away. The gunslinger shook his head and looked at the cheroot he was holding in his hand. He dropped it on the ground and stomped it out. He wondered if something had been mixed with it, boy he really should stop smoking if he was already seeing things.

Gabriel headed in the direction from where Amalia's scent was coming. Soon he heard the small group laughing and the smell of fish stung his sensitive nose.

"Go to Mrs. Patterson and ask her now. I'm sure this dinner will be delicious." Vin ordered and sent the girls away. They both ran past Wolf only greeting him shortly. A bit taken aback that she didn't greet him more fervent, Gabriel sat down and saw her running down the road towards the boarding house.

For the second time of this day he felt a hand on his head. "A bit hurt that she didn't greet ya aren't ya?" Vin asked grinning.

Gabriel snorted and turned his head away. Vin's grin faded, he could swear this animal was much smarter than it showed the world.

"She loves ya Wolf. But right now she's jist excited about showin' her four trout to Mrs. Patterson and Chris. Yesterday she could barely sleep because you was out huntin'."

Gabriel closed his eyes for some seconds. Maybe he should just leave her here. She would get over the loss. It was dumb of him to think that he could pretend to be a wolf forever. However he couldn't go now. A Wendigo was hunting and he had to find a way to kill it before he left.

Absorbed in their thoughts none of them acknowledged the arrival of the three horsemen until they were right behind them.

As one of them cleared his throat, Vin spun around automatically reaching for his gun. The three men were just about twenty feet away. Two seemed to be around JD's age while the other was much older with a hard look on his face. The youngest had his arm in a sling and a pained expression on his face.

"Hold on. We don't want any trouble; we just want a room and a goodnight's sleep." The oldest said raising his hand in a calming gesture.

"Who are yer all?" Vin asked.

"My name's John Winchester and these are my sons, Dean and Samuel."

Hearing those names made Gabriel's hair rise. They were some of the most famous hunters in the world. This John had killed many Skinwalkers, his father among them. However it didn't bother Gabriel much as his father had been cruel, enjoyed killing and turned people just because he felt like it. No wonder he had attracted the hunters. However, his mother shouldn't have been dragged into the hunt. It was all Winchesters fault that he was alone in the world and the creature he had become. His mother, Carina, had been turned into a Skinwalker, but had never turned a person, nor killed one. His father had spotted his mother and wanting her for his mate had turned the beautiful young girl she was. Unable to flee, Carina endured everything his father did to her. It was a surprise when she became pregnant as it was not common for Skinwalker females to conceive. During her second trimester, a hunter called John Winchester had showed up and started to kill one after the other of the pack. Carina managed to flee, but didn't get very far. In a full moon night she transformed into her human form and fled, however she had fled into the hunting territory of a Werewolf and was attacked. Severely injured she turned back into her canine form and ran away. John lost her trail there. A year later, John found the Skinwalker again; this time in her canine form not far from her infant human son. Believing that she wanted to turn an innocent baby he shot her down and put the baby into an orphanage. Little did he know that he had just set free an extraordinary creature.

Gabriel felt a growl threatened to escape and struggled to keep control over his raging emotions.

"Stay calm." Vin soothed and placed a soothing hand on Gabriel's hand.

"Keep that animal on a tight leash." John muttered as he rode past the pair.

This time Gabriel did let out the growl causing the horses to rear. John cursed and gathered his reigns tighter.

"Don't make me shoot that thing." He snarled.

"You wouldn't want ta do that Mister Winchester. Then you would have to face Amalia, it's her Wolf." Vin replied and headed over to the jail, laughing as he called Wolf to follow him.

John froze as he heard the name and looked after the tracker. The Wolf followed the man, but suddenly stopped and turned then cast one last look at him. The fury and hatred in those eyes caused John to shudder.

"Dad? Something wrong?" Dean asked curiously as John continued on his way towards the boardinghouse.

"Yeah there is, but I don't know if it's bad or good… Boys we need to talk I have a bit of a story to tell you. Then we rest we gotta a lot of figuring out to do and a long day ahead of us."

The boys turned and made their way up the steps of the boarding house. John stopped and again, took a long look towards the jail and the last of the dust the tracker had left. That wolf, a smart critter and Amalia. It was time to tell his boys, then before bed he would lay a few protective symbols around … just to be on the safe side.

TBC

Okay, so here's the new chapter. I'm really sorry that it took me so long time, but I had a writers block with this story. Hopefully I can get over it with the next chapter and get to an end with this story.

Thanks to my co-writer otkcp and Gaben who worked as our beta-reader. Without them this story wouldn't be half as good as it is now.