A/N: Is anyone watching Walker? Did you see that twist coming? As soon as I saw the Marine buddy, I knew it wasn't him and Jake stood out for some reason. Can't wait to see what happens this week. NC

Chapter 14

Dean woke early the next morning and lay there wondering what was in the cards for today. What task would the Queen come up with for them to do? With a loud sigh, he sat on the side of the bed and looked down at the sleeping boy, thinking he reminded him of Sammy.

"Hey, Ty, time to get up," Dean called to him as he nudged his foot. "We need to get some breakfast and get ready to be summoned by the Queen."

"I'm awake," Titus yawned as he rolled over to look at Dean.

"Get dressed, we need to go have a good breakfast before starting this task thing again." Dean got up and grabbed the clothes given to him to get dressed. He put on his own boots instead of the other ones given to him thinking they were broken in and comfortable.

Titus rolled his shoulders and neck and sat up, pulling his clothes to him and putting them on. He stretched his arms above his head to get the stiffness from his body before following Dean from the room and to the dining hall. All the other hunters were already there eating as Dean and Titus filled their plates and went to sit with Ice.

"Morning," Dean greeted Ice.

"Morning you two. Are you ready for another task?" Ice asked them.

"The quicker we get through these tasks, the sooner I get to go home," Dean replied.

Titus looked sideways at Dean with a sad look on his face but didn't say anything. He knew when Dean left, he would be back to living in the barn again and hoping for scraps of food from the kitchen. He hunched his shoulders and continued to eat with a heavy heart.

The guards entered the dining hall and announced the Queen requested an audience with them. The eight remaining hunters whispered among themselves as they got up and followed them to the throne room. The hunters lined up in front of the throne and waited for the Queen to make her entrance.

After the fanfare of horns, the Queen entered the room dressed in a rich, eggplant colored gown with gold trim. Her hair was twirled on the top of her hair with the crown nestled in the mound. She strolled to the throne, sat down, and looked at the hunters with a calculating gaze.

"So, only eight remain," she spoke to the hunters. "I hope you are ready for your next task. This one will seem simple, but I must warn you it is more dangerous. In the middle of the Forbidden Forest is a tree that produces a succulent magical fruit. It is at its peak and should be loaded with fruit. You are to make your way through the forest and bring me back only one of these fruits," she instructed them. "I must warn you not to be greedy and take more or you will be cursed and eventually you will die. Beware, there are dangerous creatures that lurk in the woods who do not like trespassers, so be wary. You will have two weeks to complete this task. Since the horses cannot go into the woods, you will be taken to the border by wagon and your time will start then." She stood and walked by each hunter giving them a stony stare. "I have instructed the guards to drop you off at different places along the border of the forest so you will not be falling over each other as you start the second challenge. Go prepare yourselves for the task and meet out front where the wagons will be waiting." The Queen waved her hand, dismissing the hunters who filed out of the room.

"Titus, since we are being taken to the location, you can stay here," Dean told the boy as they walked back to their room.

"No, no, I'm coming with you!" Titus cried out with anger. "You need me."

"You heard the Queen, it's going to be dangerous, and you could get hurt."

"I don't care, you are not leaving me behind," Titus demanded in a growl. He stomped into the room and grabbed his pack to stuff a few things into it.

Dean stood in the doorway and watched the boy thinking he had some of the Winchester stubbornness in him. With a soft sigh, Dean entered the room and gathered the weapons to take. He tried to determine what would be the most useful in a dense forest where there wouldn't be much room to maneuver. He was going to see about a backpack since they would need to take supplies with them.

"Hey Ice," Dean called to him when he saw him in the hall. "Are they going to give us supplies and packs and stuff?"

"Yes. We do get supplies. Come on, I'll show you where to pick them up," Ice answered.

"Good to know. Do you know what's in those woods?"

"Nothing good. I have heard rumors, but no one goes in there, so I'm not sure how accurate they are. No one ventures into the woods alone."

"That doesn't sound ominous at all. How 'bout maybe we team up to do this one? Is that against the rules?" Dean asked as a plan began to form in his head.

"Unless she specifically stated it, then it's not. Are you sure about that? Working together?"

"Why not?" Dean shrugged. "Titus won't stay here, so I have to look out for him and if we worked together, we could watch each other's backs."

"Why not. You've proved yourself on the first task."

They walked to the dining hall where packs were being put together and the hunters made sure they had what they needed. Dean double checked to be sure they had extra food and blankets that he divided between the packs, making sure Titus' pack wasn't too heavy for him. Everyone headed out to the marketplace where two wagons were waiting for them to take them to the Forbidden Forest.

spn

Dean gazed absently out at the landscape as the wagon lumbered along a rutted road. He swayed with the motion and thought about his Baby and how he always felt safe inside of her. The Impala had been the brother's home all their lives. She was a part of their family. He pulled himself back to reality when the wagon slowed and stopped at the edge of a dark forest to begin letting hunters out. It continued along the boundary stopping every so often to drop a hunter off. The guard motioned Dean to get down at the next stop.

"We're together," Dean growled at them as Ice stood too to get down.

The guards frowned but didn't say anything to them as the two hunters and guide got ready to disembark.

Dean stood up and already felt uneasy as he stared into the trees thinking it was not a welcoming place. He got out and helped Titus with his pack before shouldering his own and adjusting it to make it comfortable. He nodded to Ice who was adjusting his pack that he was ready to start.

"Listen to me Ty," Dean started in a no-nonsense voice. "I want you to stay close to me and don't be wondering off on your own. You need to stay alert and be aware of everything around you."

"Alright," Titus nodded as he gazed with wide eyes toward the forest.

"It's okay to be scared," Dean whispered to him. "I'm scared too."

"You are?" Titus asked.

"Yes, but I don't let that stop me from doing things. Sometimes we must face our fears. Now, you do everything I tell you."

"I will."

"Are you ready?" Ice asked stepping to the two.

"Yeah, let's rock and roll," Dean grunted as he boldly walked toward the forest and stepped into the shadows. It was almost like stepping into another world. Titus was close behind him and Ice was taking up the rear.

None knew what dangers they were going to face, but they had a goal to accomplish, and Dean was not going to give up hope because he wanted to get back home. He missed his brother and wished he could get a message to him to let him know that he was okay.

The atmosphere in the forest was heavy, gloomy, and seemed to suck the life out of a person. The hunters moved quietly through trees as quickly as they could wanting to cover as much distance as they could before they had to stop for the night.

Dean's senses were on hyperalert as he listened to the strange sounds all around them. They were foreign to him, and he was on edge. He kept an eye on Titus to be sure he was okay and didn't need to rest.

"How much longer should we keep going?" Dean asked Ice as he slowed to let him catch up.

"Maybe another hour or so unless we find a good, defendable location," Ice replied.

"Do you feel like we are being watched?" Dean mumbled to where Titus didn't hear.

"Yes, for a while now. I've not been able to detect what it is."

"We better take turns keeping watch tonight."

"I agree," Ice nodded as he let his gaze roam the trees searching for movement.

They continued deeper into the forest until Titus spotted a suitable place to camp at a fallen tree that had a stream nearby for water. Ice and Titus gathered wood for a fire while Dean got a firepit ready and cleared a spot for them to bed down. He took some of the dry branches and fixed them to use as torches if they needed them. Once a fire was going and food fixed, they ate, and Dean and Ice decided who would take the first watch and keep the fire going to keep any creatures away.

A/N: Dean and Ice join forces for this next task. What could be stalking them in Forbidden Forest? Things are going to get dangerous before they get out of the forest. I do like reviews/comments. NC