Chapter 11

Akiyama was surprised at how far the human had travelled since he left her near the ravine. Then again the lady said that she was special and that she wasn't like other humans. He went back to where he left her and found the trail she left behind and he followed. He had to lessen his stride so that he wouldn't come up on her unexpectedly. Even though she wouldn't be trying to kill him, he knew that humans didn't react well to the cold and she might think to shoot first and ask questions later.

He paused a few times to make sure that she was heading in the right direction. He would stop and sniff around for her scent. He followed the most recent scent and he became alarmed when it started going off and away from the direction she should have been going. Akiyama grew concerned at that.

The lady who was his creator and mother, the goddess Amaterasu told him that she was different. She called the human a warrior princess. He didn't understand what that meant but it was obvious that she was important to the lady. He would do his duty and he would do what he had always done and that was to guide the lost back to where they could find their way.

It was obvious that he would need to hurry but he needed to inform the lady. He gave the rumble roar he used. She was there in an instant. He gave the nod of respect. "Milady, the human has gone off the path."

"This is not good. Bring her near the clearing. I will go and guide those that are looking for her."

"They are out here?"

Amaterasu gave a slight smile. "They care for her."

That was enough for Akiyama. Most of those he had returned had someone who cared. That they were risking the elements to find the human was something he admired in the fragile beings. It was what he emphasized when he had taught younglings what they did. "I will bring her."

He had taken off before the lady left. He had done that before without repercussions. The lady understood the sense of urgency regarding the fragile state of humans. This time he put a spurt into his old muscles and went full speed. He tempered it a little again to not startle the human.

He knew he was close when he heard a piercing scream of frustration. Akiyama knew that he had to help if she was in trouble. He hurried forward only to find that she was on her knees and she was pounding the ground with intense ferocity. He could see the indents in the snow and the ground. She was angry at something and shouting the one word that he knew well. The word was 'no'.

Akiyama had never seen a human last this long in the cold. He couldn't understand it but he surmised that the heart of this human was different from those he had rescued before. It was stronger and it was a warrior's heart. He had seen only one other like that and that was a long time ago before the wretched demon dropped him off here.

He poked his way through the brush just as the human collapsed. He came upon her, tempted to poke her to see if she was still alive. There was no movement except for the occasional twitch of her fingers. She was done for if he didn't get her to where she could be found. Slowly he picked her up.

It had been a long time since he had even carried a human. What passed for a thumb was on the human's chest and he could make out the thready heartbeat but he could also feel the damage that had been done by Kimi and her offspring. He would have to be careful with this one.

It was like cradling a newborn of his people as he put the human close to his chest and hoped that it provided some measure of warmth. His kind's fur was made to withstand the freezing temperatures of the Himalayas so this was nothing to him. He made sure that his load was stable before he started loping in the direction that she should have been going in.

Again Akiyama marveled at how far the human was able to travel as he made his way back to where she diverted from her path. Once he was back on the trail, he started loping towards where the fight had begun. He was going to have to be careful once he got closer though since whoever was looking for her may not understand his intent and start shooting.

The distance that had been covered was astounding. Kimi was fast and ferocious when she was on the hunt. The fact that the human was able to actually run and keep ahead was astounding. It only went to prove that the human wasn't a normal one at all.

Akiyama could have gone faster but he didn't want to risk the well being of the human in his charge. At one point he felt her actually cuddle into the warmth of his fur. That told him she was still alive but barely. He was certain she wouldn't move but the fact that she did spoke of resilience. When he stopped to rest his arms, he looked at the human and muttered in his own language, "The lady said you were special but I am at a loss as to what you are. You are not like any human I have met."

It took a couple of rest stops since he was going at a slower pace but he was making good time. He would be able to make it possible to find the human before they had to turn back and wait until morning. If that were the case, he would gladly take care of the human through the night but as it were, he would rather get her back to her people.

He finally found the spot well away from the clearing but it gave him enough time for him to sneak away should anyone else human came that way. He set the human down, regretting that he had to expose her to the cold again but this was how it had to be done.

Back home the people understood the yeti. They respected them and they helped hunt the ones that didn't do what they were supposed to do. Here it was different. There were other creatures capable of killing like the rogue ones of his people. They didn't understand the true role of the yeti. They did not understand that not all the yetis were like the rogues. Many of the hunters had this arrogance that they knew everything. That was what infuriated him since he did once or two lost a clan member to that arrogance.

Akiyama brushed it off as he stayed nearby and made the human a little comfortable even though it was cold and getting colder. He heard a whistling in the wind and lifted his head to listen. He moved his head to fine tune his ears to see if he could hear what was coming. He brought his nose into the mix by sniffing it out.

One of the advantages of being a yeti was that they were good at navigating through snowstorms. They could pick up sounds and scents that while other animals could eventually pick up on, the yeti could pick it up from a distance and be ready to flee should the time prove necessary. Akiyama was putting his sense of smell to use.

He was able to pick up the scent of the lady. She was coming towards him. The scent was a bit different though so he would be cautious. He got down on all fours in a protective stance over the human. He gave a low growl and was ready to lash out at the intruder.

From the direction where he had rescued that elder, out came a white wolf. It was like the others he had seen roaming the forest but this one was different. He recognized the colors of the robes the lady wore when she made an appearance. He peered at the wolf to take a closer look but he didn't budge from his protective stance. He gave tentative sniffs while the wolf stood there and let him as if it seemed to understand. He smelled the lady and taking in the markings on the wolf's coat, he knew who it was. He gave a low rumble and nodded and he understood when the wolf nodded back. His job was done but he would stick around to make sure.

The wolf left the area and went back towards the direction it came. Akiyama watched with slight worry. Sometimes the hunters took a shot at those loving creatures as well. However he was certain that what the lady intended would work.

How big is this damn forest?

Sam knew it was a rhetorical question and he could just hear Angela telling him that the Selway-Bitterroot wilderness area is the largest of three areas that span the Bitterroot National Forest and included the Bitterroot Mountain range. Yeah he read the same pamphlet in the room while he was being an ass. However the question made him feel better in terms of making progress in his search. He knew that he was going to have to turn back in about twenty minutes or so.

Sam did toy with the idea of staying out a bit longer but he knew that Dean would be up there as fast as he could get the horse to move and make him get down the hill. That would have been to appease Georgia since they would have been back up there within the hour to continue searching for her. That was how they rolled in the Winchester family. They didn't leave family out to dry.

Sam paused to think about that last thought. He just included her in that statement about the Winchester family. It was the first time that he actually lumped her in that category. He always said she was like an older sibling. His thoughts became a mixture of the crap he gave her and things he did previously. It helped as he looked around and moved forward.

Sam stumbled a bit in a small snowdrift and nearly cursed as he brushed the snow off. He took a sniff and glanced at his watch. He had less than ten minutes to get back to where Georgia was expecting them. He hadn't seen anything yet and he was wondering where the hell she could have gone. He started adjusting the scarf around his neck and mouth. He didn't want to give up now. He got the feeling that he was getting close.

He tripped again and cursed and for once glad that Dean wasn't around. He would have been making stupid jokes about clumsy Sasquatches and she would have been laughing too. She would have also turned the tables on Dean and remind him of the few things that slipped.

"Where are you Angie? Can you do that mind thing or something?"

Even though there was no one to respond, it made Sam feel better to ask as he turned to look around. He moved his hand and it touched her chakram. He took it off and looked at it. He really had no idea why he brought it. It was relaxing to twirl between his fingers in the car but out here, there really was no use for it.

A crunch in the snow caught Sam's attention and he lowered the chakram and pulled out his handgun and pointed it outward. As far as he knew the thing that they were supposed to be hunting could still be out there. Why it would be out in the middle of snowstorm was beyond him since even the animals knew to take shelter at time like this. He pointed his gun and slowly turned to look around.

The crunch came again and Sam listened. It was coming… behind him? Sam turned and he saw Starkhaven had followed him. He threw a bitch face at the horse. "Thanks a lot you overgrown glue pot."

The horse looked at Sam. It was almost like he was laughing at the young hunter. It then gave a rumble and a slight snort.

"Quit playing around," Sam muttered as he walked over and took the leading rein and wrapped it around his hand. He was going to have to turn back if he didn't find anything. He really didn't want to leave her out there all night.

He patted the horse's neck for reassurance while he decided what to do. It was then he heard another crunch. He knew it wasn't the horse and raised his gun up. The noise came closer and Sam tensed up. He looked around, wondering what was out there. It took him a moment to notice that the horse was not getting agitated.

Sam was certain something was up. His eyes darted around until he saw something through the snow. It was coming closer and he held his gun ready to bring it up if he needed to. It was another thing that he took for granted and she showed him. He remembered when she showed him and Dean how to better hold their weapons so they could bring it up without going all thumbs. She never dissed Dad's methods of teaching them but simply showed them tricks to increase success with those teachings. It was another thing to feel guilty about the way he had treated her. Sam sighed as he readied himself and took a deep breath.

Sam could feel his heart start to beat a little faster as the figure approached. He gave a sniff as he waited. He really hoped it was something harmless like the stupid horse. He didn't need to face a supernatural creature at this moment.

For once, the Winchester luck was going to prove in favor this time. The figure got closer and Sam could make out the shape of a four legged creature that was roughly the shape of a dog. The snow actually cleared as if it were through supernatural means to reveal that it was a dog but more specifically a wolf.

It was a white wolf with strange markings. Sam could make out red and bluish hues on the fur and they were arranged in a particular pattern. It didn't seem particularly threatening so Sam lowered his gun and then put it back in his jacket pocket. The animal didn't move but continued to stare at him. Sam didn't know what to make of it. He glanced at his watch and saw that his ten minutes were up. "Damn. I really don't want to go back but…"

It was a sudden dash the wolf made as it ran up to Sam and yanked the chakram off his belt. Sam whirled with the motion and almost fell in the process. He looked and saw the wolf holding the chakram in its mouth and it seemed to have a saucy grin on its face. It flicked its tail and then started to run

It was probably the stupidest thing he ever did but Sam wasn't going to let some animal take what belonged to Angela. He mounted Starkhaven and the pair took off after the wolf. It was foolish to run at a gallop since there was a chance that they could fall into a drift and the horse could break its leg. Right now Sam wasn't in the mood.

The wolf kept just ahead and occasionally turned to show Sam that it still had the chakram. It was like it was a game to the animal and Sam walked into it. He kept up the pace until he ran into some tree branches. It left him with a nasty scratch on his head over his right eye but other than that he was fine. He seemed to have lost the wolf though and he growled in frustration.

He was late for getting back to Dean and he lost Angela's chakram. He was about to turn around when he noticed something in the snow not too far away. He moved forward a little. As soon as he got a clear view of what he was seeing, he was about ready to shout to the heavens for his brother. He jumped off the horse and grabbing the spare blanket he ran though his steps sunk into the snow. He slid the last few feet in.

He had found her. He had found Angela. He didn't even notice the chakram that had been dropped next to her. He hovered over her unconscious form and began looking for any sign of life. He discovered that she was breathing shallowly but that didn't mean much. He felt her face and she was cold. "Angie?"

There was no response. Sam knew he had to get her to wake up. He wrapped the blanket around her and started rubbing her limbs. "Come on Angie. Can you hear me? Angie?"

It was actually warm. It wasn't the unpleasant warm that came driving through hundred degree dry heat in Arizona. Rather it was that warmth like snuggling in a comfortable blanket. You could just keep your eyes closed and stay asleep forever. However good things have to come to an end.

Angela slowly opened her eyes to find that she had been asleep outside. Reaching out with her fingers she felt what she was laying on. She could feel the smooth contours of a familiar shaped hood. She turned her head to take a look around and slowly sat up.

She found that she was on the hood of her baby Deanna. Angela frowned slightly at that since she knew that she was supposed to be at Bitterroot. Also she wouldn't have spent the night on her baby since she was riding with Sam and Dean in the Impala.

Angela looked around to find that she was parked in the middle of an open field. Nearby was a huge tree and had a familiar grassy hollow. Wait a minute. She knew this place. The last time she had been here was when she was in Alabama. Why was she here?

Angela jumped off the Camaro and started walking around. There were things out of place. She started finding things that should have been in other places. While wandering the field, she came across a set of bookshelves and someone was standing next to them reading a book. She remembered that and she ignored it for now.

Continuing forward she ended up walking into a cavern. She frowned slightly at that and then looked around. She could see the Camaro but it was off in a distance. She couldn't have covered that much ground already now? Could she? She looked around the cavern and suddenly torches appeared.

It was instinct for Angela to react and she dropped into a fighting stance. She looked around for any sign of trouble. Suddenly out came the last thing she did remember seeing. Her eyes widened and then narrowed in anger. She gritted her teeth and her hands balled into fists. "What are you doing here Lenya?"

Lenya merely smiled and then turned around and started walking deeper into the cavern and occasionally looked back. Angela obeyed the impulse to follow. She jogged after Lenya and followed her deeper into the cavern. She came to a junction where it split off into three paths. The only light seemed to filter from an overhead shaft.

Angela frowned in confusion. She had no memory of this place. In fact she had never been in this place before. She looked around and at the three paths that were open to her. She looked back and found that tunnel darkened. Looking at the choices she said, "Okay, so what am I to do now?"

"This has become rather a frequent occurrence for you."

Angela turned to find the goddess looking at her with a smile like a parent gives a child. She folded her hands behind her and replied, "In the line of work I choose to do… it usually is pretty high on the list."

Isis smiled as she advanced towards her favorite daughter. That she looked like a mess was a good sign since she that meant she wasn't going to give up so easily. She ran a hand through her daughter's locks, combing out the loose tresses. "Yes it is."

Angela let the goddess touch her. She was one of the few people she allowed that type of intimacy. The goddess then ran her two fingers down the left side of her face. Angela was reminded of another person who did that same movement and she involuntarily moved away. She looked at the goddess and hastily apologized, "I'm sorry. It just reminded me of someone else."

Isis knew full well who that person was. Her grandson had much to say about it along with his wife. She enjoyed the tale immensely and was pleased that things were moving along as they should. "It's all right, Daughter. It's one of the things I envy about you mortals. Your ability to take meaning in every touch. It is a gift."

Angela shuffled a little uncomfortably at the turn this conversation was going. "Yes. Well since I walked through probably what was my version of Wonderland and you're here means that I am in that place again."

"And you would be correct. Tell me, do you recall what happened?"

Angela looked downward. She noticed that her hands looked white as if she had been in extreme cold. She was wearing jeans, boots, shirt and a jacket. Suddenly she could hear the sounds as her memory filtered through the event s of the day. She saw the yeti and the teeth and roaring. The snow the falling tree.

Suddenly Angela looked up and replied, "I remember. I passed out and I was suffering the effects of hypothermia."

"A particular nasty way to go. Freezing to death. Then again death is never pleasant if it is in a violent way."

"It is a natural part of life. It is one journey all us mortals must make," Angela countered in a softened tone. She knew this lecture well. Tessa and a few others made sure that she knew that and the point was driven home when she had been tricked.

Isis nodded in agreement. "And it's no wonder the reapers have such respect for you and I hear Death himself has noticed."

"He would, considering all the times I've come here and then have gone back." Angela looked around the cavern and then at the three tunnels. She gestured towards them. "So I am guessing this is how I find my way back to the world of the living."

"At least you still know how to think things through," Isis teased in one of her rare moments. "Yes this is your way to going back but as I said before, you must choose to go back."

"Why a cavern? I don't remember this place at all. Everything so far has come from memories from past cases and people I've met. I don't understand." Angela looked at the goddess, her face asking for help silently. If she had to, she would beg.

Isis studied her daughter. She replied, "The mortal mind is a complex thing. You know this from your forays into Morpheus' realm and your time spent here. You know that this place can mold itself to the person that occupies the space. For one person the choice could be three separate roads, each with different landscape to help with the decision. It may be different for another.

"You are different. Ever since that day, you have never let appearances dictate your choices regarding what you considered vital. You've always searched deeper. Often the metaphor that exists for that is a cavern. So here it is."

Angela looked at the three tunnels. So that was the way of it. She had to dig down and find for herself which was the path was the right one. "So I just pick one?"

"Yes. You must choose but choose wisely. Only one will send you back to the world of the living but the others with send you to the only other places the dead can go. Upstairs or down."

Angela got it. She had three choices. One went to heaven, one went to hell and the other went back to more of the same. She remembered Isis' last conversation. She had to want to go back to the world of the living but this time more was expected. It was like the powers wanted to make sure that she was serious about her choice. "How do I know which is which?"

"You have to figure that out for yourself."

Of course. Angela nodded to indicate that she understood. She was on her own with this. She stared at the three tunnels as she stood before them. She remembered her last thoughts were that she should go and then the boys would be free of her and the bad luck she brought them. That was a gift she could give. She had already messed up their lives by even walking into Mary's life.

Hell was a been there, done that deal. She knew that place fairly well so if she went there, she would at least have a bit of head start. Then she would become the thing that she had hunted all her life. What kind of life was that? Maybe she should choose heaven. She would have to put up with the annoyances but it was better.

Angie. Come on, talk to me. Come back.

Angela perked up at the voice she heard. She knew who it was. She was surprised that he even wanted her around. She cocked her head to listen to where it was coming from.

I'm sorry. Please come back. Don't leave your family.

Angela knew her choice now. She walked to stand in front of the entrance she had chosen. She looked back at the goddess and smiled. "Until possibly next time milady." She then walked through the tunnel.

Angela slowly opened her eyes and realized that someone was rubbing her arms vigorously and agitating the scratches. She saw a familiar pair of frightened puppy eyes looking down at her. She said the first thing that came to mind, "I'm not quoting Star Wars for Dean's benefit."

A/N: Sam finds Angie with a little help from a certain goddess and Angela is faced with a choice and she comes back. Show of hands, there are a couple of movies this chapter makes reference to, who knows what they are? Stay tuned for the conclusion of Bitterroot Resolutions...