I do not own Supernatural or any of the characters in it apart from the ones that come from my own imagination, and of course all errors are mine. Enjoy!
*Please note that even though Qalupalik is an Inuit legend I've taken the many variations of it and combined them/added my own little twist to make things interesting. I used several sites to get the information I needed for this chapter including , , & .
*Also note that I'm still plugging away through Season 8 of Supernatural so I am not completely caught up yet in the series.
Author's Little Blurb: Sorry, again! I know it was a long wait! This chapter took a long time to write due to how much research I needed to do! I wanted to be as accurate as possible, so please enjoy!
Five: What You Fear Most
Sam looked at his brother, amazed that Dean hadn't moved for over five hours, pretty much since they left Salt Lake City. He was actually quite impressed. Sam had never seen his brother sit that still for so long…it actually had him quite worried, though mainly amused. Even after all this time he still hasn't gotten used to flying. Shaking his head, Sam focused on his niece, who sat in between him and Dean, since Sam had been fairly certain that Dean wanted to strangle him when Sam forced him to take the window seat. The blind on the window hadn't been lifted up the entire flight for obvious reasons.
"Not bad for your first time flying, is it?" Sam asked Sara.
Sara glanced at her father, who had a death grip on the seat, and his back was straight as a board against his seat, "No. I could have done without that turbulence early on though." She had to admit, from how her father made it sound, flying was the worst thing ever, but her uncle had convinced her otherwise; much to Dean's displeasure. Both Sara and Sam had given up trying to talk to Dean within the first thirty minutes of their flight.
The only thing sustaining Dean through the flight was thoughts of his Impala and driving it down the wonderful, land-bound highways that crisscrossed the U.S. He wasn't sure who he hated more at the moment: Garth for telling Bobby about the hunt, Bobby for agreeing to send them to Alaska, or Sam for forcing him to sit in the window seat. He was very much aware of what his daughter and brother were saying, but he found it easier to just stay silent and praying that the plane stayed up in the air.
"Why are we going to Ka-Kato-Katovik again?" Sara asked, butchering the name of the town they were going to be hunting in.
Yeah, why are we going there again? Dean silently asked, though he resolutely kept his mouth shut and eyes on the nearest exit.
"Kaktovik," Sam corrected, before he answered Sara's question, lowering his tone of voice so his words wouldn't be overheard by any of the other passengers, "There have been reports of children going out on their own and disappearing. Garth thought it sounded like our sort of crazy."
Dean almost took his eyes off the exit sign…almost. So why the hell couldn't he get some hunters that are native to the area?!
Sara unknowingly voiced her father's thoughts, "So why couldn't he find some hunters that are closer? Why did he call Bobby who told us to get on a plane?"
"Apparently all the hunters up here are busy with other things, or at least that's what Garth said," Sam answered. "I don't think Garth or Bobby have many contacts up here." Sam glanced out the open window in front of them, another reason Dean was staring at the exit sign and nowhere else, "We'll be landing soon."He added silently, and I really hope we don't find that the problem's already been taken care of, otherwise Dean's going to have a lot to say about this, and I really don't want to hear it.
"Do we know what we're hunting?" Sara asked, keeping her tone as quiet as her uncle's.
Sam shook his head back and forth, "No. Not yet. We'll have to talk to some locals and do some digging of our own."
"Thank God!" Dean said as soon as he was off the plane, stretching out all the muscles that had been tense the entire plane ride. "Solid ground!"
"You do realize we have to take a plane back, don't you?" Sam smirked, knowing he'd ruin Dean's happiness, but hell, Dean gave him enough grief about his fear of clowns.
Dean couldn't suppress the shudder of fear that went through his body, and he proceeded to glower at Sam, his good mood ruined.
Sam grinned, but it soon turned into a look of puzzlement as his brother's gaze got an almost evil look to it.
As if the thought of clowns had summoned them, Sam nearly walked into one, and was rewarded for not running the short clown over by getting sprayed with water from a flower. He closed his eyes and just managed to suppress his own shudder of fear. Why would there be clowns in Alaska?!
"Festival in town," Dean said, a triumphant smile on his face. "If I have to suffer, so do you!"
Sara couldn't help the smile that was on her face as he father and uncle teased each other. It was a nice change of pace from a month ago when they'd nearly been at each other's throats. Something had happened between them to ease the tension, but she wasn't exactly sure what. I'm just relieved that they aren't arguing as much or trying to pummel the other into a bloody pulp. Her thoughts drifted to what they were making fun of each other about though, and she felt her happiness draining, they can pick on each other so easily about their fears…She stopped, letting her father and uncle draw ahead of her, and she bit her lip nervously, thinking about her own fear. I'm not sure if I can handle any teasing about it… Her thoughts started to go to one of many occasions dealing with her fear and she started to tremble from the memories.
"Hey!"
Sara took a shuddering breath, Dean's voice bringing her out of her memories and into the present.
"Go on ahead, Sammy," Dean said to Sam, before he walked over to his daughter, not liking how pale she'd gotten.
Sam watched Dean go over to Sara, and he had to smile. Some days Dean really acted like a great father to her, he really did. Then there were other days where Sam just wanted to slug him. As he walked into the main part of the airport to get their bags, he had to admit that both him and Dean had been exerting a lot of self-control. Sam still didn't agree with most of Dean's parenting methods, and he still thought that Dean walked a very fine line when it came to how much he resembled their own father, John Winchester, but he forced himself not to voice his opinions too often, and Dean seemed to try and listen to him when he did voice them. Looking at the baggage that was currently going around, he didn't see any of their bags and spared a quick glance back towards his brother and niece.
"You all right?" Dean asked his daughter. No signs of concern were on his features, but he was worried. Maybe the flight shook her up more than she let on…
Sara was grateful for her father's worry, but she didn't want to admit to her fear, "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired."
"It was a long flight," Dean agreed, but he didn't buy her story. "You handled that flight really well, so what else is wrong?"
Sometimes, Sara really hated how easily her father could read her. The promise she made with him to tell the truth was starting to feel more like a pain in her ass. She decided to go around his question a bit, "I guess it just…" She stopped. Not wanting to finish her sentence.
Dean put the rest of it together though after a few seconds, "Sammy and I have fears just like everyone else. We're human."
She decided to try and use humor to try and lighten the mood, "I guess with everything you two have seen it seems weird that planes freak you out while Uncle Sammy is afraid of clowns."
Dean smiled, "Yeah…I guess that would seem weird…" His gaze turned serious, "Don't think that other things don't scare us, kiddo. Sammy and I are afraid of a hell of a lot scarier things than those." He put his arm around her shoulder and started to steer her towards the main part of the airport and where Sam was collecting their baggage, "How did you really like the flight?"
He just thinks I'm scared of flying like him…! She was immensely relieved that he wouldn't be pressing this subject once she answered him, honestly. "I didn't mind it too much. I…I was kind of freaked out at first when I noticed how…tense…you were."
Tense is putting it mildly, Dean thought. "Sorry about that. I'm glad that you don't share my fear though!" As Sam turned around, Dean removed his arm from around her shoulders, "Get them all?"
"Yeah. Got'em," Sam answered, slinging several of the bags over his shoulders. Dean grabbed the rest, and Sara sighed, feeling a bit useless as she followed her father and uncle out of the airport, a rental car waiting for them.
"So we're driving the rest of the way to Kaktovik?" Sara asked, having no real idea of where the town was in relation to Nome.
"Part-way," Dean answered as he and Sam finished loading the trunk of the rusty brown Pontiac.
When he didn't elaborate, Sara assumed that they were taking some other form of land transportation that could better handle the snow. After all, it was fall, and plenty of snow had already fallen.
"We're here," Dean said, parking the car, before he opened the door and got out, moving to the back to get their bags. Sam followed suit.
Sara frowned as she got out of the car. They were still in Nome, or at least she thought they were, and they were near the shore. Following her father and uncle to the back of the car, she managed to snag her own bag and sling it over her shoulder before either her father or uncle could it.
"Lead the way, Sammy," Dean said enthusiastically, as he slammed the trunk closed. Sam started to walk towards the boat docks, and Sara reluctantly followed her father right behind her.
Steeling herself as Sam led them right onto the docks; she prayed that they weren't getting on a boat. When Sam turned towards a large fishing trawler, she stopped dead, her heart hammering in her chest, and perspiration starting to form on the back of her neck, even in the cold. Her heart stopped as she felt her father slam into her back, not having expected her stop. Horrible visions of landing in the water and feeling it starting to rush down her throat paralyzed her, and it was only Dean's quick reaction that kept them from coming true.
"That was a bit close!" Dean said, steadying his daughter. He hadn't expected her to stop as suddenly as she did, and he was a bit perplexed by it. "You all right?"
Sara nodded, managing to shove her fear to the back of her mind, but it wasn't that far back. She walked slowly towards the trawler and walked up the ramp slowly, very conscious of the water lapping against the dock just feet below her.
As Dean followed his daughter, he frowned, wondering what had her acting so strangely. Her body was tense, like a coiled spring, and he didn't think it'd take much for Sara to spook. He decided he'd have a word with her once the trawler was moving. First, he and Sam had to speak with the captain.
Sam hadn't been oblivious to Sara's odd behavior either, but he'd let Dean handle it. He'd been told enough times by Dean "not to interfere" so he was trying not to, if only to have to not hear those words repeated for the thousandth time.
Leading the way to the captain's tower, Sam grabbed the handrail as the boat started to pull away from the dock, he's not wasting any time! He glanced back at Dean, who had the same expression of surprise. They both hurried up the stairs to speak with the captain, and though Sam opened the door, Dean was the first one in.
"What's your hurry?!"
The captain, a harsh looking man with a classic seaman's beard said his voice gravelly, "I have a schedule to keep, and if it weren't for Garth asking, I wouldn't be doing this!"
Sam shot Dean a silencing look before he said, "We're sorry about delaying you, but we really do appreciate…"
"I don't care," the captain said, cutting him off. "While you're on my ship, you'll stay out of the way of my deckhands while they work. We'll land in Kaktovik by this evening. So don't cause any trouble!"
Dean looked like he wanted to say that trouble was his middle name, but Sam dragged him out before then. Once they were on the stairs again, Sam reminded his brother, "He's our only way back to Nome!"
"Yeah, well I might just give him some trouble then!" Dean said, eyes blazing. Sam really hoped that he wouldn't.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Sam said to Dean, grabbing all the bags this time, "I'm going to set these down below.
"Go ahead," Dean said, looking around for his daughter. Sam felt a twinge of worry for his niece, hoping she was all right.
"Sara?" Dean called out, wondering where she'd gotten to. He hadn't told her to stay put, but he'd been hoping she'd use her common sense and wait for him and Sam to finish talking to the captain before she decided to explore the ship.
"I'm here," a small voice said from the shadows under the stairs. Dean had to squint in the bright light to see his daughter huddled around the stairs.
"Seasick?" Dean asked, ducking down low as he sat down next to his daughter.
She shook her head negatively.
"What's up?"
Sara looked away from Dean as she answered, "I'm…I'm afraid of water…"
Unsure of what route to take with this one, Dean decided that humor would be best, "So I guess I shouldn't flick water at you huh?" When he saw his daughter's expression, he quickly backtracked, "Hey. It's okay to be afraid of things, kiddo. Hell, your old man is afraid of plenty of things!"
Sara gave him such a skeptical look that Dean chuckled, "I know I come across as pretty badass, but honestly, I can think of quite a few things that scare me…besides planes." He smiled at her, hoping it'd cheer her up a bit. "The only thing that makes your uncle and I seem so brave is that we don't let fear rule our lives. Granted, that doesn't mean we don't show it every now and then…like holding onto a seat for dear life during a six hour flight!" He continued to smile, hoping she'd understand what he was saying. "Speaking of that flight, I'm still kind of stiff, so I'm going to go stand at the rail over there!"
She couldn't help it; she smiled along with her father. "I kind of just want to stay here the whole trip…"
"Until evening? No you don't," Dean said, giving a chuckle as he got up. He extended his hand for her to take so he could help her up, and she took his hand. Pulling her up, Dean walked towards the railing of the trawler and said over his shoulder, "I don't exactly expect you to come over here, but I really don't think you'd want to go below deck either."
Sara paused, halfway to the stairway leading below deck. "Why?"
"Well if the ship was to spring a leak…"
"DAD!"
Dean's eyes flashed with mischievous, and his grin mirrored them. "Hey, I think you expected this kind of thing!"
"I was hoping you were more mature," Sara grumbled as he reluctantly approached.
"Me? Mature? Never!" Dean said, still smiling.
She stuck her tongue out at him as she approached the rail, but she didn't lean against it like her father was, afraid she'd somehow fall into the water.
"I won't let you fall in," Dean said quietly, all traces of humor gone. He took a deep breath before he sighed, "Is this what you were thinking about in the airport?"
"Yeah," Sara admitted. She had a bad feeling that her father was going to start lecturing her about the promise she made.
Dean glanced at his daughter, "I wish you'd told me that sooner. We could have avoided that whole incident on the dock…" He looked away, uncomfortable with the topic he was about to broach, "Do you want to talk about why you're afraid of water?"
"I…I think I'm more afraid of drowning…" Sara answered.
Dean felt a stab of panic go through him, but he didn't let it show in his voice as he asked, "You can swim, right?"
"Yeah…" Sara answered. Now Dean was perplexed. Before he could ask her why she was afraid of drowning, Sara begged, "Please don't ask, Dad!"
Dean looked at his daughter once more, and he saw the desperation in her eyes. She really didn't want to talk about whatever had her so scared of water and drowning. "All right." A few minutes of silence spanned between them, during that time, Sam came back up the stairs. "Do you want me to tell your uncle or not?"
"No…not really…"
Dean smirked, "Come on! We wouldn't tease you that much!"
"Yeah, right!" The corners of Sara's mouth twitched up in a restrained smile, and Dean was glad that he seemed to have cheered her up for the time being.
True to his word, the captain of the fish trawler docked the ship in Kaktovik right around evening, the sun just about to sink completely below the horizon.
This time, Dean led the way off the boat, glancing back at Sara to make sure she didn't slip. He'd keep his promise to her. He wouldn't let her fall in the water, and if she somehow managed it on his watch, he'd have her out of it before she'd even realized what happened.
Now that Sam was behind Sara, he could see that she was watching the water below the ramp and the dock as if it were a predator about to pounce on her. Is she afraid of the water? He wondered. Feeling that he should interfere this one time, he waited until they were off the docks and walking into town before he gently touched his niece's shoulder, "Hey! Can we talk for a second?"
"Sure," Sara said, glancing at her father.
Dean had stopped, wondering what was up, "Something wrong?"
"I just want to talk with Sara for a minute, you go on ahead," Sam said.
Shrugging, Dean continued into town, though he kept glancing over his shoulder to make sure that his daughter and brother were all right. He thought about what his daughter had said about him and Sam seemingly having no fears. Little did she know that losing both her and Sam was his biggest one.
Sam didn't know how to approach the subject, so he decided to take a page out of Dean's book, and he asked bluntly, "Are you afraid of water? Like big bodies of water?"
"Did Dad tell you?" Sara demanded, casting a furious glance towards her father.
Sam quickly answered, "No! He didn't say a word! I just noticed how you were acting as you came off the boat."
Obviously not upset with Dean anymore, Sara looked embarrassed as she answered, "Yeah…"
"Hey, there's nothing wrong with being afraid of something," Sam stated.
Sara wouldn't meet his gaze, "You and Dad are so brave though."
Sam sighed. Maybe he shouldn't have broached this subject. He had though, so he had to finish what he'd started. "You're Dad and I are afraid of plenty of things."
"That's what he said too…"
"We've just learned that we can't let fear rule our lives," Sam finished, looking down at his niece. "It's fine to be afraid, but you can't let it stop you from doing what needs to be done." Did I really just say that? That's something, Dean would say!
Sara looked thoughtful before she said, "Thanks, Uncle Sammy."
"No problem," he pulled his niece into a hug, hoping that he really had helped her in some way.
Dean watched as Sam and Sara embraced before they hurried to catch up to him, noticing that he'd been waiting. He had an idea of what they had talked about, but he decided it was one of those rare occasions that Sam could interfere. After all, Dean thought, uncles are supposed to be cool like that, right? Help out when needed…? Something like that! "I was starting to think that you two wanted to spend the night outside and freeze your asses off!"
"Not a chance!" Sara said laughing.
Sam nodded towards the inn they were staying at, "That's the place."
"You're joking," Dean said, unable to understand what he was seeing. "It looks like a dump!"
"The pictures of the inside look better," Sam explained, walking towards, what looked like a garbage container with graffiti sprayed on it.
Dean and Sara both looked at each other, neither one of them believed what Sam said. There was no way that was their hotel. It didn't even have a sign on it!
They both watched as Sam reached behind a loose metal flap and pulled out a key before unlocking the door.
"This isn't a hotel, it's a one room rental," Dean griped, looking around. The center was dominated by a large dining room table with several chairs, a couch, which Dean sincerely hoped folded out took up one wall, and two recliners dominated the other. Pushing open a small door, Dean stared at the small toilet and sink. "This is a joke, right?"
"Nope," Sam stated in a matter-of-fact tone. "This is the only place we can get with what money we have to spare."
"Son of a bitch," Dean griped, starting to take off his multiple layers of clothing.
Sara decided to look on the bright side as she started to take off one of her many shirts, "At least there's heat so we don't have to keep all these layers of clothing on."
"Right," Dean agreed.
Another aspect that she'd learned while with her father and uncle was that hunters didn't bundle up. They just put on multiple layers of clothing so that their movements weren't hampered by bulky coats or pants. A slow hunter was a dead one.
Pulling off another shirt, Dean said, though his voice was muffled, "I call the couch!"
Sam shrugged, not really caring, and Sara didn't care either since she was able to sleep comfortably on a recliner without too much difficulty.
Once they were all comfortably settled in the room, Sara was soon sound asleep, giving Sam and Dean the chance to talk about their last hunt in Salt Lake City.
"So what did you get out of what that demon bastard said?" Dean asked, lying on his back on the couch.
Sam shook his head, "No more than that other one back in Buffalo. The most we've gotten so far is that somehow, Sara is a part of the apocalypse, just like we're supposed to be, and that Crowley is actually supporting this one."
"Probably the most disturbing thing we've heard," Dean muttered.
Sam shook his head, glancing at Sara, "I'm more worried about what role they think she's supposed to play."
Glancing at his daughter, Dean tried not to let his worry show. He was just as worried as Sam about what these demons seemed to think, enough so that he wouldn't let her stay with them when they interrogated the demons, sending her out of the room instead. His excuse was that she wasn't old enough for such things, but he knew that excuse was going to get old really quick. "They keep saying it's not a big one…"
"But an important one," Sam finished. "I don't like that wording at all…"
"I don't like it either, but right now, there's not much we can do."
Sam sighed in frustration, not at Dean, but at their lack of information. They needed to know more before they could formulate a plan to do anything to try and stop the apocalypse. "You know what really worries me?"
"What?" Dean's eyes were closed. He'd been hoping that Sam wouldn't want to discuss the topic anymore.
"They seem really sure that the apocalypse is really going to happen this time…so long as all…all the pieces…are on the board," Sam murmured.
Dean opened his eyes to look at his brother, "They believed that the last time too."
"I realize that…but they knew that they weren't playing with all the pieces on the board last time and still went through with it. That's what bothers me."
"Whatever the case," Dean said, closing his eyes once more. "We'll deal with it, and we'll get through it somehow. We always do."
Sam wished that he could have his brother's confidence, but he didn't. He was really worried about the apocalypse, but he knew that worrying wasn't going to do him any good, especially while they were on the job, so he got up, turned off the light, and sat back down in the recliner, trying to get some sleep.
The next morning, all of them were up bright and early, bundled up in their multiple layers of clothing, and ready to start questioning the residences of Kaktovik about the disappearances of the children.
"You know the only good thing about this?" Dean mused to himself.
Sam took it as a question though, "What?"
"We don't have to wear suits!"
An eye roll from Sam followed this statement. "You did grab your I.D. card at least, right?" Sam asked, wanting to double-check.
"I'm not an idiot, Sammy." Dean sped up, the cold already starting to seep through his multiple layers of clothing.
Sam muttered as he too sped up, starting to feel the cold as well, "Could have fooled me."
"I heard that!" Dean scowled over his shoulder at his brother.
Sara sighed. Some things really never changed. It was a record for her father and uncle though. They'd lasted a full twenty-four hours this time.
Dean walked up to one of the small buildings, double-checking a scrap of paper in his hand before he shrugged, and knocked the door.
Within moments, an old woman opened the door. Her skin was like old, worn leather, her wispy gray hair was scattered about her face, and her eyes gazed up at Dean and Sam fearfully.
"We're Agents Ford and Hamill, and we have a few questions for you about the disappearance of your grandson," Dean said.
The woman shook her head and shut the door in their faces, muttering something that Dean didn't understand.
Turning to Sam, Dean shrugged, "Next house?'
"We can try."
Sara followed her father and uncle to the next house, the one after that, and the one after that, but each time was virtually the same. Doors were shut in their faces, and the people muttered things that they couldn't understand.
Really feeling the cold now, Sam hazarded a guess as to what was going on, "You know, these are all elderly people here…I don't think they understand what we're saying."
"You're kidding, right?" Dean asked.
Sam shook his head, "We're in the middle of the week, Dean. Everyone who possibly could understand us is away at work."
"That's just perfect!" Dean griped.
Sara was looking around the town, hoping to help out in some way. She was starting to think that her uncle was right when she spotted a woman standing outside, what Sara assumed, was a store. "Why don't we try asking her?" Sara suggested, gesturing at the woman.
Both Sam and Dean turned to look at the woman, both of them noting the fact that she was definitely younger than the other people they had questioned, and also very good looking. Her long, black hair was braided into one thick braid that went down to her waist, and her brown eyes were watching them as closely as they were watching her.
"I don't see why not," Dean said, not one to miss an opportunity to impress a hot woman.
Sam glanced up at the sign above the store, and frowned, "Interesting shop she has, though."
"Hmmm?" Dean managed to drag his gaze away from the woman to look at the sign. A raven dominated the sign, while two tiny polar bears were on either side of the words on the sign. "Celestial Fortunes?" Dean mused.
"We'll need to be careful," Sam cautioned.
"Why?" Sara asked, having the feeling that she was about to get another crash course in "the things we hunt department".
"She could be a witch," Dean stated.
"Oh…fun."
"Don't worry, they're typically easy to kill," Dean reassured her.
Yeah right, Sam silently said, knowing that witches were the exact opposite of "easy to kill". "Well, she knows we're looking at her, so we might as well go over there," Sam stated, leading the way.
Dean quietly said to his daughter, "Stay close."
Not needing to be told twice, Sara followed Sam and Dean over to the woman. Sam flashed his I.D. card, introducing him and Dean once again, "Agents Hamill & Ford, we have a couple questions to ask you regarding the disappearances of the children."
"Come inside," the woman said, beckoning them in. "You will freeze outside with such clothing."
Warily, they all walked into the shop. The warmth was welcomed though.
Dean asked as the woman motioned for them all to sit down, "So Ms…?"
"Celeste," the woman answered.
"Celeste," Dean said. "What do you know about the disappearances of the children."
"I know that you'd have a better time going down to the shore and speaking with the mothers and fathers who are letting their children play on the ice," Celeste answered.
Dean blinked in confusion, "Isn't that dangerous?"
"Only when the ice is thin," Celeste answered. "It is good and hard now."
Sam frowned, "Aren't these kids disappearing on the ice?"
"Indeed they are."
Exchanging a quick glance with Dean, Sam asked, "Do you know why the ice is breaking up then?"
"I only know what I have heard," Celeste answered cryptically.
"What have you heard," Dean asked.
"Children falling through ice that should support their weight and the usual cracking noises of ice just before they fall in," Celeste answered.
Sara chimed in then, "Who are you hearing this from?"
Celeste turned her brown gaze on Sara, and for a moment, her eyes seemed to get hazy.
Dean shot his daughter a "we'll talk later" look, before he introduced, "My daughter, Amelia." He gave a chuckle, "She just begged me to take her with on this job; she's always wanted to see Alaska."
Celeste blinked and returned her focus to Sam and Dean, "How nice." Her gaze rested on Sara once more, "I hear it from all over the town."
Sam and Dean exchanged yet another look before they both stood up. "Thank you for your time," Sam said. "We'll take your advice and go down to shore."
"I suggest you buy better clothing first," Celeste advised. "Layers may work further south, but here, they do nothing against the freezing winds and harsh temperatures."
Dean had been halfway to the door before he turned around, "Any suggestions on where to buy clothing?"
"Why, yes," Celeste smiled for the first time. "The shop across the street has some warm furs that will block the harshest of winds and lowest of temperatures."
"Right," Dean said. He stood still while Sara passed him, and then Sam as well. He didn't want either of them to get hurt if this Celeste decided to turn violent then and there.
Once Sam and Sara were through the door, Dean made to follow them, when Celeste warned, "Do not let your daughter go out onto the ice."
Now Dean's adrenaline was starting to kick in, "Is that a threat?"
"A warning," Celeste stated calmly, meeting Dean's glare.
Pushing through the door and letting it slam closed behind him, Dean caught up with Sam and Sara at the shop across the street "Bear's Best".
An hour later, they were dressed in caribou furs, and the shop owner had even through in snow goggles, in case they needed them, for an extra few dollars, of course, along with a knife, that was actually free, that Dean gave to Sara.
Dean complained, "These furs better keep us warm otherwise I'm going to…!"
"Do what?" Sam questioned, just as irritable as his brother, "Threaten him with your goggles?"
"Shut up, Sam," Dean grouched.
Sara said cautiously, "Shall we head to the shoreline?"
"Yeah," Dean said, after a few seconds of silence. He'd already given her a lecture on not speaking during questioning of potential supernatural beings, and reminded her that she was there to be an extra set of eyes and ears, not talking. His mind went to Celeste's words though as they walked towards the shore, the parents visible as they got closer and closer, "Do not let your daughter go out on the ice." Dean would love to say he wasn't worried, but he was. However, the fact remained that Sara would be better off speaking with the children than either him or Sam, and all the children were out on the ice playing.
All three of them stopped, gazing around the shoreline. Dean was starting to feel uneasy. There wasn't a kid not on the ice. The warning kept repeating itself in his head, and all his instincts were telling him not to say what he was about to say. "Sara…we need you to try and talk with these kids, see if they know anything about what's been going on."
Sam looked at Sara as she shot a terrified look at Dean. "Um…Dean?"
Knowing exactly what Sam was about to say, Dean spoke to his daughter, "I know you don't like large bodies of water, but look at how many kids are on that ice. It's not giving way anytime soon."
"R-right," Sara managed, nearly frozen to the spot in fear.
Sam patted her shoulder as he walked past, keeping his promise to Dean not to interfere. "You'll be fine," he said as he headed towards the nearest parent. They were all almost identical in their furred jackets.
Dean met his daughter's terrified gaze, "Remember what I told you?"
Sara nodded, though she really didn't want to be reminded of what he'd said.
"Don't let fear rule your life," Dean reminded her. His tone became gentle as he added in quietly, "And I won't let you fall in. I'll be keeping an eye on you while you're out there, kiddo."
"Thanks, Dad," Sara said, though her fear didn't abate in the slightest.
Smiling, Dean ruffled her hair roughly as he walked past to question one of the other parents.
Taking a deep breath, Sara steeled herself as she started towards the ice. She stopped dead once she was a step away from the ice, trying to get back the steel she had walking towards it. Taking another deep breath she walked out onto the ice towards the other kids, praying that she wouldn't fall, not only from fear of the ice breaking, but from the humiliation that would accompany the fall if she didn't go through the ice.
Approaching the group of kids that were talking she stopped just a few feet away from them and waited.
One boy turned towards her and smiled, beckoning her to come over. Returning the smile, Sara walked over. "Hello," she greeted them all.
Various responses of hi, hello, and hey greeted her ears. The boy that beckoned her over nodded towards the shore, "You're with them?"
"Yeah," Sara answered, before she pointed towards her father, "He's my father."
All the kids looked towards Dean and she saw some of the girls blush while the boys looked impressed. "So you're the daughter of an F.B.I. agent?"
"News travels fast," Sara mused. They all snickered at her comment. "I have to ask you all some questions though."
"About our friends that disappeared?" one of the girls asked. "There's nothing to tell."
"Oh yes there is," the boy who'd beckoned her over said, his gray eyes starting to look scared. "There's Qalupalik."
Dean was only half-listening in the answer he was receiving from the woman in front of him, her answer was the same as the two before that he'd spoken with. They all were simply saying that the parents had been careless and that the ice had been thin where the children had fallen through. Glancing towards the ice, Dean was pleased to see that Sara was amongst a group of kids about her age, definitely a safe spot to be.
"…of course some of the elders claim it was Qalupalik, which is rubbish," the woman finished
"Whoa! Whoa! Back up!" Dean said, honing in on the unfamiliar word, "What the hell is a Qua…a Quail…whatever you just said!"
"Ca-lu-pa-lik," The woman said slowly for his benefit. "Qalupalik is essentially a sea hag with an amautik on her back." Seeing Dean's expression, she explained, "An amautik, is a parka worn by the women of our tribe and other Inuit tribes. It is an easy way to carry our young children while we work."
"So what does Cal…Calu…what does this sea hag do?" Dean pressed.
"The stories our elders tell us say that she lures children to her by humming or tapping the ice and takes them away. Other stories from different tribes say that she only takes naughty children that go out onto the ice without their parents' permission." She gave Dean a smile. "Don't look so serious, Agent Ford! It's just a story to scare children out of disobeying their parents! You're wasting your time here as well. What happened was a tragedy, but that's all it is." She walked away then, calling out a child's name while speaking in Inuit.
A look towards Sam coming towards him said it all. Sam had just heard the same legend. "What do you think?" Dean called out to him.
Sam didn't answer until he was closer, "I think we may have a Qalupalik on our hands. The only problem is, it's a creature we know virtually knowing about."
"We don't even have a description of it apart from it wearing a parka!"
"Well…actually, we do," Sam said. He nodded towards the man he had been speaking with, "He's the father of one of the kids that disappeared, his youngest son, Thomas. Only four years old. He said he was taken by what he thought was the Qalupalik. He described the Qalupalik as a woman-like creature, wearing an amautik, and what he could see as she dragged his son out of his grasp was green scales on her arms, hands, and face of varying sizes, with bumps on them, and that she had long, fragile looking fingers."
"What do you mean fragile looking?" Dean inquired.
Sam answered, "He showed me the scratches that thing left on his arm, along with two broken fingers from Qalupalik prying his one hand off his son's arm."
"Then we got ourselves a Qalupalik to hunt," Dean stated. "Let's go get Sara and do some digging on what can kill this bitch."
They both turned towards the shore and Dean frowned as he looked towards the group of kids that Sara had been with only minutes before.
"Sammy…where's Sara?"
After hearing the tale of Qalupalik, Sara started walking towards a group of younger children, curious to see if, they too, were familiar with this legend. Halfway between the two groups, she paused, thinking she'd heard something. Straining her ears for the sound, she heard it again, like the sound of ice cracking…or perhaps being tapped. Looking around, the legend fresh in her mind as the boy told her that Qalupalik tapped the ice to lure children to it. Her gaze rested on a little girl, all on her own, walking determinedly towards something.
Reacting without thinking, Sara started towards the little girl, moving as fast as she possibly could on the slick ice.
Frowning as they both scanned the ice for Sara, Sam eventually pointed, "There she is!"
Dean followed his brother's gesture, but before he could find his daughter, Sam took off a run towards the ice. Perplexed, Dean finally found his daughter and ran right after his brother upon seeing her running towards a little girl. A little girl all by herself on the ice… His blood went cold as Celeste's words once again echoed in his mind, Do not let your daughter go onto the ice…
It was either adrenaline or fear for his daughter, but either way, Dean sprinted past Sam, and managed to keep up a fast pace, even on the ice as he watched his daughter slide towards the little girl.
Sam slowed down, thinking that the danger was past as Sara pushed the little girl towards the other children. That split second he slowed, he watched in horror as something vaguely human like, and wearing a parka leapt out of the ice, shattering it, and latched onto Sara's legs.
"SARA!" Dean bellowed, picking up speed, but he only succeeded in nearly falling. His heart was pounding in his chest as he watched the scene unfold before him.
The tapping had grown more insistent as Sara ran towards the girl, who had now stopped, and she was staring intently into the ice, which should have been too thick to look through. Sliding, Sara grabbed the little girl's hand and spun her towards the other children, the little girl letting out a squeal as she slid and then she started to cry, apparently upset by being saved.
A sickening crack sounded just behind Sara and she didn't even have time to look as something grabbed both her legs. Whipping a knife out of her pocket, that she was now happy her father had insisted on giving her, Sara slammed it into the ice, and held on for dear life as she felt water lapping at her legs and something trying to pull her into the icy depths. WHAT WAS I THINKING?!
She heard her name, and she managed to look up from staring at her knife and the ice, her arms already shaking from trying to keep herself from being dragged into the water. Her father and uncle were making their way towards her, and a brief sense of relief that they were coming soothed her.
Then she felt herself go backwards about an inch and she looked down at the knife blade. It had been yanked into a diagonal position, another pull from Qalupalik, for what else could it be, and the blade handle sunk into the ice. Trembling from her exertion, Sara felt yet another pull, and the handle snapped in her hand. Sliding, she grabbed at the ice, and she watched as her father slid towards her, hand outstretched to grab her arm.
Dean slid as he heard the knife blade snap, and he reached for his daughter, but she slid just out of his reach, and his eyes widened in shock while his heart plummeted down to his stomach in despair as Sara disappeared under the ice. Celeste's words took a back seat as his promise to Sara rang over and over in his head, I won't let you fall in….I won't let you fall in…I won't let you fall in…With these words repeating themselves, Dean didn't even think as he started to take off his fur coat.
"Dean!" Sam grabbed his arm, "What are you doing?! Are you crazy?!"
"Sammy, I've got to get her out of there," Dean said, staring desperately at the ice hole.
Sam forced Dean back a step, "Qalupalik is probably already out of the area by now. You won't do Sara any good if you're dead!"
Dean couldn't tear his gaze away from the hole in the ice, "I promised her…"
"We need to head back to town, Dean," Sam said quietly. "The sooner we learn more about Qalupalik, the sooner we can help Sara." If she's still alive, Sam added silently. He wasn't familiar with what Qalupalik did with her victims.
"Right…" Dean said, finally tearing his gaze away from the ice. His became harsh with barely suppressed rage, "And I know just where to start!"
Even though Sam had wanted to stop at their hotel room, he knew it was pointless as Dean made a beeline right for Celestial Fortunes. Throwing open the door, Sam was a bit surprised that Celeste seemed to be waiting for them. Before either of them could say anything, Celeste shouted angrily, "Why didn't you heed my warning, Hunter?!"
Dean was taken aback. This was not what he'd been expecting when he'd stormed into Celeste's shop.
"Why did you summon a Qalupalik?" Sam countered, recovering faster than his brother.
Celeste snorted, "Why would I summon such a vile creature here? Besides, Qalupalik serves no master. She does as she pleases!"
"So…" Now Dean was very confused, "You didn't summon the creature even though you're a witch?"
"I'm no witch, hunters," Celeste snapped. "I'm a shaman!"
"Wait, I thought only men could be shamans?" Sam asked, very confused.
"Times change."
"If you're not controlling that sea hag," Dean said slowly, "Then why the hell did you know it was going to take my daughter? For that matter, how the hell do you know what we're hunters?"
Celeste's voice was calm as she answered, "I only see what Pinga wishes me to see?'
"Pinga?" Dean looked at Sam in confusion.
Sam racked his brain for information regarding that name, "Pinga…she's the goddess that transports the dead to heaven."
"And watches over humans," Celeste added. "She provides me with visions regarding those in this town, and recently, they've all been about Qalupalik."
"So you're just being a good Samaritan than, giving out vague warnings," Dean said sarcastically.
Celeste's gaze was cold and her tone harsh as she said, "Most people have more common sense than you, Hunter."
"Wait," Sam frowned at Celeste, "How do you know that we're hunters?"
"Pinga," Celeste answered, with a smirk. "She showed me that help would arrive in the form of you two. I had hoped to avoid the fact that your daughter," she glared at Dean. "Is now in Qalupalik's clutches."
Dean was about to make a sharp retort when Sam asked, "What exactly happens to the children that Qalupalik takes?"
Celeste shook her head, "Either she takes them as her own children or…" She shook her head back and forth, a shudder going down her spine, "Or she feeds on them."
The sound of dripping water was what eventually woke Sara. Blinking groggily, she looked around her unfamiliar surroundings, trying to put together how she had ended up there. Images of blue-black water speeding by her, her own air bubbles struggling towards the surface of the water, and then nothingness; not the best start to trying to get out of her situation. She tried to move, but her wrists and ankles were encased in ice, binding her to the wall. Gritting her teeth in frustration, she started to remember how she'd ended up there: a little girl alone of the ice, pushing the girl out of harm's way, something grabbing her, and then she slid beneath the ice.
How am I alive? She wondered. Hypothermia should have set in by now, or she should have died from the pressure of being dragged down so far in the water after she'd passed out. Water dripped again, landing in a pool of water directly in front of her. Sara frowned. Wherever she was, it was far too warm, even for an under-ice cavern, especially one that was so large.
Looking to her left, she barely managed to contain a scream of terror. A child-size skeleton stared at her, its mouth open wide in a silent, everlasting scream. A look to her right showed only more ice, not even the remnants of bonds like hers or the skeletons. What the hell is going on?
Finally, she remembered what had dragged her down here. The creature the Inuit children had spoken of: Qalupalik. Struggling against her bonds in renewed efforts, she couldn't recall the children telling her anything about what Qalupalik did to her victims, but Sara's previous encounters with the supernatural told her that it probably wasn't good. Especially with a skeleton restrained beside her, she was more than sure that it wouldn't be good.
Heart hammering in her chest as she stopped struggling, breathing heavily, she wondered, Dad…Uncle Sammy…where are you?
"Shall we be truthful with each other now?" Celeste questioned. "I've been truthful with you after all."
The brothers exchanged a quick look before Dean said, reluctantly, "I'm Dean, and this is Sam."
"Good!" Celeste moved into the back room.
"Hey!" Dean said, hurrying after her, Sam following a step behind him.
Celeste threw a bag at both of them, "You will need supplies. You will also need transportation. I have two snow mobiles out back that you may take, but I fear they are not very reliable. I will follow you both the old fashioned way, but I will need more time to prepare."
"Prepare for what?" Sam asked.
Dean questioned at the same time, "Where are we going?"
"You must find Qalupalik before she decides to either take your daughter as her own child, or devours her. You must follow the signs of Nanook, he will guide you!"
"Nanook?" Dean silently mouthed to Sam.
Sam mouthed back, "Polar Bear."
Dean rolled his eyes, "So we're following a Polar Bear that will find my daughter?"
Celeste pulled out a long, wooden box that was only a couple inches wide, "Yes. Nanook is the ancient enemy of Qalupalik. He will guide you to her." She opened the clasps on the box before she lifted out a long spear. "If he is to help you finish off Qalupalik, though, he will need to see that you have courage." She handed the spear to Dean. "This weapon is made from the teeth of many nanook. The wounds they inflict on Qalupalik will forever bleed, making her trail easier for Nanook to follow."
"So this bitch has been hunted before?" Dean tried to clarify.
"No," Celest answered, grabbing various items and throwing them into her own pack. "The many children of Qalupalik have been hunted before."
"How do we know this is THE Qalupalik then?" Sam questioned.
Celeste paused in her packing, before she shrugged on some furs, "We don't." She pushed open a door and gestured outside where two snowmobiles sat, "Go now onto the ice. It is safe travel now that winter has set in. You will have to stray far from civilization I'm afraid, but do not fret. I shall be following you, even if a bit more slowly."
"Why don't you just ride with us?" Sam asked. "We could definitely use your knowledge."
Dean grudgingly agreed, "Yeah. We've never faced one of these sea hags before."
"As I said, these machines are not reliable, and I prefer to follow you with the traditional means of travel of my people," Celeste responded. "Now go! Time is of the essence and you are wasting precious seconds!"
The brothers each took a snowmobile, and just as they were about to head off, Celeste reminded Dean, "Follow the signs of Nanook, he will guide you and show you where Qalupalik is!"
Dean nodded just before he and Sam revved the engines and took off towards the shore through the back part of town. We're coming, Sara. Just hang in there, kiddo…
Having dozed off into a fitful sleep, Sara woke up to humming. Heart once again hammering in her chest, she opened her eyes, expecting to see a hideous, scaled human-like figure, but only to see a woman in an amautik and seal skin pants. Her sea green eyes shone with love as she gently touched Sara's cheek, "Dear Daughter, I was starting to fear that you would never wake." She made a worried sound, "But you're awake now, and I'm very much relieved. Are you hungry? Perhaps a bit thirsty?"
Sara couldn't wrap her brain around what was going on. This wasn't Qalupalik, but then again, what else could it be? Did she hit her head at some point? Was she hallucinating? Whatever was going on, it wasn't good. All her instincts were screaming at her to get away from this woman, so she remained silent.
"Come now," the woman said, pushing her ebony locks away from her face, "Just as Mother for whatever it is you need, and she will provide it."
"You're not my mother," Sara said quietly.
The woman's eyes hardened for a split second, but soon they were filled with warmth, "But of course I am! And I love you dearly."
Sara couldn't keep the cocky grin off her face, "My mother's a demon whore! So unless you're her I…!"
It took only a few seconds for the woman's appearance to change. Her soft, tanned skin became covered in hideous green scales that were covered in various sized bumps, her sea green eyes bulged out of her head, and her shiny, ebony locks turned to something akin to seaweed as she struck out with her webbed, clawed hands, raking them across Sara's right cheek.
Stunned into silence, the sweet voice of the woman came from the sea hag's mouth, "Now you listen very carefully you little brat! You will either accept me as your mother, or I shall give my children permission to devour you!" Her scales started to disappear, and her eyes sunk back into her head, and once again, the woman stood before you. "And to help you decide, I think I'll let the temperature slowly drop in here." She chuckled. "I think it's about forty below zero right now in the surrounding ice caverns. I think you will soon want to call me Mother, don't you?"
Sara only stared at her, blood dripping down her cheek.
"Oh! Does that hurt, Daughter?" The woman touched her cheek yet again. "Perhaps you will soon learn that I am not a cruel mother. I'm actually very fair." Chuckling once again, the woman turned her back to her and started towards the pool of water, her skin changing to scales once more, as she dove into the water, still chuckling.
Having been riding for what felt like several hours, though it could have been less, Dean's snowmobile gave a horrendous groan before sliding to a stop. Sam went a few yards before he realized that Dean's snowmobile quit, before he stopped his, waiting for his brother to catch up.
Abandoning the snow mobile, Dean walked over and, reluctantly got behind Sam on the snowmobile, also trying to hold the spear that Celeste had given him. When Sam tried to start the machine, it simply wouldn't start.
"Perfect!" Dean said, kicking the snowmobile once he was off of it. He glared around at the frozen ice, "Son of a bitch!"
Sam was looking around as well, the sun was starting to set, the days much shorter now that they were in the North, and he was really starting to wish that Celeste had ridden with them. She knew how to survive in this wasteland. They didn't.
Pacing, Dean threw off his pack, frustrated and worried beyond reason. His daughter was currently in the clutches of Qalupalik, and he had no way of getting to her before the creature did who knows what to her!
"Dean," Sam said, shifting through this pack. "Just try and calm down."
"Shut up, Sam!" Dean snapped, kicking his pack. Unfortunately, all the items in it went sliding across the ice. "Son of a bitch!" It took all of Dean's self-control not to snap the spear in two at that moment.
"Want some help?" Sam offered, though he didn't expect Dean to accept it.
"No!" Dean snapped, following the items along the ice, kicking them every now and then with his boots, or sending them sliding further with the gloves on his hands that he found quite cumbersome.
Not really paying attention to what Dean was doing, Sam frowned at the two canteens in the pack. One was definitely filled with water, that particular canteen nestled between two heating packs and furs, but the other was left exposed to the cold. Opening it up, Sam sniffed the contents of the canteen warily, an oily scent coming from the container. One that was all too familiar. "Hey, Dean!" When he didn't receive a response, Sam stood up and looked around for his brother, but he didn't see him anywhere, "DEAN!"
Swearing under his breath as he finally picked up the last object, a canteen, Dean opened it up to make sure that the contents hadn't frozen in the time it'd taken him to retrieve it. To his surprise, it wasn't water. Sniffing the contents, Dean realized with a jolt of shock, that holy oil was inside the canteen. Glancing back towards Sam, who was still rummaging around in his pack, Dean started to turn when he heard a very loud "huff" just in front of him.
Turning around slowly, spear levelled, Dean stared at the polar bear that had seemingly materialized out of thin air. Its black eyes stared at him intently, and though Dean wasn't one for animals, he got the distinct feeling that this bear meant him no harm, and he lowered the spear.
Dean took one step back and the bear huffed again, tossing its massive head over its right shoulder, apparently gesturing behind it.
What does it expect me to do? Follow it so it can turn me into lunch when it feels like it? Dean shook his head, and started to back away again, when he stopped, Celeste's words coming back to him, "You must follow the signs of nanook, he will guide you! Follow the signs of nanook, he will guide you and show you where Qalupalik is!"
"All right," Dean said slowly. "I'll follow you."
Bobbing its head, the bear huffed once more before it started to trot off. Glancing back towards his brother once more, Dean stared at the canteen still in his hand, "Son of a bitch!" Unscrewing the lid slightly, he carried it horizontally as he started to follow Qalupalik, the holy oil trickling out of the canteen and onto the ice.
As the temperatures dropped lower and lower in the ice cavern, Sara was very glad that she still had her furs on; the warmth was very welcome in the icy cavern.
She started as a splash sounded from the pool in front of her, and Qalupalik emerged from the water as a woman once again, her amautik and seal skin pants dripping water onto the icy floor. "Well, my daughter? As this cold helped your memory as to who I am?"
"I just see a sea hag," Sara answered.
This time Qalupalik maintained her human appearance, but her sea green eyes grew cold, "Ah, I see your furs have dried, well…" She walked back over to the pool of water, pooling off her amautik, she exposed her naked back to Sara, who wished she had a weapon on her or that her knife hadn't broken. Dipping the amautik into the water, she whipped it out and flung the freezing water at Sara, who gasped in shock at the cold temperatures. Qalupalik did this several times, making sure that Sara was thoroughly soaked along with her furs. "Now let's see how long you last, Daughter. I really wish you wouldn't drive me to such cruelty." Kissing Sara's forehead, she departed once more.
Now feeling the cold, Sara started to shiver, her body trying to heat itself back up, but failing, the icy water clinging to her skin, and the furs adding to the cold with their dead weight.
"DEAN!" Sam shouted, for what felt like the thousandth time. He couldn't believe that he had so easily lost his brother. How on Earth did a person dressed in dark furs manage to disappear in a landscape of white? Sighing as he looked once more towards the horizon, Sam started to worry about exposure. It was cold enough already and it was getting colder by the second as the sun sank lower and lower. Feeling defeated, Sam turned around at the sound of many dogs barking. Surprised at the sight in front of him, he waved to catch the attention of the person running alongside the dog sled team.
This was not your typical, straight line dog sled team that you'd see in movies. These dogs were fanned out, and the sled was flat, no handle on it. Sam realized that it was Celeste as she drew closer with her team of dogs, easily running beside them. So this was her "old fashioned" means of travel.
Celeste gave a command to the dogs in her native language and the stopped, and though they were panting, their tails wagged happily.
Sam felt a pang of worry for his niece, who would have loved to see these dogs. He could easily imagine her smile at seeing them along with the bit of melancholy that would have shone in her eyes as she recalled Bruce, whom they'd left with Bobby. Shaking his head, he looked at the dog riding in the sled, "Is that one injured?"
"No," Celeste answered calmly. "He has a different purpose."
Slightly annoyed with Celeste's cryptic way of speaking, Sam decided that he had to tell Celeste about Dean, "Celeste…Dean is…"
"Following, Nanook," Celeste stated calmly. "Nanook will watch over him and guide him."
"No offense, but nanook is more likely to eat him," Sam stated.
Celeste gave a bark of laughter, "Oh! You silly hunter! You think I mean the animal? Oh no! The god of bears, Nanook, is guiding him to his ancient enemy even as we speak!"
Sam's mind came to a screeching halt, "Wait…you mean to tell me that my brother is following an Inuit god?"
Celeste nodded, "Yes. Why does this surprise you?"
"We haven't had any good experiences with other gods," he explained.
"Ah, I see," Celeste murmured. "Well, perhaps it is time that you did." She tightened the ropes that were holding down the furs on her sled, "Now come! Dean will need us to follow him if he is to survive this with his daughter!"
"I don't even know where he went," Sam muttered.
Celeste didn't let that bother her as she pulled out a pack of matches from within her fur coat and walked several yards away, her dogs automatically following her along with Sam. Pulling off her glove on her left hand, she ran it along the ice. With a smirk, she put the glove back on quickly she lit a match and threw it onto the ice. Immediately a fire ignited and a trail of fire appeared.
"Holy oil does not freeze," Celeste stated with a smile. "I hope you have good stamina, Sam. For I believe we will be running quite a ways." She whistled and started running once more, the dogs following her while Sam brought up the rear.
"Hey! You think you can slow down!" Dean panted. Night had settled over the ice, and though it was still quite bright out due to the ice reflecting the light of the moon, Dean was having problems keeping up with the trotting bear. Unused to such heavy clothing, he felt weighted down and his movements from the start had been a bit clumsy.
The bear slowed to a walk, its nose to the ground. Dean had a feeling that it hadn't slowed due to his question. Sticking the spear into the ice to take a breather, Dean tried to catch his breath. Grunting, the bear started to paw at the scratch at the ice with its massive paws.
His fatigue momentarily forgotten, Dean walked closer, wondering what the heck the bear was doing. Just as he got within a foot of the bear, it roared as it reared onto its hind legs.
"Son of a bitch!"
Qalupalik wasn't gone for very long, or at least, Sara didn't think so. She was still shivering, and she felt ice on her skin, and though she was scared, she still managed to glare at the sea hag.
"I see you still won't accept me, human," her tone had changed, "So I shall let one of my true children feed on you. After all, my looks are still flawless after the last child I ate." She grinned maliciously at the skeleton. "I'll let you freeze a bit further. This way it won't be as painful when my child digs into your flesh." She spun around and dove into the water with a hiss.
Shivering violently, Sara had no idea how to get out of her situation. With no strength left to struggle or to even shout, she put all her will power into not shutting her eyes, which were starting to feel heavy. She had to stay awake, she just had to! Silently she pleaded, please Dad, hurry! Please!
Sam was breathing heavily when Celeste finally called a stop, her team of Huskies laying down instantly and panting heavily. Even though he was tried, Sam could see that the trail continued a little further to their left, "Why are we stopping?"
"It's too cold. We would kill ourselves if we kept running. Now, I will build an igloo and start a small fire so that we will survive the night," Celeste explained.
Sam frowned, "How thick is this ice?"
Celeste laughed, "We are on land, Sam. Nanook must have tracked Qalupalik's scent as she travelled back and forth towards the shore and back out to the sea. I tried to keep our path as straight as possible."
"Hmm," Sam mused, unable to really argue with her. He gestured towards the fire as Celeste pulled out a long blade, "How long will that fire burn?"
"Until something puts it out," Celeste answered. "Now, you will help me by doing as I say as I build this igloo."
"Right," Sam said, walking over to help. He watched in fascination as Celeste cut out a block of snow and set it down, before she set about to cutting another block out of the snow.
"Pack snow in between the gaps so that the heat will stay in!" Celeste explained, "I shall work on the exterior."
Dean fell backwards as the polar bear crashed down onto the ice, a crack resounding throughout the night. The polar bear reared onto its hind legs again and smashed down onto the ice once more, another crack splitting the silence of the night.
Getting back onto his feet, Dean watched as the polar bear did this three more times before breaking through the ice, the chunks falling down into something large, and definitely hollow.
Using its massive paws, the bear dug at the hole it had created, widening it until Dean could easily fit through.
"You're joking? Right?" Dean asked as the bear stared at him then the hole. It huffed at him in response. "Fine! But that sea hag better not be right under us waiting for me to slide down." The bear simply stared at him.
Squatting down, Dean stared into the hole, but he couldn't see very far into it. He couldn't even gauge the distance that he had to jump. Taking a steadying breath, he used the spear to push himself into a slide as he went into the hole. He fell for a few feet before he landed on the ice underneath. Glancing back up to where he'd jumped down from, he called up to the bear, "You better find a way to make some stairs, otherwise I'm not coming back up!" He didn't hear anything from the bear and shook his head, "Son of a bitch!" With the spear leveled, he walked further into the ice tunnel, cautiously peeking around several corners that he came across.
He felt like he had gone some distance when he stopped, hearing voices up ahead. Moving slowly, he made his way towards them.
Sara's eyes were half-open as her body shivered half-heartedly every few seconds. She'd managed to stay awake so far, but she was starting to wish that she hadn't as Qalupalik and another Qalupalik came out from the pool of water.
Qalupalik approached her as a human, though she changed slowly into her scaley, hideous form, while the other was hideous from the beginning and just got worse as it changed.
"Still awake, are we?" Qalupalik asked in her sweet voice. "Have you changed your mind?"
"N-n-not a-a-a c-ch-chance you b-bitch…!" Sara managed to say, her lips felt swollen and her teeth chattered as she spoke.
The other Qalupalik hissed and said in a harsh voice, "You will watch your tongue, Human!"
"This child is yours to feed on my sweet," Qalupalik stated, caressing the other Qalupalik's cheek and giving it a tender kiss. "Mother always knows how to provide for her children." She gave a hideous grin to Sara before she walked into the pool of water and disappeared into its depths.
"Yummy child to make me young," the other Qalupalik crooned. "Oh, delicious child to renew my flesh and make my voice smooth once more!" It touched her half frozen cheek and hissed, "Mother says to wait for you to go to sleep, but I say to start now!" The creature shuddered as it removed its scaly hand from her face, "But Mother is scary when she's angry! Oh yes! I shall wait!"
Dean had heard enough from the creature, and he sprinted around the corner, hoping to take the sea hag off guard. He'd underestimated the size of the cavern, the Qalupalik turning and screeching at him in fury. Keeping the spear level, he noticed the Qalupalik eyeing it warily. He taunted it, "Don't like this weapon, do you, bitch?" It shrieked again. "Why don't you come at me then, you hag!"
Screeching obscenities, the Qalupalik lunged at Dean, and Dean stabbed the spear, intending to run the sea hag through, but it dodged to the right, though its left side was scored by the toothy side of the spear.
Howling in pain, the Qalupalik retreated to the edge of the pool, whimpering and cowering as Dean advanced with his spear. Warily it eyed Dean, then the pool, then it looked at Sara before it said, "You better hurry if you want to save the pretty child! Mother knows how to be cruel to her potential children!"
Dean turned slightly to look at his daughter and the Qalupalik took advantage of his distraction to dive into the pool, a disgusting green film of its blood at the surface revealing where it had dived in.
Turning to face the pool, Dean swore under his breath before he hurried over to his daughter. Her eyes were closed, but she still shivered, much to Dean's relief. Even with Qalupalik defeated, they still weren't out of the woods yet. Taking off his bag he found a knife in one of the front pockets and started to chip away at the icy bonds that held his daughter to the ice wall. "I'll get you out of this, kiddo, and then we'll find Sammy and get you someplace warm." He could feel the wetness of her soaked furs even as he hacked away at the ice.
After several long minutes he had her free of the ice, and he held her close, wishing he had some sort of blankets, or even an extra set of furs. As it was, he simply pulled up her hood and face mask so that she wouldn't freeze further outside as he made his way back to the entrance. Hoping beyond hope that the polar bear had created some sort of way up, he was surprised to see that there were indeed stairs upwards. What surprised him most was the angularity of the stairs, something a polar bear should not have been able to do.
Not willing to dwell on that fact now, he climbed up the stairs, sometimes using the spear to keep himself from slipping and made it out onto the ice. Breathing heavily from his earlier exertions, he spotted a fire burning on the ice and made his way towards it, hoping that it would lead to someplace warm so that his daughter wouldn't freeze to death.
Dean silently begged, Don't die on me Sara, not now. God, kiddo, we're only three months until that year of the deal I made, you can't die on me! You're supposed to live!
"Clear off the window," Celeste shouted through the small entryway as she scraped the rough patches of ice off the new ice window she'd just inserted into the igloo. Sam was blown away by the ingenuity of all that Celeste had done. Doing as she asked, he started to scrape away the rough patches of the window from the inside with the knife from his pack. The igloo was already starting to warm up thanks to the few tiny flames that were burning off the seal blubber and the body heat of Celeste's ten Huskies, who had joined Sam in the igloo once the outer walls had really started to take shape.
As he got rid of the last few rough patches, he was shocked at how much he could see through the ice window, if it things were a bit distorted. Celeste waved at him before she made her way to the entrance, crawling into the warmth of the igloo. "Now, we wait," she said, pulling down her hood and sitting down on her knees. "Do you know any good stories?"
"Not really," Sam answered, keeping his eyes on the window where he could just see the flames from the holy oil.
Celeste smiled, "Do not worry so much. Dean will come. You must have faith!"
"Faith in your gods or mine?" Sam questioned.
"Good question," Celeste mused, "I would say both for good measure!"
Sam actually laughed, the shaman having given her answer with such sincerity and obvious thought put into her answer just struck him as funny. He blamed the stress of worrying about his brother and niece.
Trying to cover his laughter, he gestured to the Husky that had been lying in the sled and was now lying on the furs that had been on it, "So what is he here for?"
"Eeyee?" Celeste questioned. Sam nodded, "He is here to help."
Sam sighed before he asked another question, "Why is his name Eeyee?"
"His full name is Eeyeekalduk," Celeste answered, as if this explained everything.
Yeah…that explains nothing, Sam thought, glancing out the window. He shifted so he could see better, and sure enough, there was a shape blocking out some of the fire, "Celeste!"
Celeste scooted over beside him and squinted out the window before she gave a whoop of pure joy and crawled over to the entrance and out of the igloo, still whooping with joy
Dean had never been so happy to hear Celeste's voice as he veered away from the trail of fire that had dripped out of his long empty canteen that he had dropped when he was following the polar bear. Celeste hurried towards him and took Sara out of his arms, her strength taking him off guard. Somehow she made it swiftly into the igloo, and Dean followed more slowly, trying not to knock down the entrance with the spear.
"Leave it outside!" Celeste said from within, and Dean had to back out again and set the spear against the igloo before he finally managed to crawl in. He was very surprised by the warmth along with how many people and animals were squished into the igloo.
Celeste was examining Sara, touching her skin and then she snapped her fingers near her ears, and Sara actually responded, trying to follow the sound with movements of her head, though she didn't open her eyes, "Good. She's not in too much danger. But we must undress her and get her into warm clothes and under these furs!" She patted the furs Eeyee was lying on. She glanced at both of them, "Are you going to help with undressing or turn away?" Dean and Sam both turned away. Celeste snorted, "White men!" Within minutes she had Sara undressed and back in a warm fur coat and leggings and tucked under the furs, Eeyee lying beside her and lending her his warmth.
"See?" Celeste crowed to Sam, "Eeyee is a healer like the god Eeyeekalduk! His namesake! He doesn't run because he puts his energy elsewhere!"
Sam nodded, fascinated with how Celeste saw the world while Dean simply felt like he'd missed something.
"Qalupalik is still out there," Dean stated. "I only wounded her."
Celeste shook her head, "You wounded one of her children. You didn't wound Qalupalik. Pinga has shown me this much."
"What?!" Dean shouted. "What do you mean one of her children?!"
"I believe your term is Alpha?" Celeste said. "You wounded A Qalupalik. You did not wound the Alpha Qalupalik."
Dean leaned against the igloo wall, "So you're telling me that our job's not done?"
"Your job is finished," Celeste stated firmly. "Nanook now hunts the child of Qalupalik and he will continue to hunt his ancient enemy Qalupalik."
"You mean that polar bear I followed?" Dean asked.
"Uh…Dean?" Sam chimed in. "You were actually following the god, Nanook. Not just a polar bear."
Dean groaned, "Great! That's just perfect! Once again the pawn of some god!"
"Be grateful," Celeste said. "Our gods and goddesses are more excepting of you and your God than others."
"She has a point," Sam reasoned.
Dean knew when he wasn't going to win an argument, "Yeah, you're right. There's never been any reports of trouble with Inuit gods, so why start something?"
"Wise decision," Celeste said with a smile. She touched Sara's forehead and her smile widened, "She will be fit to travel wrapped up in these furs and with Eeyee beside her tomorrow. She might even be awake by then, but there will not be any lasting harm done!"
"What about those scratches?" Dean asked.
Celeste nodded, "They will heal and leave no lasting damage either. Now both of you rest so we can get an early start! Perhaps we will even make it back in the daylight!"
Three days later, as the fishing boat docked in Nome, Sam noted that Dean had stuck Sara's side the past few days as if he thought she'd disappear on him or wander off. Not that she has even attempted such a thing, Sam thought. She's stuck just as close to Dean. They both were really shaken up by this hunt…Then again, I've been pretty shaken up to. There was nothing like waking up in your motel room and going outside to watch the sunrise only to have a polar bear outside your door, a grotesque, scaly green head in its jaws. At least we know that Qalupalik is dead…
Sara desperately wanted to get off the boat and far, far away from the water. Learning that there was more than one Qalupalik wasn't her idea of one of the top ten reasons to try swimming in the water, and even Celeste's attempts to reassure her that Qalupalik didn't come after victims that had escaped, Sara didn't believe her. After all, how many kids had the guts to call a Qalupalik not only a hag, but a bitch? Sara assumed that she was the only one stupid enough to do that. The only thing that kept her from running off the boat, besides the risk of falling, was that her father was nearby, his presence reassuring her.
Walking down the gangplank, Dean made sure that his daughter wasn't going to end up in the water again. He wasn't worried about Qalupalik. Celeste was the expert on Inuit lore, and there were no accounts in stories or history of Qalupalik or her brood, trying to get the same child over again if they escaped. That didn't mean he wasn't bound and determined to keep her safe and he could tell by the way that she walked that she was nervous.
"Hey, relax," Dean said.
Sara glanced up at him, "It's hard to…"
"I know," Dean said quietly. "But you can't let fear rule your life."
"I'm walking, aren't I?" Sara said sarcastically.
Dean chuckled, "Yeah, you are. I guess I can't really talk since I'm going to be a nervous wreck once we hit the airport!"
Sara gave him a faint smile, "Do you think those clowns are still there?"
"Man, I hope so," Dean said with a grin.
"I heard that!" Sam complained.
"You were meant to!"
Sam rolled his eyes, he's worse than a kid some days, I swear!
"Sammy, why don't you go on ahead?" Dean suggested. "You can freak out over the clowns without an audience."
"Fine, but you're getting the window seat again!"
"Bitch."
"Jerk."
Both Sam and Dean were grinning as Sam walked towards the airport. Dean stood with Sara and smiled down at her, "It's okay to be afraid, kiddo. Sammy and I are always going to do our best to keep you safe though, got it?"
"I know, Dad," Sara said, smiling at him, recalling what Celeste and Sam had told her, her father having brushed off everything that he'd gone through as part of the job and leaving it as that. "I know."
Dean's smile widened, "All right." They were finally off the gangplank and docks. "Let's go catch up with Sammy and see if he's surrounded by clowns yet!"
"Is that festival still going on?"
"You bet!" Dean said, his smile changing to a fiendish grin.
Laughing, Sara took the lead, and Dean watched her, and his smile faded as anxiety quickly took its place. He was recalling how pale she'd been when he'd found her in the ice cavern and how worried he'd been that he'd lost her. He never wanted to experience that feeling again, that dread…that fear. Taking a deep breath and pushing his anxiety to the back of his mind and jogged to catch up with his daughter, putting his fears out of his mind.