Chapter 18

The hunters were on their fourth day searching for the special tree in the Forbidden Forest. Dean had Titus climb another tree to be sure they were still heading in the right direction and took turns with Ice taking the lead. They had run into a small party of goblins earlier that day and were able to hide from them as they passed them by.

Dean held up his hand for them to stop and not move. He heard grunting and rustling in the brush ahead of them and watched closely as a wild boar came into view. Behind the large boar came five smaller ones of varied sizes. Knowing he couldn't take out the large one, Dean watched the younger ones and zeroed in on one. With a couple of hand signals to Ice, they began to silently stalk the young boar to make the kill. Titus knew to hang back and stay quiet so he wouldn't spook them.

Dean allowed Ice to get ahead of him since he knew he was an excellent shot with his bow and arrow. He loaded his crossbow and flanked him waiting for the perfect shot. The hunter stopped and Ice made ready his shot as the small boar stepped from the brush giving him his chance. He let the arrow fly and hit the boar in the neck. At the same time, Dean shot his crossbow putting one into the skull of the prey. The prey dropped to the ground as it bled out.

"Good shot," Dean told Ice as they walked to the small boar. The others scattered in different directions away from the threat.

"Yours wasn't half bad for a human," Ice replied. He squatted and took out a knife to cut off the head of the boar before splitting the skin of its underbelly and letting the guts spill out.

"I hear a stream off that way," Dean offered. "We can take the kill there and wash it. Why don't we stop early today and have a good meal?"

"I don't see why not. We have made good time and I think we'll be to the tree within a couple of days."

"Dean, Dean, I found a cave back in brush we can use," Titus exclaimed as he ran to them. "It doesn't look like anything is using it for a den."

"Good work Ty. Show me where it is."

Dean followed Titus away from the stream to a large stand of underbrush covered with sharp thorns and stinky flowers. Titus showed him where there was a way to slip through the brush if you were careful. Dean found out that his larger size didn't fit as easily at Titus and swore and insulted everyone as he tried to free himself from the thorns. With Titus' help he was able to finally break free. Dean sneered in disgust at Ice as he snickered at Dean's predicament and waited for him to move.

The cave was small but was big enough for them to walk upright and use for sleeping. It looked like at some point rocks had broken free from above and formed the cave that was then covered with dirt and vines camouflaging it. When it was decided they would camp there for the night, they went back out to gather wood for the fire and Titus filled the cooking pot with water to heat. Dean used a hatchet to cut some thorny branches to block the trail coming in, to hopefully stop anyone or anything from entering.

Titus took some of the meat Ice cut from the boar's body and started a stew for their meal. Ice created a smoker and placed thin strips of the boar on branches inside it to smoke so they could have it for later. Dean skewed one of the haunches and positioned it over the fire to cook it for the next day. Dean got their beds ready and helped Titus peel the wild veggies to add to the stew. The air filled with the aroma of cooked food making everyone hungry and anxious to eat. Ice tossed some bark into the fire to help hide the scent of the cooking meat so not to lure unwanted visitors to them.

The stew was dished out with chunks of bread, and they dug in, enjoying their meal. They all took seconds to finish the stew off and then washed the dishes and put them away. Titus was asleep within minutes of curling up on his blanket. Ice and Dean stretched out by the fire as they relaxed and let their food settle. Ice kept an eye on his smoking meat and Dean banked the fire before using the thorny branches to close the way in.

"We should still probably stand guard to be on the safe side," Dean suggested.

"I agree. I'll take the first watch if you want to get some rest," Ice offered.

"Alright, wake me like before."

"Will do."

Dean laid down and felt Titus move closer to him and smiled at the young boy. He was growing fond of him and wondered what would happen to him when this mess was over with. He let Titus' soft snoring lull him to sleep just like Sam's did over the years.

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Dean woke instantly when Ice kicked his foot to let him know it was his turn to stand watch. He eased away from Titus and moved to the side of the cave so he could lean against the rock wall. He stirred the fire and added wood to keep it going. The night noises drifted into the cave and Dean listened to the screams of creatures on the hunt for food or a mate. Strange birdlike sounds echoed through the trees to blend in with the other creatures' voices.

It was several hours into his watch that Dean let his eyes close as he used his other senses to take over. Small scratching noises caught his attention, and he stayed perfectly still as he zeroed in on where it was coming from. The fire had died down to coals and cast long shadows into the cave. Dean slit his eyes and could barely make out a dark shadow scooting along the cave floor toward where he had wrapped the cooked meat and stored it.

When the bag began to move, Dean pounced on the small shape. He wrestled with something that was punching and kicking when suddenly something latched onto the fleshy part of his hand.

"Sonovabitch!" Dean yelled out grabbing a hand full of material and held it out from him as Ice and Titus jumped up with their weapons drawn.

"What is it?" Ice asked trying to see what had alarmed Dean.

"Ty, add some wood to the fire," Dean growled as he shook whatever he had captured trying to make it stop flailing.

When the fire took hold and brightened the cave, Dean moved to it and sat the bundle on the ground. He jerked a hood back and long blonde hair fell out, covering the face of whoever he had captured.

"Holy shit," Dean mumbled when he stared into the face of a young girl. She was shorter than Titus and looked younger. She looked up at the three strangers with fright, ready to try and flee. Dean lost his grip on her cloak, and she scurried backwards into a corner of the cave away from them. "Dude, help me out here," he said to Ice. "Do you know what she is?" He rubbed his hand where she had bitten him.

"I'm not sure," Ice replied studying the child for a moment.

"I bet she's hungry," Titus commented.

"Be careful, she bites," Dean warned Titus.

Titus got a piece of meat and bread and slowly moved toward the girl. He spoke in his native language, eased down to the ground, and held the food out to her. It took a few minutes, but she finally snatched the food from him and began to wolf it down. She never took her eyes off Ice or Dean for fear they would hurt her. Titus offered her some water in a cup and tried to get her to talk.

"I think she is a fairy from the North," Ice finally said after studying the child in the light from the fire. "They rarely venture from their land and do not like strangers. If that is where she is from, she is a long way from home."

"What do we do with her?" Dean asked watching Titus and the girl communicate.

"Here name is Fina," Titus told them. "She got separated from a scouting party."

"Give her a blanket and see if she'll get some sleep," Dean told Titus. "You two try to get some more sleep; I think we've got several hours before sunrise."

"Alright, are you sure?" Ice questioned.

"Yeah, I'm good."

Titus grabbed a spare blanket and offered it to Fina before going back to his own blanket. He laid down where he could watch Fina who snuggled in the blanket but watched Dean with wary eyes. Ice settled back down too and tried to get some more sleep. Dean settled at the front of the cave to guard the entrance while the others slept.

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Ice was the first one awake and Dean woke Titus and Fina woke with the noises. She stayed pressed into the corner as they got ready to leave. Titus gave Fina some breakfast and tried to coax her to the fire.

"We can't leave her here by herself," Dean decided. "Do you think her people are looking for her?"

"I would think so," Ice replied looking to the young girl.

"After we find the tree and get the fruit, if we haven't run across them, I guess we could take her back with us and hope someone can take her home."

"She knows the tree," Titus butted in. "She can lead us there. Her people journey to the tree and take some fruit from the ground."

"We're in luck then," Dean said. "Are you sure about this Ty? She wouldn't be steering us wrong?"

"No, she thinks her people may be near there."

"Okay then, let's head out." Dean removed the branches so they could get out and grumbled when he snagged his shirt and scratched his arm before getting free of the thorns. "Fina which way do we go?" he asked the girl and looked at Titus to translate.

Fina slowly nodded yes and pointed into the trees before walking away. They followed her as she moved effortlessly through the trees. The others followed her and were surprised when she led them to a faint trail of some kind. It wound through the forest, and they were able to make good time and cover a lot of ground. They stopped for a break and something to eat somewhere around midday. By late afternoon, Dean noticed the trees were beginning to thin, and more sunlight was shining through the branches.

Dean, Ice, and Titus stumbled to a stop when they were surrounded by strangers pointing arrows and spears at them. Ice and Dean didn't move as they watch Fina run to an older man and speak quickly to him, pointing back at them. He looked to them before commanding his people to lower their weapons. Fina ran back to Titus and spoke rapidly to him and looked at Dean and Ice for a moment before going to her people and disappearing into the forest.

"She said the tree is that way and we should be there in half a day," Titus explained to Dean and Ice. "And she said thank you for the food and help."

"Great, at least we know we're close," Dean huffed with relief. "Let's hike until the sun goes down and find a place to camp. We'll hopefully get to the tree tomorrow."

"I am agreeable with that," Ice nodded.

They continued toward the light at a steady pace, only pausing for water and a five minute break. When it started getting dark, they found a place to camp for the night under a large tree that had drooping branches to use for shelter. They were anxious to get to the tree, pick the fruit, and then make their way back out of the forest.

A/N: The travelers have a visitor during the night and get help finding the fruit they need. Seems teaming with Ice was a good idea. I hope you are entertained by my creation. I do like reviews/comments. NC