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Hear counsel, receive instruction, and accept correction; that you may be wise in the time to come.
Proverbs 19:20

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Castiel could hardly remember what it was like to dream, but he was sure that they were not meant to be this vivid.

The pain, so much blood…

He was cowering in a corner, immersed in darkness as whispers and scream consumed him. Castiel was scared, he would admit that, but no matter what he did he could not wake up. He was still dreaming wasn't he?

Trapped, he had been like this before, he could remember being dragged somewhere, beaten to submission.
His hands gripped his temple as he fought to remember but it was like a vault was in his mind and he didn't know the code. A hand was on his shoulder suddenly and Castiel flinched, looking up to the person.
The man stood over him, a soft light surrounding him. Castiel knew this man, and the way that the man offered a hand and helped him up, a caring edge in his eyes Castiel assumed he knew him to.
'Come on Cass, I don't want to lose you to, you son of a bitch.'
Castiel took the hand, standing on his feet shakily. The light beige trench coat he was wearing fell around him, but he could hardly see the colour under the splattered blood.

Looking back at the man, Castiel could see the small smile tugging at the man's lips. The collar of his leather jacket was pulled up around his neck and Castiel stared at his piercing green eyes.
This man, his name was on the tip of his tongue…

Pain exploded in Castiel and he buckled over, hands gripping his stomach as though to hold himself together. Checking his hands, there was no blood but he could feel it, he could smell it. Ripping off the coat, he tossed it aside and pulled at the tie around his neck. His stomach was stretching, there was a hand reaching out from his stomach!
Fear wrapped around Castiel so tight he couldn't breathe, and he sort the man to help him but he was alone.

"This is going to be so much fun…"

Jolting upright, Castiel managed to keep down his cry but his gasps were loud in the quiet room. Blood was pounding in his ears and he wiped away the sweat from his face as he tried to calm himself down.
Just a nightmare, it was just a bad dream.
But it was more than that wasn't it, but what in God's name did it mean?

Once he had calmed, feeling safer in the warm room he glanced around to make sure he had not disturbed Micah.

She had moved the body away from the fire place, ensuring Castiel that she could do it herself and that he should get some rest.
He did as he was told, lying back down on the bed but that scene kept replaying in his eyes.
He had fought that woman, that thing even though he had no idea what he was doing. He wasn't scared of a zombie attacking him, instinct just kicked in and it seemed to know what to do. Even now as he sat in the receding darkness Castiel was not horrified by that, or by watching as Micah plunged her hand into its chest and ripped out the heart to kill it.

Somehow, he was pleased.

Micah had taken the chair again; legs curled under her as she huddled under a jacket. To Castiel she was small, innocent looking. The last of the moonlight gave her hair an almost silver tint, her already pale skin white. She was perfect.

The woman that had attacked them wanted to kill Micah, had said she was a hunter. What did that mean? A hunter normally hunted bear and deer… when did they start hunting people, dead people?
Even taking that into consideration, Castiel still felt secure with Micah. She had gone out of her way to help him, and so far he had done nothing to return it.

A sad feeling crept up on him, like a fog casually drifting around him. He could have pushed it away but he welcomed it, wanting to feel the sensation and remind him.
It sat heavily in his gut, not like guilt but of a deep grief but around the edged was a sharp anger.
Castiel had gone out of his way for someone to, but this feeling meant that he was never thanked, or it never was returned. He couldn't be that sort of person could he? To hold onto these things and let them well in him? Surely nothing was too great that would leave this sort of feeling dwelling in him like a seed.

Micah stirred, moaning as she stretched her arms above her head. Following that movement, Castiel traced down bare arms, elegant but he could see fine muscles flex with her movements. She may be slender but he had witnessed just how powerful and skilled she was in a fight.

'Good morning.'
Micah's green eyes were on him quickly, blonde hair trailing around her as she smiled at him, rubbing her eyes.
'Morning.'
Averting his eyes, Castiel stepped from the bed and straightened his shirt and trousers. Behind him Micah stood, poking the coals left by the fire. They had stood there not that long ago in silence and watched as the heart burnt, Castiel thinking what would be happening in the morning.
Well, it was morning now.

Micah shrugged on her jacket and brushed her hair from her face and Castiel tried to fix his but it was filthy, bits of sand rubbing against his scalp. Pausing, Micah watched him back and raised an eyebrow.
'Are you alright?'

Shaking his head, Castiel could feel all the confusion and dread cloud his thoughts.
'No. I have no idea who I am, where I am from and last night…'
Her stunning face dropped and she bit her lips as Castiel looked up, trying to keep his tears from spilling down his face.
'I know and I am sorry for last night. I think the only thing I can tell you is that those sort of things are real.'
Castiel turned sharply towards her, taken back slightly as the morning sun gave her a strange glow.
'Who are you?'

The old barn shook with the wind, as though trembling with fear with what was to come. Castiel burst through the barn doors, sparks falling from the lights above him as he advanced into the room, Dean bracing himself…

A forced grin captured Micah's lips as she folded her arms across her chest.
'Um, as you know my name is Micah. I'm from Phoenix-'
Castiel shook his head.
'I meant what are you?'
Micah stopped, smiling as she hung her head to hide her humour but she flicked it back, hair falling across her pale eyes.
'I'm a hunter.'

Lightning
Strange shadows in the shape of wings
'I'm an angel of the Lord.'

There was pain forming around his head but he hid it from his face. He did not need his nightmares clouding his thoughts now. Remaining still he waited for her to explain and Micah rolled her eyes, collecting her dagger and gun from beside the chair. Castiel tensed and Micah gave him a strange look.
'I'm not going to hurt you.'
'What sort of hunter? You killed a woman last night and I, I just stood there! My God I helped you!'
Micah shook her head, mumbling no as she gave a frustrated groan.
'I'm not a murderer, and she was a zombie. That's what I hunt; the supernatural. Demons, ghosts, zombies…'

There should have been more surprise on Castiel's face but this information didn't seem to be that new to him. And Micah noticed.
She tilted her head, perhaps trying to see him on a different angle, trying to find that shock but it just wasn't there.
'You the first person to take that the way you are.' There was suspicion in her voice but Castiel just shrugged, resuming folding the blanket to try and break from her gaze.

'Any way, since you don't remember anything you have a choice.' Micah said and Castiel sat on the bed, reluctantly putting on his damp smelly socks. He knew had a choice; to be left here or dropped off at the next stop, but he didn't want to be in a place he didn't remember; he had no money, no memory.
'You seem to have some skill in fighting and a nark of not being scared of what is actually out there. So, I can drop you off at the next stop and you can find your way or…' she softened her stare and relaxed her arms and Castiel looked up with some hope, 'or you can stay with me until we find a friend of yours or your memory.'

She seemed to be fighting inside, and Castiel understood that. A young woman used to being on her own, traveling place to place and hunting…it was dangerous and it could be distracting.
Standing on his feet, Castiel thought of everything he did know.
'Dean,' Micah raised an eyebrow and Castiel returned it, 'I think he is one of my friends.'
A smile was on Micah's face as she continued to gather her belongings.
'You remember something at least, that's a good sign.' She stood close beside him, tapping his forehead with long fingers. 'It means it's all still in there.'
She grinned and Castiel returned it, the atmosphere becoming light once again. Taking the sky from her hand, Castiel watched as she spun her cars keys on her fingers and headed through the door, the golden light outside a strong contrast to the dark room in which he stood.
'Come on, breakfasts on you!'

Joy? Was Castiel feeling joy? Acceptance?
He watched Micah through the open door, hair bouncing and smile on her lips as she leant on the car, waiting for him.

'The stench of that Impala is all over your overcoat…'

'Cass?'
Snapping out of his thoughts, he grinned at the nickname. Castiel hoped that he was making the right decision, it did not feel wrong, nothing was nagging at him saying to stop or go in the other direction and fixing his gaze on the young hunter; he stepped out from the house and sighed as the warm sun rise embraced him.

Alrighty, well... the whole time I am writing this story I have been listening to Fireflight (never heard of them until a week ago) and every song almost sings about everything I want to explain in this story haha I love it.
Any way, may plan a little while before the next chapter as to what hunt to do. Im thinking -
Vampire. Just something simple for their first hunt together.

For a major hunt I really want to do something different, so i'll put a few up and let you readers decide:
Witch
Selkie
Vengeful spirit / speacific spirit (perhaps blondes or virgin men, just to add some fun to the mixture ;) )
Lamia

With everything going crazy in this time, even if someone has a god or something else they know of, please just tell me. Love to hear other peoples ideas.

silver-kirin
xXx