Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural! I SWEAR!

Castiel shifted his weight. He'd been on guard duty for most of two days. He stretched out his dark legs and shook himself. He glanced at his night black hide and wished again he was tawny colored.

Castiel had no idea why he'd stopped them from killing the wolves, but something drew him to the black wolf. Castiel figured it was that they were the same color.

Roger was back. Castiel didn't know what to make of that. Roger, his best friend. Until he left. Roger had always listened to Gabriel, agreeing with him more times than not. Castiel pictured Gabriel in his mind. In human form, a short man with a quick smile and always laughing. In puma form, a golden tan color with the same eyes as his human form. He and Roger had always gotten along, but Castiel hadn't imagined Roger would follow Gabriel out of the pride.

A small motion made him turn his head. Uriel was walking up the cliff, one of the other lions with him.

"Come along Castiel." He snapped. "We're talking to them."

XXX

Dean looked up as the black puma and Uriel entered. He and Sam both got to their paws. Roger stood up more slowly, taking his time.

Uriel spoke, a constant growl in his throat. "You two are going to work for us, getting information about the lower Pride."

"Rather covenant." Rogercommented, "That they live in the praire below us. Let's you call them the lower pride."

If looks could kill Roger would be dead nine times from the look Uriel sent him. The cat just cocked his head.

Uriel glanced at Sam, and extended his claws. "We'll start with him. Pin down Roger."

Roger tensed but the unknown mountain lion tackled him.

Dean spoke. "No!" He lunged forward to stand in front of Sam.

Roger went limp, clearly surprised. His yellow eyes drifted over to Castiel, who looked away, at the wolves.

"Start with me." Dean stared into Uriel's gaze, standing protectively in front of Sam.

Uriel shrugged. "Whatever." He grabbed Dean and dragged him out of the cave.

Roger struggled against the lion on top of him, and Sam stood still, frozen in shock.

A second later a pain-filled howl echoed in the cave. Roger flattened his ears and met Castiel's gaze. Castiel looked away, unable to admit what was happening to the black wolf now.

Two hours later Uriel dragged a bloody wolf back to the cave. He dropped Dean and huffed.

"In two days we'll try again." He promised Dean.

Castiel glanced at Uriel and than at Dean. "Is this really needed?"

Castiel hit the wall, blood dripping from a scratch across his face. Dean, Sam and Roger all growled softly.

"Yes, you weakling." Uriel snapped, as Castiel got to his paws. His blue eyes shone with pain as he looked up at Uriel. Uriel walked out not even glancing at Castiel.

Castiel followed him out of the den.

Uriel paused next to Castiel's post. "We're doing this because we need them broken."

"Why?" Castiel asked, and then braced himself for a blow.

Uriel didn't hit him though much to Castiel's surprise. "Because, we'd be letting them out of our sight. We need them to be afraid of us. And what we'll do to them if they ran off." With that he padded down the mountain side back to the main cave. Castiel sat outside the den with an odd feeling in his gut. And the thought that what Uriel had done to the wolf was wrong.

Roger spoke. "Dean?"

The black wolf groaned. "What?"

"You okay, bro?" Sam asked, gently.

"No, Sammy, I feel like they shoved me down the mountain." Dean replied.

Castiel, quietly listening, remembered the names. The black wolf was Dean, and the russet was Sam. For some reason the knowledge made the feeling in his gut worse.

Author's note: Poor Dean. He did get shoved down the mountain. Partially anyway.

And yes the other wer-panthers are abusive to Castiel. Because, to quote Gattaca, he's not all that they promised. That's one of my favorite movies.