Disclaimer: Same as ever.

Sam studied the water, then shot his muzzle in, emerging with a fish in his jaws. The wolf shook his pelt off, sending water drops flying. He and Gabriel were out hunting, fishing for some different meat.

Gabriel yawned, showing his fangs. "Nice one Sammy."

Sam dropped his fish on the bank. "Thanks. Wolves can hunt you know. Not just in a pack."

"Clearly." The panther commented, and if they'd been human, Sam knew Gabriel would be smirking.

Sam shifted human to splash his face with water, before suddenly falling in.

Gabriel looked down at him, grinning. "Oops." The smaller man smirked a little, but his hazel eyes flashed with amusement.

Sam had been shoved into a deep spot, since he was treading water. He hauled himself out, and glared at Gabriel.

Gabriel chuckled. "I need to shove you in water more often." Sam glanced down and understood. His shirt was clinging to his skin, showing off his muscles.

"What, were the last few days not enough for you?" Sam asked, smirking as Gabriel grinned.

"They were great. Enough that I want more." Gabriel shot back, the two having been sleeping together for about two weeks.

Sam enjoyed it, and was scared to admit he wanted more from the were-panther. Not just sex, but more. Like a relationship. But he wasn't sure what Gabriel wanted so he stayed quiet.

Gabriel narrowed his eyes, and leapt at Sam, the two tumbling into the water. The were-wolf laughed as he and Gabriel hit the water.

XXX

Roger caught up to Lucifer. "Hey! Luce."

The tan panther turned. "Yes?"

"I've got some questions, about what happened, you know, six years ago." Roger shifted uncomfortably, but he needed to ask.

Lucifer sighed. "Go figure. What do you want to know?"

"Did you do what they accused you of?" The younger panther asked. "While I'm asking, why is Michael here? And alive? What Raphael's problem anyway?"

Lucifer flicked his tail. "No, I didn't, Michael believed me, so he faked his death and joined me, and we'd love to know what Raphael's problem is. We've got a guess, but it's not sure."

Roger nodded. "I didn't think you did it. You had no reason too. You would've been second for sure, why risk it on possibly being leader?"

Lucifer huffed. "Although Michael always said I should've been leader, not him." He sighed and his eyes darkened. "We think that's Raphael's problem. He wanted to be leader, not third-in-command. I wish I could think otherwise, but he probably framed me."

Roger's eyes narrowed, appearing even darker yellow. "That does make sense, in a twisted way."

Lucifer and Roger padded through the grass in silence, as the rest of the hunting patrol caught up.

Azekeal, who went by Zeke, crashed into Roger's flank.

"Careful back there." Roger turned his head, twitching his whiskers.

Zeke flattened his ears in embarrassment. "Sorry Roger."

Roger shook it off. "It's fine."

Lucifer growled, and the three other panthers snapped to attention.

"What?" Haniel asked, the lean panther's torn ear flicking.

Lucifer pricked his ears. "I hear something."

Roger narrowed his eyes. "Someone's at the river." He decided, glancing at Lucifer for orders.

"We'll keep going, the river's unclaimed territory." Lucifer decided. "But Zeke fall back."

Zeke grumbled. "I can fight." But he did as Lucifer told him.

Roger fell into step at Haniel's flank, the other panther moved to Lucifer's left side. Roger scampered forward to stand at Lucifer's right flank.

The four panthers arrived on a bank, overlooking the river. Roger stared, and made a weird noise.

Lucifer glanced at him, but Roger went scrambling down the bank, shifting half-way down.

"Gabriel!" He yelped. "Sam?"

The two look up as Roger plunged into the water. "Roger?"

XXX

Dean inhaled, and wagged his tail. Castiel glanced at him, the panther was confused.

"I smell rabbits." Dean grinned. "Come on, let's go get 'em."

Castiel followed Dean to the plateau, which was covered in rabbit holes, grass, and shrubs.

Dean glanced at Castiel. "Think you can catch more rabbits than me?"

"No." Castiel answered bluntly.

Dean turned his head. "Why?"

"I do not wish to compeate with you." Castiel shrugged.

Dean sighed. "Fine. See if you can pounce on that one there." He nodded to a brown rabbit in front of them. "I'm going to loop around so when the others run, they run to me."

Castiel nodded, and Dean snuck away, darting behind bushes.

The rabbits munched on grass, oblivious to the two hunters. Dean appeared behind one of the bushes, and glanced at Castiel. The wolf shook his head, and crept away from it, to be behind the rabbits.

Castiel prepared to lunge, when a tan blur pounced on the first rabbit. The other two scattered, and Dean didn't even come close to their location. Castiel snagged one of them though, snapping it's neck as it ran pass.

"I'm hunting here." Castiel told the were-panther, who turned.

"I killed it." The panther shot back. "It's mine." The rabbit lay dead at his paws.

Castiel's hackles raised. "I was here first." He'd practiced his fighting a little, and could probably stand his own.

The panther growled, and Castiel bared his fangs.

Dean growled as well, and the panther whirled, tail lashing.

"What's going on here?" A new voice asked, as a smaller panther padded forward. She cocked her head. "Is something wrong?"

The first panther nodded. "This panther here thinks this rabbit is his."

"It is!" Dean added, Castiel couldn't see him around the panthers.

"Jormal, go get the leader." The male panther hissed at Castiel, who growled in reply.

A large golden panther walked forward. "Settle down Caleb." He ordered. When he saw Castiel, he froze.

"Castiel?" He asked, "You survived?"

"Cas? Who is he?" Dean asked, Castiel caught a glimpse of him over Caleb's back.

Castiel stared at the golden lion. "Michael."

XXX

Dean growled. "So, Mike, what do you want?"

"Michael." The panther corrected. "I'm surprised to see you two. I heard you were dead."

"Who told you that?" Dean growled.

"Roger." Michael replied, causing Dean to be at a loss for words.

Castiel made a noise. "He's alive?"

"I saw him this morning." Jormal added. "He's hunting by the river right now."

"What about Sam?" Dean questioned, Castiel heard him step forward.

Michael shook his head. "We haven't seen him."

Castiel heard Dean let out a rush of air.

"We found Roger downstream." Michael added, "He was the only one."

Dean narrowed his eyes. "Downstream? You're from the pride they wanted us to spy on!"

"Yes." Castiel added. "But Michael, you were killed the day Roger and Gabriel left."

"No I wasn't. I faked my death to join Lucifer's side." Michael explained. "I heard that they'd left later."

Castiel cocked his head, and Dean inwardly chuckled.

"How many actually died that day?" Castiel met Michael's gaze.

"One or two." Michael sighed. "They were truly against Lucifer."

Jormal turned her head. "Do you hear something?"

They all whirled, to see a panther haul himself onto the plateau. "Next time, someone else is going." He lay on his side as he caught his breath.

"Zeke?" Caleb asked. "He was supposed to be hunting with Roger."

Zeke lifted his head. "Yeah. Michael, the other patrol needs you."

"For what?" Michael asked, worried.

Zeke staggered to his paws. "You won't believe it. But Roger confirmed it. It's Gabriel. And that wolf he was with, Sam? They're alive."

Dean let out a startled yelp. "Are you sure?"

"Yes! They thought he was dead, and he thought Sam was dead." Zeke shook his head. "Are you that other wolf?"

"Yes." Dean was trembling in excitement. "Sam's alive!"

XXX

PB: HOORAY!

Me: You're my Plot Bunny! None of what just occurred was a surprise to you!

PB: It's a surprise you finally wrote it.

Me: * Strangles PB *

Dean: * Watches while eating pie *

Sam: Think we ought to stop her.

Dean: Nah.

Gabe: Hell no!

Cas: I do not wish to. She scares me.

PB: UNCLE!