Chapter Nine. I hope you guys enjoy it :D

As Dean exited the Impala his thoughts kept drifting back to Bobby and Sam. He hoped that they would be alright on that hunt and he silently prayed that they were being watched over. Despite the fact he often brushed off the topic, Dean liked to believe that there at least existed one higher power, who actually gave a crap about the Winchesters and what was left of their broken family. Aside from Castiel.

Sighing, Dean decided it was best to try and focus on his task of gathering any information he could get out of the locals. After all if he didn't keep up his end of the deal Sam would be pretty miffed when they all met back up at the motel later. Quickly scanning the paper he had brought with him Dean found the address of one of the victims' relatives and headed over to see if anyone was inside. Knocking on the door a young girl shyly answered.

"Um. Hello sweetie. Are either of your parents' home?" Dean asked the girl softly, who was hugging the wooden frame of the door. Her face crumpled at the mention of the word parents and Dean internally kicked himself for being so tactless. One of them must have been murdered at the picnic.

'That's strange.' Dean thought to himself. Unless she was being babysat or was round a friend's house surely she would have been with them? "May I please come in? You can trust me. I am a cop," Dean smiled reassuringly as he produced a fake ID badge and handed it over to the little girl, who held out a shaky hand. The girl lifted the badge close to her face and scrutinised it. She then held it up towards the light and compared it with Dean's face. Dean held back an amused laugh. This girl was not messing around and clearly she had been taught to never invite strangers inside. "Do I pass security?" Dean joked and the girl offered a watery smile and nodded her head.

Heading inside the girl led Dean to a large living room and Dean sat down onto the couch. The girl cautiously sat down on the opposite armchair and looked at Dean with wide eyes. Dean leant forward and locked eyes with the girl and spoke clearly,

"Okay sweetie. I just want to ask you some questions about the. Incident. Do you understand what I mean?" the girl nodded her head and Dean couldn't help but notice her skin seemed to have turned pale. "I am sorry but I have to know, who went to the picnic?" Dean questioned. He felt horrible for doing so as the girl already seemed upset, but it would make the questioning process easier as he would be careful not to mention it again. Unless it was necessary.

"My daddy." The girl whispered her lower lip wobbled and Dean nodded in understanding.

"Where were you when your dad went to the picnic?"

"I. I was. Please don't be mad at me!" The girl suddenly started to panic and began to sob. Dean tried to console her, but nothing seemed to work. "Mummy says the cops arrest bad people and I have been bad." the girl gasped out. Her blonde hair curling around her elfin face and her bright blue eyes were swimming with hot, fat tears.

"What did you do?" Dean questioned firmly using an authoritative tone not to intimidate the girl, but in an attempt to discourage her from lying. The girl's voice wavered as she said,

"I was meant to stay at a friend's house, but I really wanted to go on the picnic. Mummy said it was a grown-up one though as my daddy was meeting with old school friends. I didn't go to my friend's house after she dropped me off. Instead I went to the woods. Where I saw." The girl paused and began to tremble, her skin was going paler by the second.

Dean knew he had to be stern otherwise he would not hear the vital information that could determine if they were really dealing with a Wendigo or not.

"Sweetie I know this is hard for you. But I need to know, what did you see? I promise you are not in trouble with me. Tell me." Dean pressed and the girl looked up at Dean, a bit of the tension shifted from her eyes.

"I saw a monster. With long legs, sharp claws and fangs. And its skin was wrinkly like Grandma's." Dean smiled encouragingly and said,

"Do you remember what colour it was?"

"It looked greyish. But it might have been brown. I think it had lots of fur." The girl answered after looking up at the ceiling trying hard to remember.

"What happened?"

"It howled and ran at the people. It started to scratch and they screamed. I was crying and screaming. I guess the monster didn't see me as I was hiding behind a bush. Next I hear a loud bang and lots of footsteps. More screaming and then everything went silent. Then I ran to my friend's house, but I didn't tell her or her mum what happened."

Dean listened carefully to the child's detailed account and wondered if it definitely was a Wendigo. Or as Dean noticed she was not confident about what she had seen. As the wrinkly skin matched that of a Wendigo, but fur could be that bloody dog they were currently harbouring.

The girl had fallen silent and was playing with her fingers nervously. She was no doubt reliving the nightmare of what she had witnessed in those woods. Dean knew from his many personal experiences that she was going through hell. And one again he cursed the existence of monsters in the world as they robbed childhood innocence in the blink of an eye.

No child should ever have to watch their parent be killed in front of them. Especially being ripped apart and attacked so violently. Reluctantly Dean stood up knowing it was getting late and he had to get back to the motel to meet Bobby and Sam, although he didn't want to leave the little girl home alone.

"Thank you for your help." Dean paused as he didn't know the girl's name and he extended his hand for the girl to shake and she took it gingerly. Noticing the invitation the girl whispered quietly,

"Mandy. My name is Mandy."

"Well Mandy thank you again for your help. We are going to find that monster and take care of it." The girl's eyes opened wide and she impulsively leant forward and hugged Dean's waist tightly.

"Please be careful mister cop." Dean smiled and gently hugged the girl back before leaving.

Just after he left he noticed a car pull up and an attractive woman got out ladled with grocery bags. She walked up the path, unlocked the door and entered the house. Satisfied this was Mandy's mum Dean headed to his Impala with a clean conscience.

Meanwhile, Sam and Bobby were approaching the cave that Bobby had explained was where he thought the Wendigo dwelled. They crept towards it slowly with their flare guns raised. Suddenly, Sam heard a twig snap behind him. Spinning round Sam began to breathe heavily and said,

"Did you hear that Bobby?" No response. Sam turned round and was shocked to see Bobby had vanished "Bobby!" Sam called as loud as he dared despite being within close proximity to the Wendigo's suspected habitat. Suddenly, Sam entered a world of darkness as he received a sharp blow on the back on his head, which sent him crumpling to the forest floor. Before passing out he heard a jackal like growl.

Back at the motel Huntress had woke up from her slumber. Her eyes narrowed to what could almost resemble slits. She began to nervously pace up and down sensing something was terribly wrong. Every instinct in her body was compelling her to escape this motel room, but something stopped her. Perhaps this was how she could gain Dean's trust? Bitterly Huntress realised that Dean would just accuse her of being involved if he returned and all three of them were missing. Pacing up and down nervously she could only wait desperately for Dean's return. Praying that he would not be too late.

End of chapter nine. I am enjoying this project so much. I hope you guys like it. Please feel free to review. Any positive or negative criticisms are accepted.