Chapter 25

The next days past slowly as they researched, trying to find something that might help them get Oree back. Sam still wouldn't talk about it and Dean tried not to press to hard hoping he would open up soon. He knew it was consuming him since he was blaming himself for what he did, but what he could piece together, Oree had planned it all. She convinced Sam it was the only way. He flipped on the radio for some noise in the quiet house and stopped as he listened to the words of the song:

"If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

The sharp knife of a short life, oh well
I've had just enough time

And I'll be wearing white, when I come into your kingdom
I'm as green as the ring on my little cold finger,
I've never known the lovin' of a man..."

Dean looked over at Sam who paled slightly after hearing the words. He looked back down at his plate clenching his jaw. Dean flipped the radio back off not wanting to hear more.

"Heard anything from Cas?" Sam asked as they ate breakfast. Well, Dean ate; Sam pushed his food around on the plate making a good show.

"No, he's not answered any of my prayers."

"Mine either. It's been over a week now."

"You need to eat bro; it's not goin' to help you starving yourself." Dean commented watching Sam push the food to the other side of his plate.

"Not hungry." he mumbled not looking up.

Dean frowned trying to think of a way to get food into Sam. Both turned when they heard scratching and whining at the backdoor. Dean got up and walked to the door opening it letting Ellie in. She began to prance and gruff at them running to the door and back to them several times.

"I think she wants us to follow her." Sam said as Ellie pulled on his sweats almost pulling him into the floor.

"Hold on girl, let us get some clothes on." Dean told her pulling Sam up from his chair and pushing him toward the bedrooms. "Put on some warm clothes, she's not going to stop unless we see what she wants."

"Do you think it could be Oree?" Sam asked hopefully looking back at Ellie and the happiness he saw on her face.

"If it is, then it's a miracle. We both saw her disappear. I looked and didn't find anything."

spn

Dean and Sam quickly dressed in warm clothes before heading back to the kitchen. Dean pulled his Colt from the weapon's bag and tucked it in his jeans.

"You won't do anything stupid will you?" Dean asked Sam holding out his Taurus, but not letting go until he was sure what state of mind Sam was in.

"No." Sam said sincerely looking him in the eyes before accepting the gun. He checked the load and slipped it in the waist of his jeans letting it rest in the small of his back.

They both grabbed a small pack and tossed waters and power bars in them before joining Ellie outside. Dean shouldered his pack and sized Sam up being sure he looked ok.

"Okay girl, what do you want to show us?" Dean asked the wolf as she ran around the house and waited to see if they would follow. When she saw they were, she headed for the woods. Dean and Sam jogged to the woods and headed in trying to keep up with the wolf.

The woods became thicker the deeper they ventured, making them slow and tread more carefully. Ellie made sure she kept them in sight as she wove through the trees heading for the heart of the forest. Dean led the way pushing through brush and saplings trying to keep an eye on the blur of the wolf and an eye on his brother. Sam was panting from the exertion but pushed himself to keep up with Dean. He wanted to know what had Ellie so excited and if by some miracle their sister was alive.

spn

Castiel had questioned numerous angels, the ones who would talk to him at least, trying to find Aurora's soul. None knew of her death. He found Tessa delivering a soul to Heaven and questioned her, but she was no help. Her list did not include Aurora's name. She did agree to check with the reapers to see if any of them had her name to reap her soul.

He started searching through the Heavens in hopes of finding a trace of her. He tuned in angel radio, but there wasn't any chatter regarding anything unusual happening with a soul. This worried him, there was no way her soul would be condemned to hell, he thought. She had given the ultimate sacrifice to save the human race and the world. Castiel sighed in doubt as he ran into another dead end. He was not giving up, he had to have faith she was out there somewhere. He owed it to Dean and Sam to find out what happened to her.

spn

"Does she even know where she's goin'?" Dean huffed as he used a tree for support. He was red faced and panting for breath from the excursion.

"She seems to think so." Sam panted stopping beside him drawing in deep breaths.

Ellie ran back to them and growled and gruffed anxious for them to continue. Dean wiped his face on the sleeve of his shirt getting the sweat out of his eyes. Sam brushed his sweat soaked hair out of his face trying to see. They both pulled out waters and gulped huge swallows and splashed some on their faces to cool off. Jackets were shed now that they had warmed up.

"We only have two legs, give us a minute." Dean huffed back at her as he got his second wind. "You good?" he asked Sam before moving out after Ellie. Sam nodded and tossed his empty in his pack before getting up.

Dean and Sam noticed the trees were thinning and they could hear water flowing nearby. They broke through the last of the trees into a clearing stopping to catch their breath and look around. The beauty of the place made them pause in wonder. Neither has seen such a postcard perfect scene, from the waterfall, to the glittering of the rays of sun that bounced off the surface of the water to form rainbows in the mist, to the meandering stream, and the moss covered rocks. Dragon flies darted over the slower moving water in search for food. They could even see small fish swimming around in the shallows near the bank.

"Wow." Sam said breaking the silence.

"Breathtaking." Dean agreed drinking in the beauty of the place. "Ellie?" he called to the wolf searching for her.

"I think she's over that way." Sam pointed to the rocky outcrop that looked like a bench. "Do you think this is Oree's safe haven, where she comes to think?"

"Maybe, Ellie wouldn't have brought us here if Oree hadn't been here before, she knew the way. Cas, if you hear me, we're deep in the woods behind Oree's cabin, something is going on. You might want to join us." Dean prayed softly as his spidery senses went through the roof. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up as the air around them seemed to electrify.

"You feel that?" Sam said quietly letting his hand wander to his weapon.

"Dean." Castiel spoke as he appeared behind them. Castiel stepped forward and surveyed the area, but was more interested in the rocky outcrop where Ellie was bouncing around. "What is wrong with Electra?"

"Come on, let's check it out." Dean told him walking carefully toward her with Sam and Castiel following closely.

The three stopped as they neared Ellie looking around trying to determine what was making the sudden change to the air around them. A bright light caused them to shield their eyes for a few moments until it passed. Dean was the first able to see and swallowed hard going into protective mode by stepping in front of Sam. Castiel blinked several times until he could see again and suddenly went to one knee bowing his head. Sam finally stopped seeing spots and tried to step around Dean who stopped him by putting up his arm. Sam's eyes widened in shock and his mouth dropped open from what was in front of them.