Somehow nature had a way of being both loud but quite and always peaceful. The last few days with fear of Daven I haven't been out much and I didn't realize how much I missed it until now.
I started with small sticks, going to have to start a small fire before it got bigger. Plus during the day it didn't need to be big and we would have plenty sticks collected by nightfall.
I did some forging with my eyes as well, taking note of the remaining summer flowers still in bloom and the fall season growth. The small hint of baby mushrooms around the forest floor. I would be collecting a bit if I was home but I had no place to put them.
I smiled to myself when I thought about this one day being my home, being able to walk all over these woods and know them like I know my own. One day I would live with Julien.
I finished collecting a few more before heading back, already knowing my way back well already. The forest has just always been easy to read and learn. On my way out into the clearing I looked around, seeing the moment of panic before I had seen it. It only lasted a moment for Julien, he could easily sense me but Dean hadn't even caught on.
His eyes found my instantly before he left Deans side to come toward me. That small second of not knowing where I was terrified him. I met him, continued toward where the fire would be but dropped them beside it to return his hug.
Julien lifted me up slightly for a second. ''I was just getting firewood.'' I hugged him back but tried to reassure him too. He pulled back to look at me; that intensity behind them back. ''I love you Julien.'' I said after only a moment and a breath.
The intensity behind his eyes was replaced with his mood too. Both changing; he relaxed but smiled. A relief and surge of happiness overcame him at my words; he does love me too.
''I love you Pax.'' He told me, his smile only going down a little bit as he nodded. ''I really wanted to say it first.'' I smiled at his words. Relieved myself that he had been feeling it too.
I quickly leaned up to kiss him before I could talk myself out of it and he grabbed my lower back again to support me, kissing me back and keeping it going but he pulled back to say something.
''You really mean it?'' He asked and I smiled again before nodding. I absolutely without a doubt love him. He smiled again and placed a quick yet slow kiss on my lips and looked down at the wood I had collected. ''You're starting a fire?'' Julien asked, catching up now with everything else.
I nodded and looked around Julien when Dean asked the same question and laughed.
''Getting one ready yes, I want smore's.'' I looked between the both of them before Julien smiled down at me, hand still on my lower back.
''Don't ruin your appetite for my famous tofu-dogs.'' Dean warned me but began helping by fixing the rocks that surrounded the firepit. A few had fallen out of place from time but easily fixed. ''I'll go get the supplies....I have to remember how I organized it though.'' Of course he stored the food weird again.
I nodded as he turned to walk away, going to go to the cooler but stopped himself to go to his truck instead after saying something to himself.
''I knew I should have done it.'' I looked back up at Julien, him having been already looking at me, causing me to smile smally.
He turned his smirk into a smile when I looked up at him before he dropped his hand from my back. ''We should get your fire set up; for when he does manage to find it's all in the cooler.''
I opened my mouth a bit at the realization when he bent down to place some of the sticks into a crisscross pattern. He could smell exactly where they were. I smiled and nearly laughed at the thought of Dean, he should really remember how he organized things though.
Once Julien completed the small pile of sticks I sat on the ground beside it, crossing my legs before I pictured a small flame and started the fire. Julien followed my movement and sat as well, handing me a stick from the pile for the marshmallow; speaking of which.
I turned to see him heading over to the cooler finally and looked back at Julien with amusement. He probably just searched the whole truck. ''Got it-finally!'' He pulled out the marshmallows first and showed the bag to us; proudly.
''Good; bring it all over.'' I gestured for him to come over, only going to eat one but this was a birthday tradition and I have been craving it. I wiped the stick off gently and dipped it into the fire to clean it but not light it on fire.
''I'll go get more firewood.'' Julien watched me for a moment as Dean came over before he moved to stand. I nodded, not really sure we needed it right now.
''You want one?'' Dean asked before he could begin walking away into the woods. Julien however nodded.
''I'm alright; thank you.'' I watched as he walked away from view and Dean dropped the stuff next to the fire before digging into the marshmallows first to open them, moving onto the graham crackers and then the chocolate.
Dean leaned closer after he finished and I grabbed a marshmallow to stick onto the end of the stick. ''Can werewolf's eat chocolate; should I have even offered?'' Dean tried to whisper as if it would change his ability to hear us if he wanted to.
I smiled at his question and stuck the marshmallow above the fire to toast it.
''It's always good to offer.'' I told him and rotated the stick a bit before grabbing the graham crackers from Dean who had pulled them out for me and was getting the chocolate too. ''He can eat chocolate.'' He also clearly liked to be helpful and active.
I took the stick out of the fire and put together the smore, tossing the stick into the fire before I took a very much awaited bit of the smore; maybe being one of the best I've ever eaten.
''Back into the cooler; okay?'' I asked to help him keep track of the food too, finishing the smore and closing everything he had opened to store it again.
Dean took a moment but nodded and grabbed some it to walk it over to the cooler and he put it all inside. ''I'm gonna put the cooler in the truck.'' He told me, sounding more like a chant.
I dimmed the fire to put it out, able to easily start it for later tonight and looked into the woods after; we really didn't need that much firewood. I looked away from them though when I felt something and I looked around a bit before I glanced at my hand. I could feel magic. I fully turned a few times before Dean rushed over to me.
''I can feel...'' I paused when I finally recognized it. Someone was searching for me, using magic to pinpoint my location. ''Someone is looking for me.'' And I had no idea how to stop them or to even hide myself from such a thing.
It went away all at once, the tingling of the magic. Whoever they are they know where I am now. I looked at Dean finally and swallowed. ''They know?'' He asked and I nodded; they know.
''Could it be that witch?'' Dean asked, using his hands to speak as he began to get nervous. ''Maybe your mom; your phone is off?'' He tried to think of a better option and nodded.
I shrugged though, not sure it's my mom. ''I texted her not too long about and she knows we turn the phone off.'' I explained to him, knowing it would much better but unrealistic.
''Julien!'' Dean shouted for him, not aware of how good his hearing really is.
I stepped forward though, ''Shh, you don't need to yell.'' One he could hear him, two there was no reason to freak out or get Julien worried. We are on his territory after all. This felt like the safest place on earth.
''You be less calm, if it's that witch then Daven could be coming.'' He got defensive of both himself and me, a bit confusing with his passive aggressive tone. I sighed though and looked past him to see Julien emerge into sight.
''Tell me exactly what happened.'' He didn't really ask as he closed the space between. In a rush and not carrying any sticks or wood surprisingly.
With nothing to hide I explained it to him, telling him all the details; including how it doesn't have to be her. Or that maybe she want's help and doesn't know how else to reach out to me. Dean scoffed at my possibilities and Julien was clearly unconvinced.
''This isn't fair; I'm out numbered.'' But I knew what I was talking about; Kelly isn't all bad. Julien turned his head to the side a bit for a moment before speaking and crossing his arms.
''Do you think; and I mean really think she's looking for you for help? I can sense when you do magic, so Daven can too.'' I hadn't thought about that but maybe she didn't go everywhere with him and she saw a window.
''You have a way of seeing the best in people, even when they aren't capable of it.'' Dean offered and I looked over at him, no. I...I am not doing that. I knew that not everyone was capable of being good.
I looked down for a moment really thinking back on her behavior. She wanted to stay alive, she was scared and didn't want him to hurt either of us.
''The first thing she said to me was sorry.'' I told Julien mainly, him who I had to convince. She ran before Daven did but I don't know if she got away or not.
Julien nodded once, ''What do you want to do then. I'll help.'' He no longer crossed his arms and I could see although he trusted me he was struggling to not just get me to safety right away.
What could I do, if I wandered to her I could be wandering straight to Daven too. She could need help but I wasn't the right witch for this. I need to be able to see what would happen.
''Dean can you get me like a bowl or something...and some water.'' I asked him, trying to think quickly. My great grandmother used a crystal ball, it could be seen through and there is a reflection; maybe I could see something. Anything on Katy or the near future.
He hurried to retrieve both, handing me a bowl and a water bottle. I walked over to his truck the back still open and I placed the bowl there before pouring some water into it. I was no longer hoping it worked; It needed to work.
''What exactly are you doing?'' Dean came over beside me, Julien already behind me. I looked into the bowl, looking past the water and through it.
''Give me a minute.'' I whispered with a calming breath, pulling from the best source I had; nature. I want to see Katy's intentions. I thought, wanting what will happen with her and I; or just what her future will become.
I placed my hands on the truck, steading myself when I noticed something. Just behind the water and when I looked for the source of it; then it happened. Katy appeared before me. I was no longer outside, near Dean's truck.
Something about this room seemed familiar but before I looked further around I noticed her wrists, something around them. I stepped closer, an etching in them but I looked up away from them when she spoke. I turned away to better view the room seeing who seeing speaking to now.
''It's okay, mummy will get daddy to take them off when he gets back; Daven still needs us.'' My heart sank at the sight of him, he was no older then 6 or 7; a young boy. Daven had him chained up too, his cuffs had no marking though.
I looked back to Katy, holding her tears back to stay strong for him; her child. She was too far to reach him but she was doing a good job to comfort him. Suddenly she looked right at me, shocking me.
''You have to help us.'' She said to me before I pulled back, sensing now her magic reaching out to me again; I gasped and felt someone's hand holding my hand.
I looked around, outside again; at the campsite. I was no longer near his truck but in the woods; Julien being the hand I held, was I wondering too? Or was that Katy taking over with her want for help.
''Daven has her child prisoner.'' I told Julien, seeing Dean following but not entirely caught up. ''Or he will soon. It happens after her reaching out to me; because of her reaching out to me.'' I looked down, was I the reason her son will be imprisoned too?
''That would never be your fault Pax.'' Julien rubbed his thumb over my fingers, still amazed he knew to ground me and just went with it. ''Did you happen to get any details on his location?'' He asked and Dean stopped to lean against a nearby tree; breathing heavy.
''I hope it's not much farther.'' Dean spoke in a gasp of a breath and I really looked around now. Not seeing the clearing or any indication of it. How far had I walked?
''I didn't mean to wonder.'' I told them both, feeling guilty; I might not even be going the right way given my distraction of the vision and the emotion I felt toward it. Emotion making it hard to focus on the right things.
''Could you do it again-this time with Dean to ground you? Maybe we can get to her before he does.'' Julien asked and released my hand to take his shirt off.
I swallowed upon looking at his chest, even more appealing somehow. I pulled my eyes away to look at Dean though, moving beside me and asking Julien.
''What are you going to do?'' Dean was clearly surprised at him just starting to undress in front of us, not that I minded it very much.
''I'm gonna make sure nothing happens to either of you and I'm gonna have Alex and Penelope come.'' Julien explained to us and I looked back at him, trying not to glance at his exposed upper half.
I caught his small smirk that quickly appeared and disappeared, seeming to notice my struggle. ''Okay; let's do this then.'' Dean offered me his hand, willing to help and continue in his struggle to help me.
I took a deep breath and pictured her; Katy. Pushing out the images of how I knew Julien was taking the rest of his clothes off to transform. I pushed out Deans words to him, offering to hold his clothes for him.
The sound of his transformation taking my focus for a moment before I found her again, no longer leading me but I was truly looking for her now; still the same direction I had been going but now I was able to see my environment this time. My vision no longer taking over.
When I wondered time didn't feel like it normally did, like a dream where I only felt that and time did not even exist during it; something in the background. I had noticed the sun setting and the darkness follow, my path between both where I am and where I'm going.
I halted when her energy faded from my view, disappearing all at once. I quickly felt Julien's energy come back in before I felt Penelope's and then Alex's. I thought quickly, if he put those cuffs on Katy maybe they keep her from using magic but also from magic being used on her. Her son didn't have any marking on his cuffs. I've seen him and I can wonder to him instead.
I found his energy quickly, feeling much closer then before. I stopped myself before I even started to walk when I realized it was happening just like my vision.
''Daven might be there.'' I said aloud to Julien, still not in sight but nearby. I jumped at the response, a loud howl followed by two other howls. I assumed it was Julien followed by Alex and Penelope.
Dean looked at me with a shrug neither of us spoke wolf but I had a feeling. Keep going, Julien didn't want to wait any longer; life's in danger now.
I starting my wonder again, being focused on her son now but knowing she would be close if not able to get away if I could at least safe her son. She had said he husband would be back after helping Daven with something so maybe he could help, he had to be in it for his survival too; their sons survival.
Her sons energy was strange, I've never searched for a child; his energy was more muted. Even despite being a werewolf, it was faint but noticeable. With the light from the day gone Dean struggled to keep pace but I no longer needed to wonder.
We're close I just needed to find where they were being held, the windows I noticed were high up; being mostly underground. It looked like it was designed for prisoners.
''Dean.'' I tugged at him before letting his hand go. This is the place. Even in the dark I could see the structure; an old house. I stepped forward, looking around one of the larger trees to look at it better.
With the lack of light I noticed the small light immediately and moved away from Dean in a hurry. I knew Daven wasn't here; his energy clear.
In my rush to find a door to get inside Dean gave Julien his clothes back to get dressed after changing back and hurrying to catch up with her. He didn't want her to walk through the house by herself./
Alex and Penelope would stay outside, watch Dean and the area for anyone who might come back here. Julien could smell only two people inside; two heartbeats. He recognized the scent having picked it up when he smelled Daven in her house too.
Julien caught up with Pax easily just as she got up the stairs to the front door and he finished putting his shirt on once she turned to him.
Julien running up the stairs behind me caught my attention just before I turned the door knob.
''They are in the basement.'' I told him and he gave me a nod in response probably already aware exactly where they are. I turned back to turn the knob but Julien quickly reached forward and grabbed my hand from pushing the door open.
''Something clicked.'' He said to me before I released the door knob and stepped aside for him to step aside too but push the door fully open. He quickly turned to me again and grabbed me; shielding me by using his body when a loud band sounded from behind me.
I winced at the loud noise but clung to him with the fast movement and whatever happened. He had heard it; some sort of trap that Daven must have set. ''Are you okay?'' Julien asked, feeling him pull back slightly to look me over before I opened my eyes again.
I nodded upon looking up at him and loosen my grip when I noticed how tight I was holding him. ''What was that?'' I asked him before he fully pulled back and turned around to look at what had happened.
I too looked, peering around him carefully to see the smoke from an explosion. I put out the remaining fire it had caused and Julien tossed the door that had half fallen off the hinges aside as If it weighed nothing.
He looked back at me after peering inside, ''I..I think it was a grenade.'' He had set it to go off when the doorknob turned. How did he plan on getting back inside?
Julien went inside first, still being cautious as he led the way. I followed closely behind him, trusting his path now. As I looked around I noticed how old this house looked, abandoned by time and lack of care. It looked like it had been trashed recently, furniture thrown about and broken; holes punched through the walls in various places.
''Stay here; let me go check.'' Julien said to me getting my full attention as he stopped and I looked to see a staircase; one that would lead to a basement.
I looked back up at him though. ''It's just them right?'' He could smell and hear to verify that so why would I need to wait? I saw this room anyways; I would know it better then him.
Julien nodded reluctantly after thinking on whether to tell me or not, I gave his nod one of my own before speaking further. ''Then we go together.'' I didn't give him much of a choice to say no when I started down the long staircase. Going slow as they creaked from their age.
I am going to help not only Julien but Katy and her son. I had to and something in me needed to.
When I got to the bottom of the stairs Julien tried the door this time; this one however was locked. ''Stand back.'' He told me and I moved up a few steps, moving out of his way for whatever he was going to do.
He gripped the doorknob again before slamming into the door, pushing both all his weight and strength into it. The door flexed under it, the cracking seemed to echo though the whole house before I heard something on the other side in between his force to open the door.
On the third try it swung open, the force of his hits cracking where the doorknob had been to remove the need for a lock. He rushed in having heard it too and I followed behind him before I looking for the similarities in the room and my vison. This basement was larger then I had seen, with rooms.
''Katy!'' I called to her, to narrow the search down and Julien looked around for when she spoke.
''In here.'' Julien looked at me at the sound of a child's voice. Why was her son the one who responded? I ran behind Julien to follow the sound of his voice. He sounded like he might be catching a cold; not surprising down in a dark, wet and cold basement.
At the opposite end of the door we came through was another door, this one had the locks on the outside; easy to unlatch them even with the numerous amount.
We noticed Katy first, she was chained to the wall; the chains in the brick basement wall that she was leaned against. She was unconscious and her head had a small bit of blood on it; knocked out.
''Hey buddy; we're here to help you and your mom, do you mind if I take these off.'' I turned around to see Julien crouched a few feet from her son; he too chained to the wall. His voice was softer then ever, trying to make himself the least possible threat with everything that has happened.
He sat against the opposite wall as her, having been watching his mom before Julien walked over to him.
The young boy nodded after glancing back to his mom, thinking on it for her sake rather then his own. ''This might feel a little funny.'' He explained to him before he as carefully as he could broke the cuffs off him.
I moved over to Katy, crouching beside her to lightly touch her shoulder. ''Katy?'' I whispered at first before he came over and hugged her.
He looked relieved to do so before he looked up at her cuffs. I did too, sitting up to look at the engraving. ''She can't use her powers with those.'' He told me and I looked back at him.
''Do you think you could help me wake her up after Julien takes them off for her; she can help us with her powers.'' I told him and he nodded quickly before standing to move away for Julien to do exactly that.
Julien let the broken pieces fall to the ground with a clink and caught her from falling but moved to pick her up fully. ''Let's get somewhere safer before we wake her up.'' He spoke to the both of us and I nodded but looked down at her son who was also nodding.
I walked behind him, between Julien and I as he carried Katy up the stairs and out of the house; trying his best to keep up with him in his much larger steps. Without wondering I truly felt how long we had walked, I eventually picked up her son; his name Ben. He told me after a bit of walking, his legs getting tired and Dean had made him laugh when I picked him up. Wishing that I could also carry him but Dean is far too big.
Dean gave me a smirk, this kid is smart and brave. I was slightly further ahead then Dean but still behind Julien. Alex was gonna stay nearby for a few hours, see if anyone would come back or not and Penelope ran back to the pack house to prepare things with her mother for Katy and Ben. I noticed in our walking how Julien would glance back at me every so often to check on me.
After more hours of walking Ben had fallen asleep in my arms, head leaned on my shoulder in his exhaustion. Dean himself looked like he was near falling over too but we were near the camp, I could feel it in the trees.
''Give me the keys.'' I whispered to Dean, trying not to wake him but Dean was far to tired to be driving anywhere. Even if he loved it so much.
''We don't have a car seat, that thing is not meant for children.'' He told me but I couldn't carry him anymore, I needed to put him down; my arms killing me from carrying him this far.
He saw the look on my face and hurried to pull them from his pocket but I shushed him with them fumbling around. If Ben is getting sick or is sick he needs rest and I have a feeling he hasn't been getting that very much. I held them firm in my hand to keep them from making any further noise.
''I'll put her in the truck and we can quicky pack everything up, Daven won't be happy.'' Julien slowed to match his pace better with mine. I nodded, too exhausted to argue. My birthday wasn't important anymore.
The pack house being the safe option now that he could track us straight back to the campsite with all our scents. A human, two witches and 4 werewolf's.
Dean was relieved to be back at the site, knowing it was our last stop before we could get somewhere and rest. He was so tired he had forgotten to ask what happened in the house.
After gently placing both Katy and Ben in Deans truck once we got back to camp I helped repack all our stuff and put it into the back of the truck well they took apart the tents, not putting them away but in the truck to take care of later. Once we had everything Dean got into the back so Julien could give me directions. In the dark I had no chance of learning the way.
At the pack house it was refreshing to see the lights on as I pulled up the long dirt driveway, that house felt wrong and not just because Daven had been holding them prisoner.
Cassie must have been waiting because as soon as the truck turned off she was hurrying out the front door with Penelope not too far behind.
''Bring them both in, I'll look the boy over quickly; I'm far more concerned she still hasn't woken up.'' Cassie met us, walking with us once she did; I was carrying Ben and Julien was carrying Katy again.
Cassie had quickly looked them over in the darkness, her concern one of my own as well; not the death I saw but that didn't mean anything until I knew that every vision was a guarantee. I hoped tonight would prove that.
I placed Ben on the table Cassie moved aside, the closet to the door and Julien placed Katy down on one nearby before coming back over to us and crossing his arms as Cassie looked him over and took his temperature. It was slightly high but she said that was normal; werewolf's temperatures naturally higher.
She pulled the blanket over him before looking up at us and talking as she began to walk over to Katy next. ''All his vitals are good, I think he just needs rest but...'' She sighed when she reached Katy. ''We need to wake her up.''
Cassie cleaned the small wound on her head, just above her brow and placed a bandage matching in size over it. I grabbed her hand when Cassie finished. Looking her over, we need her; her son needs her.
Suddenly her hand gripped mine before she shot up; her surroundings unfamiliar and as far as she knows unsafe. Julien rushed over to assist if needed but she was just startled; or so I thought.
Once she looked into my eyes I could truly see her panic. ''Where's my son!'' She demanded, not seeing him behind me and pulled me closer but with a burning felt where she held my wrist now. The burning more then just burning; she was pulling my magic and not just using it.
The pain far worse then burning.
....To Be Continued In The Next Chapter....