
Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/13000956.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Graphic_Depictions_Of_Violence, Underage
  Category:
      Multi
  Fandom:
      Supernatural
  Relationship:
      Amara/Benny_Lafitte, Castiel/Dean_Winchester, Ellen_Harvelle_&_Bobby
      Singer
  Character:
      Amara_(Supernatural), Chuck_Supernatural, Bobby_Singer, Ellen_Harvelle,
      Castiel_(Supernatural), Dean_Winchester
  Additional Tags:
      WerePanther!Benny, Witch!Amara, WereFox!Dean, witch!castiel, Witches_and
      Familiars, Witch!Bobby, Seer!Ellen, Xenophilia, Background_but
      Important!Destiel, Chuck_is_a_Phoenix, Oral_Sex, More_info_on_the_Xeno
      and_Violence_in_the_end_notes, Angst_with_a_Happy_Ending, Bamf!Amara,
      BAMF!Castiel, IDk_I'm_probably_leaving_things_out
  Stats:
      Published: 2017-12-13 Words: 41683
****** Roaring as One ******
by DestielHardcoreLove, Swlfangirl
Summary
     Bobby swore he'd never do it again but one look at those big brown
     eyes and he was lost. Amara was one of the most powerful witches he'd
     ever seen, young or old, he just needed to make sure she was prepared
     for what lie on the path ahead of her.
     Amara's willing to do whatever it takes to find her brother.
     Thankfully, with Bobby's help, she meets her familiar and possibly
     the only creature in the world she could trust to help her with this.
     (See end notes for SPOILERS and more clarification on a couple of the
     tags.)
Notes
See the end of the work for notes
Bobby ran his fingers through his hair a few more times before heaving out a
sigh. The letter containing his new charge’s name sat open on the passenger
seat next to him.  He had told the Council years ago that he was no longer a
mentor, that he was retired and wished to be left alone.  It didn’t matter to
him that he had the highest success rate in not only the state but the entire
country.  All of his charges had survived The Ascension Ritual...until they
didn’t.
 
It was that one that drove him into an early retirement.
 
The council had argued with him, tried to persuade him with bribes to keep him
on as a mentor but Bobby couldn’t do it anymore.  Three years he had peace,
three years until that infuriating Ellen Harvelle came knocking on his door.
 The council was playing dirty when they decided to send her, using the fact he
and Ellen had been friends since they were children.  It didn’t help that he
trusted this woman with his life so naturally, he listened to every word she
said.  She was part of the team who found those of their kind; magick folk and
made sure they were paired up with the right mentor within days of the child
turning thirteen.  
 
According to Ellen, his new charge wouldn’t fit with anyone but him. A real “
firecracker ” she had said.  Bobby rolled his eyes and dragged a hand down over
his beard.  Why in the hell he let her talk him into this was beyond him.
 
If he lost this one too…
 
“Get rid of them thoughts ya idjit,” Bobby growled at himself. With another
heavy sigh he crawled out of his car and straightened his coat before walking
down the concrete path.  The house was small, nothing too special about it but
Bobby could feel the vibrations even from the street.  Ellen hadn’t mentioned
if there were any other magick users in the family, just the girl.  If this was
all her, he’d have to agree that no one else in his field would be able to tame
this.
 
The vibrations swirled around him curiously, but welcomed him closer.  Bobby
opened his hand palm up and allowed for the heat building inside him to flare
from his fingertips just enough to entice the vibrations.  They fluttered
around his hand and almost pulled him off his feet to bring him to the door.  
 
It was desperate and needy which was a combination that frightened him.
 
The girl was seeking others out.
 
He just hoped her family would agree with him taking her as his charge.  
 
“Alright, alright git now,” he grumbled, even though he was smiling just a
little as he knocked on the door.  
 
The moment the old pickup hit gravel, Amara knew there was someone in the small
meadow territory she carved out for herself. There was something strange about
the intruder but not unkind. Not like the strange men that stopped by from time
to time or the weird smelling social service lady who tried to take her away.
She didn’t look her best, but she could hear her brother’s voice telling her it
would be rude to keep a potential guest waiting.
 
Smoothing down her soft chestnut curls, she took a deep breath and poked her
head through a small opening of the door. “Who are you and what do you want?”
 
Bobby smiled down at the girl, trying his best to look “charming” but he was
already sensing the girl would see right through it.  Huffing out a laugh at
himself he let the smile fade and he crouched down a little so he could be on
eye level with the girl.
 
“Name’s Bobby Singer, you Amara?” he asked.
 
Amara bit her lip, chewing at it a little as she tried to find out a little
more about the man. She always had this way of knowing if people wanted to hurt
her or do bad things to her. He seemed harmless enough, but still she wasn’t
ready to invite him in. “Maybe, you didn’t say what you wanted...so?”
 
Bobby scoffed a little and let his head hang, “Ya got me there kid.  Not much
of what I’m gonna say is going to make a lick of sense to you,” he said and
held his hand out.  The vibrations had grown stronger the moment she had
answered the door and he could almost see it swirling around her physical body.
 She was going to be incredibly powerful when she got older.
 
The second his hand flexed, the vibrations became tangible, swirls of colors
appearing above his palm as they danced to some silent song.  He kept his eyes
on Amara, smiling as she crept a little closer to watch.
 
“I’m like you kiddo,” he said softly.
 
She’d been drawn in by the pretty colors and the way the lights jumped over his
hand but his voice brought her back to herself and she backed away again. Amara
wanted to trust the man, more than she had with anyone else at least. Maybe she
was just getting too lonely, but he felt different than the others and not just
because he said he was like her. Still curious, she asked to make sure. “Are
y-, You’re not going to cut me open, right?”
 
He took a slow breath and shook his head, “No and I won’t let anyone else hurt
you either.  I’m a mentor Amara, someone who can show you how to control this
magick and make you strong.  So strong that no one will dare to touch you
wrongly, not ever again,” he said with a genuine smile.
 
“So you probably know a lot..right? Like about magic and stuff?” She asked, her
traitorous pulse spiking with hope. It had been months and she knew what that
meant, Chuck had tried hard to prepare her for the worst  but Amara couldn’t
let go of it. She couldn’t accept that he was really gone.
 
In a small, almost inaudible voice she asked her question, “Could you help me
find my brother?”
 
“I’ll do whatever I can to help you find him Amara, you have my word on that,”
Bobby said, holding his hand out a bit further to let Amara take it.
 
She nodded, taking his hand and letting him lead her from her home. She didn’t
have many options when it came to staying there anyway. Soon she’d starve no
matter how good she was and Chuck hadn’t been home in a long time. She’d tried
her best to find him, searching through their territory and beyond with her
eyes and the magic she had. Maybe it was time for someone else to try.
 
Amara hesitated on the bottom step of her porch, unintentionally stopping the
man with her hand. “You’ll bring me back, right? This is my territory and I
claimed it.”
 
“Ah hell kid, it might be a while, but I promise I’ll do whatever I can to
bring you back.  It isn’t safe for you here right now, especially not alone-
 
An angry fire licked in her stomach as she heard that ugly word again, “I’m not
alone, I have my broth-I’m not ALONE!”
 
Amara could feel her eyes stinging but she fought against it. Tears made her
weak and she wouldn’t be weak. Chuck had taught her how to be strong and brave
and she would make him proud, even when he couldn’t see her. She took a deep
breath and slowly exhaled. “Please don’t say that anymore. I’m not alone.”
 
Bobby gently took her hand back in his and squeezed at her fingers, “Of course
ya ain’t.  Now c’mon, there’s so much I gotta show ya kid,” he said and slowly
started to lead her towards the truck.
===============================================================================
 
Amara fidgeted a little in her seat, the long purple dress under her robe
catching on the stool whenever she moved. Bobby didn’t usually make her wear
these stupid clothe, and actually he really wasn’t now either, but some lady
would be there to ask her a bunch of questions and watch her perform like a
trained monkey and even though he didn’t say it, Amara knew he wanted her to
make a good impression.
 
While she waited, Amara went through her daily ritual of casting a location and
protection spell on her brother. They hadn’t found him yet but she still wasn’t
giving up. She tried not to lose hope over the last three years, but it wasn’t
easy. Still, she thought of him always and did what she could to find and
protect him every single day.
 
Bobby had taught her to scry for a location soon after she became his student,
it was simple in comparison but he promised it worked just as well as stronger
magick. As she’d learned, Amara also spelled a silver locket that Bobby had
bought her for her birthday. She wasn’t sure if it worked really, but if she’d
done it right, it would lead her to him if he was ever closeby.
 
She must have timed it perfectly because as soon as she finished her spell
disguised as a prayer, Bobby called for her to come out of her bedroom and into
the main house. Doing her best not to be a complete embarrassment to the kind,
older man that had taken her in, Amara put on a smile and stepped through the
door.
 
Her mentor was wearing a different smile, one she hadn’t seen... ever.  It
caught her off guard momentarily, but she righted herself quickly. “Yes, Mr.
Singer?”
 
Bobby fidgeted a little and held a hand out to gesture for Amara to come
closer, “Amara, this is Ellen Harvelle.  She was the one who found you and
brought me to ya,” he said quickly.  
 
“Well now, you are much prettier than my vision made you out to be,” Ellen
laughed a little.
 
Amara’s knee jerk reaction was to make a snarky comment on how she didn’t like
people spying on her, but instead she bit back the words. It wouldn’t be nice
of her to make Bobby look bad, not after everything he’d done for her.
 
She tried her best to put on a genuine smile before answering. “Thank you,
that’s very kind.”
 
Bobby cleared his throat and lead them all into the kitchen, “Amara, you
remember how I explained to you that halfway through you’d have to undergo a
test-”
 
“Bobby, it ain’t a test,” Ellen interjected, rolling her eyes fondly as she
dropped her back on the table.
 
“Shut it Ellen,” Bobby groused, moving around the room to get Amara some water.
 The girl was going to need it.
 
“Then explain it right ya moron,” Ellen said waving her hands to make him
scurry away and then turned her attention to Amara, “I’m sure Bobby’s explained
to you by now about Seers?”
 
“Yes ma’am,” she confirmed, nodding in agreement. Bobby had taught her a lot in
their three years together. Ellen moved slightly closer to her and Amara
noticed something strange. There was a thin green string there, connected to
each of them and no matter how little or much space was between them, it seemed
to stretch and bend easily without either of them noticing.
 
It distracted Amara enough to where Bobby had to clear his throat to draw her
back. “Sorry, yes. He told me all about seers and about how you led him to me.
Thank you, I’m sorry I haven’t had the chance to say it sooner.”
 
“No need to thank me, part of my job,” Ellen said kindly and started to unpack
her bag.  First was the silver bowl.  She placed that in the center and slowly
began to add different ingredients.  With each one she explained them to Amara
in detail.  What it was and what they were used for.  She could see the
information being soaked into Amara’s head like a sponge.  By the time she was
done the liquid inside were swirls of cerulean, silver, purple and a touch of
pink.
 
“In simpler words, this is what we call a ‘vision quest’.  It helps us
understand which direction you’d like to go.  To be a healer, a seer, a
teacher...whatever it is this will show us.  It is different for each of us but
to make it unique...the person it is for must give something freely,” Ellen
said and held out a very thin pin needle.  
 
Somehow she felt as if the seer expected her to take the pin and pierce her
skin to offer a drop of blood, and yet didn’t. It was a very confusing thing
but something in the room shifted and it was as if everyone, including her,
were holding their breaths.
 
Amara closed her eyes and began to think.
 
What could she give? What meant the most to her?
 
Then suddenly, without hesitation she knew. Amara took in the scent of fresh
pine needles, the feeling of a warm hug, blue eyes shining back at her, and a
quiet soft voice inside her head. It had been more than three years and still
she could bring up an image of him that was so lifelike it broke her heart to
see it. She ached with loneliness and sorrow as a salty tear pooled at the edge
of her eyes and Amara gathered it on the tip of her finger and gently dropped
it into the bowl.
 
Ellen swallowed hard and fought off the sudden urge to hug the young girl.
 Bobby seemed to be at a loss as well as he fidgeted from one foot to the
other.  Refocusing her mind she watched as the liquid swirled faster, all the
colors mashing together before becoming a solid bright blue.  It was one Ellen
hadn’t seen in a very long time.  Storing that information for later she
gathered up a cup she had made by hand from her bag and scooped some of the
liquid up.
 
Her and Bobby quickly cleared off the table and Ellen handed the cup to Amara,
“You must drink this now, then lay on the table.  We will keep watch over you,”
she said.  Bobby had placed a blanket and pillow on the table and Ellen could
only smile at her friend.
 
“Okay,” she said, feeling a little nervous for the first time in a long while.
Part of her was terrified to give herself over, no matter how much she trusted
Bobby. Another, larger piece of herself was worried she’d fail at it somehow
and disappoint all of them. Still, Amara knew she had to do it so she drank the
liquid down, grateful she didn’t add the metallic taste of blood and laid back
against the thick, plush pillow Bobby had left for her.
 
Amara closed her eyes and took a deep breath, a cool numbing sensation flowing
through her veins as the darkness became stronger. She wasn’t falling as she’d
done sometimes before jerkily waking herself, it was more like flying or
floating through the deep black void.
 
 “I hope there’s more to it than this,” Amara said, surprising herself when she
heard her own voice speaking her thoughts as she would have done if she’d been
awake. She wasn’t sure how long that lasted but eventually the darkness gave
way to a deep navy sky filled with starlight and a moon hanging close to the
earth. The beams of light casting a glow in front of her.
 
She turned in a circle to find she was surrounded by trees and plants. The
spirit of Mother Earth and Mother Moon a heavy weight beside her. Amara had
felt them before but nothing like this. Amara followed the moonbeam a few steps
in front of herself before letting out a small gasp. Bright blue eyes glowing
at her, stealing her breath. She could barely make out anything more until the
creature moved closer.
 
When the animal came further into the light she saw a beautiful black pelt and
sharp white teeth. Part of her brain was signaling flight or fight responses
but something different, far more powerful was keeping her feet planted firmly
against the forest floor.
 
The panther came closer, slowly as if intentionally trying not to frighten her.
There was something strange about the creature she couldn’t name, at least not
until he inched closer and she felt the barest touch of his onyx fur against
her fingertips.
 
Before she could sink her fingers into the beast’s coat, Amara felt as if she’d
been caught on a hook and was being dragged away.
 
“ Mine .”
 
She woke up with a gasp and a feeling of promise in her chest.
 
“Okay, okay take in a few deep breaths,” Ellen cooed.  Her own heart was
hammering in her chest when Amara suddenly jolted straight up.  The girl had
nearly fallen off the table but Bobby was quick to keep her in place.
 
“Drink some water,” Ellen said holding up a cup.
 
Amara started to guzzle it, her throat feeling as if she’d swallowed a desert
full of sand. But Bobby’s hand squeezed her’s and she slowed down, drinking it
in small sips until her throat was coated again. She took a few calming
breaths, almost nervous to reveal anything about what she’d seen. It felt
personal, sacred somehow. Amara trusted Bobby and Bobby seemed to trust Ellen
but part of her felt like blushing and the other wanted nothing more than to
bury the information and keep it only for herself.
 
“Good,” Ellen said taking the now empty cup and helped Amara off the table to
sit in a more comfortable chair.  
 
“Are you comfortable telling me what you saw or would rather tell just Bobby?”
Ellen asked softly.  She could see almost see the waves of nerves wafting from
the girl, something Ellen saw regularly.  Only a handful of times did it worry
her, that the vision quest had turned dark and dangerous.  She wasn’t getting
that feeling from Amara though so she wasn’t too worried.
 
“I uh..do I have to say?” she asked, only to receive an apologetic look from
both of the adults.  So that’s a yes.  “Then I might as well just say it.. Um,
I uh I saw a forest. I felt mother moon and mother earth and…”
 
They both calmly waited on her to finish but Amara was struggling with getting
the words out. What could she say, she wasn’t even sure what she felt only that
it was unlike anything she’d ever heard of before. Eventually, she gathered her
courage and spoke of what she saw, keeping her feelings about that to herself.
“There was a black panther, bright blue eyes that seemed to glow when he looked
at me.”
 
Bobby smirked over at Ellen and pulled a chair closer to them to sink down
into, “Did you feel possessive over him at all?” he asked.  Ellen smacked his
arm but he ignored her.  He knew what it felt like to connect with your
familiar, Ellen didn’t.
 
“I-” Amara felt heat snaking up her neck and flooding her cheeks. Surely he
wouldn’t make her say what she’d thought or felt about the animal. Bobby wasn’t
a weird pervert or anything though, so she felt at least somewhat obligated to
answer his questions. “Y-yeah, I guess.”
 
“Well, that my dear would be your familiar.  Usually familiars aren’t found
until the person has become a full witch or mage.  To find one and connect with
it so young is a very, very good sign,” Bobby said with a sigh.  Something that
had been pinching at his heart since the moment he met Amara let go.  If she
was already seeing her familiar, the Gods wouldn’t allow for someone so
promising to fail.
 
“And for it to be a Panther?  That’s very rare,” Ellen pointed out.
 
“So I did okay then? I passed?” Amara asked, nervously chewing at her lip. She
could tell Bobby was pleased, but he’d have probably been the same no matter
what happened. It was Ellen who gave her pause and made her wonder if she’d
somehow managed to do something wrong anyway.
 
“If this was a passable test sweetheart you’ve passed with flying colors,”
Ellen laughed a little.
 
“You did wonderful Amara,” Bobby said with a kind smile, “Are you hungry?” he
asked.
 
She shook her head, “No thank you. May I be excused to my room please?”
 
“Of course, we’ll pick back up with your studies tomorrow,” Bobby said getting
up from the table to hand Amara a bottle of water from the fridge.  He gave her
a small smile and watched her hurry out of the room.
 
“She’s gonna be something if she passes the ceremony,” Ellen sighed.
 
“Not if...when,” Bobby said giving his friend a stern look.
 
Amara leaned against the door once she was safely tucked away in her room. She
kind of wanted to scream, but also knew that no matter how much protection
she’d put up to maintain her privacy, the walls were not thick enough for that
or anything else. Taking a deep breath she crawled under the thick comforter on
her bed and tried not to think about the sleek, soft feeling that brushed
against her fingertips or the way it shocked down her spine, or the pure beauty
of the animal she’d seen bathing in the moonlight.
 
No, she couldn’t think of that.
===============================================================================
 
Bobby picked at a stubborn weed within his rosemary bush and threw it into the
growing pile next to him.  After nearly a week of rain it was finally clearing
up and now weeds were sprouting up like crazy in his herb garden.  It was his
least favorite chore that he would have gladly hired gnomes to do for him.  But
his momma taught him better than that.
 
Glancing over he smiled to see Amara working diligently on her own patch, her
arms and face covered in dirt as she struggled to pull up a stubborn one.  His
chest pulled uncomfortably and he quickly looked back down at his hands.  There
was a conversation he was meant to be having with her soon.  The one he’d been
dreading the moment she took his hand and allowed him to take her away from her
home.  
 
She was sixteen now, in two years she’d be thrust into the Ascension Ceremony
and he had to prepare her.  He had made the mistake with telling Hael about it
too late.  She had been much more fragile than Amara could ever be but Bobby
had faith the girl could make it.  Hael didn’t last past two days in those
woods. It still stung thinking about his last charge but he used the guilt to
fuel is mission to make sure Amara survived.  
 
They worked in silence for several hours, filling their trash bags until the
garden was completely free of weeds.  Bobby took in a deep breath and sighed
happily.  The garden almost buzzed with happiness and it was seeping into his
skin. There was a small smile on Amara’s face as well when he turned to her.
 
“Did a good job kiddo, thanks for helpin an old man out,” he said taking up her
bag to throw into the garbage can.
 
“I don't mind, I like it out here,” she said, wiping her hands off on the
oldest pair of jeans she owned. Long before the warmer weather hit, Amara was
forced to patch up the knees due to wearing holes in them during the summer.
Once they got their tools put back in the shed, Amara smiled over at her
mentor. The man who’d offered himself up as her family even more on the darkest
days when she wasn’t sure she had any of that left.
 
 “Just let me get washed up and I’ll help with lunch.”
 
Bobby chewed on his lip and held out his hand to stop her before she could turn
to head into the house, “There’s somethin I need to talk to you about Amara,”
he said.  He pointed over his shoulder to the picnic table and moved to sit
down on the bench.
 
“I’ve been dreading having this conversation with you,” Bobby grumbled picking
at his nail, his eyes looking around at anything but the girl sitting down in
front of him.
 
“Oh,” Amara’s face fell a little, even if she couldn’t see how uncomfortable
Bobby was, she could feel it. There was a thin layer of sorrow and guilt around
him but more that, his body language just felt wrong. Bobby wasn’t one to sugar
coat things, his gruff nature could have kept some people at arm’s length but
he’d opened his arms to her as soon as she’d allowed it and he’d never closed
up since.
 
Not until now at least.
 
“Whatever you need to say, say it. I can handle it.” Amara braced for impact,
she knew that they were supposed to have almost two more years together before
she was separated from him but part of her worried that something had changed.
She couldn’t imagine her life without Bobby now, being taken away from him had
become one of her top two greatest fears.
 
“Before Ellen brought your name to me, I had been retired.  I swore to myself
that I would never take on another charge but I trusted Ellen,” Bobby heaved a
sigh and finally turned to look at Amara, his eyes boring into hers.
 
“In two years there will be a ceremony to celebrate you becoming a fully
trained witch but before that...you’ll need to go through a test.  It’s brutal
and most of us have tried to get it abolished but failed many times.  All of my
charges have passed...all except for one.  Her name was Hael,” Bobby said
softly, lifting up the sleeve of his shirt.  There on his arm was a brand of
Hael’s name in a beautiful Gaelic script.  It was a punishment that each mentor
had to go through when they lost one.
 
“What happened to her?” Amara asked, mostly out of curiosity though the weight
of his words weren’t an unforgettable pressure on her shoulders. She wasn’t
offended that he hadn’t wanted her, if anything she only respected him more for
taking her in anyway. Still, she didn’t want to become another burden on his
heart, the man had obviously been through enough already.
 
“She got scared and tripped. Completely forgot all the spells I had trained her
to heal a broken ankle.  Something found her and she couldn’t run away,” Bobby
said quietly.
 
“I have faith that you’ll make it through this.  I know it deep in my soul that
you will, there is no way the Goddesses would give you a vision quest like that
and have you fail.  The council requires us to not tell you until six months
before the ceremony but I’ve told them to go screw themselves on that multiple
times,” Bobby said squeezing at Amara’s hands.
 
“I’ll train hard and I won’t let you down Bobby,” she said, her resolve
strengthening. Not only for herself, but she made a silent promise to pass any
test or obstacle before her. She wouldn’t be another mark on his record and
more than that, there was nothing out there that would keep her from finding
her way back to her family, to both of them.
 
“I know you won’t kiddo.  I just wanted to prepare you and get you ready as
soon as I could.  And you know, to also explain to you why I’m such a grumpy
old man sometimes,” Bobby chuckled, “Now c’mon, let’s get some grub before I
fall over.”
 
Amara laughed along with him making sure to slow her pace just a little so she
didn’t run off ahead of him. He wouldn’t have minded but with what he’d just
revealed she thought it would be best for both of them to stick close for a
bit. Once she washed up they started to work together and prepare a light
lunch, the thoughts of a trial still heavy on her mind. “So what’s it like? The
ceremony.”
 
“You know that book  The Hunger Games  that I saw you reading a couple years
back?” Bobby asked.  Once Amara gave him a nod he continued, “Kinda like that
but much worse.  It’s where the woman got the idea but Suzanne is a human.  How
she even found out about the ceremony is beyond me.  Anyway, it’s based out in
Massachusetts, real ironic I know, but that’s where the strongest power base
is.  You’ll be given one sack to fill with whatever you think is necessary and
then thrown into the woods to survive by yourself for two weeks.”
 
“Are there any limitations on the sack itself? Do you have to take one of
theirs or can you make your own?” Amara hummed, slicing up a fresh tomato for
their sandwiches. Her mouth was practically watering for the food, it had been
quite a few hours since breakfast and even though Bobby liked to tease her
about her insatiable appetite, he always seemed happier when she ate her fill.
 
“You have to take one of theirs so you can’t spell it to become larger.  That’s
actually a disqualification.  Some idiot let his charge shrink down their bag
that was filled to the brim with things.  This happened years ago but that poor
kid was disqualified and his mentor banned from the community,” Bobby groused.
 His stomach rumbled loudly and he chuckled when Amara quirked a brow at him.
 
“You can bring your own items as long as it fits in their bags.  You are
allowed to bring a canteen of water so long as it’s not spelled to last longer
than the others.”
 
“Okay, no shortcuts...got it.” Amara bit her lip in concentration as she
thought about what she’d take and what would benefit her most. It all really
depended on the size of the bag, that could wait though. She’d worry about it
when it came closer to time to pick her items. Now she needed to prepare for
surviving on her own without help, surrounded by a ton of other powerful soon
to be witches.
 
Thinking it would ease both their worries, Amara nodded. “I think we should
focus on healing spells that work both for me and for other people but maybe,”
she paused, unsure if Bobby would take offense to it or not. “Learning human
methods...without magic, might be useful too.”
 
Bobby grinned wide and nodded, “That’s my girl. Lucky for you I had a human
grandfather who also trained me to be a boy scout.  I was thinking when the
weather gets a bit cooler we’d go camping for a week or two.  Don’t worry, I’ll
teach you everything I know and what I don’t, I know of an amazing healer that
I think you’d like,” he said greedily taking the plate she was handing to him.
 
“Okay, that sounds good. I want to be as ready as possible,” he looked as if he
was going to interrupt but Amara just pushed on through. There had been a few
times when she’d been intentionally difficult, mostly when she was younger.
Still, she thought he should at least hear what was on her heart. “I know
you’ll do everything you can but I also need you to know that I’m willing to do
the work. I won’t slack off, not with this.”
 
“And I know you won’t, I have no problems pushing you hard Amara cause I know
you can take it.  But you gotta let me know if there is something you feel is
lacking and need more instruction on.  Just because this trial is coming also
doesn’t mean we slack on our other lessons.  Now shut up and eat, we got more
chores to do girl,” Bobby said with a firm nod.  He watched out of the corner
of his eye as Amara all but devoured her food and couldn't help grinning
proudly.
===============================================================================
 
 
It had been a long day, a good one but certainly exhausting. Amara had started
her training for the ascension ceremony and she was both terrified and excited
at the same time. She knew that it wouldn’t be easy, that it would beyond her
comprehension of difficult, but there was a passion in her for the first time
in a while. She itched to learn, to train, to build and shape her body to be
resilient under any circumstances.
 
Amara looked at herself in the mirror, her wet hair dangling long past her
shoulders. She’d always had a decent body that was curvy enough to gain
attention from the wrong sort of man more than once, but now she wondered if it
was strong enough to get her through the upcoming trials.
 
After some research and possibly talking with Bobby’s healer friend she would
pick up a new workout regimen. It wasn’t good enough to be thin and healthy,
she would have to build muscle. Though she did enjoy running, she hadn’t really
pushed herself in a long time, that would change too.
 
The bedsheets were cool against her skin and Amara drifted off to sleep while
her mind scattered across a million different ideas about her fate. The warmth
of sleep still on her skin Amara’s eyes opened to a patch of sunlight, the
trees providing generous shade surrounding it.
 
Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of black fur and she stilled.
Despite an urging in her mind to move forward, Amara only observed.
 
A beautiful black panther lying on his back, playfully batting a ball of orange
fur between his large paws. At first Amara’s stomach twisted at the thought of
the large beast using it for a snack, but her worries were soon relieved when
the panther picked the fox up, licked a long stripe behind its ear and released
it again.
 
Amara imagined the smaller animal would be in a rush to get away, instead the
fox circled around the closest tree and pounced onto the panther’s belly. She
found herself giggling at the sight of it. Unsure of how she knew, Amara
imagined that particular scene had played out more than a few times. They were
comfortable enough with one another that they could be so relaxed and lively.
 
A low growl built in her throat and before she even realized it was coming from
her, a heat unlike anything she’d ever felt filled her gut and the sound of her
voice echoed through the plush green trees. “Mine.”
 
The panther stilled, his muscles going taut as that voice slithered over him
like a caress.  It had been so long since he’d last heard it, a soft mewl
leaving his giant mouth.  The fox he’d been playing with flinched away into the
bushes but the panther paid him no mind.  His friend would be back later but
for now, he had to find the source of that voice.  The last time he’d seen her
was much too long ago.  He gazed through the trees and finally stopped when he
saw a girl clutching the trunk next to her.  
 
A deep resonating grumble vibrated through his chest as he stepped closer,
careful to keep his body close to the ground.  She was no danger to him but
anything could slip into her dreams.  They were merely inches from each other
now and he let out a happy growl when her fingers finally dragged through his
fur.  Before it had only been a brief touch before she had been ripped away
from him.  He looked up into her face and fought the urge to lick at her skin,
she was beautiful and would only grow more into herself as she got closer to
those silly trials his mother had warned him about.  
 
“ As you are mine,”  His voice brushed along them and he saw her shiver from
it.  He gently licked her palm wanting so much to keep her with him, to keep
her safe but he knew their time would always be cut short.
 
The sweet sound pierced through her body reaching into the depths of her soul
and filled it with warmth. She could barely hold still, every inch of her
screaming out for this creature. Somehow she knew she couldn’t surrender to her
impulses, to the parts of her that wanted to lie down beside him and allow him
to claim her any way he chose.
 
Not yet at least…
 
Amara’s fingers twisted into the beautiful soft fur of his pelt when she
realized she didn’t even know his name. Almost as soon as she’d thought it, she
could hear his response.
 
He purred as she continued to pet him and his face tilted up to nuzzle into her
neck,  “Ben-”
 
The hooking sensation grabbed in her stomach again and though she fought it,
Amara was still jerked awake. It took her a second to realize she was in her
bedroom and not on the table like before, her skin was flushed and sweat
gathered at her temple. Her body so turned on that it was difficult to keep her
hands from rushing to soothe the ache. With the memory of his soft fur in her
fingertips, Amara’s hole began to clench around nothing and she couldn’t ignore
it any longer. Her thumb expertly working her clit until just a few minutes of
her own hand pushed her over the edge.
 
She was flushed with warmth and satisfaction a few minutes later when she fell
into a dreamless sleep.
===============================================================================
 
 
Bobby slammed the mallet down hard on the spike and shook the rope to make sure
it was taut.  He glanced over at Amara and smirked as the girl started up the
fire pit like a pro.  He was pleasantly surprised that she hadn’t used magick
to start up the flames but he really shouldn’t be.  Amara was pushing herself
for these trials and Bobby could see the results already.
 
He scooped up the mug that he had filled with hot chocolate and handed it to
her once they sat down on one of the fallen logs he’d dragged closer to their
camp.
 
“Now, you remember the rules?” he asked.
 
“Yeah, I’m free to use magick for now but not unless it’s an emergency next
week, stay close to camp unless I’m with you and,” she paused smiling up at him
as he joined her in the last rule. “No sissy complaints. That goes for you too,
Bobby.”
 
“Yeah, yeah,” Bobby groused snatching the hot chocolate back to take a drink.
 It was going to be a beautiful night, nice and clear. Tomorrow though would be
warmer and Bobby was planning on taking Amara on a hike, get her acclimated to
climbing up hills and if he purposefully shifted the rocks to make her stumble,
he had to keep telling himself it was for her training.
 
“I’m gonna turn in, don’t stay up too late kiddo, waking up with the sunrise,”
he said and squeezed her shoulder.
 
“Just a little longer. Goodnight, Bobby.” Amara wrapped her jacket around her
tighter, the smell of cedar and oak in her nose. She was actually a little
grateful that most of the trees around weren’t pine like the ones in her own
territory. Sometimes the scent would make it too hard to breathe and focus on
anything else, this way she could still think about him from time to time but
not be overwhelmed with loneliness or grief.
 
As the firelight flickered, Amara’s mind began to wander to the dark shape of a
panther in the night. She was always led back to that, it had been weeks and
still no more dreams, no matter how hard she tried and boy, had she. Short of
taking some kind of tonic, she’d done everything she could think of to get back
to him.
 
More than anything, she really wanted to learn his name.
 
She spilled a little of the stream water she’d gathered earlier over the fire,
until the flames were gone and only the coals were red with heat. Amara walked
toward her tent with a happy smile on her face. She was tired but it had been a
really good day, from fumbling over the radio dial on the short trip, to cocoa
by the fire. Amara couldn’t remember the last time she’d had so much fun.
 
Bobby was right though, tomorrow would start early.
===============================================================================
 


He was sprawled out on the grass when he felt it, that pulse behind his eyes
that let him know something or someone was in his realm. His ears twitched as
he focused in on any sounds he could catch.  If anything, it was moving away
from him.  Curiously he got up and stalked over to where the stream was.  His
body was lowered and hidden in the grass when he caught sight of her.
 
She was crouched down, long fingers playing in the water completely oblivious
to the beast behind her.  He smiled to himself as he stalked closer.  He hadn’t
expected to see her so soon but he was grateful.  Whatever had managed to
finally bring her to him he’d find a way to thank them later.  For now he
wanted to surprise her.
 
He was within a few feet from her when he let out a low rumble.  She gasped
sharply and nearly fell into the water but she managed to catch herself
gracefully.  He huffed out what he could manage for a laugh but he instantly
moved closer to brush himself along her legs and hip, his muzzle dragging along
her side.
 
“You’re here. I’ve been trying so hard to get back to you. Could I have your
name now?” Amara asked, the urgency to have something to call him was still
heavy on her mind, despite it being only a dream. She took a seat on the grass,
wanting to be even that much closer to him.
 
He glanced around, eyeing the edges of his realm and suddenly realized that
he’d pulled her here, not the other way around.  He had control and she’d only
go if he wished it.  Purring loudly he nuzzled his head against hers, knocking
her down in the process.  The little laugh that exploded out of her was
soothing and he laid down next to her, gently flicking his tongue out to taste
her skin.
 
“ When you summon me, call out the name Dubhdara.  My real name is Benny,”  he
said inside of her head.
 
“I’m Amara,” she said, before starting to practice his exotic name on her
tongue, causing a huff of something that resembled fondness from the beast that
settled on the ground by her side.  “Doof-dahr-ah, Doov-ar ah. What does it
mean? It sounds so beautiful.”
 
Benny nudged at her shoulder with his nose before resting his head down on her
stomach, “ Mother says it means Dark Knight, that I’m meant to be a protector,”
he said letting out another loud purr.
 
“It suits you, but I like Benny as well,” Amara confessed, her fingers itching
to dig into his fur. She worried that the moment she touched him he’d disappear
again, though the urge drawing up inside her was like a magnet and she wasn’t
sure she’d be able to resist much longer. “I’ve never really owned anything
before, n-not that, I mean obviously I don’t want to control you but you feel
like mine.”
 
“I didn’t know what that felt like till now. Not even my territory is my own,
my brother and I claimed it together and then h-,” the words got stuck in her
throat but he seemed to understand anyway.
 
Benny grumbled and nuzzled his face against her stomach as he gently pawed at
her arm.  The sudden sadness seeping out of her had him on edge.  He wanted her
happy and smiling, dancing free in the grass.  He moved a bit closer and
nuzzled into her neck, nipping at her skin with his teeth until she was
giggling again.
 
“I can’t believe I was afraid of you, even for a second. You’re just a giant
kitty cat,” Amara teased, falling back against the grass in a fit of laughter.
All the negative emotions that had filled her nearly vanishing with a simple
touch. It took her a second to realize she had his fur fisted in her fingers,
Amara held her breath for a few beats, expecting to be dragged away but
thankfully still there, still with  Benny.
 
She would never get tired of saying that, or thinking it either.
 
He could sense her hesitation, that stilted breath just before she began to run
her fingers through his fur, he pushed his head against her cheek and purred, “
Don’t worry, you’re in my realm.  I pulled you here, you won’t have to go
unless you need to,”  he said relaxing in the grass as close as he could.
 
Amara relaxed immediately, a small chuckle working out of her throat. “Don’t
tell me that, I might just stay here forever...Well, I couldn’t leave Bobby for
that long but a few days wouldn’t be so bad.”
 
“Being with you, it feels so... right ”
 
Benny made a happy grumbling noise and head butted her, “ It does.  Who is
Bobby?”  he asked pressing his cold nose against her neck.
 
“My mentor, well..he’s more like an uncle or a father at this point,” Amara
said, her mind bringing up an image of them spending a warm afternoon in the
garden, Bobby teaching her to plant herbs and how to tell them apart from the
weeds.  
 
“He’s family ,” she added with a thought.
 
“ He seems like a good man,”  Benny said, loving the images she supplied to him
he tried to hum but it just came out as a grumble and a purr, “ Show me more,”
he asked nuzzling closer.
 
“Hmm what would you like to see?” she said, wondering what memories she should
share with him.
 
She wanted to show him Chuck but even the best things were tinged with
bittersweet emotion and she was enjoying their time together, she didn’t want
to darken the mood. Instead, Amara thought back to the first time Bobby had
tried to teach her to drive. She was sitting behind the wheel of something even
less appealing than his pickup, wearing a worried but happy grin. Bobby just
buckled his seatbelt and relaxed against the door before telling her that she
was a smart girl, to figure it out.
 
That day had been full of scorched rubber and small circles, and a burnt out
stick. The next time, he’d put her in an automatic and she was grateful for it.
 
Benny huffed out a laugh at the memories, the look of horror on the old man’s
face even though both of them erupted into laughter a few moments later.  The
images were filtering to him easily, there were only a few she either zoomed
past or quickly tossed out.  He didn’t ask about them, it wasn’t the time.  He
learned more about her through her memories and grumbled happily, his tongue
flicking out to taste at her sweet skin again.
 
Amara shivered at the feeling of his warm, wet tongue against her neck. The
memory of how wet she’d gotten just from having his fur between her fingers
filtered into her mind and she felt a rush of heat throughout her entire body.
Knowing it was something she wouldn’t be able to hide, Amara’s face was burning
with embarrassment.
 
Immediately she tried to think of something else,  anything else  but the way
it felt to touch herself as she thought of him was still prominently displayed
in her head.
 
“I-I-umm ss-s-orry,” she said, because she couldn’t think of anything else to
say. Her mortification adding onto her already frazzled mind.
 
Benny perked up when a certain memory tried to flit past him.  Now this one he
did pull back to watch and he grumbled again, “ No need to be sorry and nothing
to be ashamed of,”  he said and nipped at her neck gently before looking down
at her crossed legs.  There was an added sweetness to the air, “ I wonder if
you taste as good as you smell…”  he wondered, moving a little to paw at her
leg, purring loudly when she hesitantly uncrossed them.
 
“Sh-should ww-e,” Amara started but instantly cut herself off when she felt a
long, rough tongue dragging up her slit. Her breath became labored almost
immediately and she began to pant wildly at the sight playing out before her.
He was so gorgeous but he was...Benny was an animal, but he was also more than
that, right? It certainly felt like he was.
 
“Ahhhh,” she moaned, her legs instinctively falling open even wider for him.
Amara still wasn’t sure what she was doing was right but it felt so good she
couldn’t stop herself now. “B-Benny.”
 
“ My Amara,”  Benny moaned in her mind, his long tongue lapping up the juices
flowing freely from her. She tasted just as sweet as she smelled and he longed
to be able to shift, to hold her as humans could.  For now he continued to lick
at her, his tongue teasing at her hole until she opened beautifully for him.
 He couldn’t go too deep but he knew she enjoyed feeling his tongue wiggling
inside.  He rubbed his head along her quivering thigh and teased at that little
nub that had her hips jerking upward.
 
She clutched handfuls of his fur, her knuckles turning white as she tried to
hold onto the pleasure surging through her. She’d never felt so warm, so turned
on before. Bringing herself off had always been enough,  more than enough
sometimes. However this, this was on an entirely different scale. No matter how
hard she fought, Amara knew that her orgasm would flow soon. She was
overwhelmed with pleasure, Benny’s name a constant repetition on her lips.
 
“Let go Mari,”  he said his tongue dipping back inside of her as he let out a
long, loud purr.  The flat part of his tongue dragged over her clit, the
roughness catching at it as his purring continued.
 
As if something inside of her unlocked at the sound of the nickname, Amara’s
climax came rushing out. It was a powerful surge, her toes curling and her hips
half hammering under his paw as she squirmed her way through the waves of
intense pleasure rocking through her body. Just when she thought it couldn’t
possibly get any better, Amara felt Benny’s long tongue lapping up the juices
she spilled for him and pushing through another swell of release. “O-oooh, Ahh,
yesss B-bbenny.”
 
Benny happily licked up everything until her body was trembling and then he
pulled away, licking at his lips to savor her taste.  He got up and moved to
lay beside her again his nose nudging into her neck as he listened to her
breathing slowly even out, “ Mine ,” he whispered.
 
“Yours,” she whispered like a promise. It somehow felt as if it was the most
important word she would ever utter.
 
Amara laid there on the bank of the river beside him, warm, sated, and happy
for what felt like hours until the loud sound of metal clanging drew her out of
her restful sleep. She grumbled a little when she saw that she was awake in her
tent and it was Bobby outside making loud sounds to wake her. Still, it didn’t
last long the memory of Benny in her mind made sure to keep a smile on her face
as she stumbled around, changing into something more presentable before
stepping outside.
 
“I’m awake, Bobby. Now would you please stop that obnoxious noise.”
===============================================================================
 
 
Amara felt a grin pulling at her lips. She was grateful the sky was as clear as
the highway set out before her. Two weeks she’d spent in the woods, with nature
and dirt and she wasn’t sure she’d ever felt happier. It wasn’t just the
symbolic feeling of being closer to Benny but with every day she learned more
and more about how to protect herself in the upcoming trials, though Bobby made
sure that they had a lot of fun as well.
 
There had been a question on the tip of her tongue for miles, but Amara didn’t
want to dampen the happy mood between them so she was hesitant to ask it. Bobby
was happy, she was happy, it felt like one of those fragile moments, she just
couldn’t bring herself to break it.
 
Bobby was watching the road whiz by when he caught Amara glancing over at him.
 She’d been doing it more and more lately as their time in the woods came to a
close.  He shook his head and huffed out a laugh, “Out with it girl or I’ll
drive home.”
 
“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to but, I was just wondering
about your familiar…”
 
Bobby sighed softly and fidgeted around in his seat.  It wasn’t an easy topic
for him but he promised Amara a long time ago that he wouldn’t keep things from
her.  She’d been lied to before and he refused to be just another one of them
in that list.
 
“I found her at a young age too.  She didn’t come to me in a dream though, I
actually found her wounded in my backyard.  I was probably nine, years before I
even knew what a familiar was.  Patched up her poor broken wing set her free
when she could fly again.  She stayed by the house though and when my mentor
found me, I finally learned about familiars.  I hoped it would be the owl I had
fixed up, turns out I was right.  Obviously I survived my trials and when I
came limping back, she was waiting for me but in her human form.  She was
beautiful and smart, kept me on my toes and always pushed me to do better,”
Bobby sighed heavily, his fingers fumbling together in his lap.
 
“Many years later I was helping the Udaras track down this rogue mage who was
murdering humans.  I got too close and Karen...she uh, she got in the way.”  
 
It was instinctual to apologize, that’s what people said when you lost someone
special to you. She’d heard whenever someone new showed up at her door after
her brother left. Still, the words didn’t feel right so Amara stayed silent,
thinking over what he’d said to her. Almost without thinking she finally spoke.
“She must have been brave and she undoubtedly loved you very much.”
 
“Hmm, she was.  I loved her too, probably too much,” Bobby said softly.
 Thoughts of Karen were always there in the back of his mind.  Some days it was
harder to keep them buried and some he reveled in the memories.  Hell sometimes
they were they only things that kept him from burying himself in a bottle of
Whiskey.
 
“You two would have got along well,” Bobby chuckled.
 
“I’m sure she was awesome,” she agreed. Amara began to worry a little when he
said  too much . She already loved Benny more than she should. The fact that
she would hesitate in picking between him and Bobby already had her confused.
Amara liked to think that she would be more decisive in the moment but now
there were even more doubts clouding her mind. “Can I ask what you meant...when
you said you loved her too much? Is there such a thing?”
 
“I didn’t just love her Amara...I was  in  love with her.  I knew from the
moment I truly saw her that Karen was my soul mate.  It damn near ruined me
when I lost her,” Bobby said almost too quietly for Amara to hear.  The sudden
sour memories of the others, his so called friends telling him to move on had
him nearly spitting.
 
“When someone loses their familiar there are ways to get another one but I
never even tried.  Never had the heart to.  The others, especially the members
of the council tried to talk me into it.  That I’d be happier or whatever
bullshit that came out of their mouths.  Ellen was the only one who never did
any of that,” Bobby explained with a heavy sigh, “It’s not uncommon for a witch
to end up with their familiar but to love them like I did with Karen is unique.
 There are times where I have to argue with myself that it wasn’t because I
loved her that she’s gone...it was because she loved me that I’m still here.”
===============================================================================
 


Benny batted at his friend as he raced around his leg, the fox so small it was
easy to sneak under his belly.  They were playing down by the creek when he
felt it.  It was small and subtle at first but the longer he focused in on it
the stronger the pinched feeling got in his stomach.  
 
Amara...something was wrong.  He looked around for her but she wasn’t appearing
before him like she had earlier.  The fox nipped at his leg and he batted him
away, his focus now on finding her.  He began to pace along the creek, his mind
pulling up images of her face, her smile, the sound of her laugh...the way she
had tasted on his tongue.  
 
He knew the moment she fell asleep, there was a deep vibration through his
realm and he hurried towards the clearing.  A place he hadn’t seen her appear
before.  The sun high above him suddenly shifted to the bright full moon and he
paused.  
 
“ My Mari,”  he called out, her back still to him.  
 
Amara’s neck jerked around the voice as she turned in a circle looking for
Benny. As soon as she saw him, Amara dove to the ground and wrapped her arms
around his soft neck. She trembled a little as she tried to replay the
conversation she had with Bobby for him, so he understood exactly what had
happened, but it was a little choppy. Her emotions were to jumbled up to give
him a clear, continuous stream of information.
 
Still, she clung to his neck, his fur, his warmth; needing to feel the life in
him.
 
Benny let her cling to him for a moment before lowering her onto the grass so
he could wrap one of his legs around her, pulling her almost under him so she
could feel him all around her.  He pressed his forehead against hers and let
out a loud purr.
 
“ I’m here, I’m safe.  Nothing is going to take me away from you, not now, not
ever,”  he growled, gently licking at the tears trickling down her cheeks.
 
Amara whimpered a little but Benny was doing everything to calm her worried
mind and it was working. She wasn’t sure if it was magick, their bond, or just
the comfort of someone you loved but soon she could breathe normally and she
wasn’t plagued by a million different morbid death scenes playing out in her
mind. “Thank you, I-I would be honored to have you as my protector, as long as
you always come back to me, I can’t make it without you Benny, I’m not strong
enough.”
 
“ Shhh, you won’t have to worry about that and I will always come back to you
sweetheart.  You are strong enough though Amara, you may not feel it now but I
can.  You’re going to be magnificent,”  he said nuzzling at her cheek
playfully.
 
Feeling more at ease now that she’d said what she needed to, Amara smiled at
him with watery eyes. “How could I be anything else with you by my side.”
 
Benny chuckled, relaxing more into the grass now that she was calmer, “ That we
will be.  I can’t wait to meet you, truly,”  he said with a deep purr.
 
“If I could stay with you here, I would...but I hope you find me out there soon
too. It might be selfish but I want you any way I can get you, I think. And any
chance I’d get, would be a lucky twist of fate for me,” she said playfully,
though it was still very true and she imagined he could feel the sincerity even
with her teasing tone. Amara got more serious, still smiling though as she
finished her thought. “You feel like the best parts of me, without the jaded
views, and sour loneliness. You feel like everything I need.”
 
“ It is the same for me my sweet one,”  Benny said nudging her cheek with his
nose, “ Even with those supposed bad parts of you, I’d still love and want you
Mari,”  he said, his paw curling around her waist to pull her closer.
 
“Just hold me,” Amara whispered, her mind filling with satisfaction and warmth
of just having him there beside her. Benny was more than she ever could have
hoped for and though her body was tired, she let him see the plans she’d made
for them. How she was going to survive the Ascension Ceremony and how he’d be
there, waiting for her. Flashes of what might happen first and then a quick but
tearful see you soon to Bobby. As soon as she was ready and fully in control of
her power, Amara was going to do everything she could to find Chuck. With or
without him, she imagined them returning to the territory  she claimed with her
brother and starting a life there. Even if the picture changed or they found
their dreams laid elsewhere, Amara didn’t care..
 
As long as she had Benny there was nothing that would stand in the way of their
happiness.
 
Benny let his eyes close as he focused in on the visions she was sending him.
 His purring became more content as his head rested against hers.  There was a
new face that appeared and he knew that it was the brother she always thought
of but never talked about.  Something had happened to him and he vowed to
himself that he would do what he could to help her find him.  
 
The plot of land that Amaara called home was peaceful and had a lovely grouping
of trees that Benny couldn’t wait to romp around in.  Maybe he could bring his
fox friend to join him, that way the little thing wouldn’t get so lonely in his
realm.  He was sure that Amara would be okay with that.  
 
They stayed there in the clearing for hours, neither of them moving unless it
was to wiggle closer. He licked at her cheek and neck lazily, the only way he
could really kiss her in this form.  Soon he could feel the sun rising, the
warmth on Amara’s skin not coming from him.
 
“ My Mari...it’s time for you to return,”  he said softly, his tongue caressing
her neck when she whined, “ I know, I know.  We’ll see each other soon, I will
always come to you.”
 
When Amara woke up it wasn’t the shaky feeling as if she’d been dragged away
anymore. Once Benny started controlling her visits, it was an easier experience
all together and she always well rested and warm. She looked around her room
and felt the corners of her mouth spreading up her face.
 
 If only she could spend every night curled up with him.
===============================================================================
 
 
Amara was just about to bite into the most decadent brownie she’d ever tasted
when she noticed Bobby looking particularly uneasy. The ceremony was only a
handful of days away and she was already a little on edge from that, but since
he’d taken that phone call earlier there had been something off about him. She
sat her brownie back on the plate, giving him a slight glare for postponing her
joy. Amara knew that she wouldn’t really enjoy the bite until they’d talked
about whatever it was bothering him.
 
Crossing her arms over her chest, she let out a fond sigh, “If you’re not going
to tell me what it is, I’ll take my brownie into my room now please.”
 
“Sorry kiddo, I’m still trying to process this myself,” Bobby grumbled.  He
folded his hands together on the table and sighed, “I just got a call from one
of the council members, they were confirming our registration.  He let it slip
that there is going to be the double amount of students,” he said.
 
“Oh...so what does that mean for me? I’m not directly challenging them, right?
I mean obviously it will be harder with twice the people fighting over supplies
and stuff, but it’s not a race to the finish or anything, I just need to keep
my head down and survive for three days.” The words came out far less confident
than she would have liked. More hopefuls meant that any one of them could be
the one to take her out. She didn’t plan to give up but they both knew it had
just gotten doubly more dangerous.
 
“I ain’t gonna lie to you Amara, some of these kids that he told me about,
their teachers have a more archaic way of teaching,” Bobby rubbed at his face a
few times, “Look, you’re ready for this.  You just have to be more cautious and
don’t be afraid to knock someone out of the way to get yourself safe,” he said.
 
It wasn’t anything to laugh about, they both knew that. She was taking the
challenge as seriously as she could. Amara had toned her body and built up
muscle over the last two years. So much so that she looked like another person
entirely. Amara wouldn’t be entering any bodybuilding contests soon but Bobby
had set an obstacle course up for her and along the way they’d tweaked it
together. She could get through it now in only thirty minutes when it would
have taken her almost an entire day to do it before. Miss Pam had coached her
to make sure she was getting enough of the nutrients that she needed to
maintain such a difficult workout and soon she was eating even more than she
had before.
 
Still, Amara hated the look of worry on Bobby’s face so she lightened the mood
the best she could.
 
She rolled her eyes at him and cocked her head to the side, “You should
probably be warning them about me...don’tchya think?”
 
Bobby chuckled, reaching over to pat her hand, “Oh I did kiddo, don’t worry
about that,” he said with a wink.  He got up from the table and scooped up his
coffee mug, “I’m gonna watch my shows, you wanna join or you gonna go hide in
your room?” he asked.
 
“My room, obviously. My diary isn’t going to write in itself. Besides, watching
Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy while you snore in the recliner is not my idea of
a good time. What a crotchety old man you’ve turned into, Bobby.” She smiled
brightly at him though and dropped a kiss to his cheek, before heading upstairs
to her room.
 
Amara didn’t really have a diary but she did have a notebook filled with a
variety of things. Some were doodles, some pages were scratched out revisions
and lists for what she would put into her bag for the ceremony, she’d simulated
the weight of those items into a backpack and carried it for a few hours a day.
 
After she’d taken her bath and settled into her pajamas, she climbed into bed.
Biting her lip, Amara started to wonder about the new odds she was facing with
all these other students breathing down her neck. It would only take one of
them to knock her out and the fact that it could be any single one of them had
a chance.
 
A nervous panic started to build in her chest and though Amara fought it as
best she could, her hands began to feel clammy and her pulse spiked. She felt
an icy shudder flow down her spine and she closed her eyes hoping it would
pass, one name falling off her tongue in desperation, “Dubhdara.”
 
Benny had been pacing, watching and waiting for the moon to rise so he could
see Amara again.  He knew the ceremony was within days and he was becoming more
and more anxious.  The moment she’d walk out and become a full fledged witch,
Benny would be able to finally hold her close with his human arms.
 
He’d just made his third round across the clearing when he heard her.  It was
soft but he could feel her panic through her voice.  Benny closed his eyes and
focused on her, pulling her into his realm was easy now.  He barely got his
eyes open when her arms wrapped around his neck.
 
“ Mari, what is it?  What’s wrong?”  he asked.
 
“It only takes one, it only takes one,” she repeated, over and over again. Her
brain shorting out a little at how easy it would be for her to leave the world
without even a whisper of a life. Amara had always imagined she would change
something, have some kind of an affect on something, make her mark...but now
she could be gone before even having a chance to start her own life.
 
It took minutes, maybe longer for her to realize that Benny’s soft fur and
reassuring presences was curled entirely around her body in a protective way
that had her body fighting off the panic that was overwhelming her mind.
 
“ Shhh, you’re gonna be okay sweetheart,”  Benny purred, licking and giving her
gentle nips along her neck.  Her breathing was finally leveling out but she was
still clinging to him.  His paw curled around her waist and pulled her more
under him, to feel his weight.  He was hoping she would focus on this reality
instead of whatever was going on in her mind.  Usually she was a clear
broadcaster but he couldn’t break past the wall to help soothe her mind.
 
“ My Mari, come back to me sweetheart.”
 
The voice in her head was like a beacon of hope and Amara climbed out of the
deepest, darkest parts of her mind to chase it. She followed it out and
shivered as she came back to herself. Benny’s warm weight an invaluable comfort
to wake to. She wasn’t even sure how to explain what had happened to her, she’d
only had a few of those heavy panic attacks in her life and only one other
could compare to it in severity.
 
“S-sorry, I uh, I don’t usually do this. I don’t want you thinking that I freak
out all the time,” she said, swallowing hard before allowing herself the
comfort of Benny’s fur between her fingers. By now it was almost a habit, but
she still cherished every moment that it was possible.
 
“ You never have to explain yourself to me,”   Benny said softly.  A deep purr
resonated from his chest when the wall she had put up slowly faded away and he
was able to see what had been troubling her.  He didn’t like that there were
going to be more people in this ceremony but he knew without a doubt she’d
survive.  He told her as much in between nips and soft licks to her neck,
clavicle and jaw.
 
Whenever she was around Benny, Amara still felt very much like a little girl.
He seemed so wise and mature and while he strengthened her weakest parts, she
couldn’t help but feel like the fumbling teenager she promised herself she
wasn’t. Regular teenagers didn’t do military training on a regular basis,
fashion splints out of twigs on the ground, or catch fish with their bare
hands. Bobby had trained her and she’d trained herself to be as strong as any
grown woman but lying there in Benny’s arms reminded her that she still had so
much to learn.
 
Before she could even speak again the sweet sound of his thoughts played in her
mind.
 
“ Soon we’ll be able to meet in person, I’ll be able to brush your hair behind
your ear...hold you properly,”  Benny chuckled.  He nipped at the collar of her
nightgown and pulled it down her shoulder to get at more of her skin.  There
was an ache to mark her officially as his but he couldn't just yet, instead he
grazed his teeth over her skin and dragged his tongue over it.
 
Amara’s neck tilted to the side naturally, her body seeking out more of his wet
tongue on her skin, more of his teeth nipping at her flesh, just  more  of him
in any form. She let out a small, wanton moan as she thought about what it
would be like to have him after the ceremony. Would it feel the same, or
better. She imagined what form he might take as a human and she couldn’t
picture it, but she was almost grateful she couldn’t. The surprise would be
such a wonderful treat she wanted to look forward to it.
 
‘Mmm, Benny… I can’t wait.. I want every part of you and I want to give you the
same.”
 
Benny wriggled around until he was settled between her legs and licked up her
neck again, “ Are you sure?  We can always wait until after the ceremony,”  he
said even though he was growing hungry for her.  He could smell her, almost
taste her on his tongue and he growled low in his throat.  
 
“I’ve never been more certain of anything, I need this Benny...need to feel
you, to feel our connection,” Amara confessed, heat spreading up to her cheeks
and down between her thighs as she spread them wider, allowing him open access.
She needed him in whatever way he would give her and part of Amara knew that if
she asked, Benny wouldn’t deny her anything. So she would have him and that
thought alone had her pulse pounding at her core and the entrance clenching
around air.
 
Benny growled, his claws digging into the earth as his cock slipped free from
its sheath, “ Pull up your nightgown Mari,”  he said, raising up just enough
for her to do so.  He wanted to take the time to look down at her, memorize
every soft inch of her but he couldn't take his eyes off hers.  They were so
bright and trusting he couldn’t bear to look away.  He maneuvered himself into
a better position and slowly began to push into her.
 
Amara’s head fell back as she felt an insane pleasure driving into her. His
weight on her felt real but beyond that it was just sensations overwhelming her
insides in the most delicious way she could have ever imagined. Though she
could see him sliding into her, it wasn’t something tangible in a way she
expected. It felt so wonderful though, she didn’t question it. Her body was on
fire with anticipation and need, she dug her fingers into his pelt and squeezed
as he rocked into her with deep, measured thrusts. “B-Benny, ahhh, yessmmm.”
 
Benny kept it slow, allowing for both of them to connect on a much deeper
level.  He could already feel her heartbeat within his own and her thoughts
were becoming even clearer in his mind.  The pleasure between them was nothing
he had ever felt before and he wanted more, needed more of her.  He pushed into
her harder, using the earth beneath them to help give him leverage as he
quickened his thrusts.  
 
Waves of ecstasy washed over her and Amara fell apart, her body shaking with
each jut of his hips. She started to feel more,  be more  with him. The scent
of the forest around them sharpened in her nose, Amara could hear the earth
beneath them moving and connected it in a completely new way. Her pleasure
soared higher as he started to lick and ip at her throat again, Amara silently
begging for his mark. Even here, in this realm, she wanted to belong to him.
 
“ Mine,”  he growled before biting into her shoulder.  Here in his realm there
was no pain, no blood just pure ecstasy as the both of them climaxed together.
 Her voice crying out for him had his hips rutting against hers even after he
was done and he groaned.
 
“ My beautiful courageous Mari,”  he purred licking up her neck, keeping them
pressed closed.
 
She’d never felt more powerful, more in control, or more loved in her entire
life. Amara’s arms squeezed around Benny’s neck as she let out a satisfied
moan. He’d taken such good care of her that she could barely think, let alone
speak. A few soft noises spilled across her lips but the blissful feeling
wasn’t leaving her just yet.
 
“ Soon my magnificent witch, we will be together.  You’ll be able to pull me
from this realm and I can join you,”  he said as he slipped free from her body.
 Rolling over onto his side Amara came easily with him, her arms wrapping
tightly around him.
 
Amara felt bliss down to her toes and part of her knew she’d never leave this
place if it wasn’t for Benny’s slight nudging and the promise of a life they
could share together. She’d almost forgotten about the ceremony entirely until
she drowsily drifted off to sleep with a small whine in her throat.
 
“Just a little longer,” she promised  herself. Then she could have Benny
completely.
===============================================================================
 
 
Bobby was a nervous wreck.  He was only hoping that he was somehow hiding it
well.  It was the night before the ceremony but they had check ins to do and if
Amara chose to do so, rings where she could show off her talents.  The
intention was to entice any potential employers or familiars roaming around
looking for someone to connect with. Since Amara didn’t really need either he
didn’t think she would partake in those activities.
 
After he’d parked the truck and the both of them exited the cab he could almost
hear Amara’s confused thoughts.  He chuckled softly and made work to getting
their things out of the bed of the truck, including the tent they had used
during their camping trip.
 
To the naked...well, human eye the campgrounds looked like a barren field with
a group of trees in the background.  There was a simple wooden fence that they
would have to walk through but the moment they stepped over the threshold,
everything would change.  He didn't want to ruin the surprise for Amara, he
remembered how amazing it had been when he was younger.
 
“Ugh, I was really hoping that she wouldn’t be here this year,” Benny grumbled
under his breath the second he caught sight of the blazing red head at the
registration table.
 
“Ah Bobby!  What a genuine surprise, especially after that last fiasco of
yours,” the woman said with a sneer.
 
Bobby grunted at her and tried to keep Amara behind him but the girl was just
too damn stubborn.  He respected that of Amara but he didn’t want her picking a
fight with this damn wench.
 
“Hello to you too Rowena, since you already know my name you can be quick about
checking us in,” Bobby nearly snarled.  Rowena gave him that annoying impish
smile of hers as she slowly looked for his name.
 
“Don’t tell me this is what I have to look forward to when I turn into an old
crone,” Amara said, faking a whisper too loudly to Bobby with a mischievous
glint in her eye. Anyone who crossed her mentor was marked as an enemy and
Amara didn’t have to say it with her power, though she was pretty sure the old
bitch got her point.
 
“How dare y-”
 
“Rowena, do you really wish to be not only schooled by an eighteen year old but
be banned from the community as well?” Bobby said with a snort.  Rowena’s power
was strong but not nearly as strong as Amara’s and the girl hadn't even gone
through the ceremony yet.  She was going to be a force to be reckoned with and
he may as well warn Rowena now.  Rowena scowled at him and all but threw their
papers at him.
 
“It was good to see ya too Red,” Bobby grinned leading Amara to the side for a
second.  He gave the girl a wink as a thank you before shoving the papers into
his side bag.  There was so much noise coming through the portal he could
already see Amara becoming insanely curious about it.
 
“Go ahead,” he said with a grin.
 
Amara chewed on her lip and stepped through the wooden archway.  There was so
many voices and echoes of music coming through she didn’t think it was possible
from the simple tents she had seen.  The moment they stepped through though,
everything around them changed and expanded.  Instead of the meager little
tents there were full on campers and almost small little houses everywhere.
 Many of them were selling goods and other magickal things.
 
“Oh my…”
 
“Keep goin,” Bobby urged, touching her back gently.  
 
Amara couldn’t resist laughing a little as she looked around eagerly.  There
were kids her age walking around, looking through the shops as well as what she
assumed were their mentors.  It seemed to go on forever until Bobby pointed out
an empty space where they could set up.  While she wanted to help him she
really wanted to run around.  Bobby gave her a knowing smile and she was off,
taking in everything almost hungrily.  It took her a while to finally notice
all the animals roaming around as well and she had to remember that Bobby had
told her that unclaimed Familiars would be here as well.  It had her longing
for Benny but she knew soon she would be with him.
 
She spent what felt like hours exploring shop after shop, making mental notes
of which ones she would return to buy things.  Bobby had given a small pouch of
money but she was hesitant to really use it on anything that she didn’t exactly
need.  
 
Amara was just about to return back to her camp when she ran straight into
someone, sending them both to the ground in a heap.
 
“Oh my Gods, I am so sorry!” The boy cried, his fingers frantically pushing up
his glasses as he tried to help her up.
 
“No, no it was my fault, I wasn’t watching where I was going. All this is so...
awesome,”  Amara said, smiling up at the boy. He looked so young compared to
how she saw herself, she had this strange urge to adopt him. Realizing she was
staring, she shook her head and brought herself back to the moment “Hey, I’m
Amara.”
 
“Castiel and yes, this is amazing.  I wasn’t expecting this at all,” he
laughed, “Then again, my mentor didn’t exactly tell me much about this place.”
 
“Yeah, mine either...and he’s not one to keep secrets,” she agreed, biting back
her question about the unique name. She had one that most people considered
strange too and she glared whenever they mentioned it, though he seemed like a
pretty relaxed guy. “I’m hoping to find something resembling food, you in?”
 
“Oh yes!  I’m starving.  I believe the food shops are over this way, do you
need to check in with your mentor?” he asked biting his lip.  The charm around
his neck warmed a little and he squeezed it tightly in his hand.
 
Amara was glad to see that someone was willing to help her even if it was only
for a short time. She wasn’t sure how things might change and as much as she
wanted to be suspicious of everyone, but as hard as she tried to find anything
deceitful about Castiel, he just seemed like a normal, albeit a little shy,
guy. “Nah, Bobby is pretty relaxed.. You?”
 
“No I think- Wait, did you say Bobby?  As in Bobby Singer?” Castiel asked, his
eyes growing wide.
 
A swooping sensation slammed into her gut at his surprise. Amara immediately
backed away, preparing herself for the worst.
 
“Yeah, and…” she said with a bit of heat in her words. No matter how adorable
the kid was, Amara wouldn’t let it go if he said something bad about Bobby.\
 
Castiel’s hands flailed in front of him and he quickly started apologizing
profusely, “Nononono, wait I’m sorry I didn’t mean to freak you out!  My mentor
is Rufus!  Him and Bobby are, well I think they’re still friends but they used
to work together!” he said.  The stone against his chest cooled immediately and
he touched at it again as he looked around trying to find his mentor.
 
It took her a few beats but Amara caught on and then smiled, wrapping an arm
over Castiel’s shoulder. “Oh, okay… sorry I’m a little protective of him and
some redheaded bitch had already rubbed me the wrong way. It’s not your fault,”
she said, rubbing at his messy black hair until he  chuckled along with her.
 
“Are you trying to find somebody? Cause I could probably do a better job than
that..” Amara grinned, the spelled necklace was gorgeous but with as many times
as she’d performed the location spell, she’d mastered it.
 
“Oh...this-this isn’t a locator,” Castiel blushed and grew nervous, his bottom
lip catching between his teeth.  He’d just barely met Amara but she was Bobby’s
student.  He’d only heard good things about Bobby even it came out gruffly and
often times in annoyed tone.  He grabbed up Amara’s hand and gently pulled her
away from the others.
 
“Rufus told me I shouldn’t tell anyone, that it was dangerous if the others
found out,” Castiel whispered, the stone becoming warmer.  He glanced around
again and leaned in close to Amara’s ear.
 
“I’ve already found my familiar,” he said and backed away just in case she
chose to lash out at him.
 
“Come with me,” she said, her face lighting up as she dragged Castiel closer to
where Bobby was setting up their tents. She’d spelled her tent to be soundproof
and had never been more grateful for it than she was at that moment. “We  have
to talk and I think I still have some snacks left so we’ve got that covered
too. Hurry, up!” She encouraged, chuckling as Castiel rushed to keep up with
her.
 
Castiel went with Amara easily, only catching a brief glance at an older man
hammering at his own tent as Amara pulled him through another.  It was small
but still much bigger than his own.  He chewed on his lower as he watched Amara
grab some snacks out of a mini fridge and moved to sit across from her on the
bed.
 
“You don’t seem exactly surprised by this,” Castiel said with a shy smile.
 
“I’ve met mine too, his name is Benny and he’s a panther,” She said with her
biggest smile. Amara knew she probably shouldn’t offer up the information so
freely, even if Castiel was safe. It was dangerous out there, but she’d been so
desperate to find someone to talk about it with and it would have been
mortifying if she’d even thought to attempt a similar conversation with Bobby.
“Oh, don’t worry...it’s soundproof and nobody else can come in.”
 
Castiel sighed deeply and happily accepted the package of crackers from her,
“I-I don’t really get to see mine that much, the realm he’s in...he doesn’t
really have control over it.  This is how we communicate,” he said touching the
stone again, “It grows warm when he thinks I should be more cautious. Oh and
his name is Dean,” he laughed a little.
 
“I don’t see Benny nearly as much as I’d like but we’ve met in my dreams a few
times, maybe...a dozen or so over the last couple years. I wish it wa-,” Amara
stopped when she heard Castiel gasp. Her head snapped up to see a shocked
expression on his face. “W-what?”
 
“You’ve been with your familiar over a dozen times?” Castiel squeaked, jealousy
swimming through him, “I-I’ve only truly been able to see Dean...three times?”
he swallowed hard and touched at the stone again, every bone in his body aching
to finally meet his familiar.
 
“I-I just hope I make it…”
 
“Oh I’m so sorry,” Amara said, pulling him into a hug immediately. She’d had no
idea how fortunate she actually was and she didn’t want her new friend to think
she was bragging or rubbing salt in his wound. All this time she’d spent with
Benny hadn’t felt like enough and yet it was still ages beyond what Castiel had
gotten with his Dean.  “We’ll stick together, okay? I’ll keep you safe and you
can do the same for me.”
 
Castiel gave her a sad smile, “If we can find each other.  They’re randomly
choosing which ones are going first and then second and so on.  There’s just
too many people this year from what Rufus is telling me and he’s scared that
they’re forming teams to take out...you know, people like me, well us.”
 
Amara understood where he was coming from but she wouldn’t lose him, no matter
how far ahead or behind her he was. She’d make sure of it. “I’m going to need
one of your hairs, or maybe two just to be sure. I know it won’t change
anything for me to say don’t worry, but don’t. I’ll be looking out for you and
not to be a bitch or anything, but I’m pretty damn awesome.”
 
“If you get sent out there before me, stay as far away from the others as you
can and I’ll catch up to you in no time.”
 
Castiel nodded eagerly, the stone glowing a bit, “Dean seems to agree as well,”
he giggled and pulled a few strands of hair out.  Even though Dean and Rufus
had tried to reassure him that he would make it, he was still scared of the
others.  He knew he could handle everything else...just not them.  
 
“I’ve never been so happy that I tripped over someone before,” he smiled.
 
“So what do you plan to do after we win this thing?” Amara asked, popping a
chewy soft caramel into her mouth before remembering her own plans were quite
personal. “Sorry if that’s too personal, I don’t really have many friends. I
uh, there was just me and my brother before, then he left and Bobby came to get
me so mostly I just have him, and the old people he knows…I’m not complaining,
not really but I don’t think I was meant to do well around other people.”
 
Castiel nodded, “Me neither to be honest.  My momma died when I was just a baby
and my father and brothers didn’t like having to deal with me.  I was the only
one who showed any kind of magickal abilities and they hated me so much for
it,” Castiel explained, wincing at the horrible memories.
 
“But um...I’d really like to open my own shop.  Maybe books?  Dean teases me,
calls me a nerd,” he laughed, the stone on his chest rumbling a bit and glowing
a soft shade of pink.
 
“Oh wow that sounds so cool. I haven’t really decided yet what I should do
yet,”she answered, though the idea of being a mentor like Bobby had appealed to
her for a little while, Amara wasn’t sure it would be a good fit for her, even
if she had the best example. She drew her legs up and rested her chin on her
arms after she’d folded them across her knees. “Benny’s promised to help me
find my brother after this is all over, but whatever happens next, I’m not
sure.”
 
“Where’s your brother?” he asked and then suddenly pressed his lips together,
“You don’t have to tell me if you’d rather not talk about it,” he said softly.
 
Amara’s mouth turned down but she didn’t mind sharing. It had been a lot of
years and though the ache never really went away, she was able to talk about it
now with some amount of control. “I don’t know...I remember he used to reassure
me all the time that I was strong enough to make it on my own like he knew he’d
be leaving.”
 
“I just remember playing in the field behind our house until almost dark and
going home to an empty house. I was twelve then, I haven’t seen him since.”
 
Castiel reached out and gently took Amara’s hand, “I’m so sorry Amara, I know
it means little but I really hope you find him.  Dean and I can help too, if
you want that is,” he said.
 
“It means a lot coming from you,” she said, already feeling a friendship
building with the other witch, it was something that she’d never really
experienced before. Of course she considered Bobby a friend, but he was more
family than anything but this was something new and it made Amara happy, even
on the sad subject.
 
‘Thanks, now...tell me about this Dean guy,” she said with a small chuckle,
holding up a peeled caramel and then tossing it into Castiel’s mouth when he
opened it for her. It was turning out to be one of the happiest nights of her
life.
===============================================================================
 
 
Amara had hoped she’d have dreamt of Benny but unfortunately she woke up
without his warmth and affection to start her day. She took a deep breath, she
just needed to get through this and then nothing would stop her from spending
each and every night in his arms.
 
She knew it was fairly early, otherwise Amara was certain Bobby would have
already been poking at her tent with his magick. She dressed in her most
comfortable jeans, a tank top, an overshirt that she tied at her waist and
pulled her long hair up into a tight bun to keep it out of her way and to keep
anyone from reaching out and grabbing it. Even though he hadn’t said it, Amara
kind of figured that being one of  Bobby’s students meant she had target on her
back. It wasn’t his fault, but it seemed everyone recognized that he was the
most successful mentor and therefore his students were always the most
prepared.
 
Once she had gathered everything she would need, Amara stepped outside, drawing
in a lungful of air to find the scent of coffee and Bobby offering her a cup
with a soft, genuine smile.
 
“I see you made a friend yesterday,” Bobby said gesturing for them to move and
sit down in the stadium chairs he had brought.  The moment he had seen Amara
pulling someone into her tent he had gotten worried but then he saw Rufus
poking around.  It was so good to see his old friend and have someone else to
be grumpy with.  The old guy was truly worried about his kid, saying he was too
gentle for this but Bobby tried to reassure him.  Maybe Castiel and Amara would
create an alliance of some sorts and stick together.
 
“Yeah, he’s pretty great,” Amara admitted, smiling at the memory of how fun it
was to find someone her own age that she could really talk to and share what
they had in common. Castiel was such a sweetheart that she was a little
terrified that he’d end up on the wrong side of this thing because he wouldn’t
want to hurt anyone. “To be honest though, I really hope I get sent out there
first.”
 
“You, me, and Rufus too.  The old man told me about him, even how much you two
have in common,” he said, giving Amara a knowing look.  He didn’t want to say
the words out loud.  Three years ago this wasn’t a problem, three years ago it
was regarded as an amazing thing that should be celebrated.  But now, it was
considered dangerous.  Whatever the hell happened to change that worried him.
 
“Had to talk him out of creating a location stone so you could find him out
there,” Bobby grumbled.
 
“We both know I wouldn’t need it, not now at least. He’s on my radar and I
won’t lose him.” Amara took a sip of her coffee grateful for it’s warmth in the
cool breeze of the morning. It was almost summer and the clear spring
afternoons were gorgeous and warm but the breeze could be quite brisk before
the sun came out.
 
 “If he can keep his head down til I get out there, I’ll take good care of him,
Bobby.”
 
“Good.  He’s quiet and shy but Rufus tells me he’s powerful. I just hope they
will allow him to bring in that stone he has on,” Bobby said with a heavy sigh.
 He should be worried about his own charge but he wasn’t.  He knew Amara and
had seen how much she’d grown in the past two years.  There was wasn’t much for
him to worry about.  
 
“In about an hour they’re gonna start the bag claims and collect names.  You’ll
be writing your name on a stone that will go into a huge pot.  From there it’ll
be spelled to pick at random.  In a few hours, starting around noonish is when
we find out who’s goin first,” he explained.
 
“I’ll be ready, but I wouldn’t be offended if you wanted to send me off with a
full plate of your famous gravy and biscuits,” Amara smiled, not even trying to
hide it behind her coffee cup as she pulled it to her lips. “I’ll even help.”
 
They spent the next thirty minutes whipping up one of the most delicious
breakfasts Amara had had in awhile, though Bobby was a decent cook any day,
something about it tasted better than normal. Soon it was time for her to grab
her bag and Bobby led her toward  the center field where everyone had started
to gather. She closed her eyes and found Castiel in the crowd and slowly pulled
Bobby along with her toward where he and an older, dark skinned, grumpy man who
she assumed was Rufus were standing as much apart from the crowd as they could
get.
 
When she reached Castiel, Amara slid her arm through his and smiled at him.
“You ready to become the two most badass witches ever born?”
 
Castiel’s cheeks warmed and he laughed a little, “Yes,” he said almost shyly.
 Rufus patted his shoulder and then he was following Amara up to the tables.
 He couldn’t help the trembling in his hands when the stone was handed to him
along with a sharpie marker.  Dean’s stone warmed against his skin and he took
in a deep breath.  He could do this.  He had Dean and now he had a wonderful
new friend, who for whatever reason wanted to protect him.  Glancing over at
her he watched her scribble her name and he hurried to do the same.  Next it
was the bag weighing or whatever it was called.
 
Amara packed each and every item from her finalized list into her bag and it
was an easy fit. She was firmly on the side of quality vs quantity. When she’d
handed her list over to Bobby he read through it, widening his eyes a time or
two but when he finished it he grinned at her and she knew he was proud.
 
She knew that some magical objects would be allowed but she hadn’t bothered.
Most of her bag was full of standard human gear and it was fairly lightweight
compared to some others she’d seen. One idiot was trying to pack things like
tools to build shelter but not only would that pack weigh him down, but
eventually the bag itself would rip or tear under the sharp edges or heavy
load.
 
Thankfully, Castiel seemed to have a similar list. Though, from what she could
tell, he’d even thought of a few things she hadn’t. Part of her wished she
could have met him before all this started and they could have packed
complementing items, but in the end they might have to survive on their own for
a while and if so, they’d still need to have most of their gear with them at
all times.
 
Castiel smirked as the older man on the other side of the table opened up
almost everything in his bag.  Rufus had taught him to be extremely crafty with
household items and Castiel flew with it.  He had several travel sized bottles
he had transformed into mini oil lamps along with a couple of altoid tins
filled with oil dipped cardboard to create an emergency fire.  There was a bag
filled with wax dipped cotton pads to help create fires quicker.  The plastic
matchbox holder especially made his inspector curious.  On the lid he had taped
a piece of sandpaper.  Castiel knew the inspector was trying to find a reason
to ban it but there was absolutely no magick tied to it.  He had over a dozen
tic tac containers fill with herbs mostly used for cooking but also had power
properties.  They were easily passed thankfully.  Everything else went by
quickly and soon the regulation bag was being passed back to him.  It was
filled with little to no space available and he turned to Amara with a relieved
smile.  
 
Castiel flinched when there was a loud shout from behind him.  He glanced over
his shoulder to see a blonde girl arguing with her inspector, several of her
items already in the non regulation basket.  He swallowed hard and moved closer
to Amara.
 
“She’s one of them,” he whispered.  
 
Amara looked over the girl, sizing her up without the use of her power and she
found her incredibly lacking, even though she was undoubtedly dangerous. If
Castiel was worried over her, there was probably a good reason behind it.
Amara’s eyes narrowed at her and she immediately felt like something was  off
about her.
 
Thankfully Bobby wasn’t too far away and she led Castiel closer to the treeline
where their mentors were waiting. “Is it illegal to use something that hides
your powers or abilities?”
 
Bobby sighed heavily as Rufus cursed under his breath, “Unfortunately no.  Why
someone does it I have no idea, unless it’s to have others underestimate them.
 Amara, you’re a fighter but judge people wisely before lashing out and
Castiel...just keep your head down okay?  Stay out of sight, Rufus taught you
to climb trees right?” Bobby asked.
 
“Yessir,” Castiel said with a bright smile.  He hadn’t earned the nickname
Spider Monkey without reason.  It was one of the things that Rufus had trained
him when he realized that Castiel wasn’t that great of a fighter.  He could do
defensive magick like a pro but offensive still gave him issues.
 
Amara scanned over the younger faces in the crowd and she spotted the same red
headed bitch that had taken the low jab at Bobby when they arrived. Amara found
it weird that she was talking to and apparently fawning over a young witch with
dark brown hair and odd posture. Still, she imagined there were going to be a
lot of things she didn’t understand in her future and for now it was better to
focus on her own worries instead of building more in her head.
 
“I’ll be careful,” she promised, almost grateful that Bobby didn’t seem to be
worrying over her too much. It made her feel full of warmth and pride in
herself that he thought she was capable enough. Amara’s shoulders straightened
and she felt more confident than before when she’d faked it before, and now she
was ready to take them on, knock them out one by one  if necessary. It wasn’t
really supposed to be this way, Bobby had explained that originally it was
meant for them to ban together and help one another thrive with nature but now
too many witches were out for blood. Smiling at her mentor, Amara shrugged.
“Besides, we both know that Castiel was a fluke and I don’t trust any of the
rest of those assholes.”
 
“Alright, let’s go get some lunch before they start the drawings,” Rufus
grunted, walking past them towards the food tents.  Both Bobby and Castiel
rolled their eyes fondly and quickly followed after him.  They got something
light, Castiel and Amara not wanting to eat anything too heavy and possibly
make them sick (Castiel) or weigh them down.
 
It didn’t take long for the horns to blow, announcing that the first group of
names to start would be called.  They quickly cleaned up and hurried back.  
 
Castiel grabbed Amara’s hand and prayed that he would go after her, that maybe
she could hide and catch him on his way out.  Just something that wouldn’t keep
them far apart for long.  


“Deep breaths, you’re gonna be okay. I’ve got you,” Amara said, though she
could see his excitement, she could also almost taste his anxiety it was so
thick in the air between them.
 
“Amara Ciardha,” she heard, her mispronounced name rang out through the circle
and she gave Castiel a wide grin. Relief overwhelming her as she realized he
would be behind her somewhere which was the best possible scenario. She could
get in, scope out some places and hopefully get set up somewhere out of the way
before Castiel was released and she came back for him.
 
“This is what we wanted. Don’t worry,” she said, pulling him in for a quick hug
before doing the same to Bobby.
 
Bobby hugged Amara tightly, whispering words of encouragement into her ear
before letting her go.  He had to fight back the urge to cry just a little.  
 
Castiel clung to Amara’s hand a little as she walked past and prayed he would
be able to find her in those woods.
 
“I’ll come back for you,” she whispered, dropping a simple kiss to his cheek
before joining the others in her group.
 
Amara stretched her legs out a little as the others were talking amongst
themselves or preparing to take off running too. She wasn’t stupid, there were
a few that looked like they were bolting the second the signal burst out of the
flame, but she knew that she’d get much farther by keeping a slower, but steady
pace.
 
As soon as they were set off, Amara jogged forward but at a slow enough pace to
let most of the others get ahead of her. She wasn’t planning on a luxury
campsite anyway, it would be better for both her and Castiel to stay away from
what she called the witch traps. They weren’t really traps per say but more
ideal locations, anywhere that seemed like a good place to set up camp. Near
streams, fruit bearing bushes, or trees could be chopped for firewood.
 
No, Amara hoped to find a cave or a cliff somewhere out of sight and away from
people. They might have to walk farther for supplies but there would be
constant bickering and even magick fights over the more desirable places and
neither of them needed that kind of hassle.
 
They weren’t even twenty minutes in when she heard someone complaining about
the weight of their bag, Amara shook her head and kept going. After she passed
through an undergrowth of blueberry bushes,  there were a variety of directions
to choose from, but as soon as Amara saw the rock off in the distance she knew
which way she’d go.
 
About an hour later she couldn’t believe her luck, Amara found a cave that was
hidden behind a large stone. It was big enough to hold both her and Castiel
whenever he was released, and there was a stream of water running underneath it
that was a bit tricky to reach but not impossible.
 
Once she prepared her camp Amara walked back out to scratch some runes on the
side of her temporary home when she realized that the boulder blocking the
entrance was movable even without her magick, which was amazing. She didn’t
want use her power unless she had to. There were too many witches that drained
themselves over the simplest things and when they needed to use it most, their
power was drained.
 
As soon as the protective runes were carved into the rock, Amara settled in for
a while. She wouldn’t leave again until late in the afternoon.
===============================================================================
 
 
Castiel’s hands twisted around as the time got later and later and his name was
still not being called.  He didn’t understand what was going on but both Bobby
and Rufus told him everything was fine.  The group was growing smaller and his
stomach dropped when he realized that most of them were part of the group that
Rufus had warned him about.  This was not turning out well for him.
 
“ Kid, just get in a damn tree.  Find the tallest tree and scurry on up.  Most
of them assholes won’t even try to chase ya.  We’ll dress ya up in dark clothes
too so you can just melt into the shadows.”
 
Castiel licked his dry lips and nodded to himself, Rufus’s voice calming down
the overwhelming nerves.
 
“Castiel Novak!”
 
Finally his name was being called.  He almost bit through his tongue but
gripped onto his bag as he moved towards the entrance.  He gave Rufus and Bobby
a half hearted wave and entered the woods. Much like it was entering the
campsite, everything seemed to shift, grow larger even.  The sun was already
setting and he had to hurry, to find a tree to get up into before the last of
them entered the woods.  
 
“Which way is the creek!” someone shouted from behind him and he quickly dove
behind one of the trees.  Whoever it was ran past and Castiel swallowed hard.
 The stone that the inspector had amazingly looked over was still under his
shirt and almost seared his skin.
 
“I know...I know.  I have to hurry,” he whispered.  He walked for another what
he guessed was twenty minutes when he finally found what he needed.  Huge,
ancient and tall Oak tees.  They were so close together he’d be able to travel
through them easily.  He laughed and sent his thanks to everyone he could think
of before running up, his fingers digging into the bark as he lifted himself
up.
 
He’d just found a nice branch to use as his bed tonight when a group of people
stopped right under him.  He frowned, recognizing them from one of the groups
that went hours before him.
 
“Did you see either of them?  I could have sworn I saw that kid running through
here,” one of the voices asked.  Castiel didn’t bother listening to the rest.
 He slowly sat back against the branch and calmed his breathing.  He was safe
for now and that’s all that mattered.
===============================================================================
 


Amara waited for Castiel’s location to change drastically and thankfully before
it really started getting dark, she got a hit for him being on the move. Her
location spell gave her a really good idea of where he was. Amara was just
hoping they could make it back before they’d need to use a light that would
draw attention to themselves.
 
She took the barest necessities of what she might need, leaving the rest behind
in the cave before shutting it up behind her and heading out. Amara did her
best to avoid any sign of the others, whether they were part of Castiel’s group
or people from earlier, she didn’t care. Once she knew that her friend was safe
and sound back at the camp she’d set up, she might let herself worry about the
rest.
 
Following the mental map she’d made in her head, Amara took the closest route
and found herself surrounded by oak trees and no sign of her adorable little
friend. She didn’t want to call out for him, too many people were still
wandering through the woods but she’d gone as close as she could to where the
spell had pointed her and still hadn’t found him.
 
It took a surprisingly long amount of time for her to remember the conversation
they'd had earlier and Bobby’s advice to climb up and stay high in the trees.
She looked up and still didn’t see him but she knew he had to be up there, her
spell had never been wrong before only inconclusive when it came to Chuck.
Ironically that was the one thing that still gave her hope.
 
To keep quiet, Amara’s best hope was to try to communicate with Dean and maybe
he could explain to Cas that it was safe to come down now. Otherwise she might
have to try to climb after him and though she was strong enough to get a decent
distance on her own, there was no way she’d be able to find him up there if it
got any darker. Amara softly sat on the ground at the base of the largest tree
in the small circle and she closed her eyes. The magick of earth moved beneath
her as she connected her own to it and cleared her mind of all but one single
mantra playing over and over in her head
 
Dean, I’m here. Help him find me.
 
Castiel had nearly fallen asleep when the stone against his skin started to
vibrate.  It was so intense he was going to end up with a small bruise
underneath it.  He sat up with a gasp and quickly pulled it out from under his
shirt.  Dean had never done that before.  It fluttered in his palm and emitted
a soft blue light.
 
“I-I don’t understand,” he whispered and froze when he heard rustling from the
ground below him.  He slowly peeked over his branch and nearly fell.
 
“Amara…” he hissed and quickly gathered up his bag to start climbing down.
 
It wasn’t long before the creak of one of the lower branches pulled her mind
back to the moment. Amara’s eyes snapped open just as Castiel stood six feet
above her. He was still climbing lower and once she moved out of the way he was
standing beside her an unbelievably short time later.
 
“Woah..” she whispered, half in awe at how quick he was, especially when it was
so close to being dark.  There was no way he would have been found up there by
anyone else until morning, she was so proud of him that she wasted no time
before pulling him in for a hug. “Our new place is about a mile and a half,
that way so we might have to use a light when we get further out.”
 
Castiel pulled Amara close and hugged her tight, “I’m so happy to see you,” he
said laughing a little, “And don’t worry about light,” he said and tapped at
his stone, “Let’s get out of here...there’s a group out here looking for
someone.”
 
Shaking her head, she held back a loud chuckle. “Well tell Dean thanks for the
help when you see him. Without him, I don’t think I’d have found you tonight.”
 
Castiel blushed, “I will.” He followed behind her, their pace quick and quiet
as they made their way back to Amara’s hideout.  There were only a few times
they had to jump behind a  tree or into a bush when voices of the others got
too close.  Castiel had an idea who they were looking for but he didn't want to
voice that outloud.
 
When it got too dark he silently asked Dean for some light and his familiar
gave it easily, a soft glow lighting the rest of the way.  
 
“I thought you said there was a cave?” he asked looking around but all he saw
was a giant boulder.
 
Amara did a quick search for nearby witches and when she found that the closest
one was over a mile to the south, she gave him her biggest smirk. Walking up
the small incline, Amara used her arms to shove and pushed the stone away.
“Think this is big enough for the both of us?”
 
“Amara!  This is amazing!” he laughed quickly getting inside.  Amara had some
how transformed the little cave into a home and he felt himself relax.  He
wasn’t alone, they were safe and had plenty of supplies between them.  They had
talked earlier about their skills and while Amara could hunt Castiel knew how
to fish and scavenge.
 
“Want to see the icing on the cake?” She asked, a thrill of energy running
through her as she wondered if he would be just as shocked and pleased as she
had been to find the small stream tucked beneath the ridge a few feet further
into the cave. She’d yet to test the water yet, but it looked clean and if it
was fresh, they’d stumbled on an invaluable resource.
 
“Oh my Gods!” Castiel cried out instantly reaching out but just before his
fingers could touch the water the stone zapped him.
 
“Ouch! Dean!” He hissed and then froze, “Amara...grab the Angelica from my
bag,” Castiel said glancing over at her.
 
Amara looked at him in confusion for just a second before rushing to get his
bag for him. She figured it would be quicker for him to find it himself than
for her to dig through his things. Amara hurried it back to him though, a
little disappointed to find that the water might not be as safe as she’d hoped.
 
“Here, I didn’t want to go through your stuff,” she said, softly sitting his
bag down beside him.
 
“Thanks,” he said and got out the tic-tac case that he’d labeled A. Root.  He
quickly sprinkled some into the stream and groaned when it sizzled.
 
“They spelled the water...or at least this one anyway,” he said putting the
case back in his bag.  He saw the frown on her face and quickly stood back up,
“Hey, it’s okay.  There are other sources of water that aren’t spelled...I’m
sure of it.  We just have to find them.”
 
“I should have known it was too good to be true, but I’m not gonna lie, I kinda
got my hopes up on that one. It would have made things so much easier,” Amara
answered, shrugging off her foul mood a little when she realized that they were
here, they were safe, and they were together. She really shouldn’t have asked
for more than that.
===============================================================================
 
 
Castiel wiped the sweat from his brow as he continued to follow Amara through
the woods.  They were running low on water and now food, drawing them out of
the safety of their small cave.  Castiel had been afraid of getting on her
nerves after a few days but he was relieved that they only grew closer.  It
wasn’t until they realized that they only had a day's worth of water left that
both of them started to panic a bit.  Castiel knew of a spell that could quench
thirst for a few days but it always came at a cost.  What it was you wouldn’t
learn until after you casted it.
 
They both decided it wasn’t worth the risk.
 
Castiel wiped at his face again and nearly tripped when his foot caught on the
edge of the small hill they were walking on.  After catching himself he froze,
there on the bottom of the hill were a cluster of berry bushes.
 
“Amara...look,” he said and pointed.
 
“You think they’re edible?” Amara asked, her mouth watering at the sight of
fresh fruit. They’d been mostly eating fish and a few small animals that she’d
managed to trap. Though neither her nor Castiel were fond of making furry
woodland creatures into sacrifices, even when they needed the meat to survive.
 
“I hope so.  I’ll test them and start picking them if they are, you keep
looking for water,” Castiel urged and didn’t even wait for a response before
hurrying down towards the bushes.  There were so many of them he almost cried.
 
“Dean?” he asked and felt his stone grow warm.  He lifted one up and cast a
small cleansing spell on it.  When nothing happened he popped it into his
mouth.
 
“They’re good!” he called out and quickly started to fill the makeshift basket
they had made in their cave.
 
Amara felt relief flooding through her veins as she heard his words being
shouted back at her. Soon she started walking toward the closest fresh water
source she’d been able to find but it was a waiting game. There might be easier
access somewhere else but Amara felt more comfortable staying closeby than she
did exploring the large terrain that was now filled with about a hundred other
witches just like her.
 
There were others nearby but not as many as she suspected were camped along the
big river that seemed to run straight through the middle. This way, she just
needed to find the right space and time to approach the smaller stream that
wound along the outside edge of the section that was mostly cliffs and rocks.
 
When she got to the stream, there weren’t any signs of others, though something
in the air felt a little stiff. Amara tread carefully toward the moving water,
an itch blooming on the back of her neck. Somehow, she knew she was being
watched even though the spell she used wasn’t showing a surge of magical power
nearby.
 
She filled their canteens without any hassle  It wasn’t until she tried to fill
the collapsible water bag she’d brought to further her supply, that the small
hairs on the back of her neck began to stand, putting her further on edge. She
didn’t let it stop her because the small bag didn’t take much and it allowed an
extra day or two of water if they didn’t over indulge.
 
It was nearly full when she heard a rustling in the bushes and Amara’s heart
began to pound in her chest. Whatever made that much of a noise, didn’t mind
her knowing it was there. She quickly pushed the lid back on and screwed it in
place but before she could fully get to her feet again there was a low growl
from just behind her. The animal was so close that Amara felt as if she’d
stretch her arm out behind her she would touch it.
 
She muttered a small protection defense but she knew it wouldn’t really protect
her much, it might have worked on another witch but not this. Amara scuttled
back on her hands a little and to the side so she could finally face whatever
was stalking her, and her eyes went wide in terror as she saw a pale mountain
lion licking its chops as if it’s just found a meal.
 
Amara swallowed hard and started to back away but with each push back on her
arms the animal would move further ahead, seeming to dare her to try and
escape. She could feel scratches burning on her hands and she knew that she was
bleeding only enticing the cougar. Any other time she might have admired its
beautiful coat and cat like reflexes but there was panic coiling higher in her
gut and she wasn’t sure how long she’d make it if she tried to run.
 
Deciding that she wouldn’t be another dark mark on Bobby’s record, Amara knew
she needed to do something,  anything . She cast a short stunning spell on the
creature and rushed to her feet. Unsure if it would work, Amara didn’t chance a
look back over her shoulder until she heard a twig snap behind her and felt an
unbearable string of teeth sinking into the flesh of her right calf.
 
“Dubhdara!”
 
Her scream echoed around them as the pain surged through her but her power
began to form a wall of wind between them but she knew she couldn’t hold onto
it for long, not with such a severe injury.
 
Benny felt her call and it was much stronger than it had ever been before.  He
stood up and watched as a swirl of colors appeared before him.  It opened up in
the middle, showing him Amara crawling across the ground trying to get away
from something hunting her.  His mouth opened as a loud roar escaped him and
before he knew what he was doing, he was racing forward.  He jumped through the
portal, his paws hitting the dirt and going immediately into a defensive stance
between Amara and the giant mountain cat.  It hissed and yowled, it’s paw
swiping out to try and get him on the face.
 
He growled again and started backing it away from Amara, the scent of her blood
searing through him.  It distracted him for just a moment and the giant cat
used it.  It jumped on him and the both them rolled in the grass yowling and
biting at each other.  The mountain cat got a few good bites in but Benny
managed to get it on it’s back, his teeth sinking deep into it’s throat.
 
Amara’s vision began to darken at the corner of her eyes but she was almost
positive she’d seen Benny’s beautiful black form beside her. Since it was just
a supply trip, she didn’t have much with her but she did try to go for the
small first aid kit she had strapped to a belt on her hip. Unfortunately when
she tried to sit up and reach for her leg another jolt of pain rushed through
her, and forced her back to the ground.
 
All she could do was hope that Castiel or Benny would save her as she fell
further into the inky black darkness behind her eyes.
 
Benny jerked his head to the side, successfully breaking the mountain lion’s
neck with a loud snap.  In any other circumstance he’d take the time to wash
his mouth off but his witch was bleeding and now, wasn’t moving.  He rushed
back to her and nudged her shoulder with his nose.  She was still breathing
thank the Gods but she’d lost too much blood as it was.
 
“ My Mari, please wake up,”  he begged, licking at her shoulder and then her
neck.  Nothing was rousing her and he wasn’t sure his magick would work in this
realm yet.  They weren’t even supposed to have met yet!
 
Deciding to take a chance and pay the consequence later he moved down to her
injured leg and summoned all the power he felt burning through his veins and
focused it through the gentle licks he was giving the wound.  He was thankful
now for the fact she was passed out.  It would have been extremely painful for
her.  He kept at it until her skin was clean and the deep wound was now just a
jagged scar along her leg.
 
“ Mari?”
 
She was tucked away somewhere warm and soft but she knew she couldn’t
stay...there were people counting on her and as good as it felt, she wouldn’t
let them down. Her leg began to vibrate, an echo of something that felt distant
and unreal. Soon the vibrations got strong and Amara began to feel things
again, painful, unpleasant things and she fought her way back to consciousness.
 
Her eyes flew open and she let out a long gasp as air filled her lungs so
forcefully she felt as if it seared the edges of her throat on it’s way. She
tried to lift her head but it was still too heavy, the area around her swaying
a little but coming back into focus. When she saw a familiar black snout and
felt a rough tongue licking at her neck, Amara knew for sure she was dreaming.
 
“Benny...haf’to  ‘ake up,” she said, her leg still pulsing with pain but a much
duller, ache now than what it was before. Amara almost hesitated, a few moments
in her dreams with Benny seemed like a decent trade over the fiery pain of
bleeding out in the real world.
 
“ Not dreaming Mari, you need to sit up.  Need to get you back to a hiding
spot.  I can sense others coming,”  He said urgently, pushing at her shoulder
with his head.  The others were still quite a distance but they had heard her
scream and were coming to investigate.
 
Amara groaned, she wasn’t sure she could do it on her own. Even her three
undamaged limbs didn’t want to do what she was asking and she was a little
terrified to be caught in such a vulnerable position by the other witches.
There was no way she could have fought them like this.
 
“C-cassst,” she said, her head lolling sideways against the rock she’d tried to
steady herself with. “I-I caaant, Bennn.”
 
Benny growled low in his throat when he heard footsteps getting closer.  It
turned even louder, their footsteps faltering a bit.  He’d ask for forgiveness
later but he grabbed at Amara’s shirt and pulled, ripping it in the process.
 It was the only thing he could do to get her out of the open and into a thick
bush.
 
“ Shhh, stay quiet.  I’ll be back,”  he said and lowered himself to the ground.
===============================================================================
 


Castiel’s basket was overflowing and even though he was hot, tired and sweaty
the relief that they had days worth of food had him nearly singing.  They would
still need to eat protein here and there but these berries were going to be a
lifesaver.  He was just about to pick the basket up and go find Amara when he
heard the scream.  It echoed through the trees and he flattened himself on the
ground.  The entire time they’d been in here he hadn’t heard anything like
that.  Maybe some fighting here and there but no screams.  The stone was
vibrating on his chest and though he knew he should be moving, he couldn’t.
 What if that was Amara and she needed him?
 
“Dean...what do I do?” he whispered, his entire body trembling.  The stone just
continued to vibrate and Castiel managed to crawl to the closest tree, his back
instantly pressing against the bark.  He’d scramble up the limbs if he had to
but for now, he stayed on the ground.
 
He wasn’t really sure of how much time passed but he nearly choked on his next
breath when a twig snapped near him.  Someone was moving closer to him and if
he listened closely, he could hear a very low rumbling noise.  
 
In years to come, Castiel would forever be teased for this moment but right
then he couldn’t help the undignified scream that left his mouth when a giant
black head appeared around the tree.  He flung out his hand in one of the
poorest defensive spells he knew and of course, like they always did, it
backfired.  He was airborne for about two seconds before landing flat on his
ass.
 
“Ooooh Gods,” Castiel whined and then quickly sat up to see the black cat
walking slowly to him.  He was all sorts of confused because for one, the cat
didn’t even seem like it was hungry or whatever and for two, it was making this
weird huffing sound.  If he didn’t know better Castiel was beginning to think
it was laughing at him.
 
“What...who are you?” he asked.  The stone vibrated hard and was glowing that
soft pink and Castiel’s eyes widened.  Dean was saying he could trust this cat?
 Was his familiar nuts?
 
The giant cat freaking quirked a brow and that was when Castiel realized who
this was, “Oh...Oh!  Benny?  What the...how?” Castiel exclaimed.  The cat
nodded and then suddenly surged forward, his teeth snagging at Castiel’s shirt
to start pulling him.  Once Castiel got his head together he was running with
him instead of being pulled.  They were just closing in on the stream where
Amara got their water when he was tackled.
 
“Okay you guys heard it too so what the hell?”
 
“Something killed that cougar!”
 
“I thought you had it spelled to protect us and now it’s dead, I thought you
said you were powerf-”
 
SLAP!
 
“I am powerful but something was summoned here.  Can’t you feel that?  A
fucking portal was yanked open...someone’s cheating and I’m going to find out
who.  Probably that bitch and her pet sidekick…”
 
“C’mon let’s get out of here before it comes back.”
 
Castiel swallowed hard as they walked right past him.  How that “powerful” one
felt whatever she felt but not Benny or him standing within two feet away from
them?  Castiel couldn’t help rolling his eyes and shook his head.  Benny
finally let him up and he followed the giant cat to a bush.  He didn’t
understand until he heard the groan.
 
“Amara!  Oh my Gods!  No!” Castiel cried scrambling under it, not caring that
the sticks were cutting into him as he tried to get closer to his friend.  She
was so pale but the wound on her leg was already healed.  
 
“Benny, I need you to carry her..can you do that?” he asked and flinched when
the cat snapped his giant teeth at him.  
 
“S-Sorry,” he mumbled and somehow managed to pick Amara up and get her draped
over Benny’s back.  They took it slow and Castiel was able to retrieve the
basket of berries before they were back at the cave.  He tried to get Benny to
come inside but the familiar was more content in keeping watch outside.
 Castiel left him to it as he worked to bring Amara back to them.
 
When Amara woke up again she felt a soothing cold gel being applied to her leg
and the pain had dulled drastically compared to what it had been. She groaned a
little as blood came rushing to her head when she tried to sit up but a
familiar voice talked her back into laying down. Amara blinked up at Castiel a
few times before she sighed in relief.
 
“You’reokay, ‘mokay, Bensokay, D-deee-n?” she asked, feeling a little groggy
and as if her tongue was swollen and heavy in her mouth.
 
Castiel couldn’t help chuckling as he brushed the cold towel over her forehead,
“We’re okay.  You’re the one we’re worried about,” he said and gently touched
the bottle of water to her lips.  He watched her drain it and he hoped Benny
would stay around long enough to accompany him back to the stream.  He used so
much of the water already cleaning Amara up and he knew she’d be drinking a ton
of it too.
 
“What the hell happened?” he asked, helping her to sit up and lean back against
the wall.
 
“Cougar, ‘tacked me...Ben,” she paused, taking a second to breathe before she
could finish. Her head spinning a little as readjusted in her seat. “Benny
saved me, at least I think he did...might have been dreaming.”
 
“You weren’t dreaming,” Castiel said and hurried over to the entrance of their
cave.  He called out for Benny and soon the giant black cat was trotting
inside.  He instantly went to Amara’s side and started licking at her face with
a sense of urgency.
 
“It’s okay, she’s okay,” Castiel said moving back over to them.
 
“Can’t believe you’re really here,” Amara whispered, wrapping her arms around
as much as she could get of him. He felt so real, like  home . She was
bombarded with a variety of emotions running through her, shock from the attack
and the overwhelming relief of him saving her and Castiel taking care of her.
 
“S-sorry, Castiel. All this time I thought I would be the one who needed to
take care of you, I was so cocky,” she said, sniffling a little into Benny’s
neck as he tried his best to comfort her.
 
“ Mari…”
 
“Amara please don’t say that.  You maybe have been confident but you’re not
cocky.  If you were, you wouldn’t have asked for help, which you obviously did.
 I’m just so glad you were able to summon Benny here.  I-I don’t know if I
would have been able to find you on my own…” Castiel swallowed hard and surged
forward to hug Amara.  
 
She still felt like a horrible person, but she let Benny’s warm comfort and
Castiel’s words lighten her mood a little. It wouldn’t do any of them any good
to sit around and cry about this bullshit, and though her emotions felt
volatile and ever-changing she chose to put on her bravest face instead.
 
“Well then, I guess we’re lucky our familiars want to keep us together.”
 
Castiel laughed softly and wiped at his eyes.  Benny nudged at him and
scratched behind the giant cat’s ears, “Me too.”  He frowned a little though
and bit his lip hard.
 
“Amara...the others, the ones who I think are living by the river...they know
something was summoned here.  I’m scared they’re going to try something,” he
said softly.
 
“ They can try…”  Benny growled low and dropped his head onto Amara’s legs.
 
“They might, I don’t think there’s anything we can do about that for now. It
might be another day or two before I can get any real use out of this leg. So
for now I don’t think either of us should leave unless we absolutely have to.
There’s only five more days left, we just have to survive a little longer,” she
said, taking the first opportunity to glance down at her leg. Castiel had put
some kind of salve on it but Amara could still see the long jagged scar and she
winced.
 
“Okay...we are going to run low on water.  If Benny wouldn’t mind going with
me, I can get more water,” Castiel said biting his lip.
 
“ I will go with him,”  Benny answered with a deep purr.
 
“Take care of each other, Dean too… I’ll be fine, but please...hurry back so I
don’t have to worry for long,” she said, mostly to Castiel, though her fingers
were still combing through Benny’s thick black coat. It was still a little
difficult to believe that he was really there with her but if it hadn’t been
for him Amara knew she would have bled out in this nightmare disguised as a
test of strength and endurance.
===============================================================================
 


Amara was feeling a little fevered but she was sure the stuff Castiel was
putting on her would keep out infection. Still, if it weren’t for Benny at her
side, Amara was sure she’d have been miserable. Because her friend was finally
getting some well deserved rest, Amara decided to keep quiet and used the link
in her mind to communicate with Benny instead of speaking aloud as she usually
did. It felt less natural, but it still worked.
 
“I know I don’t have to say it but, Thank you. I’m glad you’re here with me
now, even if it brings consequences later,”  she thought, scratching along the
top of his head. A soft smile moved over her lips as his purr began to rumble a
little louder.
 
“ I am glad as well.  I will never get the image of you lying on the ground
like that out of my head...I’m just grateful you called for me,”  Benny said
turning his head to look up at her, “ I will have to return back to my realm
before this is over.  I won’t allow you to be accused of cheating.”
 
“We’ll talk about that later,”  she said, though her mind confessed her truer
thoughts. She didn’t want to think about him leaving. Since the attack Amara
was feeling more needy than even before and she couldn’t consider being without
him for even a little longer.
 
Amara let out a long sigh, a little frustrated at the situation she’d somehow
gotten herself into but there was something that still bothered her. She’d felt
the animal stalking her, almost...messing with her before the attack. As she
thought about what happened and how she felt, Amara realized that she was
playing it out like a video for Benny. It was a little skewed given that it was
strictly from her perspective, but she thought he might be able to help her
make sense of things. He might understand why the cougar seemed so intent on
hurting her.
 
“ I’m not sure Mari.  The Witch who spelled it said that it was only meant to
guard their tent.  It maybe have sensed me with you.  I know it wasn’t a
familiar but any cat whether magickal or not have incredible senses.  Would you
like me to investigate this witch?”  Benny asked moving a bit so he could lay
his head right over her breasts, his purring soft and content.
 
“I don’t know, but I can’t exactly trust any of them. This whole thing is a
joke compared to what it’s meant to be,”  she thought, letting out a long
breath as she remembered all the things Bobby had taught her about the
Ascension Ceremonies that were held before things went ballistic.  “We’re
supposed to be helping one another, growing the bonds of the magickal
community, not forming groups to take out the least popular or the most popular
or whoever it is they decide their enemies are.”
 
“Yes, from what my mother has told me of these human trials, it does seem a lot
more bloodthirsty than when she had witnessed it,”  Benny huffed out a breath,
“ Just stick with the boy, there isn’t a bad bone in his body.”
 
“Oh him I’m not worried about, Castiel has proven himself far more useful than
I’ve been. I won’t underestimate his skill or his loyalty ever again. I owe him
a lot for today, but I’ll need to ask even more of him and you in the next
couple days. I don’t know when my leg will be stable again.”   Amara’s eyes
felt heavy and she knew that more sleep wasn’t too far away.
 
Before she drifted off completely, flashes of her newly desired future flooded
her mind.
 
If she couldn’t fix what the Ascension Ceremony had become, then she would do
everything in her power to end it.
===============================================================================
 
 
The rock slid into place and Ruby couldn’t help grinning.  She’d finally found
them and now she’d be walking out of the ceremony tomorrow without ever having
to worry about being in their shadows.  Her mentor Lilith had warned her about
Castiel and even more so Amara.  For whatever reason they were talked about and
revered within their community.  Ruby was still trying figure out why.  They’ve
been hiding in that stupid cave the entire time while the rest of them were
actually  fighting  to survive.  
 
When she had heard the scream she had hoped it was that girl but instead, she
found her lifeless cougar.  Honestly she couldn’t care about the cat but it
still infuriated her that Amara had killed it!
 
“So...they in there or what?” Gordon asked next to her, his goodie bag open
next to him.  She smirked and nodded slowly.
 
“Mmhmm, now we just gotta draw them out.  You go anything in there for that?”
She asked.  He pulled out a few things that had her smiling ear to ear.  Now
all they had to do was wait until they were relaxing inside.
===============================================================================
 


Castiel yawned and dragged his fingers through his hair.  There was only a
couple of days left and he couldn’t wait to get home and shower.  A deep blush
burned at his cheeks when he realized that Dean would be with him.  He’d
finally get to hug and talk to Dean instead of trying to decipher what he was
saying through the stone.  
 
He glanced over at Amara and Benny laying down a few feet away and sighed.  He
couldn’t help being jealous but what those two had was different from him and
Dean.  It didn’t mean that their connection wouldn’t be as strong...right?  He
chewed on his lip as Dean tried to comfort him through warming up his stone.
 Clutching it in his hand he took in a deep breath and stilled.  He could have
sworn he heard a scraping sound but since Benny didn’t even flinch he ignored
it.
 
With Benny’s warmth wrapped around her, Amara found it difficult to keep her
eyes open. He soothed her mind and body and she relaxed into him like a warm
bed. Sleep came easily once she let go and gave into the relaxed darkness that
felt different than the one that had been so terrifying to her before.
 
Amara felt dirt scraping along her exposed skin and something terrible invading
her lungs. She coughed and coughed doing what she could to cover her face from
the mist of smoke before she realized Benny’s teeth were grabbing at her shirt
and pulling her toward the opening of the cave. “C-Cassss,” she hissed,
bringing out another round of coughing.
 
“ Mari, can you walk?”  Benny demanded crouching down low to get over to the
boy.  He was still asleep and Benny was scared that the smoke was harming him
far worse than either him or Amara.  All of them had been napping when he’d
heard scraping, the sound of the stone in front of their cave being pulled to
the side.  Before Benny could react or make sense of what was going on,
something was thrown in and within seconds the entire cave was filled with
smoke.  
 
Amara coughed a few times but she shook her head and tried to project her inner
voice loud enough for Benny to hear it, “I’ll get out… go for him.”
 
She leaned against the wall of the cave, digging her nails into the rock to
help her keep balance. Her hands stung with pain but Castiel needed Benny more
than she did at that moment so she forced herself to push harder and move
closer to entrance.
 
Something nasty settled in her stomach when Amara realized this wasn’t the
smell of an overturned oil lamp, or something they’d brought in themselves,
trouble would be waiting for them as soon as they stepped outside. A twisted
noise left her throat, sounding much too sinister to be an actual laugh. It was
one thing to attempt to hurt her when she was weak and alone but they’d
attacked her camp, Castiel and Benny too.
 
Amara wouldn’t let that stand.
 
If it was a fight they’d wanted...well, they had one coming for them.
 
She used what little physical strength she had to open the cave wall and face
her attackers, just as Benny had caught up with her.
 
The moment Benny smelled the others outside he opened his mouth and roared.  He
wouldn’t be able to walk out of there!  
 
“ Mari!  They can’t see me!”  Benny was beginning to panic.  The smoke was
getting worse by the second and Castiel wasn’t moving.  The stone rest on his
chest was glowing red and Benny was taking that as a bad sign.  He heard some
laughter from outside again and roared before nudging his head hard against
Amara, getting her to walk out of the cave.  
 
Amara stepped out, looking quite a mess she imaged, but she stood straight
despite how little air she managed to pull into her lungs or the fact that her
hands and leg were still screaming in pain. She whispered for Benny to protect
Castiel and took a few steps forward to find a small gang of witches looking
bloodthirsty and smug.
 
“Well, this is what you were waiting for. You’ve got me surrounded by how
many...five or six I’m not sure, vision is still a little blurry from the
smoke. I’m injured, unable to breathe, and all alone with no one to help me…
take your shot and let’s see who comes out on top…” Amara’s voice almost
sounded foreign to her own ears, her painful experiment seemed to have
transformed her in just a few short days. Before she’d been capable but, naive,
and a little too cocky for her own good.
 
Now, she stood before them unafraid with scars, the love of her familiar, and
confidence in herself and her mentor thrumming in her gut.
 
Ruby stepped forward and laughed, “Where’s your little pet?  Did you just leave
him in there to suffocate?”
 
“She probably did, he’s only with her so she can feel powerful,” Gordon
snarked, tossing up a glowing ball of blue energy in his hand.
 
“Figured you’d be a bitch,” Ruby laughed.
 
“ Mari, you have to get them away from the entrance, we’re not gonna last much
longer in here,”  Benny said, his voice strained against the smoke filling his
lungs.  
 
“You will soon be overwhelmed with regret,” Amara said, a dark chuckle leaving
her throat as she swirled her magick between them in a thick wind pushing them
out a distance and opening the cave door at the same time.
 
Closing her eyes and pulling in as much clean air as she could, her thoughts
were poured out to Benny and she knew he wouldn’t deny her.  “Let’s show them
what true power is, Dubhdara. Come to me my love and we will roar with one
voice until their ears bleed from our strength.”
 
Benny closed his eyes and felt their metaphysical link click into place and the
next moment he was able to see through Amara’s eyes, feel all the pain she was
trying to bravely hide.  He tried to soothe those aches while he opened up the
other part of his soul for her to use at her own volition.  
 
Amara moved forward on all fours, stalking each of them as prey before she
reared up and let out a piercing growl. It felt as if thunder was striking in
her chest, the surge of power flooding through her foreign and recognizable at
once. She bared her teeth and let Benny’s warm spirit fill her up completely
before opening her eyes and getting back to her feet.
 
“What the fuck!” Gordon staggered back, the ball of energy he had been playing
with evaporating into a puff of air.
 
“It’s just a show!” Ruby said even though she was breathing heavily.  She drew
on her own magick until the tips of her fingers sparked.  She was about to
throw the cluster of electricity at Amara when the bitch stood up, her eyes
glowing a magnificent blue.  
 
Something was happening to her on the inside and she was growing stronger
minute by minute. Even the dull ache in her leg had started to heal and she
itched to investigate, but first she needed to deal with the annoying little
brats before her.
 
“You should run, now. You won’t receive another warning,” Amara said, her mouth
pulling up into an animalistic smirk, as she licked her lips.
 
“Oh fuck this shit,” Gordon said nearly throwing himself through the trees to
get away from the craziness.
 
Ruby’s hand faltered for a split second and went to raise it again Amara’s
mouth opened with the loudest roar she’d ever heard from an actual animal.  She
fell back on the ground and scrambled back.  Amara took a few steps forward and
Ruby took off running.  Her dying was not worth her mentor’s favor.
 
“ Mari…”  Benny said tiredly, his physical body barely able to pull Castiel out
of the cave before collapsing onto the ground next to him.
 
Amara rushed quickly to the ground where Benny and Castiel were laying. She
could feel that Benny’s physical form was tired and weak but he would get some
of his strength back as soon as he was put together again. So, she said a quick
apology to him in her head and immediately got to work on Castiel.
 
When she reached out to touch his chest, her hand was almost burnt by the
necklace on his chest. “Dean, I can help him now, he’ll be okay,” she
whispered, moving it to the side as she dug into Castiel’s body with her
magick.
 
She could feel where the gas had coated his lungs, his throat, poisoned his
blood and respiratory system at once. There was something else in that gas and
Amara was willing to bet they thought she would be just as affected as Castiel.
 
Amara cleansed without speaking, healed without chanting, repaired his body
with little trouble now that Benny’s soul was one with her own. When she was
finished cleaning the toxin out of his body, Amara used the same technique to
filter the poison out of the air as well.
 
As soon as she was sure that it was safe for Castiel to breathe in again, Amara
laid down beside him, gripping his hand tightly in hers and released Benny to
return to himself.
 
Benny was exhausted but he had to make sure the boy was okay.  The both of them
were in that cave far too long even with Amara’s and his own magick working to
clean the air, there could be some lasting damage.  He felt more than heard the
boy begin to stir and he began to lazily lick at his arm to keep him waking up
further.
 
Castiel sucked in a deep breath and coughed violently.  Confusion swirled
around him and it took him a long time to realize he was no longer in the cave.
 Everything was blurry around him and he touched at his face and groaned.  His
glasses weren’t there and he couldn’t remember where he sat them down.  But why
was he out of the cave and why did he feel so horrible?
 
“Why-” Castiel coughed again and took in a deep breath, “Why are we outside?”
he asked, his voice hoarse.  Something wet touched his cheek and he jumped, the
big black blob next to him purred loudly and he sighed.  It was Benny licking
him and not some wild animal.
 
Amara squeezed at his hand to help anchor them both to the moment. It had been
a close call and she’d been prepared to take those little cowards on by herself
but with Benny and her connected it was almost too easy. “You were
poisoned...smoke, Benny and I scared them off and I did everything I could to
heal you, but you should probably ask Dean to make sure it’s all gone or we can
go find a healer at dawn...for now I think we should rest, all of us.”
 
Castiel swallowed hard and nodded.  He didn’t remember anything, just that he’d
been resting in the cave and then all the sudden he was out here.  With Amara
and Benny’s help he was able to stand and stumble back into the cave.  There
was evidence of them struggling to get out, the floor was a mess of a lot of
their supplies and Castiel frowned.  All their hard work…
 
“No,” he seethed, his hands coming out and sweeping into a fist.  Within a
blink the cave was cleaned and he fell to his knees.
 
“Oh...shouldn’t...shouldn’t have done that…”
 
“Castiel,” Amara said, rushing to lift him up. She was tired but there still
wasn’t any pain left inside her and she knew she’d have to thank Benny for that
later. Amara gently guided him over to his bed and ushered him under the
blankets. “Rest, they won’t be coming back tonight and tomorrow I think we
should journey back toward camp. Talk to Dean and then sleep, you’ll need it.”
 
Amara kissed Castiel’s forehead and then walked back to her own pad on the
stone floor, Benny already there waiting for her. She ached to connect with him
again, more on a physical than spiritual way though both were beyond
pleasurable.
 
Benny licked at her face and whined softly, “ That was too close Mari…”  he
said and glanced over at Castiel who was already passed out but his fingers
were clenched around the stone.  “ Those bastards may not come back but I think
it would be safer finding somewhere new.  You rest and I will search.”
 
“Don’t leave, not yet...just lay here with me a little while longer,”  she
begged, needing his comfort more than anything else. She knew it wasn’t
practical to keep him there any longer than necessary but Amara felt like that
was too much to ask of her just yet.
 
“Shhhh my little Mari, I’m not goin anywhere.  Get some rest sweetheart, I
won’t go searching until I know the both of you are okay,”  he said and gave
her a few licks before resting his head on her stomach.  He needed the rest too
but he didn’t want to worry his poor witch more than she already was.  She
opened her mouth to speak but he gently brushed his paw over her mouth and
began to purr loudly, lulling her to sleep.
===============================================================================
 


Benny was going to take a nap for a month when this was all over.  He’d pull
Amara into his arms and both of them would hibernate like bears.  The moment
Amara and Castiel had woken up and all of them ate Benny set out in search.  He
wanted something far away from the original cave but closer to the camp.  It
took hours and many close calls with other witches but he finally found the
perfect place and now couldn’t wait to get both Castiel and Amara there.
 
“ Mari I’m here,”   he said and waited, hiding in one of the bushes closer the
cave entrance.  The large stone began to move and he scurried inside.
 
“We’re just about done packing,” she said, hearing the familiar sound of
Benny’s paws smacking against the stone floor. Castiel had gotten all of his
things back into his bag but Amara was struggling to repack hers for some
reason. It took her a few frustrated huffs before Castiel had given her a fond
roll of his eyes and began to help.
 
“Were you able to find a place?” Castiel asked biting his lip.
 
Benny nodded his giant head and moved over to what used to be Amara’s bed and
slumped down with a yawn,  “Yes, it’s a three hour hike.  I need to rest and
then we can move out,”  he said and licked at a scratch on his arm.  He’d come
across another one of those cougars being used as a bodyguard.  This one was a
tad more crafty then the other.
 
“He needs to rest, but we will leave as soon as he’s recovered. Apparently my
big strong knight has been injured...what was it this time?” She asked, moving
to his side immediately before checking his arms sensing a deep gash near his
paw. It wasn’t something to panic about but she still worried. Amara shook her
head but immediately started chanting, her magick a soft, pale glow reaching
out to gently close up the wound in his arm.
 
Benny purred as a thank you, his head butting against her arm, “ Thank you.  It
was another cougar.  Hopefully we won’t come across any trouble on the way
there,”  He sighed and then licked at her chin, “ I can’t wait until I can
embrace you and kiss you as a human.”
 
“Or other things…” Amara said, not realizing she’d spoken aloud until she heard
Castiel awkwardly clear his throat. She could feel the heat snake up her neck
but it wasn’t overwhelming, Amara was becoming more and more comfortable with
what she felt for Benny every single day and she knew that Castiel would
understand, especially once he had Dean in his arms as well.
 
“Sorry,” she said, giving Benny’s flank a few pats before climbing back to her
feet. “I’ll help you finish up while he rests.”
 
“It’s okay,” Castiel chuckled, the stone on his chest flaring with warmth.  He
swallowed hard and felt the flutter of anxiety and nerves buzz within him.
 He’d only seen Dean three times and he was tired of waiting.  The next few
days weren’t moving fast enough for him.
 
“I don’t even know what I’m going to do when I finally get to see him...I might
just embarrass us both by tackling him to the ground,” Castiel giggled.
 
“Oh I don’t know, something tells me he wouldn’t mind,” Amara chuckled,
laughing so hard she dropped the spare shirt she was folding. Shaking her head
she reached down to get it and caught sight of her scar. Even though it had
mostly healed over, it wouldn’t be something she’d forget very soon.
 
“Castiel, when we finish this...I think I know what I want to do, until or
after I find my brother at least,” she started, rolling her shirt up and
pushing it into the small pocket he’d left open for her. Chewing her lip a
little, Amara continued. “If you want to run your bookstore with Dean and
settle down somewhere, just the two of you, I won’t think less of you for doing
it.”
 
Castiel pushed up his glasses and crossed his arms over his stomach, “What is
it you want to do?”
 
“This, this  farce  of a tradition. I either want to fix it or I want to see it
stopped entirely,” she breathed, giving him a second to think about it before
clarifying what she meant by  fix , “There will be a lot of powerful witches
who are older, more experienced than me and you if you choose to stand with me.
There will be targets on our backs until it's resolved and maybe long after
that, I can’t make you any promises, Castiel but this is something I believe is
worth doing and I know there are others; Bobby, Ellen, Pamela, probably Rufus
too, we wouldn’t be alone, but it won’t be easy.”
 
Castiel chewed on his lip and fiddled with his stone.  It was pulsing and he
couldn’t help smiling, “We’ll fight with you.  There has to be a better way,
even if it’s just going back to the way things were before the fighting began.
 Dean and I will stand behind you, regardless if we open up our shop or not,”
he said with a bright smile.
===============================================================================
 


Amara was happy to see that Castiel wasn’t struggling to breathe despite the
fact that they had to go for a small hike to reach the place Benny was leading
them. He was being a little secretive about what she’d find there but he seemed
eager to show her at the same time.
 
It was adorable.
 
They’d just passed by a small cluster of blackberry bushes and though her
stomach had started to grumble, Benny promised her it was just a little while
longer before they could put their packs away and come back for a meal, even
offered to take down a deer for them if they wanted. Amara cringed a little and
shook her head on instinct. They would need to find some fish or meat of some
kind later that day but the berries and one of the few snacks they had left in
their bag would satisfy their hunger til dinner time.
 
There was a hill just ahead and Amara hoped it would be the last incline for a
while, the calf muscle of her right leg was starting to cramp and though it
wasn’t nearly as much pain as she was used to feeling from it, it wasn’t
something she wanted to aggravate.
 
“ It is, I promise Mari.  Then I’ll do my best to help with your leg.  If
anything, maybe Castiel can massage the cramps out while I go catch some fish.
 And yes, I can do that,”  Benny huffed out a laugh and nipped playfully at her
fingers.
 
“I’m okay, just the hil-,” Amara stopped, rendered breathless by the view in
front of her. It was a small cabin, sturdy and strong even if it hadn’t  been
used for quite a few years. The closer she got the more in awe she became. She
could feel the earth around the place and though the grass and weeds were
overgrown there had even been a garden here at one point. She wouldn’t have
time to grow anything even with her magick, but the idea itself was genius. It
must have also meant a usable water source nearby.
 
“Wow.”
 
“This was made by a student…” Castiel whispered just as much in awe as Amara
was.  It was extremely well built and the closer they got the more energy he
could feel within the place.  
 
“Not  a  student, more than one...even with magick they couldn’t have done this
alone in two weeks…” she whispered, feeling as if she was treading on something
sacred. She smiled over at Castiel and she reached her hand out, palm open to
him as they crossed through the thin protective barrier around the plot of land
their predecessors had claimed. The old magick tickled her skin but it felt
like a fond caress more than anything.
 
“ Mmhmm, it’s what drew me here.  There’s a small hill going down just behind
it and that’s where you’ll find your water source Mari,”  he said.  Once he
reached the door he pawed at it until it swung open and then backed up to let
the two of them in first.
 
“Something about this magick...it feels  familiar  to me,” she said, stepping
into the cabin with Castiel leaned in against her side. There was a thick layer
of dust coating everything but even then it still felt like a mansion compared
what they’d been used to.  There were three actual beds lined up along the back
wall, big enough for two or three people each. They’d have to wash the dust
covered comforters or take them off and use their own thinner ones.
 
Castiel felt a nudge at his arm and looked down to meet Benny’s huge eyes.  He
didn’t understand at first and then laughed, “I can try,” he said and bit his
lip.  Before he’d been angry that their cave had been nearly destroyed because
of the smoke bomb.  Now though, he was just tired and hungry.
 
He moved to the center of the cabin and closed his eyes.  This time he used
both hands, holding them out and sweeping them into fists meanwhile imagining
that the room was clean.  When he opened them again he grinned.  It wasn’t
perfect but at least the blankets on the beds were cleaned.
 
Benny let out a huff and licked at Castiel’s hand before nipping at Amara’s, “
Come, there’s something I want to show you,”  he said pulling her towards the
wall by the beds.
 
Amara followed him effortlessly, mostly because it seemed as if he was pushing
her toward a bed and her body was aching for a little rest. Just a week ago she
could have made the journey five times over in a day and still be standing, but
they’d been surviving on minimal food for quite a few days and with all the
energy they used on magick and treating one another’s wounds, Amara wouldn’t be
surprised if her and Castiel both passed out for a little while.
 
“What is it?” she asked, but Benny just pushed at her hip with his snout until
she moved closer to the wall. Amara was just about to huff and give up when she
saw it.
 
John W.
Mary C.
Bobby S
Pam B.
Rufus T.
Ellen H.
 
“Oh wow, that’s it, that’s what I felt. It was Bobby,” she said, her mouth
instantly turning up into a smile. “I wonder if he knows we’re here?” Castiel,
come look.”
 
Castiel threw his bag on one of the beds before coming to look.  He read over
the names and couldn’t help grinning wide, “Who knows with them.  But this is
amazing and really doesn’t surprise me that one, they all stuck together and
two built something like this.  The cave was awesome but it’s too bad we didn’t
find this sooner,” Castiel laughed a little.  He moved back over to the bed he
threw his bag on and plopped face down onto it with a groan.
 
“I think they know we’re here...I can feel Bobby’s magick still hooked into
this place,” Amara said, relaxing onto the mattress closer to her. It felt like
a hotel bed, stuffed full of something that felt like sleeping on air. “Oh Gods
yes, too bad we didn’t find this sooner.”
 
Benny shook his head at the two of them as they got comfortable and within
minutes were asleep.  He waited, listening to their breathing until it evened
out and then he started to move.  He grabbed the basket that Castiel used for
foraging and carried it in his mouth down to the stream.  It was thin where the
cabin was but the longer he followed it the thicker and deeper it became.  Soon
he was coming up to the pond and grumbled happily.  He could smell the fish and
his mouth started to water.
 
It took a really long time but he managed to catch enough to fill the basket
and fill their bellies to the point of excess.  Well, Amara and Castiel’s
anyway.  He’d have to go hunting later for himself but Amara wouldn’t have to
watch it.  The basket was heavy and by the time he got back his jaw hurt but it
was worth hearing the delighted little squeal his witch made when she saw him.
 
Now that she was well rested, Amara didn’t mind using a spark of her magick to
light a small fire in the pit they’d set up on the opposite side of the room.
There was a vent built into the ceiling that she had to open first but soon
they’d gorge themselves on grilled Salmon and she had her knight to thank for
it.
 
“You are amazing, Benny. I will cook you the biggest, best meal you’ve ever
seen the moment we get out of this hell,” she said, peppering kisses against
his fur all along his neck.
===============================================================================
 
 
Castiel was out  picking berries , but Amara knew it was also code for giving
them some privacy. She would have objected had she not been certain that the
protective circle around the place would keep him safe. She didn’t want to have
to say goodbye to Benny even for an hour but she understood he had to go, for
both their sakes. He’d risked so much to save her and she couldn’t let it go to
waste.
 
“So how long do we have? Will you stay the night with me at least?”
 
“ Of course.  But before dawn I must leave.  I do not want to wake you but I
have a feeling you won’t let me leave without a goodbye,”  Benny huffed out a
laugh and licked at her neck, “ Don’t be sad my sweetheart.  Tomorrow, after
you cross that line and become the magnificent witch I know you’ll be we’ll be
together and nothing will ever have to make me leave again.”
 
Amara nodded her head and put on her bravest face. She knew it was incredibly
silly that she was getting so worked up over a few hours without Benny at her
side, but to have him and then have him taken away in such a short period, was
torture. Using the voice in her head, Amara whispered softly to tell Benny what
she was thinking.  “I know we can’t, that we probably shouldn’t have connected
that first time, not here at least. But I can’t wait to really feel you inside
me, in whatever form that takes.”
 
Benny playfully bit at her neck, “ If I wasn’t afraid of it diminishing our
first time truly being together I’d take you right now,”  Benny let out a purr
and rested his head on her breasts, his eyes staring into hers, “ And once this
is over and I’ve been able to actually hold you, I’ll take you in any form that
you wish my sweet Mari.”
 
She ran her fingers through the soft fur behind his ears and let out a silent
breath. Soon it would be time for sleep and before the sun rose she’d be
without him again. Amara turned her mind to happier thoughts before the slight
string at the edges of her eyes moved forward to anything else. “The life I
have planned for us, it probably won’t be too easy...but together, I think we
can make it work.”
 
“ I believe so too.  I agree with your stance on these trials and not just
because I am your familiar either.  I will do what I can to aid you during this
fight.  And I know you wish to start this right away but there are a few things
I would like to take care of before that,”  he said shifting around until he
was laying on his side with his arm draped over her.  His paw curled around her
waist and pulled her in close.
 
“ Mmm? What’s that? ” she asked, grateful to feel him wrapped around her even
in this form. Though Amara was eager to see Benny’s human shape as well. She
imagined that smooth voice and bright blue eyes, but she couldn’t get much
further.
 
“ Well...first would be to be with you and that may take a few days,”  Benny
said huffing out a laugh when she got all embarrassed, “ I am just being honest
with you!  Anyway and then there is your personal matter.  Then we can focus on
taking down the council,”  he said flicking his tongue out to catch her cheek.
 
“That’s a good plan, I’m hoping Bobby will help me make contacts with some of
the older, more experienced witches. It would be a great help to at least have
an idea which ones would be willing to listen to us, then we can worry about
taking the others down,” she grinned at the thought of it. Imagined the look of
outrage on the red headed bitch’s face when she told the council what happened
tomorrow. It felt amazing.
 
“But yes, I want that...and I want to find Chuck more than anything else, I
just hope he’s okay where he’s at, that he’s happy. I know in my heart that
he’s still on this earth, and I’ll give everything I have to get him back.”
 
Benny purred loudly and licked at her face, “ I know you do not want to but we
need to get some sleep and Castiel has been pacing the front porch the last few
minutes.  The sooner we go to sleep, the sooner tomorrow comes,”  he said and
yawned.
 
Amara grinned holding tightly onto Benny’s paw over her stomach. “Castiel get
in here so we can all get some sleep,” she called out, rolling her eyes at her
ridiculous friend. There was a slight creak when the door opened and his
footsteps smacking against the floor but he still didn’t say anything. “We’ll
get started early in the morning, rest now. Goodnight Castiel.”
===============================================================================
 


Castiel glanced out over the empty field and watched as witches and mages
trickled in slowly.  Some had wounds on them and some just didn’t even seem to
have the energy to really even be happy about this being ended.  Him and Amara
though were both buzzing with so much pent up energy it took everything within
them to not sprint through the last stretch.  He could see Rufus and Bobby in
the distance and he laughed, waving over to them as Amara did the same.
 
“We did it….I would have never been able to do it without you...thank you,”
Castiel said softly taking her hand and squeezing her fingers.
 
“Are you kidding me? I’d have been a mangled corpse if it weren’t for you...it
was a team effort, for sure,” Amara said, pulling him into a hug. They’d
already discussed the fact that they couldn’t mention Benny’s trip out of the
realm and it wasn’t a lie to say that Castiel saved her life just as much that
day.
 
She let go of the strong hold she had him in and made her way over to Bobby
next. Amara never imagined she’d miss the smell of old spice and Jack Daniels
but when the scent of him filled her nose, She felt like she’d finally made it
back home.”It was close for awhile there, but I told you I wouldn’t let you
down.”
 
Bobby nodded his head, feeling utterly silly for the tears that wanted to drop
but he held it together, “That’s my girl, Gods it's good to see you kiddo,” he
said yanking Amara back into a hug.  He held his charge far longer than he
should but he couldn't help it.  He missed her.  Letting go he laughed a little
and took Amara’s left hand in his.
 
“Welcome to the beginning of the rest of your life Amara,” he said and dragged
his thumb along the inside of her wrist.  He winced with her as a symbol
appeared like a tattoo.  It didn’t surprise him when he recognized the Gaelic
symbol for darkness and even grinned as it darkened on her skin.
 
Amara’s fingers traced over the black ink on her arm and she closed her eyes.
“It’s beautiful…”
 
It was hard not to gush at Bobby everything that had happened to them over the
last few days but there would be time for that later. She also planned to tell
him the whole truth once they weren’t surrounded by witches and council members
anymore. Instead she focused on what she could talk about.
 
“Do I have to tell you or do you know already?” she asked with a knowing smile.
 
Bobby stared at her for a moment and suddenly realized what she was talking
about, “We’ve been wondering if the old cabin was still standing.  In the
earlier days we would have little faint touches from when people would find it
but now, not so much.  So, how’d ya like the cabin?” he asked with a chuckle.
 He glanced over and saw Castiel practically dragging Rufus towards the
containment area.  Gently touching Amara’s shoulder he started them on that
path as well.  There was a secluded area where familiars who resided in their
own realms could manifest without scaring everyone.
 
“It was like a spa resort by the time we got there. I don’t know what we’d have
done if B- we  hadn’t found it,” Amara confessed, “Pretty sure my stomach is
still a little swollen from the massive amount of salmon we ate that night.”
 
Amara’s eyes scanned for Castiel any time they were in a crowd, wanting remind
herself that they’d both made it through this place. She found him waiting by
the gate and it wasn’t until a few animals began to shift that she even
registered what was happening. It had been a long two weeks and she was ready
to have Benny’s arms around her and finally feel like it was over.
 
Castiel was twisting his hands around, the new mark on his wrist still a little
sore but he couldn’t even focus on that.  The stone was still...almost cold
against his skin and he could only hope that it meant Dean was on his way.
 Next to him there were other small portals opening up but none of them held
the red fox that belonged to him.  
 
He was just about start worrying when one opened right in front of him and a
beautiful red fox lept out.  Castiel cried out in relief and watched with wide
eyes as he slowly shifted into his human skin.
 
“Oh...wow,” Castiel gasped.  Dean was beautiful and those wild green eyes were
staring right at him.
 
“D-Dean?” he said timidly, his hand instinctively reaching up to touch at his
stone.
 
“You don’t need that anymore, sweetheart...I’m right here,” he said, pulling
his witch into his arms. Dean didn’t want to wait in line for one of those
robes, so he didn’t. Instead, Dean lifted Cas off the ground and spun him
around a little as he nibbled at the corner of his jaw.
 
“You’re really here!” Castiel clung to his familiar and later he’d feel
embarrassed by it but for now he couldn’t help crying into Dean’s shoulder.  He
pulled back just enough to look into Dean’s face and smiled brightly, “Your
eyes are so green,” he said softly.
 
Dean grinned, he could feel his witch growing warmer and had it not been for
the clearing of a throat just beside his other ear, Dean would have probably
kissed him right here. Instead he looked to see dark skinned human giving him a
withering glare.
 
“Don't you think you might need to put some clothes on kid?” Rufus asked,
glancing around to to gesture at all the people who were starting to stare.
 
Letting out a frustrated sigh, Dean pulled back from his witch reluctantly.
 
“Stupid humans and the shame they feel over their bodies,” he grumbled,
stalking over toward the area where they had big ugly robes waiting for them.
It was just a little skin and Dean didn’t see a reason to feel awkward or
embarrassed about it. As he slid the cloth over his shoulders and wound the
belt at his waist, Dean made sure to make his disapproval known, “We’re
supposed to be naked , y’know.”
 
Castiel wasn’t ashamed of the fact that he had gladly watched Dean’s ass the
entire time he went and grabbed the robe.  He was a little sad he had to cover
up but they were surrounded by people and his mentor was much more embarrassed
than he was.  Castiel laughed a little and caught Dean’s wrist.
 
“Dean, this is Rufus, my mentor,” he said quietly.  Gods Castiel couldn’t wait
to get home and finally get to feel Dean’s warmth around him.  And he wouldn’t
have to say goodbye this time.  He couldn’t help suckering himself to Dean’s
side and sigh softly.
 
“Hey, I’m Dean,” he said, holding one hand out using the other to wrap
protectively around Cas. As soon as the older man shook it and released him
from the formalities, Dean was curling around Castiel, nibbling at his ear.
More than anything he wanted to drag his little witch off into the woods and
give him a proper marking but with all the humans standing around gaping at
him, it didn’t seem likely.
 
“C’mon, there’s someone I need you to meet before we leave,” Castiel said and
managed to untangle himself from Dean to pull him towards where he saw Amara
walking off.
===============================================================================
 


Amara scanned the oddly shaped corral where magical creatures were popping up
all over the place. She’d never been overly patient and now that she’d known
what it felt like to have Benny at her side, she was even less pleased with the
wait. The ache from his absence became more and more physical as time passed
and the others were united with their familiars.
 
Letting out a small whine, she called for him. “Dubhdara.”
 
She heard Bobby draw in a shocked breath beside her but she ignored it because
almost immediately a large portal opened and out walked the beautiful black
panther she’d been waiting for.
 
Benny looked around cautiously as he stepped through his portal.  He’d be able
to return to his realm but he knew it wouldn’t be anytime soon.  For the look
on his witch’s face at that moment was worth the tearful goodbyes to his
family.  He took in a deep breath and slowly began to feel the change within
him.  It felt warm and tingly as it spread through his veins.  Within minutes
he was standing on two legs and his paws were not long thin fingers.  He
wiggled them in front of his face before meeting Amara’s eyes and smiling wide.
 
“Hi Mari,” he said taking a few steps closer to her.
 
Amara’s jaw dropped at the gorgeous sight of Benny’s human form. He was
chiseled perfection in a way that seemed unbelievable even to someone who
practiced magick every day. Her eyes moved slowly over him, taking in each and
every inch before getting lost in those bright blue eyes that felt like home.
Even though she could feel Bobby try to stop her, Amara kept going and she
pushed herself through the small group of people in front of her and jumped
into his arms, wrapping her legs around him in an indecent pose.
 
Benny hugged her close, his nose diving into her neck and groaning at her
smell, “Finally,” he chuckled.  One hand supported her weight and the other
moved to cup the side of her face, his thumb tracing the curve of her lips,
“Waited so long to be able to do this,” he said pressing their foreheads
together.
 
“Then stop waiting,” she teased, tilting his chin up and closed the distance
between their mouths. The world around them disappeared when Amara felt Benny’s
soft lips on hers and tasted his kiss. It was electric energy and warm comfort.
Satisfying, yet not enough. It was a delicate contrast of everything she was
feeling. Before she knew it, Amara was whining and chasing his lips as he
pulled away, Benny being more conscious of what was happening around them.
 
“Shhh, soon My Mari,” Benny said giving her one more kiss before gently setting
her down on her feet.  He could see Bobby trying to avoid looking at them and
Benny couldn’t help laughing a little as he grabbed up one of the robes and
slipped it on. Taking Amara’s hand in his he walked over to Bobby and held out
his hand.
 
“Hello Bobby, I’m Benny.”
 
“Yea, yeah I know who ya are.  Nice to finally meet ya though,” Bobby grumbled
even though he was smiling just a little.  He shook Benny’s hand with a shake
of his head and glanced over at Amara.
 
“Alright Kiddo, not to embarrass the holy hell out of you but me and several of
the other mentors are getting together after this.  To ah, let our charges and
familiars have some alone time. I’ll be back in the morning, you remember how
to get home?” he asked handing out the keys to his truck.
 
Amara grinned, nodding enthusiastically at the opportunity to spend some time
alone with Benny. She’d only spent a matter of minutes with him in human form
and already she was struggling to keep her hands and lips off him.
 
“Yep, but even if I get a little lost, Benny has an excellent sense of
direction,” she beamed, so proud to have such a beautiful, capable knight on
her arm.
 
“Good, good,” Bobby said and closed his hand over Amara’s as she took the keys,
“I’m so proud of you girl, so damn proud,” he said and touched the side of her
face before turning on his heel to meet up with Ellen and probably now Rufus.
 
With Bobby gone, Amara draped her arms over Benny’s neck and pulled him in
again, his smile pushing against her lips as a few soft chuckles escaped. She
was eager to get him alone, to feel him around her, in her,  completely . Amara
had never needed anything so desperately but the familiar sound of Castiel
clearing his throat had her reluctantly pulling away.
 
“Ugh this better be go-,” Amara started and then stopped at the sight of
Castiel’s smile and a handsome guy draped around him. “You must be Dean, it’s
nice to finally meet you.”
 
Benny blinked a few times and barked out a laugh, his arms instantly moving to
embrace his friend, “What are the chances!” he said clapping Dean on the face
as he pulled away.
 
“Wh-What?  You two know each other?!” Castiel exclaimed staring at the two of
them with his mouth hanging open.
 
Dean grinned wide in fondness of his best friend from home, glad to be reunited
with at least one person from his realm. “Yeah, Sweetheart. We know each
other...I used to treat Benny here like a jungle gym. He’s probably the best
friend I have next to you and Sammy, of course.”
 
Amara’s eyebrows rose in confusion until she remembered several of her
dreamwalks leading back into Benny’s realm and the repeated sighting of an
energetic fox.
 
“Y-you’re the red fox..I remember you,” she said, blushing at the memory of
where some of those dreams had taken her. Amara promised herself a dozen times
over in her head that it was unlikely Dean saw anything, or that he would judge
her if he did, but she still felt the heat snaking up her skin.
 
Benny grinned, “That he was.  It honestly shouldn’t surprise me that Castiel’s
familiar would come from my realm as well.  As powerful as he is and all,” he
said.
 
Castiel blushed and dipped his head down shyly, “I think it’s awesome that you
two know each other.”
 
“Mmhmm, grew up together.  Not that I’m not enjoying this but I’m sure Dean
will agree with me that we should start heading out of here,” Benny said and
smiled as Amara suckered back into his side.  He could feel her eagerness and
just by the slightly wild look in Dean’s eyes, they were all a little  too
ready to be somewhere more private.
 
Just as they reached the exit, Amara heard a familiar voice that sent ice
through her veins. Her head snapped toward the sound and she saw blonde woman
and the witch responsible for the midnight raid on their cave. They were
arguing heatedly with Jody,  beautiful brunette Udara who seemed to be doing
everything she could to get them to calm down.
 
“I’m telling you, I know that bi-that  witch  had her familiar with her before
we completed the ceremony,” Ruby said, her big plump lips turning down in a
scowl.
 
“Now you listen to me missy, that is just impossible.  No familiar can just
manifest itself before a witch has matured!  You probably saw another mountain
lion,” Jody said rolling her eyes.  She looked up to see Bobby’s charge, the
reason for Ruby’s tirade, trying to leave.  Part of her wanted to let the girl
get out of there but even if Bobby was one of her oldest friends, she couldn’t
play favorites.
 
“Amara!  Come here please,” she called out.
 
“Just stay calm,” Benny said softly as they all turned to head over to the
woman calling for Amara.
 
Amara took a few deep breaths and reminded herself to stick as close to the
truth as she could and to never outright lie about anything unless absolutely
necessary. The Udaras had a way of knowing when you were lying, so she would
have to be creative to not get caught.
 
Stepping up to the group, grateful Benny, Castiel, and Dean were by her side,
Amara pulled a small, but genuine smile for Jody. “Yes?”
 
“Maybe you can clear something up for us.  Ruby here is convinced that you
somehow had your familiar with you, inside the trials.  Is this true?” Jody
asked with a quirked brow.  Ruby said something under her breath but quickly
shut up when Jody glared at her.
 
“Well I’ve always felt that Benny was with me since I saw him that first time
on my Vision Quest...but I didn’t think it was possible for familiars to be
inside the trial grounds,” Amara said, with the most sincere expression she
could manage. Which was asking a lot of her, given that Ruby was only a couple
feet away and she’d have loved to wrapped her hands around the witch’s throat.
 
“She’s lying!  I know what I saw!” Ruby shouted.
 
Benny snarled under his breath, only Dean’s hand on his shoulder and Amara’s on
his chest keeping him in place.
 
“Hey!  Enough!  Okay, we’re going to settle this right now,” Jody shouted,
“Ruby, if what you say is true then describe Benny’s animal form.  Since you
saw him you should know what he looks like correct?” she said.
 
Ruby swallowed hard and stared between Amara and Jody, “I-I didn’t exactly...
see  him.  I just know he was there!  I heard the growl!” Ruby yelled.
 
“Oh are you referring to the growl of the Mountain Lion you spelled to attack
me or the sound that nearly split Benny into pieces when he tried to help me
escape two days later when you and your minions came to our cave in the middle
of the night and tried to poison us with a smoke bomb. Was that the growl you
were talking about?” she asked, her hand still firm against Benny’s chest.
Amara was still as calm, almost eerily so. She didn’t raise her voice, didn’t
yell back at Ruby though the urge to put the little brat in her place was
growing stronger every minute.
 
Jody closed her eyes and took in a deep breath.  She really should be used this
kind of crap by now but it still bothered how violent things had gotten in the
trials.  When the ruling came back for them to take no action against another
witch who had attacked someone in their sleep, all bets were off.  It was a
damn free for all now.  
 
“Ruby, go home.  Lick your wounds and move on.  Just because you’re envious of
the fact that Amara has a familiar…”
 
“That is not the point-”
 
“And I really don’t give a rat’s ass what your point is.  Go home,” Jody
ordered and waited for Lilith to drag a still bickering Ruby away before
turning her full attention to Amara, “You too, get home.  Rest up.  I’m really
glad you two made it, really,” she said with a tired smile.  She gave them a
small wave and headed back into her tent.
 
When she got back to Benny she squealed in delight and jumped into his arms.
“Carry me my knight, and let’s go home.”
===============================================================================
 
 
Benny tried to relax in the tin can that was called a vehicle but as Amara sped
down the highway the more he grew tense.  When she finally pulled into the lot
that was hers and Bobby’s home Benny nearly fell out of the car to kiss the
ground.  He did not like that thing and hoped he’d never have to ride in it
again.  
 
“This place is amazing,” Benny whispered mostly to himself.  The place was huge
with a cluster of trees behind the house that he couldn't wait to explore.  He
went around the truck and grinned when Amara all but dragged him into the
house.
 
“I’ve only ever seen this through your memories,” he said softly.  The little
images were playing in his head like a movie as he looked around.  Like the one
of Bobby teaching her how to cook in the kitchen and like the one where she
levitated her first object sitting cross legged in the family room.  Bobby
always there guiding and encouraging her.  When the old man got back Benny
would have to thank him again for not only teaching Amara but for having the
courage to do so after his tragic loss.
 
Amara was trying to let him explore the house, get a handle on his new home,
but she was also eager to get him into her room and into her bed. “C’mon, you
can look around later…” she said, tugging on his arm until he followed her up
the stairs.
 
Benny chuckled and once the door to her room was opened Benny picked her up,
her legs wrapping instantly around his waist, “So eager,” he growled out.  He
fell back on the bed with her still on top and kissed her with all the hunger
and need he was feeling for his witch.
 
Amara had been waiting so long to get her hands and mouth back on him. If it
weren't for the fact that he was in his human form, Amara would have sworn she
was still dreaming. It still felt a little too good to be true, but Benny’s
thick hands on her and the feeling of him beneath her kept her grounded in that
moment of heaven.
 
“You are gorgeous, more beautiful than I ever could have imagined…”
 
“I’m glad you approve sweetheart,” Benny chuckled taking her face in his hands
to bring her lips back to his.  He’d dreamed of doing this for so long he felt
insanely needy to have her there, against his lips at all times.  He rolled
them over until he was hovering over he and grinned wide at her, “I wanna see
you, I didn’t get a chance the last time.  Was too focused on the feeling of
being inside of you,” He said rolling his hips against her.  Thankfully she had
forgone the jeans in her clothing selection and kept with the stretchy material
that clung to her tightly.
 
“Is it wrong to hope that you’re just as, ungh, focused this time?” Amara
asked, her chest heaving as she began to feel him press against her through
nothing but the thin layer of her leggings. Amara had never been so excited to
get rid of a piece of clothing before. She began to push at the waistband to
get them over her hips as Benny just watched her, chuckling to himself.
 
“Oh I definitely am,” Benny groaned watching as more of her skin became visible
for him.  He finally got with the program and helped her undress until she was
completely bare to him.  Gods she was beautiful and the scent of her was making
his head spin.  There was so much he wanted to do but both of them were far too
eager for any long teasings.
 
“But first,” he said and rose up on his knees to pull off the robe.  His cock
hard and pulsing as her eyes raked down his body.  Grinning he let her stare at
him for a moment before he was kneeling between her legs again, “Been needing
another taste of you my sweet Mari,” he said kissing down her stomach.  His
eyes rolled up to watch her as he dragged the flat of his tongue up her already
wet slit.
 
“Ahh,” Amara moaned, half climbing up the bed from the realness of his tongue
against her. She’d thought for so long that she’d really felt the moments
they’d shared together in his home but now it was painfully clear that Amara
had seriously overestimated the reality of what his touch would feel like to
her. Now it was like fireworks lighting her up from the inside each and every
time his tongue made contact with her clit, She was already dripping for him in
just a few short breaths, Amara could feel her body responding in ways she’d
never felt happen before.
 
“Oh Gods Benny...I-” Amara’s fingers found his hair and she couldn’t help but
grab onto a fistful of it as he continued to lick and suck at her sensitive
spots.
 
Benny knew he’d have no problem turning Amara into a quivering mess in his arms
and that’s what he wanted.  His mother had warned him it could be painful for
Amara her first time and Benny wanted to do everything in his power to make it
less.  
 
He continued to lick and suck until Amara was all but crying out his name, the
grip in his hair tight.  She was so gloriously wet she was dripping down his
chin and he licked at it hungrily.  He was torn to keep doing what he was doing
or trying to enter her now.  Amara looked delicious, her legs splayed open
wide, chest heaving and eyes wild as she stared at him.  It had his cock
throbbing to slip into all that wet heat.  Keeping their eyes locked Benny
crawled up to her and let the head of his cock drag up her slit as he licked up
her neck to her ear, “You want more of my mouth or would you rather have my
cock now?” he asked nipping sharply at her earlobe.
 
Amara felt her face flush with want and heat from how easily the word had
slipped off his tongue. She longed to have the courage to speak so boldly, but
that would have to wait. For now, her first priority was getting Benny inside
her without any more hesitation. As wonderful as it felt, she needed to fully
connect with him and her mouth watered at the thought of feeling him really
push into her. “Mmm, I-ahhh yess, ‘m ready Benny. Please, I need you.”
 
Benny shuddered hard and guided himself into her slowly.  Both of them let out
groans as the feeling and Benny quickly stopped when he felt a bit of
resistance, “Kiss me my Mari,” he gasped and brought their lips together in a
heated kiss. He rolled their tongues together, loving her with every part of
him as began to push further into her.
 
There was a slight ache as Benny’s thick length pushed into her but it was
nothing compared to the pleasure she felt of finally being with him. The
tenderness and love he’d shown her even in such a short time was more than
enough to make up for any pain she might have felt. Benny’s kisses were
addictive and a great way to distract herself from it as her body stretched to
accommodate him.
 
Soon he was buried deep within her, making slow shallow thrusts and Amara could
feel blinding white heat building behind her eyes as pleasure surged through
her higher than she’d ever felt it before. “Benny, Benny, Yes, yes...ahhh, yes
please.. I-I -need.”
 
Benny buried his face into her neck but kept his thrusts shallow.  It wasn’t
only for her, if he went any faster he was scared of losing it too quickly.  He
wanted this to be so good for her.  Taking in a deep breath he rolled his hips
hard, the sound of her cry echoed in his ears and he groaned doing it again and
again.
 
“Feel so good sweetheart,” Benny grunted, lifting up on his elbow to look down
between them.  It was amazing to not only watch himself actually slip inside of
his witch but to feel her all around him.  With each thrust he could feel their
connection, could almost taste her heartbeat on his tongue.  
 
Amara was so close, she could feel her toes start to curl and as hard as she
tried she couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer, her body was resting on the
cliff of orgasm and Amara knew she wouldn’t be able to hold onto it much
longer. She wanted Benny to spill into her, wondered if she’d feel the rush of
his pleasure into her if her orgasm was flooding out at the same time. Amara’s
mind was overrun with ideas of what she wanted and she was mostly helpless to
just let go and hoped he came with her, “B-en-I ahhtahh, Now, ahmmm-now.”
 
Benny pressed their foreheads together as he sped up his hips,.  He changed the
angle just slightly and Amara clenched around him, her back bowing off the bed
as he felt her cum all around him.  His mouth dropped open and he only lasted
one more thrust before fell into his orgasm as well, her name falling from his
lips over and over again.
 
Amara was stuffed full of him, sated and warm. She was certain in that moment
that she’d never felt so good in her life. Part of her wanted to lay there and
never move again and the other part was eager to get up and dance around the
room like a maniac. Instead she met in the middle and tugged Benny as close as
she could get him and let out a few small pleased noises.
 
“That was...wow, that was amazing..” She said, huffing out a fond laugh as her
whole face began to hurt from how wide she was smiling.
 
Benny chuckled and kissed her deeply, his tongue rolling languidly along hers
until they needed to pull away to breathe, “Yes it was,” he hummed, gently
pulling out of her to lay on his side behind her.  He kissed the back of her
neck and hummed again, “You in any pain?”
 
“Nothing I’m feeling, not yet anyway,” She grinned, savoring the feeling of
having him wrapped around her like this too. It was much different than having
the panther draped over her but still just as wonderful.
 
“Good,” Benny growled and nipping at her ear.  He was growing hungry for her
again but didn’t want to push her if she wasn’t feeling up to it.  He trailed
his hand down her stomach and between her legs to find her still wet and warm.
 He rubbed his finger against her clit slowly as he rolled his hips against her
ass.
 
Amara let out a small moan, the feeling of his breath on her ear and his teeth
in her skin was sending thrills of excitement up her spine. Though she wasn’t
nearly as confident as Benny seemed to be, Amara didn’t want to be a lazy
lover. More than anything she wanted to give Benny all the pleasure he’d given
her, but she wasn’t sure she’d be any good at it. Thankfully, because of their
bond, she didn’t even have to say it for him to understand what she wanted.
 
“Don’t worry sweetheart, I’ll show you,” he said softly in her ear.
===============================================================================
 


Amara woke up blissfully happy. It was already almost noon if the height of the
sun slipping into her windows could be trusted. She stretched a little, smiling
up at Benny who was still sprawled across the bed with the arm closest to her
still clutching at her waist so lightly that she barely had to move for his
hand to slide over her hip and onto the mattress. She slid out of his grip
hoping not to disturb his sleep, after the incredible night he’d given her, the
man deserved to sleep in a little.
 
She slipped into the shower and washed the dressed herself, making sure to be
as quiet as possible. She wanted to surprise Benny with a nice breakfast before
they got started on their day.
 
Amara checked on him again before slipping downstairs humming a happy tune as
she moved
through the kitchen. She gathered everything she’d need to cook up a feast, and
then quickly texted Bobby to see if she needed to set another plate.
 
Text to Bobby: Want some Brunch? If so ETA
 
Text to Amara: Thanks Kiddo but Ellen made a huge breakfast for us this
morning.  Will be back in a few hours.
 
Text to Bobby: K, It's been a long two weeks and I’m feeling incredibly hungry.
So you might wanna stop by the store on your way back.
 
Amara grinned and started frying sausage so she could mix up her pancake
batter. By the time she finished almost an hour later there was a whole table
full of food that she knew even the two of them with healthy appetites wouldn’t
be able to finish, but it was mostly things that would be good when reheated
later and she wanted her effort to show.
 
The coffee pot had just clicked off when she heard her name being called and
footsteps on the stairs. “Good morning, my knight”
 
Benny moved up behind her and kissed at her neck as his arms wrapped around
her, “What’s all this?” he asked looking at the amazing spread of food.  His
stomach rumbled loudly and his mouth was already watering before he even spied
the plate of sausages.
 
“I promised you a meal fit for a king, or something like that...though I’m not
going to lie, at least half of it is just because I’ve missed the taste of
breakfast for two, very long, very exhausting weeks,” Amara confessed, tilting
her neck over a little to give them both a slight taste, him of her skin, and
her of his lips.
 
As wonderful as it felt, Amara didn’t let him linger long, both of their
stomachs were ready for food and though she’d snuck a few small tastes while
cooking, it only made her crave more. “C’mon let’s eat,”
 
Benny sat down and unashamedly began to shovel food into his mouth.  He tried
very hard to eat slower and with a tiny bit of manners but the second he tasted
it he couldn’t stop.  He was about to fill his plate for the third time when he
finally had to sit back with a loud groan.
 
“Oh...wow.  That was amazing Mari.  I’m gonna need a very long nap after that,”
he chuckled.
 
“We can rest for a little while if you want, but as soon as you’re ready I’m
going to,” she paused, swallowing hard. Amara knew that there was risk
involved, that it could be that he’s been gone all these years and she doesn’t
know because she didn’t have the power to find out. But now she has the power
and if he’s out there, she wants, no she needs to find him. “We’re going to
test my powers and see if there’s any sign of Chuck now that I’ve been
upgraded.”
 
Benny sat up and reached for her hand, “If you’re ready, I may have an idea,”
he said dragging his thumb over her knuckle. Benny sighed a little and dragged
his fingers through his hair, “You need to remember that you’re not the only
one who grew in power yesterday.  The moment I officially came here and left my
realm, then connected on a physical level, my powers magnified too.  I can
sense things about you that I was never able to before.”
 
Benny chewed on his lip and really hoped Amara wouldn’t become angry with him,
“All familiars have some sort of bond with each other, we can sense when there
is another one around.  Like I know for a fact there are two Owl’s in these
very woods still searching for their witches.”
 
Amara’s eyes widened as she felt overwhelmingly in awe of him.
 
“Anyway, there’s another familiar connected to you Amara and I think I should
be able to help you find your brother.”
 
Amara looked at him in confusion for a second before she realized what he was
saying. Her eyes went wide and she was grateful for the seat under her because
Amara was almost certain her legs would have given out at the realization.
“He’s...You’re saying Chuck, he’s a familiar?”
 
“I can’t be sure but there is  someone  else attached to you.  It isn’t Bobby
or Castiel and usually this kind of thing could send a familiar into a
possessive rage but I feel nothing like that.  If anything I’m insanely curious
about whoever it is.  Which is why I’m just a bit more convinced that it’s your
brother.  And it could answer why he had to suddenly leave you,” Benny
explained.  He didn’t want to get her hopes up but the more he thought it over
in his head the more it made sense.
 
“O-Okay,” Amara said, shocked that it could even be possible. She’d learned the
hard way that there came a cost with hope but with Benny at her side,
everything seemed a whole lot less terrifying and overrunning with promise.
“We’ll talk to Bobby and then we’ll go looking for him, however long it takes.”
===============================================================================
 
 
Bobby walked around the circle sprinkling a mixture of sea salt and angelica
blessed by the sun and the full moon that had passed the night before.  Inside
the circle sat Amara and Benny sitting back to back, fingers clasped together
as they controlled their breathing and listened to the wind gently playing in
the trees.  It took them a few days of preparation for the ritual and
thankfully it coincided with the full moon and Amara wouldn’t have to wait an
entire month.  
 
At first Bobby thought Benny’s idea was a bit far fetched but he couldn't deny
that he too felt something attached to Amara.  It had always been there even
before the trials and Bobby just put it to the side that maybe it was just
Benny’s way of staying connected to Amara.  But now that the familiar was here
Bobby quickly changed his mind. There was no way he could have helped her
follow it anyway.  Only a familiar could do that and now, they had one.
 
Once the circle was set Bobby stood in the north point and silently asked for
protection over Benny and Amara, then drove the athame in his hand into the
dirt to seal it, “You may begin,” he said soundly.  
 
Amara began chanting in a low tone, Benny’s voice a quiet echo in her ear as
the air around them began to shift slightly. It was barely a breeze but Amara
felt it all the same. Just as she’d found a peaceful blackness, Amara’s eyes
snapped open and the view in front of her changed entirely. She wasn’t in
Bobby’s house anymore, but moving fast through a grassy meadow. The world
around her shook from running at speeds she wasn’t used to. It wasn’t until she
looked down to see a blur of black paws moving beneath her that she realized
Benny was the one running, carrying them across the different terrains with
ease.
 
Benny kept his mind open and let it carry them through the realms until he felt
the strongest connection through Amara.  He veered left and slowed his pace
when he came through a thick cluster of trees and bushes.  There in a clearing
was the small house that he’d seen before in Amara’s memories and slowly he
approached it.
 
Amara’s nose curled up at the bowl of oatmeal Chuck put in front of her.
“Gross, why didn’t you just wait for me to wake up. I couldda made something
good.”
 
Chuck laughed a little and ruffled her hair, his chest constricting a bit when
those fiery brown eyes glared up at him, “Because I wanted to make you
breakfast at least once…” he said swallowing hard.
 
“Do we have any cereal left?” she asked, scrounging through the cabinets,
completely oblivious to the world around her.  She dug into one of the lower
cupboards and finally found some Cheerios, it wasn’t her favorite but it was so
much better than that nasty oatmeal Chuck was trying to make her eat.


Once she sat down, Amara looked up at her brother with a hopeful expression.
“Will you take me to town today? I want to get a new notebook, mine’s empty.”
 
Chuck winced, his hands fumbling together in his lap, “I um, not today Amara.
 I’m sorry,” he said and frowned when she scowled at him.  He didn’t want their
last moments together to be like this, “I um, I have a present for you.  Hold
on,” he said and dashed out of his chair.  He meant for her to find this much
later but he wanted to see her smile one last time.  He grabbed up the bundle
of hard covered notebooks and special pencils and brought them to her at the
table.
 
“I know you like to pick out your own but I thought you might like these,” he
said and gently placed them next to her.
 
Amara gasped, they were the most awesome notebooks she’d ever seen. Each one
had that aged look to their covers and the pages were stained with tea or
coffee to make it look so much older than they were. She sat there gaping in
disbelief for a few minutes before she rushed around the table and hugged
Chuck’s middle. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
 
Chuck swallowed hard and bit back the anguish squeezing at his chest, “You’re
welcome,” he said softly kissing the top of her head and keeping her there
until she wriggled away from him.  He watched her and took in a deep breath.
 The pull was too much for him to ignore any longer and he wouldn’t let this
happen in front of his sister.  She was too young to understand.  He just hoped
that it wasn’t a lie that she would be okay...that she would be found.
 
“Alright um, I gotta walk down to the mailbox.  Why don’t you take one of those
notebooks and write me a poem about the fields look behind the house yeah?” he
said.
 
“Okay, thanks Chuck..you’re the best brother EVER!” Amara grinned, but
something in her faltered.
 
She knew what happened next but instead of grabbing up her stash and running
out through the yard to play, Amara’s perspective shifted and she watched her
own backside retreating out of sight.
 
“Are you ready for this Mari?” Benny asked nudging at her hip as he heard the
front door close.
 
“I need to know what happened, show me Dubhdara.” Amara confirmed.
 
Benny nodded and gently nipped at her fingers until she grabbed onto his fur.
 He guided them through the house to follow Chuck.  The man looked wrecked and
he stumbled a few times as he got farther and farther away from the house.
 Benny sniffed the air and along with the salt that was Chuck’s tears he could
also smell smoke.  He looked around for some kind of sign of fire but there was
nothing there.  
 
Just outside the property line, carefully hidden behind some trees Chuck
stopped, turning back to face the house.
 
“Stay safe little sister,” he whispered and took in a deep shaky breath.  His
eyes fluttered before squeezing shut, his arms raising up as his entire body
was engulfed with flames.
 
Amara came to screaming. Her throat was dry, as if she was still inhaling the
smoke. She was going to be sick, her stomach curdled in disgust and she felt
the bile rising up in her throat. She didn’t know what happened but there could
be no denying that Chuck turned to ash before her very eyes. Tracks of wet
patches cooled on her face made by the salty tears that were coming out in
steady streams.
 
“No...noooo no no no no!”
 
“Mari! Sweetheart breathe!” Benny said trying to make his voice louder than her
heart beating in her ears.  He grabbed at her face and her unfocused eyes
wouldn’t meet his.
 
“Amara, look at me, now,” he ordered and suddenly their eyes locked and he
heaved out a breath, “He’s okay, no listen to me sweetheart, I know what he
is!” he said.  Bobby was pacing outside of the circle and Benny could feel his
need to break it and come closer but he was grateful the old man was keeping
out of this for now.
 
“B-bu f-fire,  Ch-,  I saw him, Benny!”  Amara shook wildly, if not for the
strong hands on her shoulders she surely would have fallen apart entirely. The
scene she’d witnessed in the woods playing over and over again in her mind.
 
“I know but listen to me, he’s a phoenix…”
 
“Jesus Christ,” Bobby hissed, his hand dragging over his face, “You sure about
this?” he demanded.
 
Benny frowned and pulled Amara until she was all but sitting in his lap, “Of
course I am.  I know what I saw.  I smelled the ash before he burned up.”
 
Bobby closed the circle faster than he had ever done before and closed the
distance between him and the other two.  He knelt down in front of Amara and
touched her face, “Kiddo...I know where he is.”
 
Amara was half catatonic listening to the others talk, still mostly in shock
from what she’d seen even though she realized, abstractly, neither Benny nor
Bobby seemed to be as upset as she was. Part of her wondered if it was because
they didn’t know him, something else, something warmer told her that wasn’t the
case. She just couldn’t process anything, not even with Benny wrapped tightly
around her.
 
“Let's get her inside,” Bobby said.  
 
Benny nodded and gently lifted her in his arms.  They left their supplies
outside, promising to get them later.  He carried her inside the house and up
the stairs to her bedroom.  When he laid her down she was still staring off
into nothing and there was a flare of panic in his chest.  He should have
shielded her, warned her.  Something.  Bobby came in a moment later with a
chunk of chocolate and some hot tea.  Benny broke it into pieces and sent up
his thanks when Amara actually ate it.
 
“That’s it sweetheart,” he said feeding her another piece and then helping her
sip up some of the hot tea.
 
Amara felt the warm liquid slip past her lips but the taste was unfamiliar on
her tongue for a few seconds before the scent and taste of ash flooded back
through her and she coughed it all back up. She felt Benny’s fingers on her
chin as he wiped at her mouth with a towel and her gaze traced along the lines,
flowing up his arm, over his bicep, and up to the familiar blue eyes.
 
“There you are,” Benny said softly, dragging his thumb across her cheekbone,
“He’s still alive sweetheart, he’s still here and Bobby knows where he is.”
 
“S-still..” Amara’s voice was scratchy and she wasn’t quite sure she heard him
correctly but when she started to really look at him, Benny wasn’t smiling but
he was...hopeful. She could feel it in her own chest. She shook her head and
tried to pull up what he’d said again but she’d barely heard it the first time.
 
“W-what?”
 
“Your brother is still alive Mari,” Benny said with a soft smile.
 
It took a few repetitions from both of them before she finally understood in
her core,what he’d been trying to say to her. Eventually though, Benny held her
in his arms, broke through the haze of grief, panic, and shock, and Amara
realized that what she’d seen wasn’t an ending, but a rebirth.
 
“We have to find him, we have to find Chuck.”
 
“Kiddo, Phoenix familiars only align themselves to a very specific type of
witch and there is only one in this state who has one,” Bobby explained, “His
name is Julian Richings, quirky kinda guy.”
 
“So you know where he is then?” Amara asked trying to sit up only to feel
Benny’s arms tighten around her. “Let me go, Benny. If we know where he is I
have to go.”
 
“Hey, you need to relax sweetheart.  I know you want to go see him right this
second but I’m getting the feeling that this Richings guy isn’t just a run of
the mill witch and you’re still not feeling one hundred percent,” Benny said
gently pushing Amara back down on the bed.
 
“You’d be correct.  Let me make some phone calls to find out where he is
exactly and when we can see him.  I’ll explain once I get the whole story on
the guy,” Bobby said and left the room to go call first Ellen then more than
likely Jody.
 
It felt like a twist of wrongness was coiling inside her gut but deep down she
knew they were right to be cautious. After being incredibly patient all these
years for no real sign of life it was like someone kept driving spikes into her
feet now that she had a sliver of hope in her chest and a path to finding him
stretched out before her.
 
“Benny I,” she didn’t know what to say, knew she should listen to him and
Bobby, they were being smarter about everything but Amara couldn’t stop
replaying the memories in her mind and even though she felt the truth when she
heard it, her mind still provided plenty of images of her brother’s sadness
when he left her, of the guilt he must have felt, of his body engulfed in
flames.
 
“I promise you Mari I will get you to him.  Just know in your mind and soul
that your brother is safe and alive, that you will see him very soon.  Bobby
just needs to find their exact location,” Benny whispered brushing his fingers
through her hair.  He wanted to do more to calm her down but he wasn’t sure
what she wanted at that moment.  He took up her hand and kissed her fingers
before pressing her palm against his chest.
 
“Yeah, just...just a little longer,” Amara said, though she wasn’t really sure
she believed it. There had been so many years, too many, and she was starting
to get the feeling that she’d never see him again. What if his witch wouldn’t
let her close enough to try, what if he’d gone somewhere else, somewhere out of
state, what if the memory was wrong or Benny was mistaken and he really was
just a pile of ashes blown across their territory.
 
I will find you, Chuck, I’ll find you and I won’t lose you again.
===============================================================================
 
 
“So we are all in agreeance that these issues with the trials need to be
brought up with the council?” Bobby asked his hands folded together on the
table.  All around him he saw nods and voiced out yesses.  Even though the
whole idea had been Amara’s idea, Bobby had taken the lead in the meeting.  He
knew she didn’t like it but he was grateful that Benny had made her understand
that a barely matured witch wouldn’t have much of a say in their community just
yet.  Bobby’s friends were more understanding than most but there were a few,
Rufus for one, who were just too ornery to listen to a young one.
 
Everyone was there, all of Bobby’s old friends and some acquaintances that he
knew hated the trials and wanted them abolished altogether.  His house had
never been so full before, thank the Gods Amara knew how to cook and both Ellen
and Jody had come over early to help out as well.  If it had been left to him
everyone would be eating a can of beans.
 
Once everyone had their fill of food they gathered in the dining room and spoke
their thoughts and hopes for the trials.  While some still wanted the entire
thing gone, the majority like himself, wanted it changed.  To go back to the
way it was and any act of violence against a fellow witch be punishable.  That
was when both Amara and Castiel spoke up.  Telling of their experiences of
feeling hunted, attacked and then nearly murdered with little chance to defend
themselves.  Bobby damn near broke skin as he dug his nails into his arm
listening to this.  Amara was superb in every field of magick but Castiel
struggled with defensive spells.  How is it considered fair when a powerful
witch as himself is picked off just because he can’t deflect spells?  
 
“Alright, when we hear of the next council meeting we’ll set up a another
meeting just before to try and set up a conference with them,” Ellen piped in,
her hand reaching out to squeeze at Amara’s shoulder.
 
She nodded, feeling a little wrung out after spilling everything to a group of
mostly strangers, however trustworthy they might be. More than anything Amara
wanted to just run. She wasn’t sure if it was her own need to chase after Chuck
or Benny’s desire to be anywhere else but there, bleeding into her heart but
for the most part she just didn’t care. The urge to get out was strong in them
both it seemed.
 
Thankfully the people started to filter own, a few closer friends of Bobby’s
still hanging around. Ellen, Jody and her wife Donna, and of course Rufus
stayed, which meant Amara was grateful to have Castiel and Dean stay after too.
She grabbed up Benny’s hand and motioned them all toward the back door and out
into the small yard just before they crossed into the tree line.
 
Amara let out a quiet groan as she took a deep breath of fresh air. “Ahhh, this
feels so much better.”
 
“Yes it does.  We haven’t been spending much time indoors lately,” Castiel said
moving up next to her.  There was a light wind but seemed to sense they were
all out there, it picked up enough to ruffle their hair and Castiel sighed
happily.
 
“I need to run, to get out of here. I love Bobby and I might even come back but
I can feel Chuck calling me in my heart and I’m still stuck here,” Amara
confessed, though her sad smile grew brighter as she watched their shifted
familiars play happily with one another. “They used to do this all the time, I
can’t tell you how many times I had to watch Benny push Dean away because I
came to him in my dreams.”
 
Castiel laughed a little, “ I wish I could have seen that but I guess I am
right now,” he said watching them for a minute before grabbing at Amara’s hand,
“Was Bobby able to get ahold of your brother’s witch?”
 
Amara scratched numbly at her arm, more a nervous habit than an actual itch.
“He’s found the guy he thinks is Chuck’s witch but he wanted to get more
information before I went there...both he and Benny are being cautious and I
get it...I’m young and not all witches like their lives being interrupted much
less by some stupid kid they don’t know but I’m also going a little stir crazy
while waiting.”
 
“And not all witches have the same relationship as we do with ours.  You’re not
some stupid kid, there has to be a reason why Bobby’s being cautious-”
 
“There is,” Bobby said walking up to them.  His hands shoved into his pocket.
 Ellen, Jody, Donna and Rufus were a bit away from them talking with each
other.
 
“Look kiddo, I just wanted to make sure that I was right before going over
there and you bein heartbroken cause I was wrong,” Bobby said, a smile pulling
at his lips when Benny and Dean raced between them.
 
“I know, Bobby. I’m not stupid...everything you’ve done for the last five years
has all been to protect me, to keep me happy, healthy, and safe...I just,”
Amara sighed in frustration, not being able to find the right words to say what
she needed. “It’s not that I’m not grateful, I just  need  this, I  need  it in
a way I’ve never needed anything before. I need to see him at least once more,
if nothing else,” she paused, her voice breaking with emotion. “I have to see
him one last time.”
 
“Amara, c’mere,” He said and gently led her and Castiel over to the picnic
table over by their herb garden, once they were seated and Amara was breathing
just a little better Benny continued.
 
“Your brother is tied to a very, very powerful witch.  He’s what we like to
teasingly call a Reaper,” Bobby started stilling Castiel’s gasp with a look,
“It’s hard to explain really but in the simplest of terms that I can, he and
Chuck guide souls to the next life.  Some go into the ether to wait to be
reborn, the rest well they are immediately reborn.  That’s why Phoenix’s are so
rare, there’s usually only one in a lifetime.  And that’s why it took me so
long to track them down, they’re hardly ever on this plane.  But Julian has
agreed to a meeting for you and Chuck tomorrow,” Bobby explained.
 
Amara was shaking at the news. Though part of her was still afraid the rug was
going to be pulled out from under her, she couldn’t help but smile at the mere
idea of being face to face with her brother again. Tears of joy began to brim
at the edge of her eyes and she started to laugh, to laugh and smile and feel
the happiness thrumming under her skin.
 
Chuck was alive and real and she’d see him again in just a few hours, just one
single day..
 
Amara’s magic hovered around the group, shades of pastel swirling between each
of them and pulling them into a circle, exploding in a canopy of sparkling
lights far over their heads. The grass tickled against the toes of her flip
flops until she quickly slipped them off and began to dance around in it,
pulling Benny with her. Her heart was full and she was smiling so wide her
cheeks hurt as the earth moved under their feet.
 
The hope in her chest flooded out and sparked new life into the soil between
her toes. Tiny dandelions rose up from the ground, moving in a thin circle
around the whole group. It didn’t stop until Benny picked her up and spun her
around.
 
The air around them bubbled with such happiness that no one was immune from it.
 Not even the cranky old man Rufus.  He was smiling and laughing with the
others as they moved closer towards them.  Benny had never seen or felt his
witch this happy before, he couldn’t help spinning her around until both of
them grew dizzy.  They fell to the ground in a peal of laughter and Amara
nearly squealed when Dean still in his fox form came bounding over and tackled
her.
 
“Dean!” Castiel laughed falling to the grass next to them.
 
“This...this is amazing, I haven’t felt this light in years,” Ellen laughed,
opening up her arms as she took in a deep breath of the fresh flower scent.
 
Amara tried to catch her breath against Benny’s chest, still smiling and
laughing between exhales. She couldn’t believe after all this time she was
really going to see Chuck again, to have her brother back, even if only for a
few minutes. Feeling overwhelmed with both love and hope, Amara pushed herself
up a little until she could claim Benny’s lips with a chaste kiss. “Thank you,
I know I haven’t said it...with everything that I saw it wasn’t easy but thank
you, Benny. For sharing the memories, for helping me with this, for
everything.”
 
“You are more than welcome my beautiful Mari,” Benny said cupping each side of
Amara’s face as he kissed her, “I love you,” he smiled brightly and rubbed
their foreheads together as Amara’s magick continued to swirl all around them.
 
“And I love you, my dark knight.”
===============================================================================
 
 
The morning had started off like most others with one key exception; Amara was
nervous, hopeful too, but still very nervous.
 
If not for Benny distracting her she’d have been a complete and utter mess by
noon when it was time to leave. She was incredibly grateful that Dean and
Castiel had stayed the night in Bobby’s small guest room so that she would have
them for moral support, whatever the day might bring.
 
Now they were moving in the direction of Sturgis which was as far across the
state as they could get and still be in South Dakota but Amara didn’t mind. The
drive was actually calming compared to being trapped in the house while they
waited. Castiel had driven his jeep and when Benny had eyed Bobby’s truck
suspiciously, he’d taken pity on them and offered to be the other driver. While
Rufus grumped about everyone getting to do the fun stuff without him, he
claimed he had business to take care of and left. Jody and Donna had taken off
the night before though much to Amara’s surprise, Ellen seemed to be sticking
around.
 
The journey should have taken around five hours but they stopped quite a bit,
for both Benny and Dean, neither used to riding in a car for long. They weren’t
far off schedule though, only twenty minutes and that was after stopping for
lunch.
 
Castiel had just passed the sign that read Welcome to Sturgis South Dakota when
Amara started to feel her pulse pounding against her ears. Suddenly she was
terrified over the most ridiculous things.
 
What if I’ve changed too much?
 
What if he doesn’t even recognize me anymore?
 
What if I don’t recognize him?
 
What if he isn’t my brother anymore?
 
What if he hates me…
 
“Shhh Mari.  There’s no way he could hate you,”  Benny said linking their
fingers together to make their connection even stronger.  He’d been hearing her
mind get more and more creative with its questions.  He gently pulled her
closer and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
 
“ Both of you have changed but that won’t matter.”
 
Amara closed her eyes and leaned into him, letting him calm the restless
thoughts and feelings tumbling around inside her. She smiled as she thought of
the time Chuck tried to teach her to ride a bicycle. Where he got the thing
she’d never know but he brought it home and gave it to her with a flourish of
arms. Amara remembered feeling skeptical about the bike, despite seeing a few
of the other kids her age riding around on them during the rare trips to town
she got to make with him. But when she looked up to ask him what it was, her
brother’s face was so full of hope that she couldn’t do anything but smile and
run to give him the biggest hug she could manage at seven years old.
 
It had taken her a long time to get the hang of balancing herself and the
courage to not stop pedaling so that she stayed in motion. But instead of
getting frustrated and giving up like she’d suspected most brothers would,
Chuck was patient and he never failed to make sure her scuffed knees and
bruised shins were treated right away.
 
She was jerked out of her warm memories when not even ten minutes after they
passed the city limits, Amara’s magic surged through her and she felt him, she
felt her brother for the first time in over six years.
 
“We’re almost there,” Castiel called out, following Bobby off the highway.
 
Benny gripped Amara’s hand a bit tighter when he too felt the sudden surge of
magick.  It was strange and very old, much older than what he had imagined.
 Castiel turned right and the closer they got the more Benny’s skin tingled
with the influx of power.  They were meeting Chuck and Julian at a park and
Benny didn’t need to look at a map to know they were only a few minutes away.
 
“I think that’s it up there,” Castiel said pointing to a huge lush park and
sure enough, Bobby turned into it.  Castiel followed him easily and it took
Benny’s hand on Amara’s to keep her from flinging herself from the jeep.
 
Even though she could feel his magick, Amara needed to have him closer, needed
to see him with her eyes, feel his arms around her again. Once the jeep came to
a full stop, Benny finally let her hand slip free and she took off in a run,
chasing the tendrils of his power back to its source. She could faintly hear
the others calling out for her, the pounding of her pulse easily drowning them
out. She was so close though, she couldn’t let them stop her...couldn’t hold
herself back any further.
 
Benny raced after her, the need to shift almost overwhelming as his feet
pounded into the earth.  He understood and could feel the panic rising in her
the longer it took to find Chuck but he needed her to slow down.  Benny could
feel her brother closeby but they weren’t on this plane, not yet.  
 
“Mari, stop!” he called out, just barely catching her arm before she flew off
again.  Both of them were breathing hard and he was about to explain when the
wind picked up around them.  The air crackled and the hairs on their arms stood
on end as a portal of wind and electricity opened up next to them.  
 
Out walked a man in his mid twenties but when his magick touched Benny’s it
felt old.  He had a long cane in his hand and a noticeable limp that Benny
tried to not stare at too much.  The man, who Benny was assuming had to be
Julian stopped and he let out a low whistle.  A large, magnificent bird flew
the portal and did a few loops around them before settling on the ground.
 Within seconds the feathers melted into human skin.
 
“Hello little sister,” Chuck said, his throat thick and chin trembling as he
held out his arms.
 
Amara rushed forward, weeping openly when she felt his familiar grip around
her. Now that she had him here, standing before her Amara wanted to laugh, to
cry, to be angry, a million other emotions flooding over her in waves. She knew
there wasn’t a real cause for any of the negative emotions, Chuck couldn’t help
the fact that he had to go any more than she could have but Amara also knew
that the lonely months before Bobby wouldn’t leave her memories easily. She
shook her head, focusing on the moment...she wasn’t sure how long she’d get so
she held on tightly and savored it. “I missed you so much…”
 
Chuck nodded, the words locking up in his throat as he held her almost too
tight.  He had missed her so much and worried himself to the point of sickness
so many times.  There was a solid hand on his shoulder and he looked up to see
his witch smiling softly at him before walking towards the others who were just
now catching up.  There was a man with long hair staring at them for a long
moment before he too moved towards the others but much slower.  Chuck was
assuming and praying that he was Amara’s familiar.
 
“C’mere,” he whispered and gently led Amara towards a picnic table, their arms
not once letting the other go.
 
“I’m so sorry Amara...I’m so sorry,” he whispered as he ran his fingers through
her hair.
 
“I’m just happy to see you. I wasn’t sure I’d ever have that chance again,” she
confessed. Amara then reached up to wipe at the corner of her eye, only for him
to beat her to it.
 
“I wish I could have told you what was going to happen but I couldn't.  You
weren’t ready yet,” Chuck said softly, his thumb catching each tear.  His
little sister was always pretty but she was beautiful now and he could feel the
power thrumming inside of her like a current.  He couldn’t help smiling, “I
always knew you would be amazing, sister” he said cupping the side of her face.
 
“Oh, I’m n-not,” she started, but then the flashes of the trials came back to
her, of the surge of power she’d felt inside her when she and Benny connected
and Amara realized, she deserved the compliment and she would gladly take it.
“Thank you, it’s mostly Benny...and Bobby too, he was my mentor, my family
after you left.”
 
Chuck swallowed hard and nodded, the empty feeling in his stomach ripping open
just a little more, “I’m glad you had a good mentor.  Julian told me about him
after he talked with Bobby.”  He looked up to see the long haired guy looking
at them again and Chuck huffed out a laugh, “I’m assuming that’s your familiar
then?”
 
Amara smiled and blushed a little at the mention of Benny. She’d shared nearly
everything with her brother before he’d left but Amara had never felt drawn to
anyone like she’d felt with Benny...had never even had so much as a crush
before. Sure, there were people she could say were pretty or handsome, even at
twelve years old...but she’d never had any interest in them because of it.
 
Only Benny, Always Benny.
 
“Yes, his name is Benny...he’s a beautiful black panther,” she said, her smile
growing a little as she talked about him. Chuck  wore a teasing smile but she
could feel his happiness too. “He hasn’t been with me long,  but he’s already
saved my life twice now.”
 
Chuck smiled, as the temptation raised to tease his sister for the little blush
on her cheeks but he refrained for now.  He took up her left hand and looked at
the beautiful tattoo on the inside of her wrist.  Even though he didn’t know
what it stood for, he knew it fit her perfectly.
 
Swallowing hard he looked up at her but kept her hand in his, “I-Is there uh,
anything wanna ask me?”
 
Amara fidgeted a little in her seat, there weren’t any burning questions but
there was one, one that she was terrified to ask. She looked back toward the
group waiting for her, closed her eyes, took a deep breath and turned toward
him again, “Will I ever see you again?”
 
‘Of course you will,” Chuck said, almost a little baffled at the question.
 Then understanding slammed into him and he let out a long breath before
pulling Amara in for another hug, “It will take some working out with Julian
but he’s not against us seeing each other.  I swear to you on that.”
 
Amara melted into his hug, the relief swimming in her stomach. She’d been so
sure that this would be their last moments together. Of course, she’d have
understood no matter how much pain it would have caused her. What his witch
was, what Chuck did, it was important and Amara didn’t want to get in the way
of that.
 
“He’s good to you?” she whispered, though she was almost certain the other
witch could hear her. Something about the witch gave him a distinct omnipotent
vibe. Still, Chuck was her brother and unfortunately, she had to ask. Too many
witches had started to treat their familiars like pets, well no, lower than
that; any living creature deserved more respect than some witches bestowed on
their familiars.
 
“Yes he is,” Chuck said resting his chin on Amara’s head as he relaxed, the
wind playing around them a bit, “He treats me like an equal and on some days
he’s more like an older brother.  We’ve been talking and even though he appears
young, he has a very old soul.  He wants to take on a charge soon, which would
allow me to have some free time,” he said, smiling at the memory.  They had
just returned from the realm of the in between and Julian had for whatever
reason sprung up the conversation.  At first it had been a weird attempt for
Julian to let Chuck know that he could start dating if he really wanted to but
the moment they got the phone call from Bobby, both of them knew most of that
“free” time would be spent with his sister.
 
“That’s good...it’s good that he’s kind to you…” Amara didn’t want to break up
their moment but she was also eager to have him meet everyone. Maybe if he saw
Julian as an older brother, he could too understand why the small, but
wonderful group of people that she’d brought were her makeshift family too.
Amara’s traitorous heart already leaping forward to a future where they could
all feel the the same bonds, kinship with one another.
 
She tugged at his hand pulling him toward where everyone was waiting for her,
“Everyone, this is my brother Chuck...Chuck this is everyone,” she paused
before bumping him slightly and continuing to introduce them one by one.
 
Chuck shook hands with everyone though when it came to Benny, he faltered a
bit.  The guy was huge and almost seemed to be sizing him up a bit.  Chuck
stuck his hand out but was pleasantly surprised when the guy hugged him
instead.
 
“It’s really good to finally meet you,” Benny said with a huge smile.
 
“I think you were right Dean, he resembles a teddy bear more than a ferocious
cat,” Castiel teased.
 
“Told you, his belly even bounces when he’s shifted...why do you think it’s so
much fun to jump on,” Dean answered quietly, earning himself a glare from
Amara. He mouthed the word ‘Sorry’ even if he didn’t mean it, and focused his
attention back on Cas.
 
Amara eventually just rolled her eyes fondly at Dean, ignoring his antics and
shuffling closer to Benny. His arms fell naturally around her waist and Amara
leaned into the touch. It was calming and it made her feel more comfortable
than before, though the same couldn’t be said for the others.
 
“I feel like I should have brought food or something,” she said, shaking her
head at the fact that she was now surrounded by everyone she loved and for some
reason there was still an awkward tension in the air.
 
“Well, I’ve learned a bit since the  gross oatmeal, ’ Chuck said with a laugh,
snapping his fingers together until a simple but delicious covered the small
picnic table next to them.
 
Amara’s eyes went wide, even she couldn’t have put together something so easily
from thin air.
 
She gaped a little but her brother looked back at her with a shrug. “What can I
say, Julian is  very  particular about his food.”
 
“Oh I like him,” Dean said, clapping his hands together and moving toward the
table drawing a laugh out of everyone.
 
The awkwardness dissipated and soon they were all sharing laughter, memories,
and a delicious meal together. She couldn’t remember a time when she felt more
complete. Amara knew whatever the world had planned for her, she’d get through
it.
 
With these people at her side, there was nothing she couldn’t do.
End Notes
     Xeno-shifted (dream) sex, oral and otherwise, between Benny and Amara
     while he's a panther.
     Violence: Amara is attacked and injured, Both Amara and Castiel are
     poisoned (both survive)
     I don't know if I missed anything or not, feel free to tell me if I
     left something out.
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