The Woods

River walked slowly along the bank of a small stream, occasionally stretching her wings.

She would sometimes cast worried glances toward the woods to her left, making sure nothing was coming towards her.

River sat down at the edge, putting her right hand in the cold water.

She looked to the woods again. Something didn’t seem right to her.

River suddenly looked up when she heard the snap of a twig behind her. She turned her head once again towards the woods and saw someone walking towards her.

River stood up, not sure if she should approach the boy. She leaned to the right, trying to see around the tree. “Hello…?” she called.

River jumped a little at all the commotion. “Are you alright?” she called, taking a few steps forward.

River stopped walking and put up her hands. “It’s okay,” she said. “I don’t have any weapons… or… anything,” she said, trying to decide what species the boy was.

“A Werecat…” River muttered. “I’m an Angel,” she said, clearly. “I’m not going to hurt you,”

River looked past him into the dark woods. “I was always told not to go in there,” she said. “I heard it was dangerous,” she looked at his hand. "Are you okay?" she asked.

“Can I see it?” River asked, taking a step forward.

River knelt down and carefully took his hand. “It appears to be sprained,” she said. She held her left hand over it and closed her eyes until a white light shone beneath her fingers.

“It won’t hurt,” River said as the light got brighter, then went out. “Does it feel any better?” she asked.

River smiled brightly. “I don’t do much healing, but… I thought it might help,”

“I’m River,” River said, standing up. “So what were you doing out here?” she asked.

River looked out at the woods again. They seemed to grow darker every time she blinked. “I don’t like it over here,” she said, turning away. “I was only out here because my pet ran away somewhere around here,” she said.

River nodded. “His name is Castiel,” she said. “He’s always getting into trouble and I just don’t want him to get hurt,”

River smiled brightly. “Okay,” she said. “I saw some of his tracks by the stream,”

River turned back to the stream, walking slowly toward it. “Where are you from, Shadow?” she asked.

River nodded. “Right,” she said. “I had forgotten about that place-” she stopped talking when some bushes by the stream started rustling around.

After a moment, a blue little, fuzzy animal hopped out of the bushes. It was sort of tiger like with gray stripes. River smiled. “There he is,” she said.

The little blue tiger tromped happily out of the bushes to them. “Castiel, this is Shadow,” River said, kneeling down and petting Castiel.

Castiel purred and nuzzled Shadow’s feet.

River sat down next to Castiel and looked at the flowers next to the stream. “My brother’s probably looking for me,” she said.

River nodded. “Parker is his name,” she said. “He left with some of his friends right before Castiel ran off. He’s probably back now…”

River nodded. “Yeah…” she said, quietly. “Do… Do you have a place to go?” she asked.

River shuddered, looking at the woods. “Aren’t… there bad… things in there?” she asked.