្.˚⠀━━━⠀⠀WENDIGO!
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❛ BOHEMIAN ━━ BOOK ONE ❜
𑁍ࠬ¸𓍢 ━━ ❪ SUPERNATURAL ❫ ˖ ୧ 。
𓆸 ┊ ⠀𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 ⠀┊ ❀
◟ ✦ SAVING PEOPLE, HUNTING THINGS
THE FAMILY BUSINESS! ❞
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          SITTING WITH HIS KNEES PULLED UP IN A BAR, Bowie looked around with a small frown. The sound of laughing men lingered in an echo against his hearing aids as they clinked beers and betted in games of pool. Loud rock music played from the speakers as his eyes continued to sweep for danger ━━ and it wasn't the supernatural kind.

"So, Black Water Ridge doesn't get a lot of traffic," Sam explains. "Local campers mostly. But, this past April two hikers went missing out there. They were never found." He holds out a newspaper clipping to Bowie first.

Dean assumed the man was too distracted looking around the bar, so he snagged it mid-air and scanned it with his eyes, "Any before that?"

"Yeah. In 1982, eight different people all vanished in the same year. Authorities said it was a Grizzly attack." He then started to list dates with the exact same case of death.

"Every twenty-three years," Bowie spoke up, finally looking at them. "This year marks it."

Dean tilts his head, "Thanks for finally joining the conversation."

The insult slipped from his tongue before his brain could register it and he was quick to backtrack, remembering the deal they made.

"What do you think?" He asked him lightly.

Sam was stunned, looking between them in shock. Did Dean just ask Bowie what he thought of something that didn't end rudely?

Bowie didn't physically react, leaning over the table on his elbows, "I definitely think there's something supernatural in those woods. Something fast. I caught it on the video Hailey showed us."

Sam nods, flipping open his laptop, "Yeah, I saw it too." With a few clicks of the keys he was showing them the video frame-by-frame, "I downloaded Tommy's video to the laptop."

Dean watched it zoom by, "Show it again." He motions.

"That's three frames," Sam explained, "It's a fraction of a second. Bowie's right, whatever that thing is, it can move fast."

"And you can rule out a Grizzly," Bowie adds on, "They're fast but they're not that fast or that stealthy. Tommy would've heard a bear stomp through the camp."

Dean quickly slaps his brother's shoulder, "I told you two something weird was going on."

"Yeah," Sam closed the laptop and hands Dean another article, "In '59, one camper survived the supposed Grizzly attack, just a kid. Barely crawled out of the woods alive."

"Is there a name?"

"John Shaw," Sam notes.

"All right." Dean slammed the article down, "We aren't leaving until we have at least one drink in our system," He waved his hand toward a pretty waitress, "Three beers, please!"

"Make that two beers and a soda, please!" Bowie loudly corrects, the woman nods at him.

Dean frowned, "Dude, don't bring down the mood."

"We're investigating a series of gruesome murders, Dean. The moods already down," He says lightly.

"I always wanted to know why you didn't drink anymore," Sam announced, "I used to watch you sneak Dad's beers when you were like twelve."

"Yeah, and then I grew up and realized how wrong that was," Bowie grows defensive, "Alcohol makes you vulnerable and not in ways you want." He says firmly, clenching his jaw.

The conversation was left at that.

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          LIKE BOWIE KNEW WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, talking to Mr. Shaw did put a damper on the mood. After explaining what creature unlocked his cabin door and slaughtered his parents, dragging them off into the night. Mr. Shaw clearly suffered from survivors guilty, showing them his thick scars running down his neck.

"Spirits and demons don't have to unlock doors to get inside, they just go through the Walls." Dean voiced as they walked out of Mr. Shaw's apartment complex.

"So it's probably something else, something corporeal," Sam responds.

"Corporeal," Dean repeats, "Excuse me, Professor."

"Dean, that's an eleventh-grade word." Bowie shakes his head.

"Shut up," Dean muttered. Bowie gave him a look, "Please." He adds kindly.

"So, what do you think?" Sam turns to Bowie.

"Claws, inhuman speed, the not-a-grizzly roar? Could be a skin-walker or maybe even a Wendigo," He nods.

"Or a black dog," Dean adds on, "Whatever we're talking about, we're talking about a creature and its corporeal, which means we can kill it."

When they had gotten to the car, Dean popped the trunk and raised the first layer, keeping it steady with a rifle in the corner.

"Hey, I think I left my lighter in the glove compartment," Dean sighed.

"I'll get it," Bowie says.

"Wait, no, I'll get it." Dean stands straighter, already rounding the car. "You might drop it," He excused.

Bowie stood beside him by the trunk, reaching forward to grab the cross-bow in the corner.

He ran his finger along carving in the corner, the initials B.J.W faded.

"Heh," Dean said from beside him, glancing over his shoulder to stare at the crossbow, "Your initials spell out Blow Job."

Bowie rolled his eyes, hiding a smirk. "Guess the universe knew I'd be good at it." He turned to face him.

Dean's smile dropped into shock, "Dude━"

"We cannot let that Hailey girl go out there," Sam appeared beside them.

"What are we gonna tell her?" Bowie asked. "That she can't go into the woods because of a monster? She's going to try and find her brother and it's not illegal either."

"Bow's right," Dean says instantly.

Oddly, the words seemed to come easier the more he said it.

"Her brother is missing, Sam. She's not just gonna sit this one out. No, we go with her, we protect her and we keep our eyes peeled for our fuzzy predator friend." Dean finished.

"And we aren't talking about Barney," Bowie joked. Dean snorts a chuckle.

Sam looked between them rapidly, ignoring the fact that they are working together with a clenched jaw, "So finding dad's not enough?" He slammed the trunk, "Now we gotta babysit, too?"

Dean narrowed his eyes at him.

"What?" He snapped.

"Nothing," He responds, slamming the bag in Sam's arms.

But Bowie didn't seem so easily silenced.

"No, absolutely something." He began.

"Let it go, Bowie." Dean sighed.

"No, because you know what, Sam? It's one thing to be angry about what happened to Jessica but it's another thing to take it out on people who don't deserve it." He says firmly.

Sam scoffed clenching his jaw.

"Hailey doesn't know what we do and she could die if we don't stop it. So don't let your anger get in the way of that."

"Don't talk to me like I'm a child!" Sam got in his face.

He was throwing his anger on Bowie—but he was used to it.

"Stop acting like one and maybe I'll reconsider!" Bowie screamed. Sam faltered.

Dean stayed silent.

The man released a short breath and grabbed Sam roughly by the sleeve, tugging him forward.

"I'm sorry you lost someone you love." He starts slow, his voice still firm but oddly soft, "It sucks, it hurts, and I know you won't stop until it's dead. But listen to me. Don't you dare end up like John. Don't let this shit consume you, Sam."

He lets him go and Sam says nothing, looking down at his shoes with watery eyes.

"You can hate me all you want." Bowie says lowly, "But I'd rather die than watch you end up all vengeful and cold like your dad. You deserve better than that, so screw your head back on your shoulders."

Sam sniffles, walking back to the car and sliding in the front seat, slamming the door behind him.

"Too far?" Bowie muttered.

"Eh, just enough," Dean replies.

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          THE IMPALA ROLLED TO A STOP RIGHT at the edge of Black Water. Bowie slid out of the backseat, strapping this cross-bow tight on the back of his thin red jacket. He pulled awkwardly at the blue short-sleeve he wore, glancing toward his brother who was already making his way toward Hailey and her brother.

Bowie faltered when Hailey was only looking at him with a small smile, looking behind him just to be sure she wasn't looking at Sam instead━━but Sam was already on the other side of the car.

"You guys got room for two more?" Dean asked her.

"Wait, you want to come with us?" Hailey asked in surprise.

"Course we do," Bowie responds, pulling the strap around his chest with a dimpled smile, "You'll need all the help you can get." And we need to keep an eye on you.

"Who are these guys?" Asked a man beside her.

"Apparently, this is all the park service could muster up for the search and rescue." She responds, giving them a look.

"That hurts, Hailey," Bowie breezed past her, "I thought we go way back."

"You're Rangers?" The man continued his questions.

"That's right." Dean nods. Sam said hello to no one, already walking up the hill.

Hailey swept her eyes over Dean's attire, her hands on her hips, "And you're hiking out in biker boots and jeans?"

Bowie looked down at his light-brown cargo pants, suddenly insecure. He thought he looked good today.

"Well, Sweetheart, I don't do shorts," Dean responds, walking past her.

"What, you think this is funny?" The man spoke up again.

Bowie was the closest to him and reluctantly turned to face him.

"It's dangerous backcountry out there. Her brother might be hurt and you brought a disabled with you?" He motioned to Bowie.

Both Sam and Dean step forward.

"Hey," Dean snapped.

"What's your name?" Bowie tilts his head.

"Roy." He emphasized each letter on purpose.

Bowie waves his brothers away, looking at Roy with a small smile, "Ah. Well, Marty, believe us when we say we know how dangerous it can be that's why we're Park Rangers." He emphasized mockingly.

Sam and Dean shared an amused smirk.

"It's our job. As you said, her brother could be hurt so why don't we tuck it between our legs and get moving, okay? Great." He trapped the man's shoulder happily, breezing past him.

"I'm gushing over you," Dean mockingly teased.

"You're not my type, dude." Bowie mocked back.

"That's the second gay comment you made━"

"Mind your business."

With Roy and Bowie in the front of the group, Dean stayed back with Hailey while Sam took precautions in the back.

"So, Roy. ." Dean began, "You said you did a little hunting."

"Yeah, more than a little." He gloats.

Dean and Bowie share an amused look.

"What kind of furry critters do you hunt?"

"Mostly buck. Sometimes bear." He explains.

"Tell me, did Bambi or Yogi ever hunt you back?" Dean asked him.

Bowie noticed it first━━the bear trap. Dean was seconds from stepping on it but before Bowie could reach out and grab him, Roy took a fist-full of Dean's shirt and shoved him back.

"Whatcha doin', Roy?" Dean says lowly.

Roy picks up a stick and slams it into the bear trap, before giving Dean a smug smile, "You should watch where you're stepping, Ranger."

Dean sucked his teeth, turning to his brother, "Why didn't you notice that, Boy Scout?" He grumbled.

Bowie deadpans, "I did."

Hailey walks up between the brothers, looking annoyed, "You didn't pack any provisions. You guys are carrying a duffle bag, you're not Rangers. So, who the hell are you?"

She roughly grabbed at Bowie's sleeve, and the man motioned for Sam and Dean to go ahead to make sure Roy and Ben were safe.

"Sam, Dean, and I are brothers," Bowie tells hers, "And we're looking for their father. They think he might be here," He gives her a soft look, "See. We're both looking for someone missing, okay?"

Hailey falters, "Why didn't you tell me that from the start? Mr. 'We Go Way Back'." She gives him an amused look.

Bowie chuckles, licking his bottom lip, "Yeah, well, that's on me. I don't exactly open up to people. So are we okay?"

"Yeah, we're okay."

"And don't say we didn't pack provisions because I know for a fact, Dean snuck a whole bag of peanut butter M&M's in his pocket even after I told him no," He tells her. She grinned.

"This is it," Roy announced. "Black Water Ridge."

"What coordinates are we at?" Sam asked him.

"35 and  minus 111."

Bowie looked around the terrain, "Well, I don't see Satan━I mean John," He says, "Guess he wasn't randomly sitting in the woods after all."

"You hear that?" Dean asked suddenly.

Bowie deadpans.

"Obviously not you," Dean waved off.

"Yeah," Sam responds, "Not even crickets."

"I'm going to take a look around," Roy announced.

"You shouldn't go off by yourself," Sam tells him.

Roy gave a chuckle that made Bowie roll his eyes, "That's sweet. Don't worry about me."

With that, he was gone.

"All right, everybody stays together. Let's go."

Eventually, the group had made it to Tommy's campsite. Everything was destroyed, the tents ripped to shreds and blood all over the fallen leaves and fabrics.

Hailey looked distraught, screaming out her brother's name.

Bowie crouched down, his eyes scanning the dirt that looked out of place, dented in. He followed it. When his eyes caught the broken branch, he raised it up, watching it flop back down.

"Guys!" He called out.

Sam and Dean quickly appeared behind him.

"The bodies were dragged from the campsite," He explained, "They could still be alive, just moved somewhere else." His eyes narrowed his eyes, getting to his feet and motioning to the dirt, "The tracks stop right here."

Bowie slowly looks up and the brothers follow his gaze.

"What is it, boy?" Dean teased.

Bowie genuinely tilts his head to the side, not even hearing Dean, "It's in the trees," he whispered.

The tension shifted.

"I'll tell you what," Dean responds as they made their way back to the campsite, "It's no skinwalker or black dog."

The second they had gotten back to Hailey and Ben, a loud cry for help echoed through the forest.

But it wasn't loud enough for Bowie to catch, so he grew confused when Dean and Roy started running toward the noise.

Still, he followed. Swinging the strap of his cross-bow backward he caught the loaded weapon in his hands and hovered his finger firmly on the trigger.

"It seemed like it was coming from around here, didn't it?" Hailey asked breathlessly.

Bowie frowned at that, "Everyone shut up." He announced suddenly.

"Excuse me?" Roy snapped.

"You heard him," Sam replied firmly, turning to his brother. "What's wrong, Bow?"

Bowie closed his eyes, leaning against the tree to his left and reaching up to turn off his hearing aids. The world goes quiet.

He goes stiff when the barely noticeable rustle of the trees vibrated down the trunk and rubbed against Bowie's bare skin. His eyes snap open, looking up into the trees and catching a glimpse of gray skin.

His eyes widened, quickly reaching up to turn on his hearing aids, "It's a trap! Get back to the campsite!" He bellowed to them.

In a panic, the others rush back. Bowie keeps the tip of his arrow at the trees, trying to catch the glimpse again with shaky hands. Dean grabs at his collar, pulling him back toward the campsite too.

"Our packs!" Hailey announced, "They're gone."

"So much for my GPS and my satellite phone," Roy grumbled.

"How did you do that?" Ben turned to Bowie with a suspicious frown.

The man frowned back, "Do what?"

"You full-on Matt Murdock'ed that tree," Ben explained to him.

"I just know how to use my other senses better than others," He brushed off, "It just takes practice."

Ben shook his head, still not believing it. "Yeah, but no one can do it the way you just did. It's like you have superpowers. Heightened senses."

Bowie chuckled, "I don't have superpowers."

"It's smart," Sam announced, "It wants to cut us off so we don't call for help."

"You mean someone," Roy corrects in annoyance, "Some nutjob out there just stole all our gear."

"I need to speak with you too, in private," Sam says breathlessly, grabbing both his brothers by the sleeve and dragging them away from the others.

"What's wrong? You okay?" Bowie asked instantly.

"I'm fine," He brushed off, turning to Dean, "Let me see dad's journal."

Dean pulls it out of his jacket and hands it to Sam, watching him rush through the pages before stopping at one that made Bowie smug.

"Bowie was right," Sam says.

"I love hearing you guys say that," He announced.

"Oh, come on. Wendigoes are in the Minnesota woods or-or northern Michigan," Dean debunks, "I've never even heard of one this far west."

"Times are changing, Deanie." Bowie slapped his back.

"Think about it, Dean." Sam sighed, "The claws, the way it can mimic a human voice."

"I saw something gray and pale in the trees," Bowie explained, "That's how I knew it was a trap, it was luring us away on purpose."

"Great." Dean sighed, holding up his gun, "Well, then this is useless."

"We need to get these people to safety," Sam announced, walking back toward the group, "All right, listen up. It's time to go. Things have gotten more complicated."

"What?" Hailey voiced firmly.

"Kid, don't worry. Whatever's out there, I think I can handle it." Roy tells him.

"It's not me I'm worried about," Sam says lowly, "If you shoot this thing, you're just gonna make it mad. We have to leave, now."

"One, you're talking nonsense. Two, you're in no position to give anybody orders!" Roy huffed.

"Relax," Dean warned.

"We never should have let you come out in the first place, alright?" Sam says lowly.

"We're trying to protect you," Bowie explains.

Roy laughed, getting in his face. "You protect me? Can you even hear me threatening you, boy? I was hunting these woods when your mommy was still kissing you goodnight!"

Bowie clenched his jaw, not giving Roy the satisfaction of a bitter response as Dean stepped between them with a clenched jaw.

"Don't talk to him like that, do you hear me?" Dean threatened.

"It's a damn-near-perfect hunter. It's smarter than you," Sam cuts in. "And it's gonna hunt you down and eat you alive unless we get your stupid sorry ass out of here."

Roy laughed mockingly in his face, and Sam pushed him back, "You know you're crazy, right?"

"Yeah? You ever hunt a Wend━"

With wide eyes, Bowie watched as Dean tugged their brother roughly away from Roy, "Chill out!" He snapped.

"Stop it! Everyone just stop!" Hailey steps between them, "Look, Tommy might still be alive and I'm not leaving here without him." She turned to Bowie specifically, "Please, Bowie. You would do the same for them."

His eyes swept her face in hesitation. He knew that she wasn't going to leave. She would never leave her brother behind and Bowie admired her for it.

He gave a soft nod, turning away from her. "It's getting late. This thing is a better hunter at night so we'll never beat it in the dark."

Dean nods, "We need to settle in and protect ourselves."

"How?"

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          BY NIGHTFALL THE GROUP HAD SET UP CAMP. Bowie rested his chin on his knee, watching the fire crackle in front of him, heating up his tired face. Sam sat far away from them, reading over John's journal silently.

Dean was across the way, making Anasazi symbols around the campsite.

Bowie felt overwhelmed. Exposed. Apart from him could feel his hearing fade as days pass, it made him feel vulnerable━━unhelpful.

"One more time. That's. . .?"

"Anasazi symbols," Dean responds to her. "It's for protection. The Wendigo can't cross over them."

Roy scoffed a laugh.

"Nobody likes a skeptic, Roy." Dean rolled his eyes, walking toward Sam.

"So, how does it work?" Hailey turned to Bowie.

The man slowly lifted his chin from his knee, looking up at her from across the fire, "What?"

She motioned to her ear, "Your hearing. How does it work?" She repeats a little louder.

He reached up to rub the spot between his lope, "It depends on the pitches. To me, it sounds like everyone's whispering, even when I put my hearing aids all the way up. Can't catch mumbles and grumbles. I can only hear music if it's super loud, but even then it's more vibrations than anything."

Bowie sighed, feeling uncomfortable at the thought, "Some days it gets really bad. All I hear is white noise, like static. It gives me a headache. Swear sometimes I hear voices in that static, it makes me feel crazy."

Hailey's eyes watered, "That must feel like hell."

He scoffs softly, "You don't know the half of it."

"How'd you lose it?" Roy asked. Bowie didn't even realize he was listening in on the conversation.

The young man shifts at the memory, glancing at his brothers who were in a deep conversation, "Lost it doing what I always do. Protecting my little brother. His dad was a mean son of a bitch. Let's just say it's not fun getting in his way."

"The same dad you're helping them look for?" Hailey realized, frowning at the thought.

He gave a small smile, "It's complicated."

With that, he stood up, making his way toward his brothers and plopping down beside Dean just as Sam threw a stick on the ground angrily.

". . .I mean, why are we even here?"

Dean pulls out the journal, tapping it. "This is why. This book. This is dad's single most valuable possession. Everything he knows about every evil thing is in here. And he's passed it on to us."

"So, what are you saying?" Bowie asked lightly.

"I'm saying I think he wants us to pick up where he left off," Dean explained. "Saving people, hunting things. The family business."

Sam rubbed his eyes, "That makes no sense. Why doesn't he just call us? Why doesn't he tell us what he wants, tell us where he is?"

Dean shakes his head, "I don't know. But the way I see it, Dad's given us a job to do, and I intend to do it."

Bowie clenched his jaw, looking away.

"Dean, no," Sam says, his eyes watering in controlled pain. "I gotta find dad. I gotta find Jessica's killer. It's the only thing I can think about."

"Okay, all right. Sam, we'll find them. I promise." Dean says softly, "But Bowie was right. All that anger, you can't keep it burning over the long haul, it's gonna kill you. This search could take a while. You got to have patience, man."

Sam couldn't help the tears swelling in his eyes, looking between his brothers, "How do you two do it? How-how does dad do it?"

"Well, for one, them." Dean motions to Hailey and Ben, "I mean, I figure our family's so screwed to hell, maybe we can help some others. It makes things a little more bearable."

"For second, you." Bowie adds on softly, "Us. Looking at Hailey and Ben reminded me that all we'll ever have is each other. No matter what. The only thing that ever kept me going was the thought that one day you'll be okay," He looks slowly to Dean, "Both of you."

Dean swallowed thickly at his words, looking away. Sam, on the other hand, leaning into his brother, nodding in understanding.

"And I'll tell you what else helps," Dean picked up, "Killing as many evil sons of bitches as I possibly can."

"I absolutely second that." Bowie grinned.

Dean turned to him, "Dude. . .why is being on the same team kinda awesome?" He asked him.

Bowie rolled his eyes, "Because I'm awesome."

"Eh, I wouldn't go that far." Sam teased.

The moment was instantly ruined when another screamed echoed the woods.

[ A/N: I feel bad because the next chapter is going to be so fucking sad━ anyways
stan the Bowie and Dean dynamic this chapter >>]

DEC / 23 / 2021