For Derek

[godless_son]

Castiel does not trust this place. He does not trust it and he cannot fathom how nearly the entire city felt it was a good idea to hold a celebration here mere days after its arrival. He's also heard tale that it is being used as a place to engage in the recreational act of snow-skiing.

One of the most ridiculous looking sports, if Castiel says so.

He has been flying and trudging around the mountain for hours now, nose a little pink and a hat pulled onto his head in deference to the bitter cold. Something here feels spiritually...off, as he suspected, but he cannot pin it down. It has the same tension, the same propensity to sudden change that he feels in Darrow, but something a little more sinister. Without any more revelation than that, however, he suspects he will not be able to convince his friends to stay away. The city itself is violently dangerous and he certainly spends enough time there to label him a hypocrite.

He squints against the bright sun as he comes into a clearing, tilting his head as nest of rabbits takes off in front of him. The reason rapidly presents itself as a group of skiers flies down the mountain all around him, shouting angrily as he stands like a stone in a stream.

Interesting.

Comments

[triskehale]

Derek had been up here for the New Year's party and something felt off about the place, even on top of the storm. When the weather clears, he goes back to check it out. The trek up is easier on four paws and covered in fur, but he has his pack strapped to his flank in case he needs to change for any reason.

He hears the rustle of rabbits followed by angry yells, and he works his way to the treeline only to see Castiel standing right in the middle of the slope wearing that vaguely confused expression that he's so fond of.

Derek would be rolling his eyes in fond exasperation if he could, but instead he just steps out from between the trees and barks sharply to get his attention, jerking his head to motion Castiel over.

[godless_son]

Castiel turns and nods, offering an aborted wave before flying over, not wanting to bother trudging through the thick snow. He makes sure to use just enough grace to protect his clothes, not wanting to incur Dean's wrath for their dry cleaning bill.

"This place is wrong," Castiel thinks, narrowing his eyes at Derek's chosen form.

[triskehale]

"Hello to you too, Castiel. Nice to see you again," Derek thinks with an amused snort. Really, he's pleased that he can communicate with Castiel like this. It makes things easier, and now he's less likely to have to get naked in the snow and get dressed.

Derek has frost on the tip of his muzzle and he huffs out a breath, nose wrinkling to dislodge it. "But yeah, I know what you mean. Something is definitely off about this place, but I can't figure out what it is."

[godless_son]

"All of Darrow emits a low level sense of unease, some places more than others," Castiel thinks as he places a palm against he trunk of a nearby tree. It feels natural, it feels as if it has been there for decades so perhaps it is just the lodge itself.

"The land itself seems to be as it always was. I suspect it is the lodge where this is originating from. Care to join me?"

[triskehale]

"Yeah. I had to learn to get used to it or I would have gone crazy," Derek tells him, watching Castiel through ruby hued eyes as he moves. He snorts when Castiel asks him to join him but nods his shaggy head up and down. His winter coat is thick and long, especially since he's spending the bulk of his time outside in this form. "They probably don't allow wolves in there, but I doubt anyone will have the balls to try and kick me out."

He steps up next to Castiel and his head comes easily to the man's hip. He's a big, big wolf with red eyes and sharp teeth. People generally do whatever they can to leave him alone if they spot him. "Angels first."

[godless_son]

"I'm not certain it's a good idea that I actually stroll into the lodge with a giant wolf but if that is the only option," Castiel huffs, wondering exactly how much trouble they are about to be in.

"I can fly us directly in. Do you agree to that?"

[triskehale]

Derek thinks about it and then huffs out a huge sigh. Going in on four legs would probably just cause a big scene and Derek would like to avoid people screaming today, if at all possible. "If I go put on pants, could you conjure me up some shoes?"

He twists around to nose at the little satchel strapped to his flank. "No room for snow boots in here."

[godless_son]

Castiel scoffs, before rolling his eyes and holding up a hand. "I can do better than that. Are there wards against angels at your apartment? If not I will be right back."

[triskehale]

"I wouldn't even know how to do angel wards, so no." Derek leaves him to do his thing and heads back into the trees, shifting back into human form and quickly pulling on his clothes. The cold doesn't usually bother him, but this is snow and ice, and his bare toes burn while he waits for Castiel to come back.

[godless_son]

Castiel flies directly into Derek's bedroom, proud of himself for asking for permission. He has come quite a long way in the past few years.

He gathers the sturdiest pair of boots and warmest socks before flying back, looking very pleased with himself as he hands them over.

"No offense to your wolf form, of course, but this is more convenient for the task at hand."

[triskehale]

He blinks when Castiel disappears and wonders if he even knows that Derek moved, but then again, he probably does. He probably knows a lot of shit.

By the time he comes back, accompanied by a fluttering sound that's loud in Derek's ears, he's dressed in jeans and a henley and perched up on a fallen log. "None taken. That's a neat trick."

He pulls on the socks and boots, tying them up and wrinkling his nose a bit. After spending so much time as a wolf, wearing clothes is always a bit of a nuisance. Once he's done he slides off of the log and goes to stand next to Castiel, shivering only slightly in the cold. "Lead the way, oh celestial being."

[godless_son]

"I am only partially a celestial being," Castiel corrects as they turn towards the lodge. "Do you consent to me flying us directly inside. I would like to take a look in the less frequently trafficked areas."

[triskehale]

"My mistake," Derek says flatly, and then looks at him warily. Teleportation via angel wings. Why not? Really, Derek's lucky he was asked. "Uh, sure. Do your thing."

[godless_son]

Castiel nods, grabs Derek's shoulder and immediately flies them into the basement of the lodge. It is dark and oddly musty for a place that literally only just came into being.

"I hope that your digestive system will still function well," he says as he steps away. "This place feels wrong. I don't know why, which is infuriating by the way."