Dean Winchester lowered his gun slightly as he scanned the trees. "Tell me you heard that."

Sam nodded, flashlight sweeping through the darkness. "Yeah… sounded like someone crying."

Another sound. A quiet sniffle. Barely audible.

Dean sighed. "Great. Either it's a ghost kid or we're about to get eaten."

The brothers cautiously followed the sound, pushing through thick brush until they reached a small clearing. Someone was there. Curled up beneath an old oak tree was a young woman dressed entirely in white. Her clothes looked almost ancient—nothing like anything sold in stores. Her long hair partially hid her face as she hugged her knees tightly against her chest. She flinched violently when a twig snapped beneath Dean's boot.

Dean immediately noticed something strange. There wasn't a single speck of dirt on her clothes despite sitting in the mud.

"…Hey," Sam called gently, keeping his hands visible. "We're not here to hurt you."

She slowly lifted her head. Her eyes were wide. Almost impossibly bright. Not glowing… Just… different.

She opened her mouth as if trying to answer. "…I…" Her voice barely escaped above a whisper. "…I…"

She frowned at herself. Like she'd forgotten how words worked.

Dean exchanged a quick glance with Sam. "Okay…" Dean muttered. "That's definitely weird."

The young woman lowered her head again, clearly embarrassed. Her fingers nervously twisted together.

"I…" Another long pause. "…lost."

Sam softened immediately. "You're lost?"

She gave the tiniest nod.

Dean looked around. "In the middle of nowhere?"

Another nod.

Sam crouched several feet away, making sure not to crowd her. "What's your name?"

Silence. She blinked. As though she knew the answer… …but couldn't quite find it.

Finally… "…Y…Y/N." It came out quietly. Almost apologetically.

"Hi, Y/N," Sam smiled reassuringly. "I'm Sam."

Dean pointed to himself. "And I'm the handsome one."

Sam rolled his eyes. "Dean."

Y/N looked between them before giving an awkward little nod. She didn't smile. She simply watched them with cautious curiosity.

Dean noticed scratches all over her bare feet. "…You've been walking like that?"

She glanced down. "…Yes."

"How long?"

She hesitated. "…Don't…" Another pause. "…know."

Dean sighed under his breath. "Awesome."

Sam looked around the clearing. "You have anyone looking for you? Family?"

Y/N's expression shifted into confusion. "…Family…" She whispered the word like she'd never really thought about it. "…Father."

Dean frowned. "Okay… where is he?"

She slowly looked up toward the night sky. "…Heaven."

Silence.

Dean blinked once. "…Right."

Sam gave Dean the look. The one that clearly said don't.

Dean ignored it. "So… your dad's in Heaven?"

Y/N nodded innocently. "…Yes."

Dean sighed. "She's either the world's worst liar…"

Sam finished quietly. "…Or she's telling the truth."

Before Dean could respond—

A sudden gust of wind ripped through the clearing. Every tree bent at once. The brothers instinctively reached for their weapons.

Y/N gasped softly, covering her ears.

For just a fraction of a second—

Brilliant white feathers shimmered behind her. Massive. Beautiful. Gone before either brother could truly comprehend them.

Dean froze. "…Sam…"

"I saw them."

Dean looked back at the frightened girl. She'd pulled herself even tighter into a ball, trembling as though she wished she could disappear.

Whatever she was… She looked more scared of the world… …than the world should have been of her.

Sam carefully held out a hand. "You're safe."

Y/N stared at it for several long seconds. Then, with shaking fingers… She slowly reached out. And took it.