Chapter Text
The first time, he’s six.
It’s Predator Week in Sam’s first-grade class. Each day they’re talking about three or four different predators that are common for people to be, and there are sheets to copy down the information on. It’s not that exciting. Well, it wasn’t. Until the teacher announces that today they’ll be starting with wolves. That perks little Sam Winchester right up, sitting ramrod-straight in his seat. His big brother’s a wolf. The strongest, fastest, smartest, bestest one in the world. If he’s that amazing, wolves must be amazing too, right? They gotta be.
The teacher talks about how wolves live in packs with hierarchies (Dean would be an Alpha, no one’s stronger’n him) and how they’re really playful with each other (Dean wrestles with Sam sometimes, but not too rough, ‘cause Sam’s still little, but he’s gonna grow soon, Dean told him so). Then the teacher gets to the hunting part. All predator animals hunt, they’re carnivores and they all have other animals they eat. It’s called the cirle of life, like in the Lion King. Lions are predators too, they eat zebras and antelope.
Wolves eat… deer. Sam recoils when he hears it, eyes going wide, like the teacher slapped him. She doesn’t notice. She keeps talking about how deer and wolves are ‘natural enemies,’ how the wolf pack will get the weakest deer away from their herd and tear them apart.
She notices when Sam begins to cry. The whole class stops and looks at him, and he hates it, but he can’t stop. The teacher hurries over, bends down, tries to comfort him. She thinks he’s just frightened by the idea of deer being eaten. He pushes her away and demands his big brother between his sobs. Someone’s sent to the fifth grade classroom and soon returns with a worried Dean.
Sam launches himself at his brother, buries himself in Dean’s chest and blubbers. The elder Winchester manages to herd his little brother out into the hall where they can be alone, and then kneels in front of him. He reaches out, and gently wipes Sam’s wet cheeks, waiting for the boy to be able to speak.
“Sh-she said that-that we’re… n-natural enemies.” Sam stutters out finally, sniffling and wiping his face with chubby hands. “Wo-wolves eat deer. They c-can’t- I’m-I’m your prey.”
“Shh, shhh.” Dean stops Sam’s hiccuping words, shakes his head and kisses the fawn’s forehead. “Sammy, we’re not animals.” He gathers his little brother to his chest, holds him tight and strokes his hair, under which not even the slightest buds of antlers have begun to show. “You’re not just a deer, you’re a human. You’re my brother, I love you. ”
“B-but we’re so… different. I don’t-don’t belong with you or-or dad, I’m prey…” Sam insists, obviously drawing on more than just the one lesson. He's a smart kid, he understands that people look at him funny because he's a deer with a tiger father and a wolf brother.
“Sammy.” Dean says sternly, cupping his little brother’s face in his hands. “You are one of us, you are… my honorary little wolf. Okay?” He’s not sure where that came from, but the way Sam’s face lights up proves it was a good idea.
“Really?” Sam’s young voice is full of hope, tugging at Dean’s heart.
“Really. You’ll always be part of my pack.” Dean assures.
Sam is still puffy-eyed as he returns to his class, but he's also grinning. Wolves and deer are enemies in the wild, but he and his brother are special, they always have been. He isn’t just a deer, he's Dean’s brother. An honorary wolf. He’d leave out the ‘little’ part if anyone asked.