bml2


	By the Moon's Light Part 2


***** When Willow came to, she winced. She wanted the little man hitting her head with a sledgehammer to stop. “Are you awake yet, my dear?”asked a softly accented voice. Willow opened her eyes, she saw that she was in a cage, in a dark basement. With a small cauldron bubbling with some white liquid. Then she saw a figure moving in the shadows, waving a knife over a candle.”I am so sorry that I had to drug you, but I don’t think that you would have come with me willingly.” The figure stepped closer, and Willow gasped. It was the Wolf-Woman, and it wasn’t.”Ms-Ms. Delcaza?” The figure nodded, and smiled at her.”Very good, Willow. I see that you recognize me, but then that’s not too hard to do right now, is it?” “What-what happened to you?You’re old! And...and part wolf!”Willow stuttered. Ms.Delcaza shrugged as she looked down at herself, and smiled bitterly. “Oh, nothing. A spell gone awry, but soon that will be fixed,”she smiled as she looked up at the window, it was night. And tomorrow was the first full moon. “Very soon.” Willow’s eyes widened.”Are you in cahoots with that other Wolf-Woman?” Ms.Delcaza threw her head back and laughed harshly.”There is no other Wolf-Woman. It was me!” Willow’s eyes widened. Ms.Delcaza saw the confusion in her eyes and laughed bitterly.”Allow me to introduce myself, I am Circe. And what you see now, is a shadow of my former self. But tomorrow in the light of the full moon, that will all change.” Circe stretched out the arms and looked at the wrinkled limbs, then looked at her legs. They were wolf legs, just like her torso. Her aged hands touched her wrinkled face, then her face became young again.”By tomorrow night, I’ll have a human form and your youth!” “People will find me! My friends-” “Will do nothing!”Circe interrupted savegely.”By the time that the Slayer finds you and your werewolf, it will be too late! I will not allow a Slayer to interrupt me ever again!” ***** “Cordy! You’re here!” Buffy exclaimed as she entered the library. Cordelia looked at her and rolled her eyes at the Slayer.She was still in her cheerleading uniform as she had a book open in front of her. “Where else would I rather be? Home? On the phone? Shopping?”Cordelia snidely.”Or am I here simply because I love these musty books that so totally ruin my skin?” “Well, Candace said that you were home getting ready for a date with Jason Breyers, and that she was supposed to give Xander some message, from you,”Oz said carefully. Xander lifted his head up and gaped at Cordelia as her eyes flashed. “You have a date with Jason Breyers?”Xander demanded.”He asked you out on a date?!? Are you going out with him?” “As if!”Cordelia snorted delicately.”I’m already dating you. Goes to show you how brain dead I am when I turn down the third time he asks me out! Candace must have heard him ask me out again! Why would she tell you this?” “Well, she said that you gave her a message to tell Xander,”Buffy said.”Probably to, well, you know the scenario.” Cordelia’s eyes widened, then she exploded.“That witch! Can you stake her for me? No wait! I’ll do it myself! I’ll fix her caboose!” “As interesting this all is, did you manage to locate Willow?”Giles asked when there was a break in Cordelia’s tirade. Buffy and Oz shook their heads.”Cordelia! Sit!” “We looked all over the school grounds, even called her house, but no Willow,”Oz said.”And I’m feeling not to happy with her being not here.” “All right, we must assume that the Wolf-Woman somehow has Willow,”Giles stated as he looked around the table.”So the only other person she needs here is Oz.” “And he’s going no where tonight,”Xander said as he pulled on his hair in frustration.”But where’s Willow? And why does this-this thing want them? Did we find anything yet?” “Just alot of spells regarding virgin sacrifices and others involving werewolves, but nothing about both of them,”Cordelia said as she looked up from her book.”Why do most of these spells involve virgins, anyway?” “Don’t worry, Cordy. You’ve got nothing to worry about, according to locker room talk,”Xander quipped. Cordelia glared at him as Giles cleared his throat. “Most of the spells that require a virgin because she represents purity, youth...and hold! I think I’ve remembered something!” The Slayer and Slayerettes waited as the Watcher ran into his office and came out with a volume.”I seem to recall, in one of the Watcher Diaries, that there was a Slayer, about two hundred years ago, who was fighting a sorceress that could change her shape. Her favorite form was a wolf...” As he opened the diary, and lost himself in the volume, the group stared at him. Then Buffy prompted,”And? What’s the rest, Giles? Share please.” Giles nodded his head in apology.“Sorry. It seems that this Slayer, Magda, she was called, was part of a gypsy clan that roamed England. And her Watcher was an English gentleman, called Sir Thomas Fife. It seemed that her half-sister was taken by this sorceress because she was engaged to the clan’s protector, who was said to have been able to change his shape...” “And?”Oz prompted. Giles then shook his head and read from the diary.

‘November 2nd 1763: It has been two months since I was assigned my Slayer. Her name is Magda and she is a menace to my temper. Such is my fate to have a strong willed Slayer, yet I am so very proud of her. Even before I met her, her clan understood her destiny, and they embraced it and her. She was already taught some of the defenses, and each day I marvel at the things that I am forced to learn from her. She is wild, but she is as a Slayer should be. Brave. Bright. Beautiful. Caring. She loves only one other in her clan, her half-sister, Zinnia, who is as calm as her sister is wild. The sister is engaged to Rogan, who for some reason is designated as clan protector. And they are both protective of Magda. It will not be easy for me to gain their acceptance into their family.’ “Sounds a bit like you Buffy,”Xander quipped. Buffy glared at her friend as Giles continued. ‘January 27 1764: I have finally been accepted into the clan because I am Magda’s Watcher, yet I still think that they merely tolerate me for I have allowed them to stay on my lands. Much has happened in the six months, between me and my Slayer. She has killed many vampires and demons, but now she is troubled. Wolves and witches invade her dreams, and she is frightened by them. She has told me a fantastic story, that Rogan has the ability to change into any forest beast that he likes. He especially likes to take the form of a wolf when the seasons demand it. I am astounded as I am skeptical, yet after so much I have seen, how can I doubt it?’ “All right, so this Rogan was a werewolf?”Oz asked quizzically. Giles shook his head slowly. “Perhaps. It only says that he favors the wolf form,”Giles mused.”Maybe-” “But what does this have to do with virgins, werewolves and Willow?”Buffy asked. Giles looked down at his book and continued reading aloud. ‘March 3 1764: Tonight is the Full Moon of the Three Witches, and may God above help us all. The Mistress Hunt has kidnapped Zinnia and we know not where to find them. Rogan is beside himself with worry, as is the clan. The Elder woman has seen in her visions that if Rogan leaves the clan to find Zinnia, Rogan will be lost to them. She has also seen that Zinnia and Magda are forever changed in a ceremony not familiar with the gypsies. All she could repeat was “Old is young,Young is Old, the Wolf is gone, but a Wolf there shall be.”I do not know much, but I have a strange premonition going through my head. All not be well even if we do find Zinnia....’ “Oh, my Lord,”Giles whispered. Buffy stared at him. “What? What Giles? What happened?”Buffy demanded. Giles looked at her with horror filled eyes as he read the passage. ‘After tonight’s happenings, I cannot doubt the existence of werewolves or sorceresses. And I cannot believe what has happened to my Slayer. In the struggle to save her sister, the spell and the potion that the Mistress Hunt prepared in the sacred circle spilled upon the Mistress Hunt, Zinnia and my Magda. Even as it happened before me, I could not believe mine own eyes. As I gaze at her, now, in her cage, in her wolf form, I still cannot believe it. My Slayer, my Magda is now a wolf. ‘The price that was paid to save her beloved sister was so high. She had stopped the Mistress Hunt’s ceremony, but at the cost of her humanity, Rogan’s ability and Zinnia’s youth. Never again will the clan have their Slayer or wolf protector or their beloved flower. May God above curse the Mistress Hunt forever in her half-form.’ Giles looked at Buffy, then at Oz as he continued in a low voice. ’March 30, 1764: It is with a heavy heart that I must report this in this diary. After much searching, I could not find a way to reverse the spell or potion that the Mistress Hunt used to change all our lives. Last night I told Rogan and Zinnia the news. After I had told Rogan and Zinnia, in that cottage near my house that they share with Magda, they had asked if there was a new Slayer yet. I could not look at them as I answered no. So long as the Slayer lives, it seems no matter what the form, the next shall not be called. When I returned this morning, they were all dead, holding each other’s hand with Magda’s near dead form between them.’ ‘When I lifted Magda’s head, she opened her eyes, and licked my hand before she breathed her last. I have failed in my duty, I have lost my Slayer. May God in his mercy forgive me, because I am filled with hate. I will find a way to find Mistress Hunt, and I will find a way to destroy her for what she did to my Magda. And I will forever curse her with my dying breath. Let all the Watchers after me know this: the Mistress Hunt will return again, and I order you all to stay aware. Unless I find something significant about Lady Hunt or report her death, this will be my last entry as a Watcher. May God watch over you all.’

Giles then closed the book, and the room was filled with quiet. When he cleared his throat, everyone jumped.”That was his last entry in the diary.” “Wow. Talk about being bitter,”Cordelia said wide eyed.”And he never ever found this Mistress Hunt again?” Giles shook his head slowly.”It is assumed that he did not, mainly because there are no more written pages after this last entry.” “So we’re going to assume that this Mistress Hunt is back,”Buffy said slowly.”Since that’s the only refernce we can find about wolves and virgins. And moons.” Giles nodded slowly.”It would seem so, Buffy. And if she is back, then she must be using Willow for her own purposes.” “Does anyone else see a match here?”Xander asked.”Flower names, Willow and Zinnia. Wolves, Oz and Rogan. Slayers, Buffy and Magda. Does that mean that tomorrow’s full moon is the night of the ceremony two hundred years ago?” Giles went to a book, and read his calculations.”Yes...it seems that tomorrow is the Moon of the Three Witches.” “Then we have to assume that this Mistress Hunt is in Sunnydale and that she hasn’t changed her name, much,”Buffy mused.”So that means we look for people around Sunnydale with the name ‘Hunt’ in it. How did she kidnap Zinnia?” “She posed as a governess in a neighboring estate. And she took steps to care for her charges,”Giles replied.”So if we are to assume that she has not changed any of her tactics-” “Then she might be a teacher here in the school or a school nearby,”Buffy finished.”I don’t like this Giles, too many assumptions. Too many chances, with Oz and Willow’s life is hanging in the balance.” “Agreed, but it’s the only slim hope that we have,”Giles said slowly.”I’ll look to see if we have more on Sir Thomas. The ceremony took place in an open wooded field. Buffy-” “I’ll see if there are any places that this ceremony can take place. Oz, you look in the computer and pull up any and all names that have the word ‘Hunt’ in them and see if they’re teachers or nannies or governors. Xander, you and Cordy will have to research more and see if there’s another angle to this. And call the names that Oz pulls up,” Buffy ordered. “You’ll be looking for a clearing, more in the shape of a circle, in the middle of a wooded area,”Giles stated.”And a crossroads nearby.” “Then I’m thinking near the back of the school or Waverly Park is where she’ll have her little shindig.”She looked at Oz and Xander.”We’ll find her, guys, and we’ll make sure that this Hunt lady never bothers anyone again.” *** “My cursed form is because of that damn gypsy Slayer!”Circe raged as she threw a bottle against the wall. Willow cringed back into her cage.”For two thousand years, I have practiced my arts and stayed young. After Odysseus, I vowed that no man would capture my wild heart or tame my ways. And for two thousand years, I have sacrificed werewolves and their virgin mates to retain my powers and my youth....” “And then what happened?”Willow asked hesitantly. Circe glared at her. “Then that gypsy Slayer-bitch interrupted my ceremony. All to save a werewolf and her sister,”Circe spat.”But I avenged myself, I made her into a wolf! But at such a price! I am half woman, half wolf. My body changes from old to young to wolf, all at its own whims. Because of that Slayer, I have no youth, and only half my power. But with your death and the werewolf’s blood, I will regain all that I have lost!” Circe pointed at Willow.”And your friend shall die if she tries to stop me!” *** “Now where would I like to have my little shindig?”Buffy muttered to herself as she looked around the street. She closed her eyes and thought.There was no clearings that were around the school, but there were plenty around Waverly Park, but none of them were near any crossroads.

“Hello, there lover,”a voice drawled as her back stiffened. Buffy spun around as she faced her former lover with an impassive face. “Hello, Angellus,”she greeted coolly.”Out early tonight.” “I was hungry a little early,”Angellus shrugged. His yellow eyes gleamed when the street lamp’s light reflected off them.”And I thought that I’d start making a little mayhem tonight.” Buffy smiled at him as she waved her hand dismissively as she mocked him.“Please! Get in line, Angel. Someone’s already beat you to it. You’re not a fast scourge anymore,Angel. Must be losing your touch.” Angel’s game face frowned.“What the hell does that mean?” “It means that you’re not a priority on my list of eradicating scourges this week. In fact, you’re at the bottom of the list,”she gave in a loud conspiratorial whisper. Angel growled at her, but she merely sniffed at it.”Give it up Angel, I’m busy.” Since she knew that it would rankle his pride, Buffy smiled as she half turned away from him.”Now, enough of this chit-chat, I’ve gotta run. You know how it was, world ending prophecies to stop, people to save, demons to destroy, yada,yada,yada. Toodles, Angel.” Angel stared at the Slayer as she ran down the street and disappeared into the trees.”I’ll show you how much of a scourge I can be. Just you wait...Slayer.” ***** The next morning, Buffy and the gang met inside the library again, this time with a more dejected air. Buffy spoke first,”I found three places that the ritual can take place. Unfortunately, they’re not all close together.” “And Cordy and I called all those names with Hunt in them, zippo,”Xander groused. “Yeah, it was so bad. I don’t think that I want to see another phone again,”Cordelia complained.”And those people were so grouchy.” “And we have only tonight to stop this witch,”Oz said.”And I can’t help because I’m gonna be chained in my basement tonight.” “Unless this Mistress Hunt gets to you first, in that case, it’s wolf-whatever for you and an old age home for Will,”Xander said. Everyone glared at the boy.”What?” “Damn it! I wish that I knew what this ritual was about!”Giles said as he ran his fingers through his hair. “Hey Oz!” Devon called out as he approached the smaller guy.”What’s up man?” “Oh, hi Dev. Nothing. We’re just, uh, waiting for Willow to show. She was supposed to show me something on the computer,”Oz smiled weakly.”You see her anywhere?” Devon shook his head.“Nope. The last time I saw Gladiola was when walked with her to Delcaza’s room yesterday. She was gonna get some papers or stuff.” “And when was this?”Buffy asked intently. Devon simply shrugged. “Dunno. ‘Bout five or something,”Devon answered.”So we practicing tomorrow, Oz?” “Was the room empty?”Buffy demanded. Devon looked at the girl, annoyed. “No. Delcaza was there. What’s with the interrogation?”Devon demanded. Buffy simply shrugged and smiled weakly.“Well, she was supposed to ask Delcaza something for me, and Will said that she never saw her, so...” “Oh, there you are Xander!”a sing song voice cried out.”Can you help me some of my work in math?” Everyone looked over Devon’s shoulder to see Candace approach the table. Xander smiled weakly at the girl as Cordelia intercepted her.”Well, Hel~lo Candace! My, you’re up early! Are you sure that you got enough sleep? You have bags under your eyes.” Candace gave her a false smile.”Much more than you did, Cordelia. You’re looking a little caked today, got enough foundation on? Xander, do you remember the homework that we had in math? Do you understand it?”

“Uhhh. No,”Xander stammered as he moved his chair noticeably closer to Cordelia’s side. He smiled weakly at her.”My study buddy’s not here, so she can’t explain it for me.” “Oh, then do you want to work together on it?”Candace pounced. Xander stared at the girl as he tried to find away out. Cordelia was about to ring out a sharp retort. Giles cleared his throat.“I am sorry, ah, Candace, but since Xander is my student aide, I am afraid that I must keep him here to, uh, aid in my research.” Candace blinked at the librarian. Giles continued.”In fact, both you and Devon are interrupting this student meeting that I am having. So if you two will please leave and come back another time?” “Cordelia? A student worker in a library?”Candace gawked at Cordelia who inwardly groaned. Her reputation was now in the gutters. Now she’d be labeled a cheerleading nerd dating a geek. “Cordelia?!? A student worker? In the library?”Buffy asked in a raised voice, hoping that it was sounding increduous.”She’s just waiting for Xander here, who’s waiting for Willow.” “Seems that everybody’s waiting for Lilac,”Devon mused as he slid his eyes at Oz who simply shrugged.”Popular girl. Got Xander waiting for her. Right Oz?” Oz was about to say something when the bell rang. Giles gasped as he looked at the invading students.“Well! There’s the first bell! Oz, Xander, Buffy, in my office please. Uh, Cordelia-” Cordelia smiled brightly at the librarian.“I’ll wait right here, Mr.Giles. Xander, I’ll be waiting here. You can take my books and walk me to class.” Giles shoved Xander into the office as the boy gaped at her. When he shut the room door, he looked at the students around him.”Well, this puts a new light in secrecy.” “Delcaza lied,”Oz stated flatly.”She said that Willow never saw her.” Buffy nodded.”But why? Is she our Mistress Hunt? She was an English governess in the diary. And Delcaza is obviously a teacher. But she’s from... where did she say she was from? Spain? Italy?” Giles nodded.“Spain. Her full name is Donna Delcaza...oh, God.” “What is it?”Buffy demanded as she looked at Giles. He quickly took out a Spanish dictionary and flipped through it. Giles stuttered as he excitedly flipped through more of the text.“Donna is a name, but it is also the Spanish term for ‘lady’ and Delcaza...” “Delcaza...means ‘of the hunt’. Damn it!”Oz cursed quietly as he shut his Spanish text book.”It’s her. She has Willow.” “But where? And what do we do?”Xander demanded as the bell rang. Giles looked up and ordered them quickly. “She can’t do anything until tonight. I’ll somehow get her address. Buffy, keep and eye on her. Oz and Xander, stay away from her, especially you Oz. She needs you to finish the ritual that she has planned. Meet here this afternoon. Now go to class.” ***** Oz stared at his teacher as she taught Spanish. < She has Willow. I know she does. But why? What does she want with us? > Circe smiled as she taught her lesson. < The werewolf knows who I am. Good. Then that means that he will come to me. Tonight. > *** As the day went on, Giles loaded his tranquilizer gun methodically. He hadn’t learned much more about werewolves or the ritual, but he did learn quite a few things about wolves. A male wolf has a tendency to mate with only one female at a lifetime, and that male wolf would protect his mate from any dangers, even at the cost of itself. And since werewolves were the development of baser instincts in man, there was every reason to believe that Oz, in his werewolf form tonight, would have no choice but to hunt for Willow, his perceived mate. ***

At four in the afternoon, Giles gathered Oz, Cordelia and Xander in the library and spoke to them brusquely.“Buffy is tailing Delcaza. Oz, we have to chain you up.” Oz started to protest, but Giles savagely cut him off.“You are integral to this ritual for some reason. For Willow to survive this night, you must be chained. And I have every reason to believe that she expects that you will go to her tonight. Xander and Cordelia, I’ll need your help in locating where this ritual will take place.” “There’s a good news and bad news side to that tone of your voice, Giles. Give,”Xander said quietly. Cordelia nodded. “Her house is equidistant to all three areas that Buffy scouted last night,”Giles said. When the two gave him a confused look, he sighed.”What that means is that her house is in the middle of all three potential ritual sites. She could go to any of those sites and if we choose the wrong one...” “Then it’s the old age home for Willow,”Xander finished.”How do we contact Buffy?” “Easy. Give her my cel,”Cordelia said, then she looked at the faces that stared at her.“Hey! I owe her for saving my rep! Besides, I’ll charge her for the call.” Giles sighed.”I’ll give it to her. Let’s move, there isn’t much time. We’ve got to find Buffy and give her the phone. From the diary, the ritual was performed in the second hour of the light of the full moon. And that she needs Oz awake for the ritual, so that he can do whatever the ritual calls for. Damn it! I wish I knew where this ritual was!” *** Buffy shook her head as she rose from the ground. < Ow! What hit me? > She looked around and saw nothing. Total darkness. ”Where am I?” * Willow watched with round eyes as Circe came at her with a pair of scissors.”I need a lock of your hair, dear.” “Don’t you have enough?”Willow asked sarcastically. Circe was now some sort of werewolf, except that her head was still human. Willow flinched away as the scissors sniped. Circe smiled coldly as she held up the lock of hair.”This will bring your werewolf to me, Willow. Indeed it will. He’ll have no choice but to come to me now. He’ll smell your scent in the air, and we’ll meet him.” Then she looked at Willow again.”Nighty-night, Willow.” The last thing that Willow saw was a clawed fist coming at her. *** As the moon started to shine in the night, Oz sat in his basement, chained to the wall. Sitting. Waiting for his body to change. Willow would be safe, so long as he stayed away from the ritual. He had to stay away from the ritual. He had to remember that, even as his heart echoed for her. Then he felt a ripping pain run through his gut. *** “Blast it!”Giles cursed as he looked around the school campus.”Where is Buffy?” “No one’s seen her,”Xander said as he came running up.”I asked around. And Delcaza’s missing, too. Cordy said that there’s no lights or car around her house either.” “Then we must assume that Delcaza is at the ritual site, and that she has somehow gotten rid of Buffy,”Giles said worriedly.”But where is Buffy? And Willow?” *** When Willow woke, she smelled the crisp night air. Then she felt the cold ground against her back. When she tried to move, she found that she was chained to the ground. When she looked about her, she saw that she was in a large silver white chalked circle that was overlapped by two other circles, a blood red and pale blue.”What?”

“Welcome back Willow. Glad that you can make it,”Circe said casually. Willow looked at her. She was stirring a pot in the connected blood red circle. Willow could see the steam rise from the pot, and a breeze carry it away.”Can you smell it? Your wolf will come to you now...” *** Oz lifted up his snout as he smelled the air. There was something other than the smell of rusting metal, gas and people. It was calling to him. It was his mate. Oz started struggling against the chains around his legs and wrists. The concrete started to give way. * Reaching out, she stumbled over something, and then she felt the handle of a door. Then she broke off the handle, and kicked the door open. A small amount of light from a nearby window showed that she was in a closet. At school. She ran outside, and headed towards Oz’s house. Praying that she wasn’t too late. She knew she was when she saw from the distance a large looming wolf figure go crashing through Oz’s front door. And then start to lope off towards Waverly Park. * Giles and Xander met up with Cordelia and climbed into her car.“No activity?” “None at all. Buffy?” “No sight of her. Delcaza must have incapacitated her, damn it,”Giles said. Xander and Cordelia simply waited for orders from the older man. They all jumped when her cel rang. “Hello? Buffy? Where-Oz is free?!? Give me your heading! Right! See you there, and for God’s sake, be careful! I have no desire to feed you Kibbles and Bits when this is all over!” Giles ordered, then snapped the phone shut.”Go to Waverly Park, and head towards the Stewart Avenue and Whedon Street intersection. The ritual will take place there. Oz is free. Hurry, Cordelia!” Cordelia stepped on the gas. * “Oz!Oz! Run!” Willow screamed as she saw Oz’s werewolf figure head towards her. Then stopped to look at Circe. When the sorceress pointed, Oz simply loped to the pale blue circle, and sat. Horrified, she stared at Circe. Circe smiled at Willow then at the moon.”See, he simply obeys me. He has no choice. The potion forces him to obey. Soon it will be time for the ritual to begin, and I will be as I was before. Young. Powerful. Free. And quite ferocious. Like a wolf.” “I will have my powers soon,”Circe said as she picked up her athame and pointed it towards Oz and then Willow.”And I have both of you to thank for it.” “What’s-what’s going to happen?”Willow stammered as she tried to draw out the plans of this crazed witch.”You can’t kill me and you can’t kill Oz. People will know.” Circe simply shrugged.”Oz will kill you with his claws, then dip his hands into my potion. And alas, the potion will kill him. The police will find you both, and I will go on my merry way. End of story.” “How about a new ending?”a voice called out.”Like one that’ll end with a woodsman killing you? Or that you’ll go into a cage for a very long time.” Circe spun around and snarled.”Slayer!” *** “Thing!”Buffy shouted back as she eyed her opponent.”Ewww! What are you?” “I am your better!”Delcaza hollered as her hand lifted and a bolt of lightning flew out of her fingers. Buffy did a back handspring to avoid the bolt. Dirt and rocks flew everywhere. She barely had enough time when another one nearly hit her.”Stay still, you little bitch!” “Not in this life time!”Buffy hollered back. As she crouched down, ready to spring up again, Buffy sneered at Delcaza.”What’s with the fur coat? It’s not that hot out here! Haven’t you heard of saving the animals?”

Another lightning bolt flew at Buffy as she spring up to avoid it. *** Giles crept around to the other side of the clearing with Xander and Cordelia in tow. He pointed at Oz as he handed the tranquilizer gun to Xander.”Quick, while Buffy’s distracting her! Hit Oz with this, but be careful, there are only two shots in here. If he’s unconscious, he cannot kill Willow at Delcaza’s bidding. I’m going to see if I can free Willow from her chains.” “What do I do?”Cordelia whispered loudly. Giles looked at her and blinked. “You could try being a distraction to her as we try to get Oz and Willow free,”Giles suggested.”Now, we must move!” * Willow started pulling her chains in an effort to be free. All the while she was screaming at Buffy.”Buffy! The source of her power is the cauldron! She has her hand in the cauldron! Get away from her! But don’t touch it! It’s the same as she changed Magda to a wolf! She could kill you!” Delcaza turned around and looked at Willow. Willow felt a tightening at her throat.”Shut up you little bitch! I’ll deal with you later!” Delcaza then turned to look at Buffy and threw another lightning bolt at the Slayer as Willow fell to the ground, gasping for air. Giles crept towards Willow as Delcaza was distracted. But suddenly, Delcaza turned and looked at the Watcher.”FOOL! Think you can creep up from behind me? The wind carries your scent!” Giles started to choke as Delcaza focused her rage on him.”I am Circe! A Mistress of the Hunt! Servant to the Three Witches! I will gain my power and my form! You are nothing!” With a savage toss of her head, she tossed Giles into the air. And the focused her attention on Buffy.”And as for you, Slayer...” * Xander cursed as he couldn’t get a clear shot at Oz. And he saw his friends being attacked, he looked through the tranquilizer’s scope.”Damn! She keeps moving and attacking!” “Xander! We have to do something!”Cordelia wailed as she watched the scene before her.”Can we shoot Willow? Will that stop the spell?” “No! She needs Oz conscious, but it doesn’t matter if Will is or isn’t,”Xander said as he moved to get a better shot at Oz. Then an idea hit him... * Giles coughed as he rose from the ground. His bleary mind quickly assessed the situation, Buffy was doing handsprings to avoid Delcaza’s lightning bolts, Willow was pulling at her chains, Oz was barking ferociously, yet not moving from his circle. He had to do something but what? * Willow frantically pulled at her chains to get free. Her mind raced as she pulled at her chains. She frantically looked at Oz as he barked at Delcaza, then she looked at the cauldron. The potion was the key. Without the potion, no spell, if there was no spell, then no change. But what to do? Willow looked around, then started picking up the pebbles and stones in her small circle and started throwing it into the bubbling cauldron. *** “ENOUGH!”screamed Delcaza as she missed the Slayer yet again.”It is time for the spell!” “Not now it isn’t!” Giles shouted as he threw a rock at her. Delcaza instinctively ducked. Giles threw another, then another. His pockets were filled with stones as he threw them all fast and furiously at her.”Not here! Not now! Not ever! Leave these two alone!” “No! I will have my power!” Delcaza screamed. Then she howled as a large stone hit her on the head. She looked up furious, and through blooded eyes she saw the Slayer standing and hefting another rock at her.

“You will stop and go bay at some other moon!” Buffy shouted. She threw another rock at Delcaza.”Or I’ll put you in the zoo myself!” Delcaza snarled at Buffy.“Die! Slay-” Willow, Buffy and Giles stared as Delcaza faltered. Her eyes widened as she pulled something from her back. It was a dart. Her eyes looked up and saw a grinning boy, musket in hand as he waved at her. She howled furiously. “Night-night, Miz Delcaza! Bed time for you!”Xander grinned as he took aim at Oz.”Beddy time Oz! Howl your good-night to Willow!” Oz howled at Xander, then fell as the tranquilizer dart hit him in the shoulder. Delcaza looked at the bubbling cauldron, then at the damned Slayer and her Watcher.”I will not be denied! I will gain my form! I will be a wolf! And you will be dead, Slayer!” “Buffy! Look out!”Willow shouted as Delcaza hefted the cauldron to throw it at the Slayer. Willow jumped back when one of Delcaza’s arms gave way, and the bubbling potion spilled all over Delcaza. Delcaza stared at the potion the covered her, then screamed at Willow.”WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE YOU LITTLE BITCH?!?” Willow stepped away from Delcaza as far as her chains could permit her to.”I-I-I-” Delcaza screamed as the potion started to smoke, she fell to the ground on her knees as she howled at the moon’s light. Then there was silence. Buffy stared, and stepped cautiously towards what was...is Delcaza, then looked at Giles.”What just happened?” “She’s a rock?”Cordelia exclaimed, stunned.”She wanted to be a rock?” “No...she wanted to be a wolf,”Xander said as he studied Delcaza’s new stone form. It was hideous. The stone was warped into some sort a face of horror.”But she changed into a rock. But, why?” “I-I threw stones and dirt into the potion,”Willow stammered as Buffy pulled the chains from the ground.”It changed the whole spell. Is it all over?” Buffy nodded gruffly as she hugged her friend.”It’s as over as it’s going to get. May Magda, Fife, Rogan and Zinnia rest in peace now.” ***** It was just another day in Sunnydale High as the students walked through the halls. “Well, that was a weird night,”Oz said as he was filled in on the happenings. He looked at Willow somberly.”Are you sure that you still want to go out with me?” Leaning against her locker, Willow smiled as she simply brought Oz closer to her and kissed him tenderly.”Does that answer your question?” “Hey, Willow! Hey, Oz!”shouted a voice. Willow and Oz looked up and saw Devon head towards them. He stopped and grinned at them both.”You guys coming to practice today? You can be official drink getter, Willow. And you can give me pointers, if you want.” “You actually got my name right? I’m impressed,”Willow said in amazement. Devon simply grinned at her as he waved good-bye. Oz looked at Willow.”What was that all about?” “Devon and I had a little talk after he hit on me. And I told him I wasn’t interested in him, I was interested in you,”Willow said innocently. Oz looked at her, still a little suspicious. “And what else did you say to him?”Oz asked. His eyes narrowed as she blushed.”Willow?” “I, uh, also told him that his chasing me was showing his insecurity as a mature male, and thus he showing that feels threatened by confident females,”Willow said with a straight face.”And that it was a normal reaction among males that cannot perform certain acts of affection towards women, but can perform these acts towards men.”

“And he bought it?”Oz said incredulously as he stared at Willow.”What am I saying? Of course he bought it. He’s Devon. You called him a closet homosexual, Willow.” Willow blushed more.”Nope. Well, not technically. I just called him an insecure male that was jealous of having his male bonding rituals interrupted.“ “Semantics, sweet,”Oz said as he kissed the tip of Willow’s nose.”Never knew you had such a devious mind, Willow.” Willow giggled as they headed towards the library. When they entered, they saw Cordelia and Candace locked into a heated glaring match. Buffy was holding Cordelia back. “You keep away from him!”Cordelia said as she took a step towards Candace. Candace crossed her arms. “Ohhh, I’m so afraid! Afraid of me taking your man?”Candace scoffed.”Queen C is losing her touch, and her throne!” “Now, girls,”Giles said patiently as he tried to keep the two apart.”This is not the place for-” “Hey! What’s up?”Xander said cheerfully as he walked into the room, drinking a can of soda. He stopped when he was the recipient of several stares.”What’d I do?” “Xander!”Candace said cheerfully as she loped her arm around his.”Just the man I was waiting for! Want to go to a movie with me?” Xander, a bit puzzled, looked around and saw no one behind him or next to him.”You talking to me, Candace?” Candace giggled as she lead Xander out the door.“You’re so funny!” Cordelia broke away from Buffy and was about to follow when they heard a scream. Everyone looked at each other then headed towards the doors. Xander came back in. Alone. Grinning. He looked at everyone innocently. “What’s going on?” “What happened? Why was there a scream? Where’s Candace?”Buffy demanded as she looked at him. Then she headed towards the doors. As everyone exited the library, they were greeted with the sight of Candace, the cheerleader, wiping soda from her chest. A small crowd gathered around her. “Xander Harris! You did that deliberately! You ruined my top! How DARE you! Who the hell do you think you are?!?”Candace screamed at him furiously. Xander simply shrugged at her as he gathered Cordelia close to him. “I am Xander, King of Cretins! Lord of Geeks!”Xander intoned. Candace stared at him, her mouth agape. The Scooby gang and the rest of the crowd watched Xander with interest. “And as the King of Cretins, I dare many things, Candace. Most which people refuse to acknowledge and which I personally hope no one ever does. But two-timing Cordy isn’t one of them,”Xander said simply.”And it won’t be. Especially if I know what’s healthy for me. Now, better get that stain out before it sets.” Cordy grinned at him before she smirked at Candace.”Later, Candace. Queen C still rules. Didn’t I say ‘shoo’ Candace?” As Candace stomped off, Xander grinned at Cordelia. She smiled at him.”Are you going to carry my books now?” Xander blanched.”Sorry, Cordy! Gotta go to class now! And another soda!” With that, he kissed her cheek quickly and disappeared into the student lounge. Cordelia stared at him open-mouthed.”Xander Harris! You get back here!” ~Fin. Feed back! Please!

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	By the Moon's Light Part 2


***** When Willow came to, she winced. She wanted the little man hitting her head with a sledgehammer to stop. “Are you awake yet, my dear?”asked a softly accented voice. Willow opened her eyes, she saw that she was in a cage, in a dark basement. With a small cauldron bubbling with some white liquid. Then she saw a figure moving in the shadows, waving a knife over a candle.”I am so sorry that I had to drug you, but I don’t think that you would have come with me willingly.” The figure stepped closer, and Willow gasped. It was the Wolf-Woman, and it wasn’t.”Ms-Ms. Delcaza?” The figure nodded, and smiled at her.”Very good, Willow. I see that you recognize me, but then that’s not too hard to do right now, is it?” “What-what happened to you?You’re old! And...and part wolf!”Willow stuttered. Ms.Delcaza shrugged as she looked down at herself, and smiled bitterly. “Oh, nothing. A spell gone awry, but soon that will be fixed,”she smiled as she looked up at the window, it was night. And tomorrow was the first full moon. “Very soon.” Willow’s eyes widened.”Are you in cahoots with that other Wolf-Woman?” Ms.Delcaza threw her head back and laughed harshly.”There is no other Wolf-Woman. It was me!” Willow’s eyes widened. Ms.Delcaza saw the confusion in her eyes and laughed bitterly.”Allow me to introduce myself, I am Circe. And what you see now, is a shadow of my former self. But tomorrow in the light of the full moon, that will all change.” Circe stretched out the arms and looked at the wrinkled limbs, then looked at her legs. They were wolf legs, just like her torso. Her aged hands touched her wrinkled face, then her face became young again.”By tomorrow night, I’ll have a human form and your youth!” “People will find me! My friends-” “Will do nothing!”Circe interrupted savegely.”By the time that the Slayer finds you and your werewolf, it will be too late! I will not allow a Slayer to interrupt me ever again!” ***** “Cordy! You’re here!” Buffy exclaimed as she entered the library. Cordelia looked at her and rolled her eyes at the Slayer.She was still in her cheerleading uniform as she had a book open in front of her. “Where else would I rather be? Home? On the phone? Shopping?”Cordelia snidely.”Or am I here simply because I love these musty books that so totally ruin my skin?” “Well, Candace said that you were home getting ready for a date with Jason Breyers, and that she was supposed to give Xander some message, from you,”Oz said carefully. Xander lifted his head up and gaped at Cordelia as her eyes flashed. “You have a date with Jason Breyers?”Xander demanded.”He asked you out on a date?!? Are you going out with him?” “As if!”Cordelia snorted delicately.”I’m already dating you. Goes to show you how brain dead I am when I turn down the third time he asks me out! Candace must have heard him ask me out again! Why would she tell you this?” “Well, she said that you gave her a message to tell Xander,”Buffy said.”Probably to, well, you know the scenario.” Cordelia’s eyes widened, then she exploded.“That witch! Can you stake her for me? No wait! I’ll do it myself! I’ll fix her caboose!” “As interesting this all is, did you manage to locate Willow?”Giles asked when there was a break in Cordelia’s tirade. Buffy and Oz shook their heads.”Cordelia! Sit!” “We looked all over the school grounds, even called her house, but no Willow,”Oz said.”And I’m feeling not to happy with her being not here.” “All right, we must assume that the Wolf-Woman somehow has Willow,”Giles stated as he looked around the table.”So the only other person she needs here is Oz.” “And he’s going no where tonight,”Xander said as he pulled on his hair in frustration.”But where’s Willow? And why does this-this thing want them? Did we find anything yet?” “Just alot of spells regarding virgin sacrifices and others involving werewolves, but nothing about both of them,”Cordelia said as she looked up from her book.”Why do most of these spells involve virgins, anyway?” “Don’t worry, Cordy. You’ve got nothing to worry about, according to locker room talk,”Xander quipped. Cordelia glared at him as Giles cleared his throat. “Most of the spells that require a virgin because she represents purity, youth...and hold! I think I’ve remembered something!” The Slayer and Slayerettes waited as the Watcher ran into his office and came out with a volume.”I seem to recall, in one of the Watcher Diaries, that there was a Slayer, about two hundred years ago, who was fighting a sorceress that could change her shape. Her favorite form was a wolf...” As he opened the diary, and lost himself in the volume, the group stared at him. Then Buffy prompted,”And? What’s the rest, Giles? Share please.” Giles nodded his head in apology.“Sorry. It seems that this Slayer, Magda, she was called, was part of a gypsy clan that roamed England. And her Watcher was an English gentleman, called Sir Thomas Fife. It seemed that her half-sister was taken by this sorceress because she was engaged to the clan’s protector, who was said to have been able to change his shape...” “And?”Oz prompted. Giles then shook his head and read from the diary.

‘November 2nd 1763: It has been two months since I was assigned my Slayer. Her name is Magda and she is a menace to my temper. Such is my fate to have a strong willed Slayer, yet I am so very proud of her. Even before I met her, her clan understood her destiny, and they embraced it and her. She was already taught some of the defenses, and each day I marvel at the things that I am forced to learn from her. She is wild, but she is as a Slayer should be. Brave. Bright. Beautiful. Caring. She loves only one other in her clan, her half-sister, Zinnia, who is as calm as her sister is wild. The sister is engaged to Rogan, who for some reason is designated as clan protector. And they are both protective of Magda. It will not be easy for me to gain their acceptance into their family.’ “Sounds a bit like you Buffy,”Xander quipped. Buffy glared at her friend as Giles continued. ‘January 27 1764: I have finally been accepted into the clan because I am Magda’s Watcher, yet I still think that they merely tolerate me for I have allowed them to stay on my lands. Much has happened in the six months, between me and my Slayer. She has killed many vampires and demons, but now she is troubled. Wolves and witches invade her dreams, and she is frightened by them. She has told me a fantastic story, that Rogan has the ability to change into any forest beast that he likes. He especially likes to take the form of a wolf when the seasons demand it. I am astounded as I am skeptical, yet after so much I have seen, how can I doubt it?’ “All right, so this Rogan was a werewolf?”Oz asked quizzically. Giles shook his head slowly. “Perhaps. It only says that he favors the wolf form,”Giles mused.”Maybe-” “But what does this have to do with virgins, werewolves and Willow?”Buffy asked. Giles looked down at his book and continued reading aloud. ‘March 3 1764: Tonight is the Full Moon of the Three Witches, and may God above help us all. The Mistress Hunt has kidnapped Zinnia and we know not where to find them. Rogan is beside himself with worry, as is the clan. The Elder woman has seen in her visions that if Rogan leaves the clan to find Zinnia, Rogan will be lost to them. She has also seen that Zinnia and Magda are forever changed in a ceremony not familiar with the gypsies. All she could repeat was “Old is young,Young is Old, the Wolf is gone, but a Wolf there shall be.”I do not know much, but I have a strange premonition going through my head. All not be well even if we do find Zinnia....’ “Oh, my Lord,”Giles whispered. Buffy stared at him. “What? What Giles? What happened?”Buffy demanded. Giles looked at her with horror filled eyes as he read the passage. ‘After tonight’s happenings, I cannot doubt the existence of werewolves or sorceresses. And I cannot believe what has happened to my Slayer. In the struggle to save her sister, the spell and the potion that the Mistress Hunt prepared in the sacred circle spilled upon the Mistress Hunt, Zinnia and my Magda. Even as it happened before me, I could not believe mine own eyes. As I gaze at her, now, in her cage, in her wolf form, I still cannot believe it. My Slayer, my Magda is now a wolf. ‘The price that was paid to save her beloved sister was so high. She had stopped the Mistress Hunt’s ceremony, but at the cost of her humanity, Rogan’s ability and Zinnia’s youth. Never again will the clan have their Slayer or wolf protector or their beloved flower. May God above curse the Mistress Hunt forever in her half-form.’ Giles looked at Buffy, then at Oz as he continued in a low voice. ’March 30, 1764: It is with a heavy heart that I must report this in this diary. After much searching, I could not find a way to reverse the spell or potion that the Mistress Hunt used to change all our lives. Last night I told Rogan and Zinnia the news. After I had told Rogan and Zinnia, in that cottage near my house that they share with Magda, they had asked if there was a new Slayer yet. I could not look at them as I answered no. So long as the Slayer lives, it seems no matter what the form, the next shall not be called. When I returned this morning, they were all dead, holding each other’s hand with Magda’s near dead form between them.’ ‘When I lifted Magda’s head, she opened her eyes, and licked my hand before she breathed her last. I have failed in my duty, I have lost my Slayer. May God in his mercy forgive me, because I am filled with hate. I will find a way to find Mistress Hunt, and I will find a way to destroy her for what she did to my Magda. And I will forever curse her with my dying breath. Let all the Watchers after me know this: the Mistress Hunt will return again, and I order you all to stay aware. Unless I find something significant about Lady Hunt or report her death, this will be my last entry as a Watcher. May God watch over you all.’

Giles then closed the book, and the room was filled with quiet. When he cleared his throat, everyone jumped.”That was his last entry in the diary.” “Wow. Talk about being bitter,”Cordelia said wide eyed.”And he never ever found this Mistress Hunt again?” Giles shook his head slowly.”It is assumed that he did not, mainly because there are no more written pages after this last entry.” “So we’re going to assume that this Mistress Hunt is back,”Buffy said slowly.”Since that’s the only refernce we can find about wolves and virgins. And moons.” Giles nodded slowly.”It would seem so, Buffy. And if she is back, then she must be using Willow for her own purposes.” “Does anyone else see a match here?”Xander asked.”Flower names, Willow and Zinnia. Wolves, Oz and Rogan. Slayers, Buffy and Magda. Does that mean that tomorrow’s full moon is the night of the ceremony two hundred years ago?” Giles went to a book, and read his calculations.”Yes...it seems that tomorrow is the Moon of the Three Witches.” “Then we have to assume that this Mistress Hunt is in Sunnydale and that she hasn’t changed her name, much,”Buffy mused.”So that means we look for people around Sunnydale with the name ‘Hunt’ in it. How did she kidnap Zinnia?” “She posed as a governess in a neighboring estate. And she took steps to care for her charges,”Giles replied.”So if we are to assume that she has not changed any of her tactics-” “Then she might be a teacher here in the school or a school nearby,”Buffy finished.”I don’t like this Giles, too many assumptions. Too many chances, with Oz and Willow’s life is hanging in the balance.” “Agreed, but it’s the only slim hope that we have,”Giles said slowly.”I’ll look to see if we have more on Sir Thomas. The ceremony took place in an open wooded field. Buffy-” “I’ll see if there are any places that this ceremony can take place. Oz, you look in the computer and pull up any and all names that have the word ‘Hunt’ in them and see if they’re teachers or nannies or governors. Xander, you and Cordy will have to research more and see if there’s another angle to this. And call the names that Oz pulls up,” Buffy ordered. “You’ll be looking for a clearing, more in the shape of a circle, in the middle of a wooded area,”Giles stated.”And a crossroads nearby.” “Then I’m thinking near the back of the school or Waverly Park is where she’ll have her little shindig.”She looked at Oz and Xander.”We’ll find her, guys, and we’ll make sure that this Hunt lady never bothers anyone again.” *** “My cursed form is because of that damn gypsy Slayer!”Circe raged as she threw a bottle against the wall. Willow cringed back into her cage.”For two thousand years, I have practiced my arts and stayed young. After Odysseus, I vowed that no man would capture my wild heart or tame my ways. And for two thousand years, I have sacrificed werewolves and their virgin mates to retain my powers and my youth....” “And then what happened?”Willow asked hesitantly. Circe glared at her. “Then that gypsy Slayer-bitch interrupted my ceremony. All to save a werewolf and her sister,”Circe spat.”But I avenged myself, I made her into a wolf! But at such a price! I am half woman, half wolf. My body changes from old to young to wolf, all at its own whims. Because of that Slayer, I have no youth, and only half my power. But with your death and the werewolf’s blood, I will regain all that I have lost!” Circe pointed at Willow.”And your friend shall die if she tries to stop me!” *** “Now where would I like to have my little shindig?”Buffy muttered to herself as she looked around the street. She closed her eyes and thought.There was no clearings that were around the school, but there were plenty around Waverly Park, but none of them were near any crossroads.

“Hello, there lover,”a voice drawled as her back stiffened. Buffy spun around as she faced her former lover with an impassive face. “Hello, Angellus,”she greeted coolly.”Out early tonight.” “I was hungry a little early,”Angellus shrugged. His yellow eyes gleamed when the street lamp’s light reflected off them.”And I thought that I’d start making a little mayhem tonight.” Buffy smiled at him as she waved her hand dismissively as she mocked him.“Please! Get in line, Angel. Someone’s already beat you to it. You’re not a fast scourge anymore,Angel. Must be losing your touch.” Angel’s game face frowned.“What the hell does that mean?” “It means that you’re not a priority on my list of eradicating scourges this week. In fact, you’re at the bottom of the list,”she gave in a loud conspiratorial whisper. Angel growled at her, but she merely sniffed at it.”Give it up Angel, I’m busy.” Since she knew that it would rankle his pride, Buffy smiled as she half turned away from him.”Now, enough of this chit-chat, I’ve gotta run. You know how it was, world ending prophecies to stop, people to save, demons to destroy, yada,yada,yada. Toodles, Angel.” Angel stared at the Slayer as she ran down the street and disappeared into the trees.”I’ll show you how much of a scourge I can be. Just you wait...Slayer.” ***** The next morning, Buffy and the gang met inside the library again, this time with a more dejected air. Buffy spoke first,”I found three places that the ritual can take place. Unfortunately, they’re not all close together.” “And Cordy and I called all those names with Hunt in them, zippo,”Xander groused. “Yeah, it was so bad. I don’t think that I want to see another phone again,”Cordelia complained.”And those people were so grouchy.” “And we have only tonight to stop this witch,”Oz said.”And I can’t help because I’m gonna be chained in my basement tonight.” “Unless this Mistress Hunt gets to you first, in that case, it’s wolf-whatever for you and an old age home for Will,”Xander said. Everyone glared at the boy.”What?” “Damn it! I wish that I knew what this ritual was about!”Giles said as he ran his fingers through his hair. “Hey Oz!” Devon called out as he approached the smaller guy.”What’s up man?” “Oh, hi Dev. Nothing. We’re just, uh, waiting for Willow to show. She was supposed to show me something on the computer,”Oz smiled weakly.”You see her anywhere?” Devon shook his head.“Nope. The last time I saw Gladiola was when walked with her to Delcaza’s room yesterday. She was gonna get some papers or stuff.” “And when was this?”Buffy asked intently. Devon simply shrugged. “Dunno. ‘Bout five or something,”Devon answered.”So we practicing tomorrow, Oz?” “Was the room empty?”Buffy demanded. Devon looked at the girl, annoyed. “No. Delcaza was there. What’s with the interrogation?”Devon demanded. Buffy simply shrugged and smiled weakly.“Well, she was supposed to ask Delcaza something for me, and Will said that she never saw her, so...” “Oh, there you are Xander!”a sing song voice cried out.”Can you help me some of my work in math?” Everyone looked over Devon’s shoulder to see Candace approach the table. Xander smiled weakly at the girl as Cordelia intercepted her.”Well, Hel~lo Candace! My, you’re up early! Are you sure that you got enough sleep? You have bags under your eyes.” Candace gave her a false smile.”Much more than you did, Cordelia. You’re looking a little caked today, got enough foundation on? Xander, do you remember the homework that we had in math? Do you understand it?”

“Uhhh. No,”Xander stammered as he moved his chair noticeably closer to Cordelia’s side. He smiled weakly at her.”My study buddy’s not here, so she can’t explain it for me.” “Oh, then do you want to work together on it?”Candace pounced. Xander stared at the girl as he tried to find away out. Cordelia was about to ring out a sharp retort. Giles cleared his throat.“I am sorry, ah, Candace, but since Xander is my student aide, I am afraid that I must keep him here to, uh, aid in my research.” Candace blinked at the librarian. Giles continued.”In fact, both you and Devon are interrupting this student meeting that I am having. So if you two will please leave and come back another time?” “Cordelia? A student worker in a library?”Candace gawked at Cordelia who inwardly groaned. Her reputation was now in the gutters. Now she’d be labeled a cheerleading nerd dating a geek. “Cordelia?!? A student worker? In the library?”Buffy asked in a raised voice, hoping that it was sounding increduous.”She’s just waiting for Xander here, who’s waiting for Willow.” “Seems that everybody’s waiting for Lilac,”Devon mused as he slid his eyes at Oz who simply shrugged.”Popular girl. Got Xander waiting for her. Right Oz?” Oz was about to say something when the bell rang. Giles gasped as he looked at the invading students.“Well! There’s the first bell! Oz, Xander, Buffy, in my office please. Uh, Cordelia-” Cordelia smiled brightly at the librarian.“I’ll wait right here, Mr.Giles. Xander, I’ll be waiting here. You can take my books and walk me to class.” Giles shoved Xander into the office as the boy gaped at her. When he shut the room door, he looked at the students around him.”Well, this puts a new light in secrecy.” “Delcaza lied,”Oz stated flatly.”She said that Willow never saw her.” Buffy nodded.”But why? Is she our Mistress Hunt? She was an English governess in the diary. And Delcaza is obviously a teacher. But she’s from... where did she say she was from? Spain? Italy?” Giles nodded.“Spain. Her full name is Donna Delcaza...oh, God.” “What is it?”Buffy demanded as she looked at Giles. He quickly took out a Spanish dictionary and flipped through it. Giles stuttered as he excitedly flipped through more of the text.“Donna is a name, but it is also the Spanish term for ‘lady’ and Delcaza...” “Delcaza...means ‘of the hunt’. Damn it!”Oz cursed quietly as he shut his Spanish text book.”It’s her. She has Willow.” “But where? And what do we do?”Xander demanded as the bell rang. Giles looked up and ordered them quickly. “She can’t do anything until tonight. I’ll somehow get her address. Buffy, keep and eye on her. Oz and Xander, stay away from her, especially you Oz. She needs you to finish the ritual that she has planned. Meet here this afternoon. Now go to class.” ***** Oz stared at his teacher as she taught Spanish. < She has Willow. I know she does. But why? What does she want with us? > Circe smiled as she taught her lesson. < The werewolf knows who I am. Good. Then that means that he will come to me. Tonight. > *** As the day went on, Giles loaded his tranquilizer gun methodically. He hadn’t learned much more about werewolves or the ritual, but he did learn quite a few things about wolves. A male wolf has a tendency to mate with only one female at a lifetime, and that male wolf would protect his mate from any dangers, even at the cost of itself. And since werewolves were the development of baser instincts in man, there was every reason to believe that Oz, in his werewolf form tonight, would have no choice but to hunt for Willow, his perceived mate. ***

At four in the afternoon, Giles gathered Oz, Cordelia and Xander in the library and spoke to them brusquely.“Buffy is tailing Delcaza. Oz, we have to chain you up.” Oz started to protest, but Giles savagely cut him off.“You are integral to this ritual for some reason. For Willow to survive this night, you must be chained. And I have every reason to believe that she expects that you will go to her tonight. Xander and Cordelia, I’ll need your help in locating where this ritual will take place.” “There’s a good news and bad news side to that tone of your voice, Giles. Give,”Xander said quietly. Cordelia nodded. “Her house is equidistant to all three areas that Buffy scouted last night,”Giles said. When the two gave him a confused look, he sighed.”What that means is that her house is in the middle of all three potential ritual sites. She could go to any of those sites and if we choose the wrong one...” “Then it’s the old age home for Willow,”Xander finished.”How do we contact Buffy?” “Easy. Give her my cel,”Cordelia said, then she looked at the faces that stared at her.“Hey! I owe her for saving my rep! Besides, I’ll charge her for the call.” Giles sighed.”I’ll give it to her. Let’s move, there isn’t much time. We’ve got to find Buffy and give her the phone. From the diary, the ritual was performed in the second hour of the light of the full moon. And that she needs Oz awake for the ritual, so that he can do whatever the ritual calls for. Damn it! I wish I knew where this ritual was!” *** Buffy shook her head as she rose from the ground. < Ow! What hit me? > She looked around and saw nothing. Total darkness. ”Where am I?” * Willow watched with round eyes as Circe came at her with a pair of scissors.”I need a lock of your hair, dear.” “Don’t you have enough?”Willow asked sarcastically. Circe was now some sort of werewolf, except that her head was still human. Willow flinched away as the scissors sniped. Circe smiled coldly as she held up the lock of hair.”This will bring your werewolf to me, Willow. Indeed it will. He’ll have no choice but to come to me now. He’ll smell your scent in the air, and we’ll meet him.” Then she looked at Willow again.”Nighty-night, Willow.” The last thing that Willow saw was a clawed fist coming at her. *** As the moon started to shine in the night, Oz sat in his basement, chained to the wall. Sitting. Waiting for his body to change. Willow would be safe, so long as he stayed away from the ritual. He had to stay away from the ritual. He had to remember that, even as his heart echoed for her. Then he felt a ripping pain run through his gut. *** “Blast it!”Giles cursed as he looked around the school campus.”Where is Buffy?” “No one’s seen her,”Xander said as he came running up.”I asked around. And Delcaza’s missing, too. Cordy said that there’s no lights or car around her house either.” “Then we must assume that Delcaza is at the ritual site, and that she has somehow gotten rid of Buffy,”Giles said worriedly.”But where is Buffy? And Willow?” *** When Willow woke, she smelled the crisp night air. Then she felt the cold ground against her back. When she tried to move, she found that she was chained to the ground. When she looked about her, she saw that she was in a large silver white chalked circle that was overlapped by two other circles, a blood red and pale blue.”What?”

“Welcome back Willow. Glad that you can make it,”Circe said casually. Willow looked at her. She was stirring a pot in the connected blood red circle. Willow could see the steam rise from the pot, and a breeze carry it away.”Can you smell it? Your wolf will come to you now...” *** Oz lifted up his snout as he smelled the air. There was something other than the smell of rusting metal, gas and people. It was calling to him. It was his mate. Oz started struggling against the chains around his legs and wrists. The concrete started to give way. * Reaching out, she stumbled over something, and then she felt the handle of a door. Then she broke off the handle, and kicked the door open. A small amount of light from a nearby window showed that she was in a closet. At school. She ran outside, and headed towards Oz’s house. Praying that she wasn’t too late. She knew she was when she saw from the distance a large looming wolf figure go crashing through Oz’s front door. And then start to lope off towards Waverly Park. * Giles and Xander met up with Cordelia and climbed into her car.“No activity?” “None at all. Buffy?” “No sight of her. Delcaza must have incapacitated her, damn it,”Giles said. Xander and Cordelia simply waited for orders from the older man. They all jumped when her cel rang. “Hello? Buffy? Where-Oz is free?!? Give me your heading! Right! See you there, and for God’s sake, be careful! I have no desire to feed you Kibbles and Bits when this is all over!” Giles ordered, then snapped the phone shut.”Go to Waverly Park, and head towards the Stewart Avenue and Whedon Street intersection. The ritual will take place there. Oz is free. Hurry, Cordelia!” Cordelia stepped on the gas. * “Oz!Oz! Run!” Willow screamed as she saw Oz’s werewolf figure head towards her. Then stopped to look at Circe. When the sorceress pointed, Oz simply loped to the pale blue circle, and sat. Horrified, she stared at Circe. Circe smiled at Willow then at the moon.”See, he simply obeys me. He has no choice. The potion forces him to obey. Soon it will be time for the ritual to begin, and I will be as I was before. Young. Powerful. Free. And quite ferocious. Like a wolf.” “I will have my powers soon,”Circe said as she picked up her athame and pointed it towards Oz and then Willow.”And I have both of you to thank for it.” “What’s-what’s going to happen?”Willow stammered as she tried to draw out the plans of this crazed witch.”You can’t kill me and you can’t kill Oz. People will know.” Circe simply shrugged.”Oz will kill you with his claws, then dip his hands into my potion. And alas, the potion will kill him. The police will find you both, and I will go on my merry way. End of story.” “How about a new ending?”a voice called out.”Like one that’ll end with a woodsman killing you? Or that you’ll go into a cage for a very long time.” Circe spun around and snarled.”Slayer!” *** “Thing!”Buffy shouted back as she eyed her opponent.”Ewww! What are you?” “I am your better!”Delcaza hollered as her hand lifted and a bolt of lightning flew out of her fingers. Buffy did a back handspring to avoid the bolt. Dirt and rocks flew everywhere. She barely had enough time when another one nearly hit her.”Stay still, you little bitch!” “Not in this life time!”Buffy hollered back. As she crouched down, ready to spring up again, Buffy sneered at Delcaza.”What’s with the fur coat? It’s not that hot out here! Haven’t you heard of saving the animals?”

Another lightning bolt flew at Buffy as she spring up to avoid it. *** Giles crept around to the other side of the clearing with Xander and Cordelia in tow. He pointed at Oz as he handed the tranquilizer gun to Xander.”Quick, while Buffy’s distracting her! Hit Oz with this, but be careful, there are only two shots in here. If he’s unconscious, he cannot kill Willow at Delcaza’s bidding. I’m going to see if I can free Willow from her chains.” “What do I do?”Cordelia whispered loudly. Giles looked at her and blinked. “You could try being a distraction to her as we try to get Oz and Willow free,”Giles suggested.”Now, we must move!” * Willow started pulling her chains in an effort to be free. All the while she was screaming at Buffy.”Buffy! The source of her power is the cauldron! She has her hand in the cauldron! Get away from her! But don’t touch it! It’s the same as she changed Magda to a wolf! She could kill you!” Delcaza turned around and looked at Willow. Willow felt a tightening at her throat.”Shut up you little bitch! I’ll deal with you later!” Delcaza then turned to look at Buffy and threw another lightning bolt at the Slayer as Willow fell to the ground, gasping for air. Giles crept towards Willow as Delcaza was distracted. But suddenly, Delcaza turned and looked at the Watcher.”FOOL! Think you can creep up from behind me? The wind carries your scent!” Giles started to choke as Delcaza focused her rage on him.”I am Circe! A Mistress of the Hunt! Servant to the Three Witches! I will gain my power and my form! You are nothing!” With a savage toss of her head, she tossed Giles into the air. And the focused her attention on Buffy.”And as for you, Slayer...” * Xander cursed as he couldn’t get a clear shot at Oz. And he saw his friends being attacked, he looked through the tranquilizer’s scope.”Damn! She keeps moving and attacking!” “Xander! We have to do something!”Cordelia wailed as she watched the scene before her.”Can we shoot Willow? Will that stop the spell?” “No! She needs Oz conscious, but it doesn’t matter if Will is or isn’t,”Xander said as he moved to get a better shot at Oz. Then an idea hit him... * Giles coughed as he rose from the ground. His bleary mind quickly assessed the situation, Buffy was doing handsprings to avoid Delcaza’s lightning bolts, Willow was pulling at her chains, Oz was barking ferociously, yet not moving from his circle. He had to do something but what? * Willow frantically pulled at her chains to get free. Her mind raced as she pulled at her chains. She frantically looked at Oz as he barked at Delcaza, then she looked at the cauldron. The potion was the key. Without the potion, no spell, if there was no spell, then no change. But what to do? Willow looked around, then started picking up the pebbles and stones in her small circle and started throwing it into the bubbling cauldron. *** “ENOUGH!”screamed Delcaza as she missed the Slayer yet again.”It is time for the spell!” “Not now it isn’t!” Giles shouted as he threw a rock at her. Delcaza instinctively ducked. Giles threw another, then another. His pockets were filled with stones as he threw them all fast and furiously at her.”Not here! Not now! Not ever! Leave these two alone!” “No! I will have my power!” Delcaza screamed. Then she howled as a large stone hit her on the head. She looked up furious, and through blooded eyes she saw the Slayer standing and hefting another rock at her.

“You will stop and go bay at some other moon!” Buffy shouted. She threw another rock at Delcaza.”Or I’ll put you in the zoo myself!” Delcaza snarled at Buffy.“Die! Slay-” Willow, Buffy and Giles stared as Delcaza faltered. Her eyes widened as she pulled something from her back. It was a dart. Her eyes looked up and saw a grinning boy, musket in hand as he waved at her. She howled furiously. “Night-night, Miz Delcaza! Bed time for you!”Xander grinned as he took aim at Oz.”Beddy time Oz! Howl your good-night to Willow!” Oz howled at Xander, then fell as the tranquilizer dart hit him in the shoulder. Delcaza looked at the bubbling cauldron, then at the damned Slayer and her Watcher.”I will not be denied! I will gain my form! I will be a wolf! And you will be dead, Slayer!” “Buffy! Look out!”Willow shouted as Delcaza hefted the cauldron to throw it at the Slayer. Willow jumped back when one of Delcaza’s arms gave way, and the bubbling potion spilled all over Delcaza. Delcaza stared at the potion the covered her, then screamed at Willow.”WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE YOU LITTLE BITCH?!?” Willow stepped away from Delcaza as far as her chains could permit her to.”I-I-I-” Delcaza screamed as the potion started to smoke, she fell to the ground on her knees as she howled at the moon’s light. Then there was silence. Buffy stared, and stepped cautiously towards what was...is Delcaza, then looked at Giles.”What just happened?” “She’s a rock?”Cordelia exclaimed, stunned.”She wanted to be a rock?” “No...she wanted to be a wolf,”Xander said as he studied Delcaza’s new stone form. It was hideous. The stone was warped into some sort a face of horror.”But she changed into a rock. But, why?” “I-I threw stones and dirt into the potion,”Willow stammered as Buffy pulled the chains from the ground.”It changed the whole spell. Is it all over?” Buffy nodded gruffly as she hugged her friend.”It’s as over as it’s going to get. May Magda, Fife, Rogan and Zinnia rest in peace now.” ***** It was just another day in Sunnydale High as the students walked through the halls. “Well, that was a weird night,”Oz said as he was filled in on the happenings. He looked at Willow somberly.”Are you sure that you still want to go out with me?” Leaning against her locker, Willow smiled as she simply brought Oz closer to her and kissed him tenderly.”Does that answer your question?” “Hey, Willow! Hey, Oz!”shouted a voice. Willow and Oz looked up and saw Devon head towards them. He stopped and grinned at them both.”You guys coming to practice today? You can be official drink getter, Willow. And you can give me pointers, if you want.” “You actually got my name right? I’m impressed,”Willow said in amazement. Devon simply grinned at her as he waved good-bye. Oz looked at Willow.”What was that all about?” “Devon and I had a little talk after he hit on me. And I told him I wasn’t interested in him, I was interested in you,”Willow said innocently. Oz looked at her, still a little suspicious. “And what else did you say to him?”Oz asked. His eyes narrowed as she blushed.”Willow?” “I, uh, also told him that his chasing me was showing his insecurity as a mature male, and thus he showing that feels threatened by confident females,”Willow said with a straight face.”And that it was a normal reaction among males that cannot perform certain acts of affection towards women, but can perform these acts towards men.”

“And he bought it?”Oz said incredulously as he stared at Willow.”What am I saying? Of course he bought it. He’s Devon. You called him a closet homosexual, Willow.” Willow blushed more.”Nope. Well, not technically. I just called him an insecure male that was jealous of having his male bonding rituals interrupted.“ “Semantics, sweet,”Oz said as he kissed the tip of Willow’s nose.”Never knew you had such a devious mind, Willow.” Willow giggled as they headed towards the library. When they entered, they saw Cordelia and Candace locked into a heated glaring match. Buffy was holding Cordelia back. “You keep away from him!”Cordelia said as she took a step towards Candace. Candace crossed her arms. “Ohhh, I’m so afraid! Afraid of me taking your man?”Candace scoffed.”Queen C is losing her touch, and her throne!” “Now, girls,”Giles said patiently as he tried to keep the two apart.”This is not the place for-” “Hey! What’s up?”Xander said cheerfully as he walked into the room, drinking a can of soda. He stopped when he was the recipient of several stares.”What’d I do?” “Xander!”Candace said cheerfully as she loped her arm around his.”Just the man I was waiting for! Want to go to a movie with me?” Xander, a bit puzzled, looked around and saw no one behind him or next to him.”You talking to me, Candace?” Candace giggled as she lead Xander out the door.“You’re so funny!” Cordelia broke away from Buffy and was about to follow when they heard a scream. Everyone looked at each other then headed towards the doors. Xander came back in. Alone. Grinning. He looked at everyone innocently. “What’s going on?” “What happened? Why was there a scream? Where’s Candace?”Buffy demanded as she looked at him. Then she headed towards the doors. As everyone exited the library, they were greeted with the sight of Candace, the cheerleader, wiping soda from her chest. A small crowd gathered around her. “Xander Harris! You did that deliberately! You ruined my top! How DARE you! Who the hell do you think you are?!?”Candace screamed at him furiously. Xander simply shrugged at her as he gathered Cordelia close to him. “I am Xander, King of Cretins! Lord of Geeks!”Xander intoned. Candace stared at him, her mouth agape. The Scooby gang and the rest of the crowd watched Xander with interest. “And as the King of Cretins, I dare many things, Candace. Most which people refuse to acknowledge and which I personally hope no one ever does. But two-timing Cordy isn’t one of them,”Xander said simply.”And it won’t be. Especially if I know what’s healthy for me. Now, better get that stain out before it sets.” Cordy grinned at him before she smirked at Candace.”Later, Candace. Queen C still rules. Didn’t I say ‘shoo’ Candace?” As Candace stomped off, Xander grinned at Cordelia. She smiled at him.”Are you going to carry my books now?” Xander blanched.”Sorry, Cordy! Gotta go to class now! And another soda!” With that, he kissed her cheek quickly and disappeared into the student lounge. Cordelia stared at him open-mouthed.”Xander Harris! You get back here!” ~Fin. Feed back! Please!

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