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Title: Trials of the Moon Rating: PG-13 Chapter: One Pairing: Willow/Buffy Fandom: BtVS/Werewolf the Apocalypse Timeline: A year and a half after the season finale of this season. Spoilers: Oh yeah, anything and everything is up for grabs. Beta Reader: Dark Gremlin Summary: Willow starts the process of getting her life back on track over a year after that Tara died. Only, when she arrives back in Sunnydale, will the gang be willing to help her or will her mistakes create a rift between them. Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and Paramount pictures. Werewolf the Apocalypse belongs to white wolf productions and minds eye theatre. <----------> PROLOGUE <----------> The boulder's surface, stained with blood and spittle, darkened as the red haired female hoarsely screamed incoherently. Skin ravaged by hunger, deep bites, and claw wounds, half healed and scabbed, broke open from her thrashing against the heavy chains that kept her trapped on the slab. Her short red hair was sweat soaked and becoming increasingly blood splattered, sticking to her hollowed, pale skin. What had once been faded cargo pants were torn and shredded, soiled material. Her screams cut off in a bout of coughing and exhaustion. The tension unwound leaving her hanging by the chains. Each gasp and sob was deafening amidst the forest clearing, bringing tears to the small groups eyes. The oldest of the nine nodded to the dark haired teenager. The raven haired male pushed up on his glasses then wearily approached the boulder slab that stood in the middle of the tiny clearing. With shaking hands, Jeffrey unlocked the manacles and lowered the unconscious red head to the ground. The groups Elder kneeled beside the red head, her greying brown hair glinting from the moonlight. Her piercing hazel eyes glowed as they shifted over the younger females body before stopping on the matching long thick scars that ran across the inside of her wrists. The Elder's hand danced over the imperfect blemishes, checking for the fetish. The almost non- existent tingle was all that was necessary to confirm the scar fetish had been performed and successful. " What does it do? " Jeffery asked. " It makes her immune to Wyrm eminations. " Kathy sadly brushed the sweat and blood matted red hair from the younger woman's face. " I just wish it hadn't been to late to stop the initial taint. " " What do we do now? " Kathy patted the newest tribal member's hand, letting him know that she didn't mind his constant curiosity. " Now we begin the Rite of Cleansing. " The leader glanced over the seven remaining members. " Margaret, I need you to prepare a tattoo fetish for healing. " " Yes, Elder. " Margaret replied, disappearing into the trees. " But that'll heal her! " Kathy barely paid the outraged teen any attention as she began to use a sponge to wipe away the blood. " That's the general idea. " Jeffery gaped at his tribes Elder hoping that he'd somehow missed something. " B-but ...... Look the bitch betrayed everything Gaia teaches us. She's nothing but a traitor, murderer, addict, and worst of all she's a black spiral dancer. You can't...!!!! " " Silence, Kitten!!! " The Elder yelled, raising to her feet with a deadly grace that left Jeff backing away in fear. " Willow is a valued member of this tribe, and she is not a dancer. " " You said she..." Kathy growled, taking a swift step closer to the teen. " I said that she'd been tainted. That does not mean that she walked the Spiral. " Jeff bowed his head to the Elder in a show of submission. " Forgive me Elder. I guess I don't understand. " " When we are touched or infected by the Wyrm, there are still ways to cleanse our bodies and soul. It's only when we've walked the Black Spiral Circle that we are permanently lost to Gaia. " " I still don't understand how you can heal her. Doesn't our traditions forbid healing anyone that is punished by their tribe? " " And normally I would abide by those traditions, but this isn't a normal situation. Our kind are almost completely gone, and we need each and everyone of our kind if we are going to fight the Wyrm. Willow especially, is needed in the fight. She is a strong shaman, with unusually powerful abilities. " " But... " " When she came to us, she was already considerably weakened, and with her current wounds, I doubt she could survive losing the energy needed to heal those kinds of injuries. " " Elder, the circle has been prepared. " Jennifer softly interrupted. Kathy stood back letting David carry Willow's fragile, prone body to the nearby field. It was usually a simple process, but tonight, under the Ahroun moon the Rite of Cleansing was going to be extremely difficult. The physical taint alone would take hours to purge. The emotional, mental, and astral scars were a hundred times worse. Even after the Rite was through, the young Shaman would have a long journey ahead to refind Gaia's way and Gaia's children's respect. <-----------> CHAPTER ONE <-----------> Buffy found herself glancing over what was left of the scooby gang. Dawn, Xander, and Anya. Tara had been dead for a little over a year and a half, and Willow.... Willow had been missing since the night that she came out of her magical rampage. Ever since then they'd been searching for their lost team mate with little to no success. They'd all resorted to great length's in hope of finding her. Going as far as calling every person they could think of, everyone they knew, and their families knew. Including her own father, and various students that she'd known from Hemery. All to no unveil. Then there were the other inherent problems from that week. Dawn, for example, was quieter than ever, almost like she lost her parents all over again. The grief the teen had shown at first had been heartbreaking, shattering her carefully masked calm. Then there were the nightmares. Every night Dawn woke up screaming out for Willow and Tara before simply curling into a ball as the sobs rocked her back into a restless sleep. The family counselor had already recommended reintroducing Willow into the family. He kept saying that Willow's involvement in Dawn's life would help to lessen the nightmare's and night fears. " Thinking about Will again? " Xander asked quietly from his seat across from Buffy. She sighed at the long winded book that she was currently combing through in search of the newest evil. " When am I not? " " She'll be back. " " How can you be so sure? " Xander grinned at the question. " Simple. I know her better than anyone, and I know that right now she's trying to deal with what she did, and once she's dealt, she'll come straight back here. " " Or she's laying in some back alley dead, with no way to Id her. " Anya muttered despite the dark glares and grimaces of the others. " Maybe it's just me but I like Xander's version better. " A severely hoarse voice cut in. Buffy cautiously looked into Xander's eyes, afraid that if she moved, or breathed, or blinked that the voice she'd ached to hear for so long would be gone. " You know, it's not safe leaving the back door unlocked. Anyone could just wonder in off the street. " Buffy slowly looked over at the woman standing in the training room doorway. The once long, thick, wavy, dark red hair was now limp and cut short in a layered pixie cut, that looked like it was out of necessity rather than for how it looked. The once slightly tanned healthy skin was now pale, hollow, bruised, and clammy. Her clothes had also been replaced with a pair of thin baggy, almost see through, white cotton yoga pants. An unbuttoned over sized thin long sleeved button up shirt was over a slightly large white tank top. A pair of dark brown leather hiking sandals covered her bare feet. The only jewelry the red head had on was a pair of plain dark brown leather wrist guards that completely covered half of her forearms. Around her neck was a worn hand made leather stringed choker, with hand painted beads with various symbols that she didn't recognize. Similar bracelets were wrapped around her right ankle. In other words Willow had never looked more beautiful in her life. " Will? " Xander asked cautiously. The red head gave them a weak, tired smile, and waggled her fingers in a semi wave. " Hi guys. " " Hi guys? She said hi guys!! " Xander whooped happily, launching himself across the room and lifted the thin red head into the air, causing her to drop the small black east pack book bag. " God Will, you had us so worried. We didn't think you'd ever come back. " Buffy quickly dived at the two friends, getting in on the hugs. " You shouldn't have left, we would've helped you. " " I was in a bad place and I had to work things out. " " Never by yourself. " Buffy whispered fiercely, pulling the red head from Xander and into her arms. " Never alone. " Willow nodded into Buffy's neck, trying to stay on her feet. " Together then. " " Together. " Xander said. " Together. " They looked over at Anya who gave a slight nod. " Together. " " Bull shit!!! " Willow stepped away from the others, on unsteady legs, to get her first look at Dawn. The teen was standing at the research table with her arms crossed. The young woman was radiating anger, blame, and hatred. " Dawnie... " " Don't call me that!!! You left me so you don't get to call me that!! You killed Tara and then you abandoned me!! Why?!! Why did you leave me!!? How could you do that to me?! To Tara?!! Why do you hate me so much?!! Why did you have to leave me?!!!!! I hate you!!!! DO YOU HEAR ME???!!!! I!!! HATE!!!! YOU!!!! " Willow limped over to the raging teen and forcefully pulled the teen into her arms. The teen punched at her chest, slapped, pushed her, and then the sobs came. Shaking both women from the force of them. " I hate you. " Dawn whispered again, wrapping her arms tightly around the red head. " Why? " " Oh Dawnie. I couldn't stay while I was a danger to you. I love you too much to do that. " " No!! You would never do anything to hurt me. " Dawn protested. " I already did. " Willow sighed tiredly. " I... I had to hit rock bottom to get back up again. " The red head started to pull away from Dawn, only to find the teen had her pinned in place. " No. Don't. Please don't leave. I didn't mean it. Just..please don't leave. " " You never have to apologize for speaking your mind. Never. " " So...so you won't leave? " " No, Dawnie, I won't leave. However, I do need to talk to you guys. " " Oh boy, this can't be good. " Xander commented. Willow laughed softly. " You have no idea. " <-------> Aeris Jade Orion Grey Fox, and cause of Discord. Gabrielle: "Do you deny spying on these women?" Joxer: "I resent that." Gabrielle: "Do you deny it?" Joxer: "No, I just _resent_ it." Joxer: Hello--heh-heh-- name's Joxer-- spelled, uh [Clears throat]-- J-o-x-e-rrrrrrrr. Rh: "Would you wanna make a baby with me?" Jox: "What?!" Rh: "Will you help?" Jox: "Wait a minute! You want me to-- to-- to-- make a-- " Rh: "Right-- will you?" Jox: "Of course not! Hey, listen! We're not just machines, you know, you can use to-- . Besides-- you know, uh-- we can't just do it on command. We need stuff like, uh-- cheap motel rooms and dirty pictures and lingerie-- stuff like that! We're _not_ animals! But I can get those things!" |