BTVS Tornado of Souls 3/8 - B/F W/Oz W/T - PG13

[Dana Hunter <carrkjar@xxxxxxxxx>]

Tornado of Souls
Part 3

Author: Frau Hunter Ash
Copyright © 2002 by Hunter Ash. All Rights Reserved.
Email: carrkjar@xxxxxxxxx Feedback welcome!!
Homepage Addy: http://www.hunterash.com/

Disclaimers: The characters and show all belong to
Joss Whedon, Fox, Mutant Enemy, Kuzui, and God only
knows who else. The storyline, however, is the sole
property of the author. This story cannot be sold or
used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may
be made for private use only and must include all
disclaimers and copyright notices.

F/F romance: the story assumes a loving and sexual
relationship between people of the same gender and may
even include 3 at the same time <G>. If this offends
or is illegal for you, then please leave. Come back
when you are older, have an open mind, moved, or
changed your laws.

Spoilers: Up to Season Three  to Faith, Hope and
Trick.

Summary: Buffy's secret starts unraveling, throwing
the gang into chaos and Willow into the arms of
Watchers who seem to be more than they appear at
first.

Rating: PG-13

Author's Note: pairings: B/A (past tense) X/An W/O,
W/T

* * *

Willow felt lost. Normally, when confronted with a
problem dealing with the supernatural, she'd hit
Giles' books or the internet. Unfortunately, she had
hit the internet and Giles' books a hundred times
since learning that Oz was a werewolf. She knew she
wasn't going to find anything new since scanning over
everything the week before.

The red-haired student finally settled on sneaking
back into her home after her parents left and curled
up on the bed crying with the windows and drapes shut,
the coughing beginning to hurt her ribs and throat.

* * *

Faith had managed to escape Giles for the rest of the
day by getting a trip to the hospital where a surgical
med student spent over an hour working wood splinters
out of her palm. The dark Slayer gritted her teeth a
lot and tried to work her mind over the problem of
what to do with Willow, Buffy and the stranger
Watchers.

Joyce looked on with a frown as the surgeon
continually had to work to get the splinters out. For
once, Slayer healing abilities was a drawback as
Faith's skin quickly healed over the splinters and the
student was forced to go after them with a needle and
tweezers. Finally, he stitched up the major wound and
released Faith into the care of Joyce, giving Faith a
note to excuse her from school for the day and from PE
for the rest of the week.

She could live with that, Faith decided.

Joyce surprised Faith by stopping for lunch at a
popular restaurant.

After the two had ordered Joyce stood up with a forced
smile.

"I need to use the phone and check my messages, I'm
waiting for word on an important shipment," she
explained and Faith wondered why Joyce Mom wasn't
using her cell phone but didn't say anything.

"Sure, sorry about dragging you away from work," she
said sincerely.

"Don't worry about it, I'm just glad it's not really
serious," Joyce said truthfully.

"No worries at all, 5x5 by tomorrow," Faith grinned
and Joyce shook her head.

"I'll never get used to that healing thing of you and
Buffy," she complained. "I'll be right back."

"Okay, I'm going to flirt with that cute busboy,"
Faith declared and Joyce laughed a genuine laugh.

The moment Joyce disappeared beyond the door leading
to the restrooms and telephone, Faith was on her feet
and opened the door a crack a moment later.

"Buff, pick up the phone, it's Mom," Joyce was saying
into the phone. "Buffy, look you need to get out of
there for the day. Faith had an accident at school;
we just got out of the hospital. She's fine but she's
out of school for the day and we'll be there after
lunch."

Faith's eyes narrowed.

So, Joyce Mom knew Buffy wasn't visiting her father.
That meant she probably was aware of everything,
including Buffy turning furry on full moons.

"Okay, I love you, Buffy," Joyce said softly and Faith
could hear the tears in her voice. "I'm trying to
understand, baby."

Faith quickly moved through the restaurant and was
playing with her fork when Joyce sat back down.

"Any news on your shipment?" the Slayer asked.

"What?" Joyce asked, clearly puzzled. "Oh no, it
isn't in yet."

Faith nodded as the waiter brought their salads and
she dug in with a healthy appetite that only Xander or
Buffy could appreciate.

The slayer debated on what to do next. Should she
confront Joyce and Buffy? Or Willow? Should she tell
Giles what was going on?

Faith and Joyce both ate silently, each lost in their
thoughts.

* * *

"So Faith is at home, that explains her absence but
where's Will?" Xander complained as the Scooby Gang
gathered in the library after school.

"I'm not sure," Giles muttered as the three Watchers
observed the group. "Oz?"

"I don't know, she let me out this morning and was
going to catch a couple more hours of sleep on your
sofa," Oz explained as Cordelia filed her nails.

"She wasn't here when I arrived this morning," Giles
said. "Maybe she went home instead and fell asleep."

"Willow miss school just because of lack of sleep?"
Cordelia said sarcastically. "The world will come to
an end this weekend!"

"As annoying as she is, Cordelia's right," Xander
grinned. "Will would never miss school. I've seen
her stumble to school with a fever of a 103."

"I called earlier during lunch but no one answered,"
Oz added. "Want me to go and check on her?"

"Do you have time before moonrise?" Giles asked
honestly. Oz frowned and shook his head.

"I don't want to take that chance, you're right," the
musician muttered.

"We'll drop by and check," Xander volunteered himself
and Cordelia.

"You just want to ride in my car," Cordelia accused.

"Yup!" Xander agreed readily.

"Faith should be able to handle Slaying duties tonight
since Buffy is still out of town until tomorrow
morning," Giles said thoughtfully. "Could you and
Cordelia lend her a hand? I'll stay here tonight with
Willow and Oz."

"Okay, I only have homework I'm missing out on,"
Xander grinned and Giles merely shook his head.

* * *

Willow hadn't lain on her bed for long once the clock
began moving into the afternoon. She knew someone
would come by to check on her. Willow was quite aware
that it was unusual for her to miss school and not let
anyone know that she was sick. She couldn't remember
the last time she had missed school.

The red-head left her house before anyone could come
looking for her. She didn't want to run into Xander
or any of the Scooby Gang. One thing Willow knew
about herself, she was a miserable liar and she
wouldn't be able to hide anything from her friends.

Willow sat down behind a gravestone and rummaged
through her backpack. A bottle of water, cough syrup,
books and laptop. Hooked to her belt was something
she had prayed she'd never have to use, a gift from Oz
shortly after he had discovered he was a werewolf. A
silver dagger.

The computer geek and honor student waited impatiently
as the sun got lower, unsure whether she was praying
that Buffy wouldn't show up or that the Slayer would.
Finally near sunset Willow spotted a familiar form
climbing over one of the walls of the cemetery and
dropping lightly to the ground, Buffy's eyes darting
all around.

Willow ducked back and waited. She was hoping that
Slayer senses wouldn't pick up on her presence but if
it did she was ready with a quick lie that she was
waiting for Faith for an evening of patrolling.

After a couple of moments, Willow risked glancing
around the stone and saw Buffy working her way towards
the older crypts, taking a crooked and round-about
path to get to a particular one. The hacker felt her
heart sinking and her mind going numb at Buffy's
caution. Willow had already spotted the crypt that
she had seen in the photos and had it in sight.

Willow wiped at the tears escaping her eyes as Buffy
unlocked the tomb and entered. The honor student
stood up and leaned on the headstone for support,
unable to stand on her shaking legs for a full minute.

Five minutes later Willow stood in front of the door,
hesitating. She turned her head and saw the sun was
almost down. The timing had to be just right, she
knew. Willow couldn't crash the crypt too soon or
Buffy might flee, leaving a werewolf free to kill.
Willow also couldn't hesitate too long in case Buffy
turned and the werewolf got out through the tunnels.

Willow opened the door and moved quickly through the
semi-darkness, flashlight already in hand. She opened
the inner door and wasn't surprised to find three
lanterns lit around the tomb, giving enough light to
see every corner clearly.

Blinking at her in surprise from behind the bars of
the cell was Buffy, her best friend and Slayer.

* * *

Faith cursed when she realized Willow wasn't at home
either. Xander and Cordelia were beginning to look
concerned.

The Slayer had no idea where the crypt was and no idea
of where to look either. Whats more, Faith didn't
think the Watchers would tell her its location.

"Maybe the family went out of town unexpectedly,"
Cordelia suggested.

"Maybe," Faith frowned. "We'll check back later,
let's rock."

Faith attempted to put on her typically happy-go-lucky
let's slay something personae but it wasn't easy. The
brunette Slayer hated riddles, puzzles and mysteries!

* * *

"Oh God, no," Buffy said softly as Willow walked down
the stairs into the crypt, turning off her flashlight
absently. "Please, Will, get out here! Leave!"

"It's true, isn't it?" Willow asked softly, tears
streaking her face as Buffy gripped the bars. Willow
could see the debate in her friends' eyes, Buffy
unsure whether to unlock the door and run for it or
stay locked up safe.

"Will, please! I'm begging you! Don't do this!" Buffy
pleaded, wincing slightly.

"What? Watch over a werewolf on the night of a full
moon? Don't I do that every month?" Willow demanded.

"Oh God," Buffy muttered. "I can't control it on a
full moon, Will! Please get out! I'm safe in here!
We'll talk tomorrow, there's more to this than you
know!"

"I know," Willow said softly as Buffy's body began to
twitch. "The wolf escaped last night Buffy, some sort
of tunnel. Three people are dead."

Buffy's eyes widened.

"No, that's not possible!" she protested, her voice
becoming harsh and strained. "Leave! Now!"

"You were followed and you killed," Willow said, her
voice dull.

Buffy bent over almost double as the pain of forced
transformation began to hit her. She watched as
Willow pulled out a silver knife and tossed it to the
edge of the cell bars. The Slayer instinctively
backed away.

"I thought I could stop you tonight but I can't,"
Willow said softly. "I just hope you don't escape
tonight. Be a Slayer in the morning, Buffy, and end
it. I can't."

"Willow! Wait!" Buffy screamed as the red-haired
student turned and dashed up the stairs. Buffy turned
with a scream as the change hit her, totally.

* * *

'"Hey, isn't that Will?" Xander asked, pointing in the
direction of the cemetery gate. Faith spun and broke
into a run after the girl with Xander and Cordelia
quickly following.

"Willow! Wait!" Faith shouted and the would-be witch
hesitated, looking up at her approaching friends and
Slayer. Faith could see the tears in the moonlight.

Willow turned and ran through the open gate.

"Willow, damnit, wait!" Faith shouted.

The Slayer knew she could catch the red-head and
debated with herself over what to do with Willow once
she caught her. The girl was emotionally upset about
something and that was likely to do with a certain
Slayer turned werewolf. How the hell to deal with
this with Cordy and Xander along for the ride, Faith
demanded of herself.

The three stopped abruptly when a black car skidded to
a stop at the curb next to the running Willow.

Faith, Xander and Cordy watched in disbelief as Willow
stopped, hesitated and then got into the car.

The brunette Slayer cursed and ran after the car but
it sped away at a quick pace.

"What the hell was that about?" Xander demanded.
"Wasn't that those new Watcher types?"

"Yeah, it was," Faith muttered.

"Why did they pick up Will and why was she crying?" he
demanded.

"And what was she doing in a cemetery at night in
Sunnydale?" Cordelia added.

"Come on, this is about to break wide open, guys,"
Faith said, heading back into the cemetery. "I think
we've got a werewolf to watch over."

"Werewolf? What? That wolf we ran into the other
night?" Xander asked.

"Maybe, come on," Faith growled, letting her Slayer
senses extend, looking for the crypt where she
suspected a Slayer werewolf was waiting.

* * *

Oz opened his eyes slowly and glanced around the book
cage. He figured by the position of the sunlight that
he had been asleep after the transformation for
probably an hour. A quick glance at one of the wall
clocks told him an hour and a half.

He spotted Giles asleep in his office chair with his
feet propped up on one of the tables, book in lap. Oz
frowned as he slipped his pants on, there was no sign
of Willow and no fresh scent either. He quickly
zipped up his jeans and rattled the door.

"Hey, Giles!" he called, waking the Watcher. "Where's
Will?"

Giles blinked as he sat up and winced from having
spent the night in a chair, even if it was his chair
from the office.

"I don't know actually," he admitted, walking over to
the cage, pulling out the key. "She never showed up
last night."

"That's not like, Willow!" Oz growled. "She's always
here when I change."

"I know but she wasn't this morning," Giles repeated.

"Any word from the others?" the werewolf student
snapped.

"No, not yet," Giles said softly. He had a very bad
feeling concerning the last two days and Buffy wasn't
even in town to help.

* * *

Buffy groaned and slowly lifted herself up on her
hands and knees. The blonde Slayer shook her head and
absently touched the boar's tusk around her neck.
Somehow, that never came off, even though all clothes
did.

"Is that something like a hangover? Do you get a
headache and body aches from changing?" a voice
demanded and Buffy's mind shut down from shock as she
looked up and saw Faith standing at the cell door,
watching her.

"Oh God, is it like posted somewhere that I'm now a
furry type?" Buffy demanded.

"Kinda," Faith nodded, her face and eyes hard. She
held up the silver knife and Buffy felt her face and
body flushing with anger. "I take it Red couldn't take
you out last night so she left this so you'd do the
right thing this morning?"

"Something like that," Buffy said softly, standing
uneasily. She bent down and reached through the bars
for her backpack, pulling it through, cautiously
keeping her eyes on the other Slayer. The Slayer
grabbed a t-shirt and her jeans from the bag.
"Where's Will? I gotta talk to her and you."

"Include Xander and Cordy in that too, they're
outside," Faith said flatly.

"What?" Buffy's eyes widened again. "How the hell did
everyone find out?"

"You've been outed, B," Faith smirked. "So what now?
Do I throw you this knife and walk away?"

"No," Buffy snapped, her eyes angry. "There's more to
this than just me being your Hollywood type werewolf.
It gets really complicated."

"Tell that to the guys you killed," Faith snapped.

"Willow said I killed someone, that I was followed but
I wasn't," Buffy protested. "I mean, I didn't get out
for the last three nights. I swear it."

"Look, open the door and let's talk about this," Faith
snapped.

"I think I'll stay on this side, thanks, until you put
that knife away," Buffy growled, tying on her Doc
Martin boots.

"Afraid of a little silver, B?"

"It'd take a lot more silver than that to kill me,
Faith, but I really don't want to go through a fight
with you," Buffy countered. "Who the hell was
supposed to have followed me when I didn't go
anywhere?"

"Listen, B, I really, really need some caffeine and
food, we've been watching you pace all night," Faith
declared. "Truce until you explain some things?"

"Your word you won't stab me in the back, literally?"
Buffy demanded.

"Agreed," Faith nodded and stuck the knife in her
inner jacket pocket.

Buffy hesitated and reached around to the combination
and waited until Faith turned her back and keyed in
the numbers.

The Slayer quickly grabbed her backpack up and
motioned for Faith to go up the stairs first.

"Where's Will?" Buffy demanded.

"That's something we need to talk about, B," Faith
said wearily. "I really don't feel like walking to
school to fill in Oz and Giles either."

"Who says they need to know?" Buffy snapped.

"Everyone else does!" Faith countered as she opened
the door and Buffy saw Xander and Cordelia outside the
crypt looking very uncomfortable.

"Yeah, I guess so," Buffy said slowly as tears filled
her eyes. "This is going to be a really, really long
day."

"Buff?" Xander questioned, his eyes pained. "Did Oz
bite you without us knowing?"

"No, Xan," Buffy said sadly. "I wasn't bitten and
it's not Oz' fault. There's my Mom, lets call Giles
and Oz and get something to eat. And you'd better damn
well tell me where Will is!"

"Your Mom?" Cordelia squeaked. "Your mom knows about
this?"

"Yeah, I kinda couldn't keep it from her when I came
back; she was watching me like a hawk. I also needed
someone to cover for me on full moons," Buffy
explained as they walked through the graveyard.

Faith noticed that Buffy didn't turn her back to the
brunette Slayer either.

Joyce's face was stunned as the Scooby Gang escorted
Buffy through the gates.

"Buffy?" she whispered.

"Hi, Mom," Buffy said, trying to sound cheerful but
didn't quite succeed. "Long breakfast and lots of
coffee and sodas for this one, Mom."

"Oh, okay," Joyce muttered as the gang crawled into
the car. She did notice that Buffy waited until
everyone else was in the car before getting into the
passenger seat and she sat sideways, as if not quite
trusting her friends.

"Can I borrow the phone?" Buffy asked, reaching for
her mother's purse.

"Sure, honey," Joyce answered. "IHOP?"

"Or Denny's," Xander suggested and Cordelia rolled her
eyes at the choices but nodded anyway.

"Giles? It's Buffy, can you and Oz meet us at IHOP?"
Buffy questioned into the phone. "Long explanations
all around."

Then Buffy hung up the phone and dialed another
number.

"Hello? It's Little Stalker," she said softly. "The
veil is pierced and I need some verbal and emotional
backup. No, it's not dangerous or deadly to Gaia but
it's complicated. IHOP in an hour? Thanks."

Buffy refused to meet anyone's eyes as they drove on.

* * *

Giles noticed the Scooby gang gathered around a large
table at the nearest IHOP restaurant, minus Willow and
the Watcher frowned.

"Where's Willow?" Oz demanded as they walked up.

Faith sighed and Xander shifted uneasily in his seat.

"Let's start at where I came in yesterday and what I
overheard between Willow and those Watchers," Faith
suggested. "Then Buffy can explain why she now gets
furry on full moons like Oz."

Giles quickly grabbed Oz' arms as the young man's
knees buckled. The Watcher steered his young friend
into the booth next to Cordelia as Oz stared at Buffy
in disbelief.

"When? How? Me?" he stammered.

"When I sent Angel to Hell, the how is a long story,
and you had nothing to do with it," Buffy answered
calmly.

"Willow talked with the Watchers?" Giles questioned as
he sat next to Joyce. "They didn't mention they had
met her."

"They didn't meet her, Giles guy," Faith clarified.
"They were looking for her."

"What?" he demanded.

Faith began her long explanation of what she had
overheard between the Watchers and Willow, trying not
to leave anything out as the group ordered food and
large cokes from the waitress.

Everyone was frowning and looking at Buffy when the
brunette Slayer finished.

"Okay, first off," Buffy snapped. "I didn't kill
anyone! The wolf didn't get out and I didn't kill
three homeless types."

"How do you know, you were furry and all?" Xander
demanded. "Oz never remembers."

"He will eventually," Buffy said softly, watching the
other werewolf's eyes.

"What do you mean?" Giles asked.

"Oz and I have a lot to talk about after this," Buffy
nodded. "Okay, my turn for questions. Who the heck
are these Watchers, Giles?"

"I don't know now," he admitted. "They said they were
here to conduct routine Slayer testing on you and
Faith. Obviously they were lying."

"Faith, you said I was followed, right?" Buffy asked.

"That's what those idiots told Willow and showed her
pictures of you changing in that crypt," Faith
explained.

"That was the fresh scents," Buffy muttered.
"Installing the cameras."

"Okay, you're a werewolf," Cordy snapped. "How do you
know you didn't kill those guys as a wolf? Oz tries to
like kill us every chance he gets. No offense, Oz."

"None taken," the musician shrugged.

"How did I supposedly get out?" Buffy asked.

"The wolf found a tunnel connecting to the sewers,"
Faith explained.

"And I was followed, right?" Buffy pressed.

"That's what they said and said they had pictures of
you as a werewolf killing the homeless guys," Faith
said.

"If the tunnel is in the cell, how did they follow me?
No one has that combination but me and Mom," Buffy
asked and saw Faith's eyes widen and Giles' narrow in
surprise and thought.

"Buffy was in the cell those three nights," Joyce said
softly. "I stayed with her the first night and
checked on her twice during the second night."

"Why weren't you there last night?" Faith asked and
Joyce dropped her head.

"I couldn't take it anymore," Joyce said softly and
Buffy reached out to hold her hand. "Buffy's
explained it to me and everything but it's still so
hard to watch her go through a frenzy like that."

"So why would the Watchers tell Will that Buffy killed
someone?" Xander demanded. "And explained what?"

Buffy looked up and smiled; the others turned and saw
a large man walking through the restaurant, heading
their way. Giles noticed Oz' eyes widening and a
surprised look cross the young man's face.

The stranger reminded Xander of the largest Scot he
had ever seen in Braveheart in his life. Flame red
hair like Willow's, pale green eyes and complexion
confirmed everyone's assessment that his name was
probably Scottish or Irish. He stood tall, at least
6'6" and was very broad shouldered. He was dressed in
a flannel shirt, levi jacket and black jeans. Oz
spotted cowboy boots and a wide leather belt as well.


Everyone's attention was drawn to the boar's tusk on a
leather thong around his neck, just like Buffy's.

The Slayer crawled under the table and walked up to
the stranger and hugged him tightly and
affectionately.

"Thank you for coming so quickly," she said softly and
then turned to the surprised group.

"This is&." She stammered.

"Among humans I'm Angus, sister," the stranger
grinned.

"That's Giles, my Watcher; Joyce, my Mom; Faith, the
other Slayer; Xander and Cordelia, faithful Scooby
members and this is Oz, a brother," Buffy said,
introducing everyone.

"A brother?" Oz asked softly.

"Ah, the lost cub you told us about then?" Angus
grinned and pulled Oz up out of his seat and hugged
him fiercely.

"Angus!" Buffy laughed. "Put him down before you scare
him into a frenzy! He's never changed outside of the
moon."

"As you've said," Angus nodded and placed Oz gently
back into the booth.

Instead of looking intimidated or angry, Oz looked
pleasantly surprised.

"You know, I hate to be rude," Faith snapped. "No, I
don't. I take that back. I don't hate being rude,
especially now! I'm tired and confused and I hate
being confused!"

Buffy smiled as everyone moved over and shifted her
plate until it was back in front of her. Angus gave
an order for a huge breakfast to the waitress and
grinned as everyone stared at him.

"How far have you gotten?" he asked Buffy.

"They know I'm Garou but not the details or the
truth," Buffy said slowly.

"And he knows about Watchers, Slayers and the Gang?"
Xander snapped. "Thought we kept a low profile?"

"This is my mentor, Xan," Buffy said calmly. "He knows
more about my life than my mother does. Maybe even
more than I do."

"Our clan knows that Buffy's friends are aware of the
evil that walks in the shadows," Angus said
thoughtfully. "We're also aware that you are under the
impression that all werewolves are monsters, cursed
creatures that have to be contained or they'll kill
innocents, correct?"

"Well, yes," Giles nodded, avoiding Buffy and Oz'
eyes. "That's been our experience."

"You've only dealt with one werewolf before Buffy,
correct?" Angus asked.

"Why do you look like a Scot, have a Scottish name but
a California accent?" Cordy asked.

"Would you like me to talk in a brogue and wear a
kilt?" Angus laughed.

"You mentioned Klan, you mean KKK?" Xander questioned.
"Buffy's not gone skinhead or anything?"

"No, clan, as in family," Giles explained.

"Okay, someone start somewhere," Faith demanded.

"Werewolves are part of nature, not against it like
vampires and demons," Angus began. "We're the
protectors of Gaia, the Mother Earth and we're losing
the fight."

"I knew you were a werewolf," Oz whispered.

"Garou, we call ourselves many things, but Garou is
the most common," Angus said gently. "There are a
handful of werewolves that are actually cursed beings,
either through the bloodline or calling it on
themselves. Sad bastards. We put them down gently
when we find them."

"Put them down?" Giles asked.

"Yes, we put them out of their misery," Angus nodded.
"They are against nature and against Gaia's wishes for
her children. There are also evil Garou, those who
have lost their connection to the Mother Earth and now
walk the twisted path of the Wyrm."

"Don't get too detailed or technical right now," Buffy
scolded. "Everyone's tired and on emotional overload
and I think Hunters have my best friend."

"Hunters?" Angus questioned softly.

"They tried to frame me for a werewolf murder and are
talking my best friend into killing me," Buffy
explained.

"Oh Stag's blood!" Angus growled. "Alright, good
werewolves vs. evil werewolves and evil creatures like
vampires and demons. Much like your Slayers."

"But how can werewolves fight if they're mindless
killing machines only on the full moons?" Giles asked.

"We're not," Angus said calmly. "Only when we go into
a rage and some on the moon they were born under.
Buffy is very unique, even among the Garou."

"Figures," Faith smirked and Buffy threw a piece of
toast at the brunette Slayer. Faith in turn, caught
the toast with her fork, impaling the bread. Angus'
eyebrows rose in appreciation of her quick reflexes
and skills.

"There's never been a Slayer Garou," Angus explained.

"I know there's never been a Slayer werewolf," Giles
nodded.

"Garou prefer to live in packs, among others of their
kind," Angus continued with a nod. "Once someone is
found to be Garou, like a lost cub, they are taken in
and taught the ways and rites and they join the pack.
Very few roam the land as Ronin, undeclared or
banished Garou."

"Lost cubs?" Oz questioned.

"Those humans who mate with us are considered our kin,
our families. Sometimes the children inherit the Garou
shape changing abilities, sometimes they don't.
Occasionally a family slips away from their Garou and
we lose contact. Then the genes pop up and we get a
Garou who knows nothing of their past, their heritage
or their kin. Like you."

"I'm not a cursed werewolf?" Oz whispered, tears
springing to his eyes.

"No, young one," Angus said gently. "You're either of
the Fianna Clan or maybe one of the Children of Gaia."

"So again, full moons, fur and lots of wanting to kill
things?" Faith demanded.

"Some of the Garou, especially those born on a full
moon or very young in their training, can't control
themselves on full moons and are forced to shape
change. Once the change hits the rage is common."

"Rage?" Giles asked.

"The Garou are prone to rages and frenzies, it's part
of the burden we carry in being the defenders of
Gaia," Angus tried to explain. "When we change
especially, we can feel the extent of the damage done
to the mother. It's especially hard if we're caught
in the city during a change or rage. You can't think
rationally and just want to kill the cause of the
damage."

"Vampires and demons?" Giles question, clearly
puzzled.

"No," Angus said, hesitating. "Humans are the cause
of the destruction to Mother Earth. More than any
vampire ever could."

"Humans? You don't like humans?" Cordy demanded. "But
you're protectors!"

"Of Mother Earth," Angus corrected. "There is no
greater enemy than humans because most of the time
they are either unaware or they don't care about the
damage they do and they serve the purpose of the evil
entities that want the Earth to fail. Chaos beings who
want the world in darkness again."

"Garou can change into various forms of werewolves at
other times," Buffy continued. "Some seem to have
lost some of the gifts and can't make some of the
changes or can't do it under certain conditions but
Angus here could change into about five different
types of werewolves right now."

"I wouldn't because seeing a werewolf in some of the
forms cause humans to panic or go insane," Angus
smiled at his charge. "Then there's the safety rule:
never let the humans know we exist. We call it the
Veil."

"In the car," Faith's eyes narrowed. "You said the
Veil had been pierced."

"Yeah," Buffy nodded. "You guys found out about me.
I'm in trouble with the Garou Nation and my own Tribe
and Clan."

"What happens when someone finds out?" Xander asked.

"We assess the threat," Angus said slowly. "We knew
there was a major risk in some of you finding out
about Buffy since we allowed her to return home and to
her Slaying. We didn't think it'd happen this quickly
though. Sometimes, if the human becomes a threat, the
threat is taken care of."

"Taken care of? You'd kill a human?" Giles demanded
from his Slayer and Buffy frowned, looking down at her
plate.

"I don't know, Giles," she admitted. "If it meant
protecting my Tribe or my clan, then I'd have to say I
would."

"Buffy," Joyce whispered, hurting for her daughter.

"This puts me in an awkward position, Buffy," Giles
complained. "How am I supposed to keep this from the
Council?"

"Don't they already know? Those Watchers were the ones
who found out," Xander pointed out.

"I don't think they were sent by the Council," Giles
shook his head. "It doesn't feel right."

"I think they're Hunters," Buffy said slowly.

"There are humans who have learned about vampires and
werewolves and feel a divine calling to eliminate all
the monsters," Angus explained. "Unfortunately, they
won't listen that we're not evil. They can be
extremely fanatical, sometimes even religiously
fanatical. They won't hesitate to kill another human
for being mated with a Garou either."

"Mated? You guys mix it up with humans?" Xander
demanded.

"Until last night you would have been willing to get
horizontal with me," Buffy snapped.

"Garou can't mate with another Garou," Angus said
sadly. "The genetics are wrong and the offspring are
deformed and usually insane."

"So you were born this way?" Cordy asked, actually
sounding curious.

"Yes, so was Oz," Buffy nodded, seeing the surprise
and relief in his eyes. "Getting bitten by his cousin
was a coincidence. They're both Garou."

"Wow!" Xander exclaimed as Oz ducked his head, hiding
the tears filling his eyes.

"We were going to wait until you and the witch had
decided your relationship before taking you and
training you, brother," Angus smiled. "But now that
you know, you'll come away and be taught properly."

"Why can't he stay here and just go on the same as
before?" Xander demanded.

"There is a great danger in an untrained Garou falling
into the hands of the Spiral Dancers, the evil
werewolves, and being forced into corruption," Angus
explained. "Living with a pack and being taught helps
prevent that."

"What's the difference between werewolves?" Faith
snapped.

"A Spiral Dancer loves chaos and willingly kills
humans for sport and blood and other weres," Buffy
explained. "They love stuff that hurts the Earth,
like toxic waste spills and work to cause as much harm
as possible. Imagine Oz tearing through Sunnydale
High and then nuking the place. That's what a
corrupted Were would try."

"Well, nuking the place might not be bad," Xander
muttered.

"So, Oz goes off with you and then what?" Giles asked.
"Buffy continues as the Slayer and we lock her away
on Full moons like we did Oz?"

"Basically," Angus nodded. "We hope that she'll gain
control of her rage during the Ahroun moon, the full
moon, but that's uncertain. She also can't seem to
change into any other form than ape during the day.
That can be a great disadvantage if caught by a
Hunter."

"Ape?" Faith asked.

"Human form," Buffy explained.

"What about Will?" Xander demanded.

"We find her and bring her back," Buffy said firmly.

"If not, then we wait and hope she's halfway sane when
she returns," Angus said sadly. "The Hunters will be
back for Buffy. The Wyrm already has a major hold on
Sunnydale without adding Hunters to it."

"They think I'll have an even shorter life now than
before when I was a Slayer," Buffy explained with a
shrug.

"What was that other werewolf Saturday night?"
Cordelia asked and Angus raised his eyebrows in
question.

"I ran into a Child of Gaia at a nightclub," Buffy
explained. "We sensed each other. He saw my Clan tatt
and he flashed me his Tribe glyph and that he knew
there were vampires in the club."

"That's how you knew there was trouble!" Cordy
grinned.

"I had already sensed the vampires and knew he was
going after them," Buffy nodded. "I lent a hand
without changing and didn't let these guys follow
him."

"So now what?" Faith demanded.

"We wait for Will to return and Oz gets educated,"
Buffy smiled. "You've got family now, Oz."

"It's not a curse," the young man repeated.

"No, but it's a hard existence," Angus clarified.




=====
The Viking Bard/Skald "Nothing is ever forgotten"
www.hunterash.com

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