*********************
Part 21 - First Full Moon
"Faith, you have to see this!" Buffy called out excitedly. "Faith,
come here!"
The brunette came out of the jungle carrying several long
sticks. "What? What is it?"
"Come on Mr. Peepers, show Faith." The golden slayer encouraged as
the baby monkey moved to sit in front of her. "Okay." Mr. Peepers
covered his eyes with his tiny hands. "Peek-a-boo!" The little monkey
peered at her quickly then covered his eyes again. "See!" Buffy
covered her eyes and continued to play peek-a-boo with the monkey.
"Oh hey, ya taught him somethin'. Very cool." Faith sat down next to
them and began sharpening her sticks.
Buffy glanced over. "Stakes? Those are pretty long, aren't they?"
"Not stakes." The dark-eyed beauty hopped to her to feet. "Spears."
She chucked it into the sand to illustrate.
"Spears? What for?" Buffy tilted her head to the side. "We have real
weapons to fight the natives."
"Not to fight, B. To fish." Faith smiled brightly. "For dinner,
yunno."
The little blonde raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Fish, huh? I gotta
see this. Let's go."
"Okay. But if I catch `em, you clean `em."
"Deal." Buffy and Mr. Peepers followed Faith to the water and settled
on the beach to watch.
....................
Buffy stifled a laugh as Faith missed again and began her colorful
cursing. "Faith, come on. Watch your language. Mr. Peepers is young
and impressionable."
The brunette scoffed. "When you teach him to talk then you can bitch
at me for swearing."
Chuckling a bit more, Buffy pulled Mr. Peepers onto her lap and
handed him a banana. He snuggled happily in the slayer's arms as he
peeled his treat. Buffy whispered to him in a conspiratorial
tone. "Now watch, our Faithy's gonna miss again... and when she does,
clap. Okay?"
The little monkey squeaked as if he understood. Flinging the spear
and missing again, Faith fell forward into the water. Mr. Peepers
jumped up and began clapping and chattering.
"Dammit, B!" Faith glared at the little blonde who now rolled around,
laughing.
"I'm sorry, Faith." She gasped between laughs. "He just did that on
his own."
"Well, cut it out! I'm trying to do this for you." The dark slayer
stood up scowling. She felt foolish. She could kill vampires, but she
couldn't spear a stupid fish. *What gives?!*
"Okay. Okay." Buffy held up her hands. "No more laughing. I swear.
Right, Mr. Peepers." The tiny monkey nodded his head and quieted
down.
"Ooh, I'm gonna get this one, B. It's a big one." Faith perched on
the rock and slowly raised the spear. "Yup, I got it." Her arm shot
out at record speed as she lunged forward.
Buffy's lips twitched. She expected another miss. But this time Faith
raised the spear with a satisfied smile. A fish wiggled on the end of
it.
"Hey, look at you.. good job, Faithy." The green-eyed beauty gave her
a dazzling smile. Blushing, Faith walked up and tossed the fish next
to Buffy. "EWWW!" The blonde wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"You said you'd cook it."
The little slayer looked up with a pout. "Okay, but this is as far as
I go. If you kill a pig, you're doing the cooking, got it?"
"Yeah, okay. I know how you are about those damn piggies." Faith
teased as she settled next to her and closed her eyes. "Now go make
dinner."
.......................
They sat around the fire, finishing their meal. "B, this was really
good." Faith leaned back studying the pretty blonde sitting across
from her.
Buffy beamed, proudly. "Really? You liked it?"
"Totally."
The small slayer moved to sit next to the brunette. She snuggled up
close and patted her lap. Mr. Peepers hopped up with his doll as they
settled back, quietly watching the fire.
...............
Faith was the first to wake up. She thought she heard drums in the
distance. Carefully, she slipped out from underneath Buffy. Their
fire had gone out. The brunette glanced around. Mr. Peepers had
fallen asleep on the other side of Buffy, clinging to her.
Faith smiled at the site. They both looked so cute like that. The
dark slayer bent her head and placed a soft kiss on Buffy's lips. The
little blonde stirred, and smiled up at her. "Faith." She grinned and
reached for her girlfriend.
"No. Get up. We should go inside." Faith grinned at her as she gently
picked up the sleeping monkey. "I'll carry him inside, but not you."
"Aww... please, Faithy." Buffy laughed teasingly. Now it became a
challenge. She laid there, waiting for the younger slayer to come
back out. "I'm soooo tired. Please, carry me too. You don't love Mr.
Peepers more than me, do you?" Buffy pouted then grinned as Faith
rolled her eyes and came to pick her up.
They both heard it this time. "What the hell?" Faith turned toward
the jungle.
"Drums. They're here, Faith." Buffy looked up at the sky, muttering
to herself. "It's the full moon." She stood waiting as Faith rushed
into the plane to get weapons.
"Time to meet our neighbors." The dark slayer remarked as she handed
her counterpart a sword.
*********************
They both heard it this time. "What the hell?" Faith turned toward
the jungle.
"Drums. They're here, Faith." Buffy looked up at the sky, muttering
to herself. "It's the full moon." She stood waiting as Faith rushed
into the plane to get weapons.
"Time to meet our neighbors." The dark slayer remarked as she handed
her counterpart a sword.
...................................
Part 22 - Netting A Slayer
"B, I'm gonna try to get closer. Stay here." Faith whispered as she
squinted toward the clearing.
"No, I'm coming with you." The little slayer insisted, grabbing the
brunette's arm. "We stick together, remember?"
"Yeah, okay B. C'mon."
As they approached the beating of the drums stopped. Both the slayers
froze and exchanged a nervous glance. Faith gestured for Buffy to
circle around. She nodded and headed off while Faith crouched down
and loaded her crossbow.
Twigs broke under Buffy's foot as she crept up. The little slayer
leaned on her sword and knelt forward peering through the foliage.
All she could make out was a cage, with a boy in it. He looked
terrified. Buffy slowly approached, keeping an eye on the rest of the
natives who began dancing around the fire as the beat of the drums
began again.
Faith heard someone to her right; she crouched low to wait.
"Shhh..." The little blonde held her fingers to her lips as she
opened the cage and freed the frightened native boy. She took his
hand and guided him back into the jungle. The dark slayer made her
way over. Buffy whispered. "Take him out of here. They're going to
notice him missing any minute now."
"No, I'm not leaving you." The brunette reached for her as the newly
freed boy stared on in stunned silence.
"I'll be right behind you. Now move!" Buffy ordered impatiently.
The drums stopped again, and a clamor could be heard. Presumably, the
natives had noticed their missing sacrifice. Faith grabbed the kid's
hand and ran, pulling him along as Buffy turned to fight them back.
When the brunette glanced back, it was just as they threw a net over
Buffy.
"Dammit! Wait here!" She pushed the boy behind a tree and made her
toward the struggle. "What the fuck!" Faith stood there confused.
Buffy was gone and so were the natives.
*********************
Part 23 - The Prophecy
Buffy clenched her teeth in frustration as the natives chattered
excitedly. They were standing around the slayer staring in amazement.
The little blonde was becoming angrier by the minute. *Rude much?!*
She scowled, and they nervously edged back, bowing. *What the hell
are they saying?!* She couldn't make out a word of their language.
Lifting her, they carefully... almost reverently laid her into their
canoe. One of them leaned forward and removed the dart from her side.
He chanted and lowered his head, gently checking her wound. Saying
another prayer, the man rubbed an ointment on it. If only she could
move, she'd snap his neck. *How dare he touch me!*
As if sensing her displeasure the man sat up and barked an order.
Buffy could feel the canoe moving and see her and Faith's island
receding. A tear trickled down her face. *Faith!*
............................
The brunette slayer circled back twice, cursing and digging at the
dirt. "Buffy! Buffy! Where'd ya go?! PLEASE!!! ANSWER ME!" She fell
to her knees in tears as the boy tentatively approached her.
He was terrified. He'd never seen anyone like her. She was so strong
and the way she looked... beautiful... pale... godlike. He fell to
his knees with her, chanting and bowing. She must be a god, her and
that other girl. They were gods. He was sure of it. They had taken
human form to save him. Malaki's prophecy had come true. The two god
warriors had become flesh.
Faith glanced up at the shaking boy. She squinted for a moment then
studied him. "What's with you, kid?!"
"Goddess do Oh, eu imploro que eu posso olhar em cima de você." He
lowered his eyes fearfully.
"Oh great!" She stood up and kicked a tree in frustration. It
cracked; the boy's eyes widened in shock. He began chatting and
bowing wildly. "Look kid, cut it out! I only speak English, yunno!"
The boy nodded. He understood why they could not communicate. She was
a god so she spoke the language of the gods. Being a mere mortal, he
was not worthy to understand, just to obey. The boy threw himself
prostrate on the ground before her.
"Oh jesus!" Faith reached down and picked the boy up. "Kid, I need to
find my girlfriend. Can you help me?"
*She is looking for something.* He understood that much. He had just
witnessed her digging and grieving. *What does this god seek?* The
boy struggled to guess. *Perhaps she needs her partner. They are not
meant to be separated. The prophesy was specific.* He nodded his head
and waited for Faith to place him gently on his feet.
"Okay kid. Lead the way."
.............................
Buffy looked on in confusion as they laid her on an altar in the
center of the village. All the villagers rushed out and their drums
began beating. She watched as they whispered a prayer and fell to the
ground in tears. *What the heck is going on?!* If only she could
move...
*Ugh!* Buffy struggled to overcome the paralyzing effect of the dart,
but to no avail. She lay helpless as they began to chant and several
women rushed forward.
The little slayer was delicately lifted and carried to a hut. They
placed her on a pallet and began undressing her. *HEY! WHAT DO THEY
THINK THEY'RE DOING?! NO NAKED!!! LEAVE MY CLOTHES ON!*
*********************
Part 24 - On Display
Buffy remained helpless as they stripped her. A flush of anger and
shame went through her body, giving it a slightly rosy glow. The
natives stared in wonder. She was so beautiful.
"Olhe sua beleza. É verdadeiramente dos deuses." [Look at her beauty.
She is truly of the gods.] The natives fell to their knees, chanting.
*Oh brother!* Buffy closed her eyes tight as they carried her from
the hut and placed her back onto the altar.
..............
"Kid, are you sure? This doesn't go anywhere; it's a dead end."
Faith stopped in her tracks eyeing the boy with mistrust.
Nervously, he reached for her hand. "Fé do goddess do Oh, você é esse
do prophecy. Eu e meus povos são seus empregados humble. Eu não o
falharei." [Oh goddess Faith, you are the one of the prophecy. Me and
my people are your humble servants. I shall not fail you.] His small
hand took hers.
She grinned at the boy. He was kind of a cute kid; he just needed
some of that crazy face paint washed off of him. Faith ruffled his
hair and nodded. "Okay kid, we'll check it out."
The boy beamed at her as he pulled her behind the shrine and moved an
ornate statue mounted on the side. The stone slide aside revealing a
door. "Holy shit! That's how they disappeared like that!" Faith ran
into the tunnel with the boy following close behind.
"Fé do goddess do Oh, você deve esperar-me! Estes túneis são muitos."
[Oh goddess Faith, you must wait for me! These tunnels are many.] The
boy's little legs were tiring.
Faith noticed him slowing and scooped him up. He squealed with
excitement. *To be carried by a god!* He blushed with pleasure.
The dark slayer glanced at his awestruck expression and chuckled
slightly before asking. "Which way?!"
The boy stared at her for another moment then pointed.
........................
A large tub of water was carried in front of the fire. Buffy watched
as they set it down. *Oh god! They're going to boil me!*
The chanting began again then a man in a head dress stood up and
sprinkled things into the water. The little slayer's green eyes
opened wide. *Seasoning?!*
"Nós imploramos seu favor que pode você emitir a fé do goddess logo.
Malaki foi julgado digno. O prophesy veio passar." [We beg your favor
that you may send the goddess Faith soon. Malaki has been judged
worthy. The prophesy has come to pass.]
Buffy was lifted from the altar and placed in the tub. She sighed as
her body settled into the warm, perfumed water.
Two women rushed forward and knelt on either side. "Nós damos os
agradecimentos a ser julgados dignos que nós podemos cleanse o para a
luta." [We give thanks to be deemed worthy that we may cleanse you
for the fight.]
*Huh?* The little blonde stared in horror as they began bathing her
while the villagers looked on. *Hey, privacy here! Do you mind not
staring! Ugh!* Buffy's face burned with embarrassment as the natives
crowded closer to watch.
"Você pensa do outro goddess será assim bonito?" [Do you think the
other goddess will be so beautiful?] One of the native men asked
another.
"Sim. Outro será escuro onde este é dourado." [Yes. The other one
will be dark where this one is golden.]
.......................
Faith kicked at the sand in frustration. They had reached the end of
the tunnels and now stood on the beach. The boy pointed to a distant
island.
"Hang in there, B! Just hang in there!" The dark slayer turned to the
boy. "You better hope they don't hurt her or I will kill every last
one of your tribe!"
*********************
Part 25 - Worshipped
They lifted the small slayer from the water and held her up while the
natives knelt and rested their foreheads to the ground chanting.
Buffy watched in utter confusion. *What are they doing?!... Praying?!*
A grass skirt was wrapped around her waist and a little crown of
flowers was placed upon her head. They carried her back to the altar
and laid her down. *Hey, a shirt would be nice!* Buffy thought
angrily as the women carefully rubbed perfumed oils on her skin.
The little slayer felt a twinge in her legs. *Yes! My muscles are
starting to wake up.* She laid still, knowing that she would need to
be patient until her full strength returned. Blessing her one last
time, the man in the head dress clapped his hands. Buffy was placed
on a golden litter and carried about the village. Natives came out
from every corner to look upon their beautiful god.
"ALRIGHT, WHAT GIVES?!" The slayer could hold back no longer. This
whole thing was long past irritating. The moment the villagers heard
her voice they dropped to their knees in fear.
The man in the head dress stepped forward and began speaking.
"Nós somos seus empregados humble. Nós imploramos suas mercê e
proteção. O demon evil, devours de Caliki-guy nós. Nós temos esperado
por muito tempo sua chegada. O sangue de nossas crianças estêve
derramado para seis luas cheias enquanto o prophesy exijiu. E nossos
prayers têm sido respondidos hoje à noite. Você veio conservar-nos do
curse evil em cima de meus povos. Você, goddess, foi feito a carne e
nós temos para esperar somente o outro goddess grande, fé. Traga-a
por favor adiante de modo que você possa lutar o demon evil junto.
Excepto nós, por favor."
[Golden one, we are your humble servants. We beg your mercy and
protection. The evil demon, Caliki-guy devours us. We have long
awaited your arrival. The blood of our children has been spilt for
six full moons as the prophesy has demanded. And tonight our prayers
have been answered. You have come to save us from the evil curse upon
my people. You, goddess, have been made flesh and we have only to
await the other great goddess, Faith. Please bring her forth so that
you may fight the evil demon together. Save us, please.]
"I see. Well, you do realize that I understood absolutely zero of
what you just said?!" Buffy arched an eyebrow in annoyance. The
litter was set down and women rushed forward with bowls of food.
Clenching her fists, Buffy tried to force her muscles to respond.
*Ugh! This isn't working!* She sat back in frustration as a feast was
laid out before her.
............................
"How do we get there?" Faith gestured toward the island. The boy just
tilted his head, confused. Wading in the water, Faith pantomimed
swimming and looked to the boy.
"No. do Oh, é muito demasiado distante. Nós construiremos um canoe."
[Oh no, it is much too far. We shall build a canoe.] The boy smiled
proudly as he mimicked paddling as if in a boat.
"We don't have a boat, kid." Faith peered out over the water. It
looked like quite a distance to swim. She didn't think that she could
make it, at least not at night. "Come on. We'll have to wait until
morning." The slayer grabbed the boy's hand, leading him back to
their plane.
When they arrived the boy stared in wonder. "Este é o pássaro que o
carregou do céu." [This is the bird that has carried you from the
sky.]
"Listen kid, my name is Faith." She gestured to herself. "Faith."
Touching the boy, she asked. "And you are...?"
He grinned broadly. "Elei." The boy sounded it out for her. "Eee-
lay... Elei."
Faith extended her hand. "Nice to meet you, Elei. Now come inside. We
need to feed Buffy's monkey."
..........................
Buffy sat still as the woman raised the sticks to Buffy's lips. She
eyed the food suspiciously but opened her mouth. She was very hungry
and doubted they were trying to poison her. If they wanted her dead
they could have easily killed her already.
The little slayer chewed slowly. It only took her a moment to
identify the fluffy substance. "Rice!" She exclaimed with a smile and
opened her mouth for more. *Rice is nice and yummy.* She watched with
great interest as lobster was set before her and coconut milk. Trying
with all her might, Buffy reached out and was successful at gripping
the wooden cup. She drank down the milk thirstily, taking large gulps
while the natives watched her in awe.
Buffy set down the cup and stared at the villagers. "What's up with
you people anyway?!" She shook her head when they chanted in unison
and bowed. "STOP THAT!"
A hush fell across the villagers as they awaited further instruction.
Perhaps their goddess needs a sacrifice to appease her. They trembled
in fear. The man in the head dress stepped forward carrying her sword.
*Shit!* Buffy hedged back from him as he came closer.
Plunging the sword into the ground, he knelt. "Goddess do Oh, eu
imploro a honra para ser seu sacrifício." [Oh goddess, I beg the
honor to be your sacrifice.]
Buffy stood and pulled the sword from the soil. She tested her
strength, swinging it around expertly. If she wanted to she knew now
she could easily fight them and escape. The slayer glanced down at
the man baring his neck. *What the hell is he doing?!* The little
blonde reached down and took his hand. "No, get up! I'm not going to
hurt you."
"Sua mercê é bested somente por sua beleza, a dourada." [Your mercy
is bested only by your beauty, Golden One.] Tears filled his eyes as
he bowed and kissed her hand.
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Great, thanks." The little slayer stepped
down. She walked past all the kneeling natives and stood at the edge
of the village peering into the darkness. Her slayer senses were
tingling. Something was out there... something big.
*********************
Part 26 - A Monkey, a Boy, and a Slayer
Faith looked on with amusement. Elei was having great fun playing
with Mr. Peepers. Which turned out to be good, because the moment Mr.
Peepers noticed Buffy missing he began shrieking and throwing things.
After a short excursion into the jungle the baby monkey returned
realizing that Buffy was nowhere to be found.
After much cajoling, they managed to calm him and even get him to eat
dinner. Now Elei and Mr. Peepers were tossing a ball back and forth.
The little monkey couldn't catch, but he could fetch, and throw...
sort of.
Faith laughed as the ball skidded past and knocked one of the stupid
china dolls off the shelf. She hated those ugly dolls, but when Buffy
found them in the crate she insisted on putting them out. It
shattered, causing them both to stop and look at the slayer.
Faith shrugged it off and threw the ball back to Elei. Sitting back
down with their map, the brunette added the tunnel and marked the
island that she now knew held the natives. First thing in the morning
Faith would swim for it. She had no other choice.
........................
Buffy walked the perimeter of the village with the natives shadowing
her in wonder. There was definitely something out there. *What was it
the man in the head dress said?... They want something from me....
What?* The little slayer peered back at the people who cowered from
her. She glanced down at her sword. *They gave me my weapon back?...
Why?.... Duh!... To slay!*
Buffy peered back into the darkness. She didn't like what she was
sensing. Whatever was out there, was a scary beastie for sure. The
little blonde turned back toward the villagers. "What's out there?
What is it?" She gestured toward the jungle.
The man in the head dress stepped forward. "Caliki-guy.... Caliki-
guy."
"Alright. What do you say we deal with this Caliki-guy in the
morning? I'd like to see what I'm fighting. Besides, I wouldn't mind
having Faith here for back up." Buffy strode back toward the center
of the village.
"Sim, a fé do goddess. Nós esperamos a fé do goddess, oh o dourada."
[Yes, the goddess Faith. We await the goddess Faith, oh Golden One.]
He nodded his head and bowed, gesturing toward a hut.
Buffy followed, entering the hut amidst much chanting from the
natives. She turned to cast an irritated look in their direction. The
chanting stopped. *Geesh! They sure like to pray!* Perching on the
edge of a pallet, the slayer watched as the man in the head dress
performed some ritual and then bowed, backing out of the hut.
The blonde looked down at her chest. *I'd really like a shirt.* She
sighed and laid back on the pallet.
......................
When Faith awoke it was to find Elei and Mr. Peepers gone. "Damn!"
She jumped up and headed out of the plane. The slayer stopped short
at the site that greeted her. "Hey." She smiled at the young boy. He
sat with the little monkey twisting reeds. Faith glanced at his work
quite impressed. "How did you manage this?" She gestured at the
partially built canoe.
Elei smiled up at his goddess. She was even more beautiful in the
morning sun. Yes, she would save them from Caliki-guy. He stood up
and pointed at the canoe. "Não é deixado muito para fazer e este será
mar digno." [There is not much left to do and this will be sea
worthy.]
Faith looked over the canoe. It would work. She sat between Mr.
Peepers and Elei and picked up some reeds. He quickly showed her how
to twist them. *Can't be that hard, right? If a monkey can do it...*
Faith glanced at Mr. Peepers who squeaked and climbed onto her lap.
"Hey there, you miss Buffy too, don't ya?" The slayer smiled as Elei
handed the little monkey more reeds to weave.
"Sr. trabalhando Peepers do sustento. Nós não somos feitos ainda."
[Keep working Mr. Peepers. We are not done yet.] The boy patted the
monkey on the head as Mr. Peepers screeched, taking the reeds from
him. They all went back to work weaving the thatch for their canoe.
Faith figured they'd be done before noon.
.......................
The little blonde slayer stretched and yawned. She froze for a
moment, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. *Faith!* Hopping up
she headed for the door, determined to be taken back to their island.
*Mr. Peepers and Faith must be worried about me.*
As soon she exited the hut, a hush fell over the village. Buffy
peered around at all the staring natives. She glanced down at
herself, and squealed in embarrassment as she brought her arms up to
cover her chest.
The villagers found her modesty amusing, but squelched their
chuckles. Somehow it seemed very disrespectful to laugh without
permission. They lowered their eyes and stood waiting for instruction
from their goddess.
Buffy rolled her eyes and dropped her hands. The other women were
topless too, so it mustn't matter too much. She strode over to the
man in the head dress. "I want to be taken back." She struggled to
explain when she noticed his blank look. "I have someone who will
miss me if I don't return."
The man clapped his hands. "Alimento! Para o um reparo dourada uma
festa. Deve comer e construir sua força. Apresse-se, logo o goddess
que a fé chegará."
[Food! For the Golden One fix a feast. She must eat and build her
strength. Hurry, soon the goddess Faith will arrive.]
A great deal of activity began to take place. Buffy sighed in
frustration and went over to the chair she sat in last night. *Well,
at least they'll feed me.*
................
Faith examined their craft with a skeptical eye. "I sure hope this
holds up long enough to get us there." She turned to look at Elei who
wore a proud smile. "Okay kid, let's go."
The slayer pushed the canoe into the water. The boy ran along side
pulling it. Mr. Peepers screeched and jumped in.
"Alright, that's it. Get out!" Faith shouted at the little monkey as
he screamed and clung to the inside of the boat.
"O Sr. Peepers quer vir com nós." [Mr. Peepers wants to come with
us.] Elei gave her a pleading look.
"Ugh! Fine, we'll take the damn monkey! But you have to look out for
him, I have Buffy to worry about." The slayer grumbled as she tossed
the crossbow and a sword into their canoe. She slid a dagger into the
back of her jean shorts, and pushed off. Mr. Peepers and Elei
squealed with excitement as the current caught the canoe and helped
speed it along.
*********************
Part 27 - The Rescue
Buffy sat eating the delicious food laid out for her. She was
munching on the bowl of grains given to her. It was kind of like
GrapeNuts cereal. *Not bad.... Crunchy!* Buffy smiled as she poured
more of the goat's milk into her bowl.
The villagers watched her with great interest. They all became
excited when their goddess took her cup of milk and poured it over
her food. It seemed strange to them. But if the Golden One did it
then it must be right. The natives imitated her, pouring their goat's
milk over their grains. Slowly, the man in the head dress lifted his
bowl. He tasted it very carefully while the other villagers looked
on, curiously.
"Mmmm, Bom. É muito bom." [Mmmm, Good. It is very good.] He
announced to the others. The villagers began eating their new
breakfast food with zeal. Yes, the Golden One was very special. They
smiled at her happily as they ate.
..........................
As they approached the shore, Elei jumped from the canoe and began
dragging it in. The slayer hopped out and lifted Mr. Peepers into her
arms. She carefully put the baby monkey on the beach and went back
for the weapons. "Okay kid, stick close." She handed him the dagger,
slinging the crossbow over her shoulder and picking up her
sword. "Let's go."
......................
Buffy settled back in her chair and patted her stomach. She was quite
full, almost lethargic. *A nap would be nice.* She smiled to herself
as the natives rushed about clearing the mess.
Several had formed a line, and began presenting her with gifts. The
slayer beamed, well pleased as a beautiful conch shell was presented
to her. The native bowed low and stepped aside. "Thank you. This is
beautiful." She set the shell to the down and gasped in surprise as a
perfect pearl necklace was offered up. "I can't take this... really."
Buffy declined, guessing the value of such a gift was too high. But
then again they are on an island, it's not like it has monetary value
to them. Buffy hedged as she looked at the dazzling necklace.
.................
Faith crouched low behind the bushes with Elei and Mr. Peepers. She
peered through the foliage and was stunned by what she saw. The
brunette stared in shock at a topless Buffy sitting quite contently
on... what could only be described as a throne. Faith looked on as
one of the villagers placed a pearl necklace around the older
slayer's neck. *What the hell?!* Faith lowered the crossbow,
confused.
The baby monkey pushed past her, and peeked at what Faith was
watching. When he saw Buffy he shrieked loudly and ran quicker than
Faith could react. She fell forward trying to grab him, but was too
late. Mr. Peepers made it out into the open and was hurrying toward
the blonde slayer. He was chattering, and squeaking, hopping around
her in excitement.
Buffy eyes got big. "Mr. Peepers!" She scooped him up and hugged him
tight. Her eyes darted about. *If he's here so is Faith!* The little
slayer rushed in the direction that the monkey had come from. "Faith!
Faith!"
The dark slayer hovered for a moment uncertain. If she were to expose
herself then she wouldn't be of much use to Buffy. *What kind of a
rescue is this anyway?!* She knew that she should have left that damn
monkey at home. Faith glanced back at Elei. He seemed less unsure and
stepped forward.
Faith frowned but followed suit and stood up.
"Faith!" Buffy was in her arms so fast they almost both fell to the
ground.
"Nice stealth there, Mr. Peepers!" Faith scowled at the baby monkey
who screeched and tried to hide in Buffy's arms. "Yeah, you better
stick to her like glue or I might just..."
"Faith! Don't yell at him!" Buffy pouted and kissed her fellow
slayer. "How long have you been creeping around in these bushes
anyway?"
"Long enough." Faith gestured at Buffy's topless state. "Quite a site
you make there, B." The brunette laughed as Buffy blushed crimson.
"Yeah, well it wasn't my idea. They took my clothes." The small
slayer complained, but she couldn't keep the smile from her face.
"I would have been here sooner, but our little pal Elei thought it
was too far to swim so I humored him and we built a canoe." Faith
grinned proudly as Buffy raised an eyebrow impressed.
"You built a boat?" The little blonde asked as she hugged Mr. Peepers
tight and gave him the attention he wanted.
"Yep. And it's gonna take us home. C'mon." Faith took Buffy's hand
and started to pull her along. The dark slayer wasn't sure why the
villagers were on their knees chanting, but she really didn't want to
stick around to find out. "Time to beat it before these pygmies give
chase. C'mon B."
"No. Faith, we can't." The small slayer resisted.
"WHAT?!" Faith peered over at Elei, surprised to see him kneeling and
chanting too. "Look, I came here to rescue you! And you don't want to
go?!" Her tone was incredulous.
"Faith, it's not that I don't want to go. But these people need our
help. Something's living in the jungle, a baddie... a demon maybe."
Buffy gestured to the natives. "They've been mostly nice."
"Yeah, except for their little habit of sacrificing their children
every full moon. C'mon B, you can't tell me you're okay with that
shit!"
"No, I'm not. But I don't think it's something they normally do. They
keep talking about some prophecy or something. I think they were
performing sacrifices..." Buffy paused uncertain. "To us."
"WHAT?!" Faith grabbed her roughly, not noticing the tension among
the tribe as they argued. "How can you say that?! Like slayers would
ever want a bunch of kids murdered. B, if we weren't there, poor Elei
would be fly food!"
"Exactly. It was our need to protect him that got us to expose
ourselves."
Faith sighed in frustration. "I'm not following your line of logic
here." She turned and began to pace. "Okay B, tell me what you want
to do."
"Stay here, and slay whatever is hurting these people." Buffy crossed
her arms self consciously over her chest when she noticed Faith's
gaze straying.
"Huh?... uh..." Faith tore her eyes from Buffy's beautiful breasts,
shaking her head. "Yeah, okay. Whatever." She glanced back down at
the blonde's barely covered nakedness and grinned.
Buffy cleared her throat. "Faith! Do you mind not staring like that!
Everyone is looking."
Faith peered back over at the villagers. She was right; they were
staring. The brunette laughed and took Buffy's hand. "Sorry B. You're
just... um... well.." Faith chuckled. "You're like little Miss Goody-
Two-Shoes and here you are strutting around all these people with
barely a stitch on. It's just funny, that's all."
Buffy scowled and headed back toward her seat. "Maybe you should just
go home."
"Awww... c'mon B. Don't be that way. I was just teasing." Faith
followed behind trying to make up. She stopped and looked at their
audience. "Hey, what's with these people anyway?"
"Tell me about it." Buffy rolled her eyes and sat down.
Hesitantly, the man in the head dress approached Faith and knelt. The
younger slayer glanced down at him. "Hey buddy, whatcha doin'? Get
lost!" Faith walked past him and grabbed Elei's hand. "Kid, are ya
gonna be alright now? They're not gonna try and kill you again are
they?" Faith gestured with her hand. "You know, kill... or hurt you?"
Elei shook his head. "No., não mais sacrifícios. Dourado intervindo
como o prophecy predisse. Você veio e agora conservar-nos-á do Caliki-
guy."
[No, no more sacrifices. The Golden One intervened as the prophecy
predicted. You have come and now will save us from Caliki-guy.]
Faith sighed and sat down next to Buffy and Mr. Peepers. "So where do
you want to look first for this thing?"
The man in the head dress rushed forward with the two women who had
bathed Buffy. They began pulling at Faith's clothes. "Hey! Beat it!"
Faith shoved them away.
"Aww... come on, Faithy. Go with it. Look, it's what everyone's
wearing." Buffy teased, suddenly interested in seeing Faith in a
grass skirt.
Faith eyed her carefully. "Fine. You want to see the twins?!" The
brunette pulled her shirt off causing Buffy to gasp.
"Faith!"
"What? I thought you wanted me to go with it."
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