Disclaimer: All about Joss

A/N: This chapter is shorter than others. From now on, I plan to post somewhat shorter chapters for two reasons: 1) It will hopefully bring updates to you guys faster and 2) It will be easier on me. I'm not the fastest writer and if a chapter needs extra research, then it will go even slower. I like the Buffy/Tara dynamic of best friends as Buffy needs someone to even out her emotions. After all, we all know Buffy never deals with emotions well. She is generally an emotional coward. So this discussion between them will be fairly long and continued into next chapter. Enjoy!

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Chapter 6 Natural Instincts

The Halfling treasured the morning chill coming off the stream just a short distance beyond the thin foliage.

From her first day forward in this Time and Place Willow had spent shape-shifted into a wolf, and had hidden in deeper brush, walking through the forest, surveying the area. Before each night fell, the young Halfling would frolic around the lake in her wolf state, enjoying the sun. No other wolves existed in that part of the forest, as it was still too close to the city to risk the pack.

The Halfling had chosen this animal as its physical body made it strong and able to deal with the forest. Her sense of smell was keen, her powerful muscles enabled her to traverse rugged terrains, and, in this from, Willow was able to maintain the higher level of intelligence this animal provided as well as her keen eyesight. This body, however, presented a strong urge to hunt and kill smaller animals. In order to sustenance for this body, she searched for animals recently dead from either accidents or other carnivores, or fruits and berries. And as long as Willow had a bite of her elfin bread within the past few days, she was able to control the predator instinct.

She had encountered different creatures along the way, some similar to the animals from her own world. Willow had been unable to communicate, as she had been able to with the animals in the Neverending Realm. There was not enough magick present, and their intelligence level was primitive at best. However, she was able to communicate on a basic, primal level, able to relay her needs and emotions. The Halfling had been able to discern from the animals that her appearance as a wolf held physical differences from the earth's wolf, and she had had to shift her appearance accordingly.

The impressions lent by the animals had relayed the sense of few humans visiting this far into the forest. The animals had conveyed a sense of frightening dead human monsters closer to the city, never visiting the forest. The animals had stayed away from that area because of this.

There was a protector of all that was good the animals were in awe of, who would sometimes visit the Halfling's clearing. They had sensed powerful magicks from her, and knew she was a noble woman. At times, a few had even ventured to say hi to her from a distance, but she would be so lost in thought as to not notice the animals. She was found to generally be sad, and the animals felt bad for her that such a noble woman could feel this way.

As Willow played in the sunshine and her protective fairy zoomed about, in the Halfling's heart was the urge to keep this protector, this worthy warrior, happy for the rest of her life.

...

Buffy was at a crossroads.

'Should I stay or should I go?' Rang through her head. What song was that from again? Oh well it didn't matter. What mattered was if Buffy stayed on her original course to Giles' or whether she should stop at the dorm for a super quick shower.

That meant possibly running into Tara. The perceptive Wiccan would most certainly sense a significant change in the Slayer's aura, especially the presence of the ancient magicks experienced only last night.

On the flip side of the coin, heading to Giles' in this state would only lead to the Slayer making an appearance: Buffy would be unable to gain any control over the primal beast within, only interested in seeking retribution of the slight against her Mate.

So however fast and however much she wanted to kick in Giles' door, Buffy, albeit grudgingly, needed to leave 'want, take, have' at the door. The blonde Slayer needed the one she could always count on to steer her in the right direction.

The path set, Buffy ran towards the dorms.

...

It was just a door.

A generic dorm door.

Why did it suddenly seem so ominous?

Buffy stood in front of it for ten minutes, debating the pros and cons of going in or fleeing like the chicken she had suddenly become. In the end, she opted to simply staring at the doorknob blankly.

This fixed stare was interrupted by a concerned voice on her right side. "Um, are you okay?"

"What?" With a quick shake of head to clear her stupor, Buffy shifted her regard to see a robe clad girl clutching her caddy, bath towel draped over her shoulder, obviously on track for the shower.

"Uh, you just looked kind of out of it." A sheepish expression appeared on the girl's face. "I just assumed this is your room; I see you come and go out of it all the time so I was wondering if you'd forgotten your key?"

"I was just trying to decide if I should go in or not. You know, if my roommate-" she thumbed a gesture towards the door "is asleep or not. She's really, really tired from finals, and, umm, I'd hate to wake her… you know, if she is asleep and all..." Buffy shrugged nonchalantly, hoping the girl didn't question her rather lame explanation and her bordering on incomprehensive babble.

The girl stared at her with an odd look that Buffy couldn't interpret, so the Slayer's lame excuse only became lamer as she tried to clarify her rambling. "She's, um, a very light sleep…and I'm not the most quiet person, so…"

" Okay…I just wanted to check." The girl smiled wanly. "My roommate is a light sleeper too, and a real night owl. Me…" She held up her caddy "I'm an early bird, as you can tell."

Smiling tightly at the still unmoving girl, Buffy just dug her keys from her pocket, making up her mind to go in if for no other reason than to not look anymore ridiculous than she already did.

"Thanks." Buffy slid the key in the lock, gently unlocking the door. "See ya later." The tiny Slayer sent a little wave to hopefully prompt the girl into leaving her alone.

The girl, seemingly mollified, replied with a smile, and finally left to complete her morning shower ritual. "No problem. See ya."

"Yeah…um…see ya, too." Buffy rolled her eyes. How can some of these students be so oblivious to the vampires eager to capture their happy meal with legs while paying such attention to a fellow student simply debating on whether to enter to their own room?

Buffy quietly opened the door, tiptoeing through, and closed the door in an equally soft manner. Buffy turned around to see the sleeping Wiccan, doubt returning.

Feeling the urge to escape, Buffy stripped down to her underwear, throwing on her robe. Snatching her caddy and a towel, she slipped out, wondering if she would ever have the courage and wisdom to deal with her emotions rationally.

...

Tara was having an extremely enjoyable dream right now.

She and her latest crush Rose from Wicca group were in a lip lock, just on the verge of something more, when real life otherwise known as the Slayer intruded.

Opening her bleary eyes, Tara spotted Buffy, hair still wet from her shower. A glance told Tara that the Slayer's unmade bed had various clothes tossed about, with the tiny Slayer sitting at the foot, hurriedly sliding on her black boots.

Extracting herself from the warmth and comfort enveloped in sheet, blanket, and the quilt her mother had woven for her, Tara softly spoke. "Buffy?"

The Slayer, dressed in her usual garb of black leathers and blue spaghetti strapped top, turned her face, hazel eyes wide, with a look that screamed, "Oh, Oh! I'm in trouble now!" as if she was a child caught sneaking cookies from the proverbial cookie jar.

"Tara! Hey, didn't mean to wake you, I just needed…a quick shower because um…I …uh…need to patrol. Yeah, that's it, I need to patrol!"

Tara's eyebrow rose, as she slowly rose up to lean against the backboard. Rubbing the still sleep encrusted eyes, she glanced at the clock: 7:17a.m, and there was no mistaking the bright sunlight streaking through the blinds. "Patrol? What are you talking about? It's morning."

Standing unsteadily on her feet, Buffy plastered on a too wide fake smile," Well, you can never be too careful, right? Vampires and demons do know different ways to hide from sunlight, ya know?"

Tara, fully awake now, watched her best friend suddenly determinedly swivel to snatch her black leather coat draped in indiscriminate fashion on the desk chair. Buffy walked the two feet to her closet, roughly dragging her weapon's bag from its depths.

"Buffy, what's going on?" The concerned Wiccan pushed off her covers to a sitting position her feet dangling off the side of her bed. Staring at the small blonde Slayer. Tara caught the glimpse of a kneeling Buffy, Mr. Pointy in hand, forcing the bag back into the confines of the closet. Rising, Buffy snatched her jacket, throwing it on. The Slayer stuffed her favorite stake into the coat's inside pocket in an exaggerated manner. The overemphasized actions under the guise of preparing for patrol was nothing more than a ruse intended to fool the Wiccan.

Buffy paused at the door, hand resting on the doorknob, and ran a shaky hand through her golden locks. Eyes glued to the door, she conceded, "Have you ever had something happen that was so wonderful, so scary, so magkical, and so confusing…well…" The tiny blonde hung her head down, mumbling, "I wish I could explain it better."

At Buffy's jumbled disclosure, Tara opened herself up to scan the Slayer's aura. A kaleidoscope of colors burst forth, ancient magicks mixed in; the same magicks sensed last night causing the Wiccan to gasp.

Buffy's head jerked up at Tara's surprised exclamation, her hand releasing its hold of the doorknob.

The Slayer's natural instinct to flee was once again tempered by her best friend. And as always the expression greeting her showed concern and support, along with the patience in letting the slayer divulge the information at her own rate.

The emotional coward now stared at her emotional savior and sighed in relief, the burden now no longer the tiny Slayer's own, the guidance she needed was at hand.

...

Peeling away the layer of blankets, Tara set herself into a lotus position, her full attention on her best friend.

Tara never ceased to be astounded at the significant role she played within the Scooby circle. True, her natural affinity with magicks was a great help as well as her research abilities, but Tara had often felt the most useful for the emotional support and strength she provided. The Wiccan was able to read people, lending an ear knowing when to push or pull back or just simply being a sounding board for frustrations and fears, especially for Buffy.

And now she hoped the silent communication sent to the skittish slayer signaled the solace Tara could provide.

...

The Wiccan did an internal cheer as she heard a sigh of noticeable relief. Buffy's expression softening slightly; the Slayer had understood Tara's unspoken message of support.

Buffy crossed the room to sit on the edge of her bed, facing the Wiccan. The tiny blonde's legs dangled, feet kicking ever so slightly, her hands rubbed her leather clad thighs in a gesture of a small amount of lingering anxiety.

Tara patted the bed, hoping to completely calm the slayer in the remembered friendship intimacy. The previous times shared discussing the usual ups and downs of adolescence; latest crushes, parental troubles, clothes, classes, annoying teachers, cruel students, ridiculous principals, and the laughter and love of good friends.

And the struggle and burden of being the Chosen One.

Buffy half-grinned at the invitation, the Slayer's memories surfacing upon its implications. Buffy slipped off her boots, covering the small distance to settle onto Tara's cushy bed, mirroring the Wiccan's position.

"Okay, now that I've got you a bit more relaxed, it's time for, in 'Buffyspeak', best-y friend duties, so I demand full spillage!" Tara enthused.

"Last night…actually after we went to bed…" The Slayer dropped her head to watch her finger trace a repetitive figure eight on the patchwork quilt. "I had a well…an urge to go back to the forest…to see the girl creature we had seen earlier."

As Buffy spoke, the wide range of colors still swirled surrounding the slayer, but they had calmed. Tara was amazed at the beauty. Buffy's aura had always had its own unique signature, the power and constant darkness blending with the innocence of a simple human girl, but this was so much more intense and she wondered if what Buffy was about to relay to her would confirm her suspicions.

Buffy's next words were so mumbled; Tara had great difficulty catching the just. "There's something I didn't tell you…everything…at the Espresso Pump." Buffy paused, her fingers halting in their curvature, head flipping up an expression of contrition. "Tara, I'm so sorry I didn't say anything. I mean, you're my best friend…we've always-"

Gently squeezing her best friend's knee, Tara interrupted the earnest penitence. "Buffy, its okay. We've been friends for four years. Don't you think I know how you react to things by now?"

Instead of answering Buffy sucked in a deep breath, firing off her information in rapid assault. "I am now mated to a half human half elf girl who jumped through the portal sent by her father; bad elves are after her; she needs to find her mother for protection who just happened to be Jenny Calendar so I had to break communication through our bond while I go threaten Giles to tell me where Jenny Calendar is so I can kick her ass."

Tara's eyes widened, a little taken aback at the particulars, much less how someone could actually deliver all of that in one breath. "Um, that's a bit more than I expected."

Composure returning, Buffy shook her head, dryly stating, "This is the Hellmouth. There are no surprises."

"Well, yes, that's true." Tara softly smiled, knowing the effort in Buffy divulging that much. "Sounds like a lot to deal with. I could ask how you are doing in coping but I think I already know, considering the state of the room" Tara eyes traversed the Slayer's bedlam" -and your hurry to leave." Tara's sweeping perusal came to rest on eyes filled with emotional confusion.

The air was too rife with tension, so Tara reached out to comfort the tiny Slayer.

...

Tara's touch soothed the Slayer, but Buffy frowned as a sudden thought crept into her already clouded brain.

"Wait a minute." Buffy eyed her friend. '"More than you expected'?" She enunciated slowly.

Tara blushed a little self-consciously. "I did have some ideas based on what you had already told me, Buffy, and… by what I had sensed."

"And you didn't say anything because?" Why had her best friend held out on her? The Slayer experienced a sudden flash of agitation.

"B-Buffy! This only happened last night. I w-w-wanted to do some research first to confirm any ideas." Tara reminded. "I didn't want to p-p-pressure you to tell me more than you were ready f-for."

A wave of guilt swept over the Slayer upon causing her best friend's stutter to surface. "Oh. Well, I get that." Buffy sheepishly squeezed Tara's hand." My total bad." She declared, emphasizing her remorse. The last nine hours had been a hell of a ride and the slayer had no idea if she was coming or going. No excuse she knew but she knew her best friend would understand.

Tucking a lock of blonde hair behind her ear, Tara softly smiled." It's alright."

Buffy cleared her throat, for some reason feeling nervous. "So, um, what were you guessing?"