Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from BtVS and LotR, and I claim no ownership over the tv-series, books, movies or comics.

Author: PuzzledCat

Chapter 1. Hunt

Faith Lehane started on the run. The familiar excitement of chase and coming fight coursing through her, as she was catching up to her target. It was on rare nights like these that she actually got herself some decent slaying action. With all the newly awakened slayers, she wasn't needed on normal patrols anymore. Same went with her sister slayer Buffy Summers. The Queen Slayer never admitted it, but Faith knew she wasn't the only one bored out of her ass. Faith snorted out loud; Queen Slayer and Dark Slayer, titles that minis had given them. She still was unused to being one of the charging figures of IWC: International Watchers Council. Although she wasn't alone, the chain of command was a tight group. There were of course she and B, G-man, the wicked wiccan witch-goddess, Cyclops, and surprisingly Scoobies once nemesis then hostage and later an apocalypse fighting ally; Andrew. Robin was still in the fight having survived his wounds from the fight with The First, but currently was the business mind of their "little" ordeal. Those potentials turned Slayers that had also made it alive from their war against The First Evil were assigned around the Globe in various training centers, and places that had high amounts of supernatural activity. For example Rona was leading a largish group of new slayers and few brand new watchers in Clevelands Hellmouth.

So since Faith wasn't needed and heck sometimes allowed on patrols, she got a chance to show her moves only when threats were on an apocalyptic level. And her and Buffy being the Chosen Two, and Buffy, well, the chosen numero uno, it seemed baddies held some serious grudges against them. Faith had it a little easier than Buffy though. She guessed it was because of her once being on the dark side of the force and all. She wasn't proud of that, but.. Bygones. But for Buffy always having been the Champion of Light, she had to watch her back a lot more. After the first few assassination attempts, it was Giles' idea to plant B decoys all around the world. Faith couldn't help snickering; if you were petite, blond, and cheerleadery type, good luck to you. Those girls had their work cut out for them.

Faith brought her focus back to the task at hand. This wasn't exactly end of the world situation. Maybe a group of minis could have handled it just fine. But Faith had pestered Giles for some r&r slayer style, and finally the very frustrated head watcher had agreed. And boy if Faith was having a vacation! However when B had heard of this she had pouted at Giles to let her on it too. Pouted.. The mighty hot chick with superpowers got her way by pouting. Sometimes you just had to love B.

What had surprised Faith most was still their third companion to this hunt. Surprise surprise, Andrew had requested to join them too. And B had said okay. Usually Andrew, when not dealing with council stuff, was their base chef and house keeper (though they had actual staff to both jobs) and whatelse. He rarely got involved in actual field work. Faith wasn't exactly worried for his safety, boy could take care of himself in a fight. Hell, she had herself taught him some hand to hand, and had even shown him some neat special moves of her own. And since B had practically adopted the dude after Dawn went off to college, Andrew had had two best teachers in art of combat. That didn't still change the fact that he was a major klutz, but he managed not to get himself killed. Faith smiled thinking of the silly young man. He was just too damn adorable.

But yeah, currently they were doing this whole the three musketeers gig, and were on the hunt of this huge but annoyingly fast demon. Giles had just vaguely given information of it, but it was soon that Andrew had identified the demon as some sort of dimensional jumper. Faith couldn't remember it's name, but apparently this demon was a traveler. Jumping between dimensions to feed on few residents, and then quickly moving on. This time the demon had been unlucky or stupid, and come to their grounds in Scotland. No civilians anywhere near, every resident accustomed to fighting demons. Sucker, Faith thought.

Their plan was for Faith to pretend to just chase it, when in truth she was leading it to the sweet care of B and Andy. They were waiting ahead in a neat place for an ambush. When the demon tried to go wrong way from its intended destination, Faith skillfully shot her crossbow to the left of it guiding it once again to right path. 'This'll be a piece of cake', she thought, but tried to keep in mind that the killing was to be done quickly. According to Andrew this demon would need just a split moment to prepare to jump dimensions. If it were able to do that, then it would be out of their hands, killing somewhere else. And that wasn't an option.

Faith fired a few more bolts, but soon they were nearing the ambush site. She sped up a bit not wanting to miss on all the fun. Earlier they had agreed on beheading the thing. Seemed kind of an sure way to kill pretty much anything.

Faith could now sense the presence of her sister slayer clearly. Back when Willow had done her mojo, she had connected all the slayer essences together. B and she however soon noticed that their connection was stronger than the others. It was hard to explain, but came in handy in some situations. Like now.

Buffy's bubbling excitement could be felt through their bond. Nothing gave quite the same kicks as slaying. Well, maybe sex did. And food. Which usually followed right after slaying. And sex. Damn, she needed to get some.

Faith and demon had now arrived at the ambush site. The demon roared as it realized the dead end in rocky terrain. And then Buffy jumped down from her hiding place swinging her sword as she came down. Andrew came from the other side but kept his distance. Buffy was on offensive, not giving the demon much opportunities to fight back. It did however get one hit through causing Buffy to fly few meters, but she was immediately up as if nothing happened. But now Faith was there too. She had switched her crossbow to an short sword, and went for the demons feet with it. The thing was huge and strong so maybe immobilizing it first would be smart. She and Buffy kept attacking from different sides, as Andrew aimed few shots with his crossbow. Of course arrows and their little slashes seemed to only annoy the demon further. But Faith wasn't really worried. She and B weren't in trouble, they were having an work out. And as long as the demon wouldn't get its momentum to charge its batteries or whatever it did, they could prolong their fun. Right?

"Yo B, if I let you two have some nice alone time, can I have this dudes head after?", Faith quipped.

Buffy snorted, and dodged clawed arm aiming for her head. "But you had all the chasey fun while I had to sit and play nice here".

"Well, how about we let Andy-Boy here have a go at its head then. Would be real educational and all", Faith said now kicking and punching the demon as her sword found itself flown through the air meters away.

"Eh- I don't really mind", Andrew piped, his face a little pale while going to retrieve Faiths sword.

"Aw, he doesn't want to so why don't I-mpphh", Buffy got a demon fist to her face and flew to the ground near Andrew. Faith laughed hard at the look on her as she held her nose eyes wide.

"You should see ye-huh!", Faith didn't say more as the same happened to her and she was down on her ass. For a moment both Slayers had the exact same expressions on their faces. The situation was somehow very comic. Until Andrew started to yell loudly and in panic.

"Guys, it's doing it now!", Andrew shouted his voice pitching at the end. 'Shit', Faith thought as the demon started to glow with purple energy. Both slayers got up, but Faith being closer to the demon, made it first to it. She started pummeling the demon, but it didn't stop glowing, instead it was getting brighter and their surroundings started humming.

"No you're not getting away shithead", she growled and climbed the demon to get a choke hold. She saw Buffy getting full speed closer and she heard her yell her name, but suddenly everything around her got bright purple, and all she could hear was a noise so loud she thought her head would explode. And then there was this huge pull, and she felt as if her own body was twisting and stretching. Then everything went back to normal. Purple faded away and that awful sound stopped.

Faith opened her eyes, and the sight in front of her had her going: "Huh?".