A/N: Ohmygod it's a miracle! An update! Sorry for the delay, I've gotten caught up in my fic Heavy are the Hearts that Wear the Crown so this took sort of a back seat. But I finally had the time to write another installment, so yeah, enjoy.

"Look out!"

Faith had no time to even think about where she was as her instincts kicked in and she rolled to the left, narrowly avoiding being crushed underfoot of something she could only describe and big, nasty, and ugly. Whatever it was it was easily twice her size and it didn't take a slayer's instinct to tell her that the thing was most definitely not playing on the side of good.

Flipping quickly to her feet she saw a unconscious (dead?) man lying at her feet, a pair of long and unwieldy daggers cradled loosely in his hands. Without thinking she grabbed the weapons and turned to face the monster before her. The creature hissed; saliva and gore dripping from its open maw as lumbered closer.

"Hello gorgeous," she muttered as she quickly dived under its reach; scoring deep lacerations along its meaty thigh. It roared in outrage and swiped a massive hand towards her head, narrowly missing her with a whoosh of air. Faith quickly began to dance between its legs, ducking and dodging oversize fists and feet as she sliced the thing to ribbons. When the creature began to stumble from blood loss and fatigue she scrambled out of its path, and flipped a dagger in her had testing the weight before letting it fly. She smiled triumphantly as the blade sunk through the monster's right eye and it pitched forward to the ground, a pool of black and oozing blood seeping from the wound.

"Andraste's holy freckled ass, how did you do that?" a voice called out in utter shock and Faith whirled around, remaining weapon poised to strike should the bearer intend her harm. When she saw that the man who had spoke was covered in his own share of blood she relaxed, but stiffened immediately when she took in his face and felt a jolt of recognition.

"Oh you have got to me kidding me," she muttered as she recognized the not quite blond hair and chiseled features of the man she dreamt about not two months before.

"Seriously," he repeated, striding fast to stand before her, "I've never seen someone outside the Warden's take on an Orge single handed before…and I'm fairly certain there aren't many in the order stupid enough to try."

"You calling me stupid?" she bristled, a warning edge to her voice.

"Judging by what just transpired I'd have to be a special sort of fool to even imply such a thing," he replied with a smile. "Are you-are you alright?"

"Five by five," she said with a shrug, "better than sleepy over there. Remind me to thank him for the weapons if he ever decides to rejoin the living."

The man looked at her in confusion, mouth opening and closing on a hundred different questions and finding it difficult to settle on just one.

"Who are you?" he finally managed, a shrewd and calculating look in his eyes.

"Faith," she replied, tucking the dagger she still held behind her back. "What about you, tall, not-so-dark and handsome, you got a name that goes with that face?"

"Alistair," he replied with a slight blush. Faith smiled, amused at how easily she had managed to elicit a reaction from the man. Were she so inclined it would be a rather simple thing to bring him to his knees.

"Well, Al, mind tellin' me where I am, exactly?"

"You're in the Kocari Wilds," he said after a small clearing of his throat, "about half a day's walk from Ostegar."

"Yeah, not ringing a bell," she replied as she bent down to inspect the carcass of the beast she just killed, "how 'bout you just tell me what this fun dimension is called and point me towards the nearest witch and I'll be on my way."

"You're the one," a throaty voice called out and Faith glanced up to see a woman walking slowly towards her, "Mother will be most pleased to hear of your arrival."

"Whoa, check out the skank wear, I like," she said with a grin, "you and I will have to exchange fashion tips before I leave."

"What on Theadas would your mother want with her?" Alistair asked perplexed.

"Do not strain yourself trying to figure out the answer," the woman hissed before returning her attention to Faith, "You will come with me. Flemeth is not known for her patience."

"Whoa sister," Faith said with her hands up, "You'll learn real fast I'm not one for fallin' in line and taking orders. Ask the watchers council…or what's left it, they'll be more than happy to tell you about my history with that stuff."

"You seek a witch, yes?" the woman replied with a frown, "Mother is one such that would fit that title."

"She's not going anywhere," Alistair interjected with a grave voice as he stepped close to her, his had pushing the hair away from her neck.

"Back off," Faith warned flinching away. Alistair ignored her and gently turned her head, exposing her neck in one long line.

"She's been bitten," he said softly, "she's probably infected with the taint."

"Being used as a vamp's chew toy comes with the job description," Faith said angrily and she pushed Alistair away from her, "doesn't mean I'm 'infected' as you so eloquently put it."

"She needs to take the joining…as soon as possible," Alistair continued, completely ignoring her.

"I don't have to do jack shit, pal," she spat angrily, before turning back to face the woman watching their exchange with placid eyes.

"You're mom's a witch? Lead the way, the sooner I can get back to Cleveland the better."

"Faith, you don't understand," Alistair pleaded as he grabbed her wrist, "you'll die without the joining. It's the only way."

"No you don't understand," she retorted, punching him in the jaw, "this little bite mark? Nothing special. I've been gutted like a catfish and I'm still standing. So save your precious 'joining', all I care about is finding a clearly marked exit from this dimension and going back to my shitty life. Got it?"

Alistair rubbed his jaw, eyes clearly shocked that she had lashed out at him. She felt a twinge of regret at her actions, but shook off the feeling and narrowed her eyes at him, her posture set in a fighting stance, clearly indicating her intent should he push her.

"Fine," the man said after a pause, a hint of sorrow in his voice, "just know I tried to help. May the maker watch over you."

Faith watched him go, a little surprised that he had given in, but relieved all the same that he hadn't forced her to beat him into submission. After he had roused his companions, the trio trudged off into the distance, the trees and underbrush swallowing them from sight.

"Lead the way, skanky," Faith said after a moment, turning to face the woman.

"You may call me Morrigan," she replied through clenched teeth.

"Whatevs, let's just get this over with," the slayer replied with a roll of her eyes. She followed Morrigan in the opposite direction of Alistair and his men, unable to stop herself from glancing over her shoulder with a strange sense of foreboding, as if a part of her knew she was walking away from something big.