Willow was almost, quite literally, frozen in complete shock, with her mouth hanging open, and her emerald eyes wide and disbelieving. She was also experiencing the distinct sensation of ice crawling slowly up her spine, and her heart chilling, for she realized what Faith had to be. A Slayer. And for a new calling to be put in act, the current Slayer had to have met her match in death.
"Oh god, Buffy."
The tone of voice she used was weak and rasping, and with those words uttered, Willow felt even more hot tears streaming slowly descending her pale-skinned face. Her own...her own actions had somehow gotten one of her bestest friends in the world killed. The worst part of this was that she knew it was her fault, she just knew it.
Faith, for her part, duly noted the beautiful young redhead's reaction to what she herself thought was fairly mild. Though the girl -had- (or so Faith thought) just been introduced quite rudely to the existance of vampires. Even then, who was this Buffy? Somebody the girl she saved reached out to when she was troubled? Or could Buffy be something more to the redhead? Despite her pure intentions, a slight flood of jealousy rushed through her.
Even though the word was currently crumbling in at her from all possible sides, Willow was still very thankful to this brunette. After all, she would currently be dead without the intervention of this stranger. As she thought about it, and began to study Faith, the thought came to her mind that the other girl looked familiar.
Then, as sudden as a thunderbolt striking the Earth, another thought occured to the articulate redheaded girl. Faith had fought with vigor, and seemed to know exactly what she was doing. So unless she had been into a form of karate or streetfighting during what Willow knew as the Pre-Calling, Faith must have been a Slayer for awhile. And Willow had just seen Buffy.
"Faith, how long exactly have you been slaying all these vampires, demons, and forces of darkness?"
Willow had studied what it meant to be a Slayer, especially with being a best friend to the mythical girl, so she knew the particular saying quite well. 'One girl, meant to slay the vampires, demons, and forces of darkness. She is the Slayer.' It was practically ingrained into her head.
The brunette Slayer gave a slight, but visible jump at the way too familiar words. The redhead looked far to innocent to be involved in the dark world of badness. Then again, the vampires often turned females that looked innocent, because it helped them lure the less intelligent people to their deaths. Despite her doubts, she answered.
"Just a little over a year, Red. Mind giving me the reason you asked?"
Willow never knew she could be as relieved as she suddenly was at the brunette Slayer's words. Buffy was alright, she had to be. It was an impossibilty that Buffy had died to activate Faith, Faith had been a Slayer for too long. It was in a sudden rush that the memory of Kendra came to the redhead, and she murmured the deceased Slayer's name.
The brown-eyed woman from Boston heard Willow say Kendra's name softly, and it made her suddenly still. This girl she saved, how did she know about Kendra? Faith herself had never known the girl, but she -did- know that it was Kendra that activated her. Then, with sudden clarity, the name Willow said earlier came back to her. Buffy. Buffy Summers was the well-known Slayer centered in Sunnydale. The redhead's reaction was suddenly explained to her. Faith understood now.
"Geez, Red, I didn't mean to give you a scare. I'm assuming you're one of the infamous B's friends?"
Before Willow could possibly puzzle over this new development, Faith did a sudden disappearing act, and Buffy came barreling into the deserted alley.
"Willow!"
"Oh god, Buffy."
The tone of voice she used was weak and rasping, and with those words uttered, Willow felt even more hot tears streaming slowly descending her pale-skinned face. Her own...her own actions had somehow gotten one of her bestest friends in the world killed. The worst part of this was that she knew it was her fault, she just knew it.
Faith, for her part, duly noted the beautiful young redhead's reaction to what she herself thought was fairly mild. Though the girl -had- (or so Faith thought) just been introduced quite rudely to the existance of vampires. Even then, who was this Buffy? Somebody the girl she saved reached out to when she was troubled? Or could Buffy be something more to the redhead? Despite her pure intentions, a slight flood of jealousy rushed through her.
Even though the word was currently crumbling in at her from all possible sides, Willow was still very thankful to this brunette. After all, she would currently be dead without the intervention of this stranger. As she thought about it, and began to study Faith, the thought came to her mind that the other girl looked familiar.
Then, as sudden as a thunderbolt striking the Earth, another thought occured to the articulate redheaded girl. Faith had fought with vigor, and seemed to know exactly what she was doing. So unless she had been into a form of karate or streetfighting during what Willow knew as the Pre-Calling, Faith must have been a Slayer for awhile. And Willow had just seen Buffy.
"Faith, how long exactly have you been slaying all these vampires, demons, and forces of darkness?"
Willow had studied what it meant to be a Slayer, especially with being a best friend to the mythical girl, so she knew the particular saying quite well. 'One girl, meant to slay the vampires, demons, and forces of darkness. She is the Slayer.' It was practically ingrained into her head.
The brunette Slayer gave a slight, but visible jump at the way too familiar words. The redhead looked far to innocent to be involved in the dark world of badness. Then again, the vampires often turned females that looked innocent, because it helped them lure the less intelligent people to their deaths. Despite her doubts, she answered.
"Just a little over a year, Red. Mind giving me the reason you asked?"
Willow never knew she could be as relieved as she suddenly was at the brunette Slayer's words. Buffy was alright, she had to be. It was an impossibilty that Buffy had died to activate Faith, Faith had been a Slayer for too long. It was in a sudden rush that the memory of Kendra came to the redhead, and she murmured the deceased Slayer's name.
The brown-eyed woman from Boston heard Willow say Kendra's name softly, and it made her suddenly still. This girl she saved, how did she know about Kendra? Faith herself had never known the girl, but she -did- know that it was Kendra that activated her. Then, with sudden clarity, the name Willow said earlier came back to her. Buffy. Buffy Summers was the well-known Slayer centered in Sunnydale. The redhead's reaction was suddenly explained to her. Faith understood now.
"Geez, Red, I didn't mean to give you a scare. I'm assuming you're one of the infamous B's friends?"
Before Willow could possibly puzzle over this new development, Faith did a sudden disappearing act, and Buffy came barreling into the deserted alley.
"Willow!"