Chapter 4- Let's Ride!

Zarathos turned to the two on the porch and his skeletal mouth twisted into
a semi-smile. He turned from facing the two bikes to stare at the two young
adults on the porch behind him and held his hand out to Xander. "Coming?"

Xander shivered at the animalistic growl that came from Zarathos. He
reached out to take the offered hand before jerking his arm back when
reality suddenly hit him. "Um. You're kinda not human and all so you
probably don't know this, but fire and skin- not good. It hurts- badly.
And then the skin burns and puckers up and believe me it's not pretty, cuz
I've seen that before when Tony threw a candle at mom. I can't imagine why
I just told you that, and I'm babbling aren't I? I'll shut up now."

The other three just looked at him before Zarathos burst out laughing,
Ripper and Willow following. "Xander, you have spent way too much time with
me lately." Willow told him as she left the porch and walked down to stand
in front of Ripper. "I don't know how you were able to keep this from us,
Giles, but you do realize that explanations will need to be had, right?"

"Call me Ripper, daughter tree." He said in a voice that both rumbled like
thunder and purred with pleasure at the same time. "I'm sure that we can
explain everything soon. But first, we must hunt. And, the flames will not
hurt those who are pure and innocent. Will you ride with us, children?"

The two looked at each other then back at the bikes. They nodded
enthusiastically and Xander bounded over to stand next to Willow and Ripper.
The latter half bowed to Willow, leading her in the direction of the
Indian. Willow laughed and followed him, climbing on the back of it with an
easy grace that startled Zarathos and Ripper. "My Uncle Rusty from Florida
owns a Honda." She explained. "It's a Gold Wing. He calls it the Cadillac
of motorcycles- it really is a very smooth ride. Uncle Rusty takes us for
rides every time he's here with the bike. 'Sides riding is one of the only
things Xander's not as klutzy at."

"Shut up, Wills. If I remember correctly, you almost fell off the first
time you got on the thing." Xander laughed and accepted Zarathos' hand up
as Willow peeked around Ripper and stuck her tongue out at him.

"Where are we headed? You know this town better than I do and there is too
much evil around it." Zarathos asked when he kick started the hell bike.

"Yeah, that usually happens on a hellmouth, Zar- invasion of the evil aura."
Xander quipped.

"Zar?" he growled, immensely pleased when he felt Xander's shiver.

"Umm. Zarathos is a bit of a mouthful. Zar's a lot easier to say."

"So where do you suggest we go, Xander?" Ripper asked him.

"We need to find Buffy. Where ever she is, the demons are. She's a trouble
magnet."

"Really? I thought that was your job, Xan?"

"Shut up, Willow!" Zarathos laughed and kicked his engine into gear while
opening the throttle wide causing the bike to pop a wheelie (and startling
Xander into silence by forcing him to hang onto Zarathos in order to stay on
the bike). Ripper followed his lead and the two Riders peeled down the
road, leaving twin crevices of melted asphalt in their wake.