Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy.

Tara didn't doubt that Willow would do her best to rescue her, but that didn't really make her feel any better. Willow the scarecrow was her greatest link to the real Willow back in Sunnydale, and being away from her made her feel further away from home than she ever had before. Before long, the bunnies reached Kennedy's castle, unceremoniously dumping Tara at the brat's feet.

"Well, well, who do we have here?" Kennedy smirked. Tara avoided the brat's eyes, not wanting her to see the the fear that was beginning to fill her own. She still clutched Miss Kitty Fantastico tightly to her chest. The feline's eyes darted around the room, afraid of her new surroundings but not willing to leave the comfort of her owner's arms. Tara was happy to keep it that way, seeing her pet as a kind of security blanket. Kennedy noticed this and gave an evil grin, before gesturing to one of the bunnies. "Take the cat" she ordered.

"No!" Tara cried, as the bunny clamped onto Miss Kitty's collar with it's teeth and hauled her out of her arms. "Don't take her, please!"

I might let you have her back" said Kennedy, "If you hand over the boots."

"I c-can't" stuttered Tara as she tugged at the footwear in question. "T-they won't c-come off."

"Then I'm sure we can find someone who could make a nice snack out of your precious little kitty" the brat smirked. At that moment, Miss Kitty Fantastico sprang to life. She swiped at the bunny's nose, shocking it into releasing her, then bolted out the door.

"Run, Miss Kitty!" Tara called after her pet. "Go find Willow!" Hearing this, the Insufferable brat grew suddenly angry.

"Your stupid little scarecrow can't help you now" she growled. "You'll be dead long before she gets here. When you killed Faith, the boots came to you. If I kill you, I'm guessing it will have the same result." She pulled Tara up by her hair, making the witch yelp, before shoving her into a seat near a table with a crystal ball on it and grabbing an hourglass, which she slammed down next to the ball. "See this? This is how long you have to live." Kennedy smirked evilly, before turning and stalking out of the room. "Enjoy your last hours girlie."

--

Meanwhile, Willow was wandering through the forest in search of Xander and Anya, but wasn't having much luck. She was feeling very annoyed with one certain demonic friend. If Anya hadn't freaked out and ran off when the bunnies came, Xander wouldn't have had to follow her, and they might have been able to stop the bunnies from taking Tara. Willow shook her head. Now was not the time to dwell on what ifs. She promised Tara that she'd rescue her, and, come hell or highwater, that was a promise she intended to keep.

"Xander!" she called into the trees for what felt like the billionth time. "Xander, Anya! Where are you?" Finally, there came a response.

"Over here, Will!" The tin man called. Willow ran in the direction that the voices had come from, and found Xander trying to coax Anya off of the tree stump she had planted herself on, refusing to move until Xander agreed to leave the forest rather than head back into known bunny territory. The tin man looked up Willow ran over to them, his smile in greeting soon turning to a frown when he noticed the look of worry on the scarecrow's face, as well as the absence of their other friend. "Where's Tara?" he asked, dreading the answer.

"And Miss Kitty" Anya added. "I like that cat, it scares bunnies."

"The bunnies took them" Willow explained.

"Well, it was nice knowing them" sighed Anya, standing up. "I say we just head back to Scooby city and..."

"No" Willow growled, cutting the demon off as she attempted to flee again. "We are going to rescue Tara. We have to."

"She's right, Ahn" said Xander, "we can't just leave her behind."

"But we'll never find her" Anya complained. "We've been screwed around so much we don't even know which way the castle is anymore." As the demon said this, Miss Kitty shot out of the bushes, leaping into Willow's arms.

"I'm guessing that way" Willow grinned, heading off in the direction Miss Kitty had come. "Now come on, we've got a wicca to rescue."