Accident
Oz sat outside the cage, watching as the first glints of sunlight entered the room. Gwen was lying on her back, not facing him. He watched as her body began to shift back into that of a human.
He'd regained his control of the wolf a hour before, just before dawn.

He watched, this being the first time he could watch a wolf becoming its human self. He felt only slightly embarrassed by her nudity, she didn't seem to be waking up. Opening the cage he pulled a old sheet he'd found in the corner of the mausoleum and spread it over her. She was going to catch a cold lying on the freezing cemented. He didn't think he should wake her though, not after the first time. She was going to have enough problems dealing with the fact that three days out of the month she became a feral animal. As he was about to leave the cage she shifted and whimpered. Her eyes snapped open and she sat up. The sheet fell about her waist as she stared at him.

A look of horror crossed her face as she remembered as much about last night as she could. He could see her mind whirling. He stepped out of the cage and turned around as she realized she was flashing him. She scrambled up with the sheet held tightly about her body and grabbed her shirt and undergarments.

"It happened." She said finally, a few moments later.

"I told you it would."

"I thought. . . I thought you were crazy and lying and. . ."

"I know." He stepped out of the mausoleum, letting her follow him if she wanted. They needed to get moving.
~*~
Gwen's head was throbbing. She felt dizzy when she walked and her whole body seemed to ache to the bone. It was like a really bad hangover. She wanted nothing then to go home.
She followed Oz out. She didn't have anywhere else to go. . . he'd dragged her here. She noticed that it was still early in the morning. She didn't feel tired, she felt alert. She could smell everything, could smell Oz. Could smell herself on him. She could smell the flowers and the corpses beneath the ground. The last making her shudder slightly.

"Oz." He turned.

"Is there anyway to cure this?" She was blinking back tears. She wanted to slap herself for being so stupid, there was no use in crying.

"Only to control it."

"Oh."

They made their way to the van in silence after that.
~*~
They were at a small apartment. Oz had knocked on the door, no one had answered for a moment and then a tall boy with a mop of dark brown hair on his head answered.

"Oz! Hey man!"

Oz nodded. "Hey." There was a pause. "Is Giles home?"

The boy stared at him for a moment. "Well, this is his house."

"Right." Oz stated. The boy moved aside, Oz walked in. Gwen was left standing awkwardly outside. Xander took her in. "Sorry, we're not buying any girl scout cookies." He said, finally. Oz said something from inside and Xander blinked. "Okayyy. . . , come on in."

Gwen moved into the small house. Brushing against the boy, taking in his scent. He smelled like Twinkies and pizza and orange juice. It was a odd scent. As soon as she was fully in the house the smells of too strong perfume, cologne, and a herb tea assaulted her nose. Oz was standing next to a older man, Gwen swallowed the instinct to go beside him and hide.

She straightened her back and stared the older man in the eye. He seemed worried and was looking at her as a grandfather would look at his grandchild who'd just taken a spill. "Your name?" He asked, his voice had a English accent and made her smile. He seemed kind.

"Gwen." He smiled.

A brown haired girl came from a hallway and stared at Oz and Gwen for a moment. "Oz, your back. Are you going to create havoc and try to eat Tara again?" She asked.
It didn't seem to phase Oz. "Hey Anya."

Anya moved her hawk like gaze from Oz to Gwen. "Did you bring your little sister?"
Gwen pursed her lips. "I'm Gwen."

"Yes. . . " the English man stammered, what was his name? Giles? "Gwen seems to be. . . Oz seems to have accidentally infected her with lycanthropy."

There was a quick intake of breath from the dark haired boy. Anya opened her mouth, but nothing seemed to come out.

Gwen glared at them all, her chin high. "We're going to help you. Of course." Giles said, after a moment.

"Oz said there wasn't anything to help me." She stated. Staring Oz straight in the eye. She shoved her hands into her jean pockets to stop them from shaking. She could feel the sun outside, feel the moon that would come up that night. It was a boiling in her blood. She hated it.

"We'll figure out something." Anya said finally. Xander and Giles nodded in agreement. Oz's face didn't change except for a small flash in his eyes.

Gwen knew that he thought they were lying.
~*~
Oz let her into the musty house and stared as the door creaked and then dust rose from the floorboards. "Come home much?" Gwen asked, stepping into the room and glancing around. It was a pretty normal house, a comfortable looking overstuffed couch and a few recliners, a upstairs and clean looking kitchen. It just felt so. . . empty.

"Not much reason to." He was carrying a few large tomes Giles had let him take. Claiming that she needed to rest before tonight. Gwen hadn't fought it, feeling uncomfortable around Oz's friends.

"Oh." He set the books down on a table, and glanced at the piles of mail under the slot, and then walked into the hall. He pulled out a beautifully woven quilt and handed it to her.
"You can sleep in my room or the guest room. . . "

"Are you going to sleep?" She asked, her voice quiet.
"No. I'm going to read."

She blinked, once slowly. Then nodded. "Can I sleep on the couch?"

"Sure." She smiled slightly and moved to his couch, curling up in the corner closest to the window she felt the warm sunlight streaming in from glass and fell into a light doze. Listening to him quietly flipping the pages of the book.
~*~End 4~*~
Gwen sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Glanced around the room and found herself alone, Oz must have gone somewhere. The late afternoon sunlight filtered through the window. She glanced at the clock, it was almost three in the afternoon. *Three hours until sundown.* Gwen though, shuddering. *Three more hours to be human. . . * As if in answer her stomach rumbled.

She stood up and carefully arranged the blankets back on the couch. She ran a nervous hand through her tangled hair and walked in the general direction of where the kitchen should have been. She glanced at the table Oz had been reading at when she'd fallen asleep, Gwen sighed. It was empty and there were piles of open books. A yellow legal pad sat next to the pile of books, it was blank except for a little doodle.

She ignored the fact that Oz had obviously not found anything and kept on her search for food. On the kitchen counter there was a burger king bag with a hamburger and fries inside, she smiled. Oz must have gone recently since the food was still warm. She grabbed one of the cans of coke that was next to the bag and walked toward the large picture window over the kitchen sink. She looked outside for a few moments, munching on her fries.

"I hoped you weren't a health nut." Gwen jumped about a mile in the air and spun around simultaneously. Oz was standing there in a new shirt and jeans, his hair was wet and he was holding a towel.

"No. I like my fast food. Thanks." She held up the burger indicating it and then took a small bite. *Did that just come out of my mouth? Last week I was a vegetarian. . . now the meat is. . . welcome. . . *

"Did you. . . find anything?"

His face seemed to change, so slightly that she almost didn't catch it. It became a bit harder. "No. Not yet." She nodded and took a swig of her coke. "When your threw, the shower is upstairs. First door on your right. I figured you might want to before. . . "

She nodded. "Alright."

Oz nodded his approval and threw the towel at her. "We'll find something for you to wear afterwards." With that he left her alone in the kitchen and went back to his books. Gwen finished her meal in silence.
~*~
An hour and fifteen minutes later, Oz and Gwen were driving toward the cemetery. "Only two more nights."

Gwen nodded mutely, then realized he couldn't see her do that since he was driving. "Two nights. I can do that. Then a whole month to get ready again. . . "

Silence reigned after that.
~*~
Oz sat in the mausoleum watching the Gwen-wolf throw herself against the bars. She snarled and growled and had snapped at him. Her eyes always seemed to follow him. He knew that she smelled him as a male, a potential mate. He had never been so close to a wolf when they changed, watched their habits. He'd always been on the other side of the bars during the full moon. Even with Veruca. . .

Is that why he was doing this? A sort of redemption for killing Veruca? It seemed to him that whatever he did would seem selfish. Helping her, selfish searching for salvation. Leaving her, selfish. Dumping her with someone who could help her. . . selfish. He didn't know what to do. Giles was still looking, everyone would know now. . .

Gwen-wolf began to growl louder and her eyes focused behind him. He turned and he nearly fell out of his chair. "Willow."

"Hi Oz." Oz felt himself loosing control and grabbed control of the wolf, trying not to show the effort on his face. "I came. . . I heard. Giles told me. . . you. . . she." She swept her hand out to point at Gwen.

"It was an accident." It was a statement, a plea. As if asking her to believe him. . . or daring her to disagree.

Willow nodded.

"How are you?" His voice was hopeful. *Say your unhappy. . . beg me to stay. . . love me. Please. . . I miss you. . *
"I'm good. Happy."

Oz's heart shattered. "How's Tara?"

"She's good." Oz nodded. Gwen growled, she was glaring vehement at Willow. Willow stared at the wolf, she looked pale in the moonlight. Oz had waited years to see her under the full moon. . . "Who is she?"

"A girl. An accident. I didn't mean to. . . there was a robbery. He had a gun, I tried to unarm him. He dragged Gwen over the counter. . . I accidentally scratched her in the fight."

Willow opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted as a small voice from behind her spoke up. "Willow? Are you in here?"

Tara stepped into the stone tomb. Gwen began to growl and snarl and spit, throwing herself against the bars of the cage with a new vigor. The door hinges shuddered under her weight. Tara looked like a rabbit caught in a wolfs jaws. "H-h-hi Oz." Tara said, practically hiding behind Willow.

Oz stood up. "Hey."

Willow's eyes became huge with fear, there was a crash. The cage door swung open on a broken hinge and Gwen-wolf charged out, Oz didn't even have a second to react before she was almost on Willow and Tara.

"Run!" He leapt at the last second and caught her, landing on top of her. The wolf let out an angry bark and kicked backwards with her hindclaws, catching Oz in the stomach. He screamed in pain but held on to the wolf. He felt the change coming over him, he let it come. Knowing it was Willow and Tara's only chance to escape.
~*~
Gwen came to faster this time. Her eyes snapped open, her mind reeling at the fact that she could feel a warm body pressed against her back. Both of them very, very naked. She glanced down at herself, scratches seemed to be painted all over her body. A long oozing gash ran down her leg. She hissed in surprise and jerked away from whoever was behind her. Taking in her surroundings.

They were in a forest, soft grass beneath them. She turned, Oz was lying there. He was still asleep, he had scratches too. None as horrible as the ones she had. . . there was so much blood. She ached, her body seemed to be one big hurt. It was worse then the day before. . . she must have escaped. . . gotten out. Oz must have changed to stop her. . . she must have. . . then she stopped. Thinking.

They must have. . .

She scooted back away from him. Bringing her knees to her chest and whimpering, Oz was coming around. He moved his head and let out a soft groan, his green eyes opened and stared at her. "Gwen. . ."

"We. . . you. . ." Tears were rolling down her cheeks. She could feel the aches now, all over. Inside of her.

"You got out. . . my friends. . . I had to stop you. . . I. . . don't remember. . ." He was sitting up, moving toward her. To try and comfort her, she yanked away from him.

"You don't remember!" She was sobbing, getting hysterical. He'd never seen her like this.

"You. . . we. . . Oz! I can't even remember I. . . " She was shaking. He wanted to comfort her, there was blood all over her. She was re-opening the scratches.
"Its going to be alright, Gwen. Its just a few scratches. . .We just need to find clothes."

"Clothes." She nodded, her eyes were beginning to become swollen and read. Tears were still running down her face.

She stood up and tried to ignore the ache between her thighs. Oz stood with her, trying to ignore the protectiveness he felt over her, and the acute touch of deja vu he was having. Just like Veruca. . . "I know where we can go close by." He turned and began to walk.
"I want to go home." It was under her breath, Oz turned back around.

"You know. . ."

"I WANT TO GO HOME!" It was at the top of her lungs, she screamed so loud that Oz took an involuntary step back. She took a deep breath. "Now. Either you take me home or I'll. . . go to the police. I'll tell them you kidnapped me and raped me."

"Lets find clothes first." His voice was a low rumble. His eyes smoldered. "Then you can do whatever you want."

She followed him. Quaking with what she'd just said, fearing that she'd just destroyed her only friend in this hell that had become her life.
~*~End 5~*~
After retrieving clothes from the laundry room at the college Oz led Gwen back to the graveyard, she followed him silently. Oz hadn't been too anxious to speak with her, he was still trying to figure out exactly what happened. If only he could remember! But he couldn't. Veruca had said he'd remember soon enough. . . but he couldn't. They found the van soon enough and Oz drove directly to Giles, hoping to find Willow there and a first aid kit for Gwen. He could still smell the blood of her cuts, and he knew they must be starting to bother her. Like his were him.

As soon as they pulled up Willow seemed to burst from the small house and came running to the van. "Oz! We've been looking everywhere. . . and we couldn't find you. Are you. . . oh. Hi." Gwen glanced up at the redhead but didn't acknowledge her. Oz was slightly surprised, he'd never seen her be so cold to someone.

"We're alright."

Willow nodded. She moved aside and let him get out of the van, he heard the passenger door close and Gwen came around the side. She looked cute in the too large sweat pants and too small tank top they'd found for her. She was staring at the ground and looked completely miserable.

Willow gave her inquiring glances but didn't say anything, leading their way back inside. Everyone was there. Buffy stood up as they entered, she looked thinner then when he'd last seen her. Worry lines ran all over her face. Xander and Anya stood beside the TV talking quietly, they both looked up. Tara glanced from the couch where she was sitting and instantly stared at the floor again, Giles came out from the kitchen carrying a large tray of tea.

A new girl with long blondish-brown hair was standing next to Buffy. Something was wrong with her. . . Oz could feel it. Gwen was growling softly, Oz glanced at her. She caught his eye and stopped, looking startled instantly. She hadn't realized she'd been growling.

"Oz, how are you?" Buffy asked, coming forward and giving him a quick hug. It was unexpected and he almost jerked away from her, but instead hugged her for a second.

"Been better." Buffy nodded and then turned to Gwen.

"I'm Buffy. That's Dawn."

The girl waved, Gwen glared at her. "She's not. . . "

Buffy looked startled, Dawn looked horrified. Oz had noticed it too, but stayed quiet. "Have you found anything?" He interrupted Gwen, moving forward into the room. Gwen stayed planted in the doorway against the wall, glaring at them all.

Giles shook his head. "Unfortunately no."

"I need your first aid kit. . . " Oz stated. Going to where he knew it would be. When he came back into the room, Xander had moved next to her and was talking to Gwen quietly. She seemed to be loosening up but was still eyeing everyone warily, as specially Dawn.

"Gwen, I need to get some antiseptic on your scratches." She looked at him, glaring.
"No." The word was like a dagger through his heart.

"I'll do it Oz." Xander came forward and took the kit from her, his eyes apologizing.
"C'mon Gwen. The bathrooms this way."

"I have some clothes here she can borrow. . ." Buffy began, jumping up and heading upstairs to get her spare pair of clothes. Everyone seemed to snap into motion. Dawn followed Buffy, Willow went and stood beside Oz. Anya sat down next to Tara and Giles stood in the middle of the fray looking lost and sad.

"What happened last night, Oz?" Willow asked. Her eyes were huge, larger then he remembered. Mostly because she had so much makeup on, he didn't like the makeup.

"We got out. Together." He glanced at the floor.

"But she seems so. . . she doesn't understand does she? Is she scared she hurt someone?"
"No. She's scared I hurt her."
~*~
Gwen allowed Xander to roll up the pant leg and place some cool jel over the long scratch there. He kept glancing at her, as if asking permission. "Does this hurt at all?" He asked finally, placing a bit of tape over the gauze he had on the cut.
She shook her head. "Only stings."

Xander nodded. Glancing at the scratches along her arms that disappeared under the tank top. "Do you remember anything that happened?" He knew it was a stupid question.

Gwen bit her lip. "No." She seemed to explode into tears and Xander quickly grabbed her and nearly crushed her against his chest.

"Don't worry. . . don't cry. You didn't hurt anyone, I promise. Oz stopped you." She seemed to cry harder, more violently. Xander didn't understand. Buffy walked into the room carrying a pile of clothes.

"What'd you do?" She asked, moving forward and lying a hand on Gwen's shaking back. Xander looked up at her with confused eyes.

"I don't know. I just asked if she remembered. . . "

"Gwen, that's your name, Gwen right? I brought you some clothes. . ." Buffy was saying, trying to sooth the girl. She seemed to be calming slightly and pulled back from Xander, dashing the tears from her cheeks.

"S-sorry. I. . . "

Buffy and Xander nodded. "It's alright."

"Its never going to be alright again." Gwen said softly, staring at her feet one more.
~*~
"She seems unstable." Giles stated in a quiet voice. Coming up beside Oz and Willow. Oz nodded.

"She's scared, she doesn't know what happened last night. I think she believes that I raped her." Willow looked horrified. "Its possible." Oz said, taking in a shaky breath.

"You still don't remember. . . "

"No." Anya stood up from where she had been chatting with Tara.

"Well, she only has one night left. Then we can begin to decipher her feelings? Yes? She'll just have to deal." Willow glared at Anya.

"Its not that easy, if she believes. . . there could be emotional damage. . . she could just loose it on us. . ."

"A unstable werewolf is not something we need right now." Giles stated, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Oz have you made any attempts to show her how to control the change?"

Oz shook his head. "Haven't had time." *Now she won't let me get near her. . . * The thought hurt worse then he'd expected it to. Since when did he care what Gwen thought of him? He cared. . . but he was beginning to care a little too much. It disturbed him. He felt oddly protective of her. . . then it hit him. "Giles, have you come across anything about werewolf mating habits?" Everyone looked at him.

Giles looked flustered. "Well, err, yes. Quite a bit actually. Werewolves at much like wild wolves. . . when they've chosen their mate its generally for life unless something has happened and either of the party is destroyed. . . there was actually a journal or two about the bonding that happened to the wolves and the people when they mated it was rather interesting. . ." Giles stopped, realizing not many cared how interesting it was. Then he realized why Oz had asked. "Oh dear."

Gwen and Xander stood in the doorway of the room, Buffy behind them. Gwen looked aboslutely terrified.

Tara stood and spoke up for the first time, "so if Oz hadn't k-k-k-killed Veruca they would be m-m-mated?" Oz looked like he was about to tear out Tara's throat.

"I suppose so. . ." Giles removed his glasses and began to clean them in an unconscious nervous gesture. "I suppose so. But, since Oz's heart at the time belonged to another. . ." He gave a pointed look at Willow. "The process could have been interfered with and Veruca and Oz, well, er, didn't bond."

Willow looked pale, Oz was trying to keep his eyes off of Gwen. She was clutching at the shirt Buffy had let he barrow and was still staring at the floor. "Xander said that I can go back to his apartment to rest." She said finally.

Xander was nodding. "I'll take her, An you wanna go?"

Anya nodded. "Though I don't see why things are so uncomfortable, its just sex."

Gwen looked like she was about to break down again, Xander grabbed Anya's hand and led his little troop out the door. "We'll meet you at the cemetery around four." He said over his shoulder, and then they were gone.
~*~
"Oz are you alright? You haven't slept in days. . . " Oz was staring at the door that Xander and Gwen had just disappeared through.

"I'm fine." He was resisting the urge to follow them. Make her come back, it was new. Strange. Having Willow so close. . . he knew he didn't have a chance with her. He also knew he was ruining any chances he had with Gwen.

"You look tired, Oz. Why don't you go upstairs and rest?" Buffy was saying, Dawn was standing in the kitchen with what appeared to be a brownie. He still didn't feel right about her.

"I'm fine." It was almost a snarl, he was sick of everyone worrying about him. They needed to be worrying about Gwen, she was the one in trouble. "Giles, where are those journals?" Giles pointed to two dusty looking books on the end of the couch. "Can I borrow them?"

"That's fine Oz." Oz nodded, taking the journals. He walked out the door, without a backwards glance. Before he was at his van he could feel her next to him.

"I'm coming too Oz."

"No, Willow." She stared at him.

"You need someone. . . to be there. For you. Your. . . I want to be there for you." Her eyes were pleading.

"I don't want you." He could see Tara outlined in the doorway, could smell her fear even from where he stood. She was afraid he'd take Willow away from her. "Go back inside."

Willow looked hurt, painfully so. She just stood there as Oz started up his van and drove away. Oz tried desperately not to let his sorrow overcome him.
~*~
Gwen lay on Xander and Anya's couch for what seemed like hours. Unable to sleep, even after Anya gave her a sleeping pill. "Xander makes noises when he sleeps, its very annoying." She had explained before leaving Gwen alone.

Gwen was thinking furiously. She felt horrible for the way she was treating Oz, but it was all so much. It hadn't really hit her until that morning when she'd woken up next to him. . .

She wasn't human anymore.

She wanted to scream and cry and moan and have someone tell her it was all going to be alright.

It wasn't going to be.

The only person who might have held her she had pushed away, screamed at, accused. . .

She stood up and went in search of Xander and Anya. They were piled in a large bedroom with cartoon network blaring. "Xander?"

Xander jumped up, disrupting Anya who growled at him and rolled over. "What is it Gwenny? You okay?"
Gwen smiled slightly. "I'm okay. . . just. . . can I use your phone?"

"Sure." Xander started to walk out into the living room to show her where it was, realized he was in his boxers, made a few squeaking sounds and dived back under the covers. "I'll uh, be out in a sec."

Gwen tittered, "alright."

Xander emerged a few minutes later in pink sweat pants that obviously belonged to Anya and a white t-shirt. "Alright. Phone. Who ya gonna call? Your mom?"

Gwen stopped suddenly, that made such perfect sense. She could call her Mom. . . or her grandma. Tell them she was alright. Have them come get her. . .

Solve nothing.

"No. I need to call Oz. I. . . don't know the number." Xander nodded and quickly picked up the phone, dialing Giles' number figuring he'd still be there.

"Hey Will, is Oz still there?" Xander said a few more things quietly and then handed her the phone. She took it from him and held it to her ear, it was silent.

"Oz?" Her voice sounded small and weak, she hated it.

"Yeah." He sounded cold. . . not even just stoic, cold.

"I. . . I'm sorry. For everything I said. I'm sorry that I accused you, and I yelled and I was so. . . bitchy. Don't hate me please because, I don't think I could stand it if you hated me." Xander had discreetly disappeared back into his bedroom and closed the door. Silence. "Oz? Oz don't shut me out. . . I don't have anyone else. Please." It came out choked, she was trying hard not to cry. She'd spent too much time today crying.

"I'm sorry." It was quiet, she barley heard it through the receiver no more then a outlet of breath.

"Don't be sorry. Its not your fault. . . you saved me. You didn't have to stay. . . you did. You didn't have to try and help me. . . you tried your best. What happened last night. . . it wasn't your fault. It was just. . . I couldn't stand the fact that I can't remember. . . I can't remember it and I want to." There was still silence, talking to a man of few words over the phone definitely wasn't a good idea. "I want you to teach me, Oz. About everything. . . you've learned about the wolf. Teach me how to control it like you do. . . like you did until I came along and ruined your life. If it wasn't for me you wouldn't even have had to come back here. Had to face *her* again." She heard his quick intake of breath.

"How did you know?" He asked, his voice sounded normal.

"I could smell it." She smiled slightly at the thought. "You two. . . have a history. I could smell you, whenever, you got near her. . .desire, longing. . . you want her so bad." Silence. "You can't have her though. She's marked. . . by. . . that blonde girl. She doesn't want you anymore." There was a long pause. "But I do."

She gently hung the receiver back into its cradle, not waiting for his response.
~*~
"She doesn't want you anymore." The words rang in Oz's ears. He knew they were true. Willow had moved on. . . he should too. Did he want, Gwen? From the journals he'd spent most of the day reading. . . he didn't have a choice. Every full moon that they were alive their bond would become deeper if neither of them chose another mate.
He didn't love Gwen.

Not yet at least. It was just his hormones, her pheromones. He didn't blame her, she didn't even know how much she drove him wild. It was just like with Veruca. But the only problem now was. . . should he let it happen? Let nature take its course?

He couldn't spend the rest of his life mourning over something that was never going to happen again. It was over.

Did he have the courage to move on?

"Oz, whats wrong? You look. . . " Willow was staring at him. Worry written all over her face and scent. Tara was hovering around behind her, she was scared.

"I gotta go." He tugged Willow into a hug before he could even think. Holding her there and breathing in her scent one last time, and then he pulled away. Tara looked like she was about to have a heart attack. "Bye guys."

Buffy and Dawn looked up from the couch. "Bye Oz." Buffy said, Dawn nodded. She was a cute. . . whatever she was. Oz didn't believe for a second she was a kid.

"Goodbye Oz, take care of yourself." Giles was saying from behind the computer he was furiously typing at. "I'll email you if we find anything new."

He hadn't even had to say he was leaving for good, they just knew. "Alright Giles, thanks."

Willow looked dewy eyed. "Your leaving, again?"

Oz nodded. "Yeah."

She surprised him and hugged him again, "write me this time." It was a whisper against his ear, and he nodded mutely.

"Bye Tara."

Tara waved at him and automatically moved forward, capturing Willow's hand. Snatching it like some candy that would be gobbled up if she didn't hurry.

Oz left them. His friends.

He was the only one that seemed to have the strength to move on. None of them had moved forward since High school. They were all the same, a few additions, a few subtractions. . . He had changed. Now he had to decide if it was for the better.
~*~
The sun set leaving an orange-pink-red pallet all over the Sunnydale skies. It was beautiful really. As Gwen felt her stomach begin to tingle in the familiar cramps she quickly went into the cage, Xander was standing just outside the mausoleum, waiting for her to get changed and give him the signal to come in. They had come earlier today, reinforcing the metal cage and adding more steel. It was wolf-proof now. They hopped.

"You can come in, Xan." Gwen said, before buckling over slightly she knew it was going to come soon. She wished Oz was here. She sat down on the cold cement, it rested against her naked thighs and she pulled the old tattered shirt Xander had let her borrow for the change down over her knees as she begin to tingle all over. She heard him enter, but it wasn't Xander. She lifted her head as the cage door opened.

"Oz." He nodded and sat down next to her.
"We're leaving tomorrow. If you want I'll take you home."

She nodded and thought for a moment. "Teach me. Teach me. . . and then we can talk about going home." She bit back a scream as her insides seemed to turn inside out. "Don't leave me."

Oz grabbed her hand as it sprouted brown fur that ran like blood droplets up her forearm.

"I won't."
~*~The end~*~