TITLE:
THE PRIZE 9
AUTHOR:
STEPHEN HOWE
E-MAIL:
sh01@bigpond.com.au
FEEDBACK:
Sure.
DISTRIBUTION:
Ask and ye shall receive!
DISCLAIMER: All characters belong to Joss! He created everything!
Rated R for violence and adult themes. Set in season 6.B/X pairing. Giles is
Buffy's watcher who now works for the Council once more. Anya gave her life to
save Buffy in the fight against Glory. Dawn is still here and Willow is with
Tara. OUTSKIRTS OF SHAMASH VILLAGE. Spike tries to duck out of sight while Buffy
and Giles arguing distract the two tribesmen. Kicking horse tells him. " I
really wouldn't want to be out here tonight if I were you Deadboy!" Spike
growls. " Why do you keep calling me
that?" Kicking horse smiles. " Well it could be because you're a vampire. You
know, blood sucking creature of the night.." Buffy
asks. " How do you know that?" Kicking Horse shrugs." We heal the living so
don't you think we'd be able to sense the dead?" Spike looks angrily at him. " You're
interfering with my plans for the good Sheriff!" He stops." Look let me go…
I'll off your worst enemy then leave. Simple, smooth and yet leaves you wanting
more! Kinda like a smore." Kicking Horse shakes his head. " Sorry Blondie but the
Sheriff and his men are already spoken for." Giles turns to him." Look I know
your people have been hard done by but killing all white men is just wrong!
There's been good amongst our people just like there's evil amongst yours. The
way of life for some of your race was not too dissimilar to ours. The strong
taking from the weak!.. One tribe pushing another off of its land, forcing it
in turn to force another weaker tribe from their land." Kicking
Horse holds up his hand. " I know all that! But we have tried to do things your
way but all we have seen is how your people can use us. Make us their own
personal immortality card!" John speaks up. " I'm sorry for what they,
and I, have done to your people. Before I left I phoned the State Troopers and
faxed the F.B.I. with all the relevant information. Don't worry I never told
anyone about your powers, I simply told them of what the Sheriff did to Mr.
Harris." Buffy turned to him.
" And what was their reaction?" John told her. " They were sending their best
people to investigate the crime. The FBI agent also stated they have a mandate
to crack down on all hate crimes Mr. Horse." Willow's scream brought the talk to a
halt and Buffy ran off towards the sound. Kicking Horse took off after her in
close pursuit, closely followed by the others. Kicking Horse pumps a round into
the shotgun and points it at Buffy's back. " Hold it right there Miss! I'd hate
to shoot but if you don't stop I will!" Willow steps out of the lodge, her face pale and
sweaty." Kicking Horse put the gun down and move away from her!" Pony shouts to
him. The group can hear the sound of a guttural breath being in hailed and
exhaled. The
young Indian warrior turns his head and sees Kattadhin standing just to one
side of the camp." She's endangering the lives of everyone here!" He shouts. Pony calmly tells him. "
Throw the gun towards it and move away from the strangers… Now!" He throws the
gun away and moves, open handed, towards Pony and the gathering of his fellow
tribesmen. Spike raises a hand." Ugh excuse me but I'm not with these people so
do you mind if I join you?" Willow shakes her head.
" Spike it won't hurt you as long as you show no harm towards Buffy." Giles
looks over at Willow. " Why does it have such an interest IN buffy?" As Giles
said this the creature made to stand close to Buffy separating her from the
others. It tilted its behemoth head to one side as if trying to remember her.
She freaked when its snout came within inches of her face, and then grimaced as
its tongue lapped at her cheek. She held her arms in a fighting stance but knew
if it chose to she would just be another snack.
Giles makes to go to her aid but
Willow motions him to stay. Pony tells it. " Kattadhin! She is not yours. She belongs to the other." She points to
the edge of the camp. " Go now and guard us from interruption." The beast lets
out a blood curdling growl then does at is told and moves to the outer edges of
the camp. Willow helps Buffy and the others into the lodge and tells the others
to wait as she leads her down the hallway. Buffy grips her arm." We thought you
were dead Will!" She smiles and touches the door with the palm of her hand, as
she turns her head to look at Buffy she chokes back a sob." You must have faith
Buffy… Faith and hope that this all comes out right." She pushes the door open and they are bathed
in an eerie green light. Buffy places a hand to her open mouth. " Dear GOD!" Willow looks forlornly at Buffy and tells her." They tried to help
him like the others but he was something more than any of us ever thought." Her
hand finds Buffy's and she can feel her tremble. " I've tried everything I can,
even the darker arts, but nothing seems to work." Buffy tries to walk towards the pulsing ball
of energy but something pushes against her. She tries with all her Slayer
strength to get in but the barrier rebuffs her every attempt." I think you need
to talk to Grey Owl. He will explain things better than I." END OF
9
