"And then it just. poofed? Like a vampire does? A. rat?" Xander went
over the events told to him and the other Scoobies.
"Yep, that's about it" Spike nodded his approval at the correctly
told assumption of events while comforting Maggie, who was starting to fuss
on his lap. "Pet, what's wrong?" The chin wobbled. and the waterworks
started. Buffy snatched up her toddler and scolded Spike and Xander.
"R-A-T, not the word. She was really scared by the whole ordeal. You
don't say the actual word! How many times do I have to correct you on it?"
Buffy sighed, exasperated. "Honey, it's ok. You're, ok, nothings going to
get you." Buffy soothed the little girl. "Really, I don't want this to have
a long term effect on her!"
"Sorry" Xander and Spike said simultaneously apologized with their
heads down. "It won't happen again, love" Spike added, kind of as an
afterthought.
"But what do you think caused a ra- R-A-T to turn all fangy?" asked a
nervous Willow. Vampires were her top thing on the scary list, and rats
were about third, maybe fourth. Putting those things did not seem well to
her. The only rat she ever liked was Amy, and see how that turned out? She
fidgeted with the hem on her black top. Willow still wore black, but she
assured everyone that it was only out of mourning for Tara. She had been
magic-free ever since that fateful night. She wore jeans on occasion, but
the only time they had seen her in color was the night Maggie had been
born. "I mean, was it a weird, practical joke-spell? Or." She trailed off
in a grave and sober silence. "Or is it actually possible for a vampire to
turn a . a rodent or any animal, for that matter, into another?" All the
present Scoobies looked over at Spike, their expert on vampires.
"Well." Spike trailed off, looking slightly embarrassed. "It is.
possible. but the act of turning a vampire is. well, it's very intimate.
You'd have to be twisted and deranged to turn an animal. It's just. just.
gross" He finished, flushed.
"Who would be that messed up?" Xander asked, as the light of
understanding formed on their faces.
End of Chapter
End of Chapter
