Chapter One: Babbit Sets Off

Disclaimer: I don't own Slayers, or any of their characters. However, I own Babbit, Yeshta, Pickle, and Slipper. Varunia belongs to my sister.

Note: This is the sequel to "The Dragon Slave Recovery Spell". Please see it for reference as to what exactly happened with Rezo. ^_^

Enjoy!

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Babbit Graywords sighed, strapping a sword to her left hip.

"Are you sure about this?" Babbit's mother, Yeshta asked uncertainly. Babbit glanced around her bedroom once more, checking to make sure there was nothing she was forgetting to bring. The light of the new morning shone brightly through the window, making the plain wooden floor gleam as though it had been polished.

"Completely." Babbit met the worried eyes of her mother and smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Mama. I have all the things I'll need." This didn't' reassure Yeshta at all. Her turquoise eyes held a worried expression that Babbit had rarely seen before.

"Except a suitable traveling companion. You know how dangerous it is for a girl to travel alone." Yeshta voiced her concern quietly. Babbit set her hand on her mothers' shoulder.

"Mama, if it bothers you that much, I'll get Pickle to escort me for a while, okay?" Babbit said quietly.

"Okay." Yeshta agreed. She looked at Babbit and smiled. "Be sure to come home in one piece, okay?" With a swish of long hair, Yeshta left the room. Babbit watched her mother leave.

"She worries too much." She muttered to herself, putting things in a small pack. She considered what she had said. She would have to find her cousin Pickle now, and let him fallow her around her at least a few days before her mother would be satisfied. She truly didn't even know where to begin looking for him. And even if she did manage to find him, she didn't want to have to deal with the bills his eating habits would generate. She closed the top of the pack and reached for the top of her dresser. She picked up a hair ribbon and tied her raspberry colored hair at the base of her neck. It simply wouldn't do to have it flying around while she was traveling. As she picked up the pack, there was a knock on her bedroom door.

"Come in." She answered. The door was pushed open, and she saw her father, Zelgadiss.

"You're about ready to go?" He asked quietly. She smiled.

"Yes." As she answered, he held out a small bag to her. She took it, and opened it curiously. It contained twenty gold coins, as well as a few silver coins.

"If you ever get in to any trouble, you can come home." He looked at her directly in the eyes. "Always." A smile played across her lips.

"Don't worry, it's not like I'll be gone forever." She tucked the coins in her belt. "Thank you, Papa." She dropped a quick kiss on his cheek, and walked past him, down the well-lit hallway. She walked out of the house, and passed her brother, who was sitting on the wooden porch and playing a flute.

"You're leaving, huh?" He asked, pausing in his song.

"Yeah." She stared at the road ahead. She turned to him with a smile. "Froy! Don't tell me you're actually worried about me!" Her jest was met with a cold glare.

"Why would I worry about you? You're just my bossy big sister." He smiled for a moment, then looked worried. With one hand, he plucked a green leaf off a climbing rose vine that grew along the support beams to the roof. "Mother and Father are worried about you." He studied the leaf for a moment, then crumpled it up.

Babbit sighed. "And here I thought it was normal for parents to worry about their kids…" She smiled again. Froy looked at her with his dark green eyes.

"Babbit, I'm serious. They're really worried after what happened…" He trailed off, and tossed the crumpled leaf on to the ground. Babbit frowned. It had been only a week since she had been possessed by Rezo, and her parents were worried about it reoccurring. She forced a laugh, and ruffled her younger brother's blonde hair.

"Don't worry Froy, everything's fine." She turned away from him. "And quit doing that to the plants. Mother isn't pleased with that sort of thing." She waved, and began to walk away. "Take care of things while I'm gone, okay?"

"Babbit." Froy's voice made her stop. She turned a little to glance back at him.

"What?" She asked, trying not to sound strained.

"I don't know what's up, and maybe it's not my place to say this, but you better be watching out for more then just dragons, okay?" Froy brought his flute to his lips, and resumed his song. Babbit turned away from him.

"Sure." She answered quietly, then set off on the road.

Was that not exciting? (Ooh, I sound sarcastic! ^_^) Please R&R! I'll post more if you like it!