Part 6

Metal screeched and scrapped from above, letting in a sliver of light that cast down on the trapped demon. The speaker crackled then the voice spoke: "There! There is your tormentor. Take her….now!"

Black eyes….red eyes….tormented eyes turned simultaneously to view the cause behind their pain. Fingers clasped and unclasped, bodies shivered in anticipation of ….blood. They could smell her now. They wanted to taste her. To hear her screams. Enmase the young warriors stood on their back legs, raising to nearly 4 feet, some of them. They moved forward, the whisper of their furred and padded feet swishing on the stone floor.

The grey rabbit who had grown brave first, watched his brothers and sisters then turned to face the trembling girl. In a raspy voice, his tongue yet unsure, "Annnnnnyyyyaaaaaaaa."  He pulled at her leg, wanting to to drag down to the floor where they all could devour her. Hands pulled at her clothes, ripping them, as the demon screamed. She felt a bite on her leg and cried out as she looked down.

A bright flash of light suddenly surrounded Anya that startled the mutating bunnies. They hissed and screamed in anger and fear, not sure what was happening. Several, the closest, were picked up and thrown across the chamber. Anger at being attacked urged the beasts to attack this new intrusion, but before they could move the light was gone. And so was the demon.

****

For several moments no one spoke nor moved. Buffy, Willow and Tara stared at Anya unable to speak. Xander finally cleared his throat. "How….how did you escape?" Anya's pale face turned to look at him. "Halle. She was sent. Well, others were too but they didn't survive. Halle just zapped in, killed a few then zapped us out."

"Did…they…your…demons…people….did they go back? Were the rabbits beaten?" Tara asked.

"No. We stayed away. Anytime we were someplace and they showed up, we left. Quickly. They multiply too quickly…there's just no way to beat them."

"So I guess a quiet day with chocolate Easter eggs is out of the question." Buffy sighed, then smiled at Anya. "Don't worry, Anya. We'll find a way. We always do, right?"

Willow stood and walked around the table to give Anya a hug. "Anya…I owe you an apology. Tara was right…fear is fear…and I should have respected that. I'm sorry I..we..didnt take you seriously."

"Yeah, we're really sorry Anya." Buffy and Tara added.

The two blondes joined Willow in giving Anya a hug. "I forgive you. I understand though, you know. I thought it was silly too but…."

Xander squeezed Anya's shoulders lovingly. "Well now we know. And we will figure this out. Right?" He looked at the Slayer for confirmation.

"Right." Buffy agreed, hoping she sounded more positive than she felt.  Warrior-Bunnies that scared off entire demons? Oh boy! Giles, return my phone call now please. She sighed to herself.

TBC…