Hunting Grounds

Chapter 4

Authors note

I do not own any of the characters/actors/props/pets connected to either BTVS or Predator I am just writing for them ok, good. On with the plot.

Joyce Summers had just got back from the gallery. Finally home, she smiled thinking of the argument she will probably find her girls in. Since Dawn's birth they were at it. Even her baby noises had Buffy annoyed. Opening the door she found Dawn sleeping on the sofa and Buffy hovering like a mother hen with the entire gang trying to get her to stop moving.

'But what will I tell Mom?'

'Tell me what?'

'Miss Summers, Dawn was injured by an unknown attacker.'

'Giles...' There was more but Joyce wasn't listening. She moved until she was at Dawn's side only then she saw the scratch.

'What happened?' Joyce was surprised at her calm voice as it interrupted.

This time Buffy answered 'Some vamps got her as she went out side the house Anya was hurt, she's at the hospital, the ambulance men said the was nothing wrong with Dawn and the probably won't be a scar.'

'...but how did she get scratched?' Joyce was looking strait at Buffy now. If looks could kill Buffy would be the one needing the ambulance.

'I don't know - we were helping Anya after they were attacked. She said that Dawn had been taken. Then we heard Dawn scream. I found her like this in the backyard covered in dust. What ever did this was powerful. Mom, the tree out back, it has a hole in it as wide as my head, right the way through.'

Dawn's mind had made the long trek back to consciousness and found herself surrounded by family. She could feel her jaw sting and knew she hadn't dreamed the attack. She had dreamed though. In the dream the world was full of the invisible things and each wanted to hurt her. Buffy and the guys were there too all of them dead, looking like little children. The nightmare had ended there.

'Mommy...?'

'Dawn! Are you alright, you want something honey just ask ok'

'I'm fine, Its not Buffy's fault I shouldn't have left the house.'

'Dawn, what happened?'

'Two vamps had hold of me but before we got anywhere the invisible monster came.'

'Invisible!?!'

'You couldn't really see it. It looked like it had wrapped the light around its self, I mean you could see straight past it but what you saw was distorted like water or a shimmering of heat. It was weird'

Giles interrupted her 'Was it about seven or eight foot tall, very strong'

'Yes,' Dawn looked like a rabbit caught in some headlights 'and long dreadlocks.'

'Oh dear lord!'

'Giles?' Buffy almost mirrored her sisters expression

'Buffy, that thing is called a Head-hunter. Invisible or as good as. Fast , strong and it can also fire fireballs from its shoulder and is very, very rare. Buffy, this thing must be the reason demons have been keeping their heads down recently. He the demonic version of the slayer. This thing will kill everything in its path and go out of it's way to kill more. "A serial killer from hell" the texts call it.'

'Can't be that tough Giles we've stopped a true demon, A mad scientists' demon jigsaw puzzle and before all that the order of assassin Spike sent after me. and the is only one of these things here.' She almost dismissed the thing as marginally more dangerous than a rain storm

'Buffy, This thing can kill every one in this room before you have a chance to fill it in on your achievements. The texts speak of the thing playing with opponents they consider worthy, usually by picking off friends and family one at a time and decorating trees with the eviscerated bodies.'

'Buffy, Giles. I've heard of this thing too. I don't think its a demon,' Riley was as white as a bed sheet 'but we should argue this in front of Dawn and her mother.'

Dawn relived the nightmare, this time with the bodies hanging like some sort of sadistic wind chimes. Muttering about going to bed she headed up the stairs. Looking back down at the cluster of Scooby's she saw something outside the window.

She didn't see the steps, or any thing else, as she fell back down them. Her mind once again retreating in to the safety of sleep.

Dawn has fainted again. Why? See next chapter for the oh so obvious answer

And finally a fight and the all important first character death (not one of the Summers family).