Hunting Grounds

Chapter 6

Authors Note

Just thought I would take this time to explain. Explain what? Well five things really :-

One, Dawn and her fainting fits... If you had a seven foot tall daemon about to kill you (or so you believe) you would faint to. Now I am a big fan of Dawn but I don't thing she can take this sort of thing at this point.

Two, Buffy being beaten first round... This Predator comes from a high gravity world and is thus as strong as Glory. On top of that she was shocked at his appearance and worried about Dawn falling down the steps. This meant that he had all the aces and was going to win.

Three, Giles and death... I had to keep in with the character of a Predator, that being always looking for the next trophy! And Buffy needed some motivation.

Four, Glory. This story takes place before glory arrives in Sunnydale so she is blissfully unaware of the situation.

Finally five, the reason I am able to churn these out is that I used my original chapters and tweaked little bits of them, the really new stuff doesn't crop up until chapter 9

After cleaning the skull The champion looked around his new shelter. Old and primitive, however this much larger building was quite suitable. It had taken a long time to find a place suited to battle with such powerful opponents. A slow notification came from the analyser, the blood sample from The Prize! Looking at the report he did not try to contain his glee. A howl of victory shook the building.

Dawn kicked open the door to Spikes crypt to see him jump from his chair 'What is it with Summer's women and knocking. You made me spill me pint little bit.'

'Spike, you have to help me.' Dawn noticed it was a pint of blood and tried not to again.

'Hello creature of the night, evil. Why would I help the little sister of a slayer who doesn't particularly like me?'

'She'll pay you, said so herself.' At Spike's look she told him what Buffy wanted him to do.

'L.A., home of caveman-brow? She wants me to drive you to that big poof and get him back here. Why? And how much she is she going to pay.'

'She'll pay you a lot! Why, there's this new demony thing out there. Giles...,' Dawn stopped and had trouble finishing the sentence 'he said. Giles called it a Head-hunter. It, Buffy couldn't...' All words failed her as for the first time Dawn saw Spike afraid.

'Head-hunter! You mean an invisible, seven foot tall killing machine that shoots fire balls at you! Bloody hell!!! Come on.'

'You'll take me to L.A.?'

'L.A.? Little bit, blooming China ain't far enough to run! You and me find some nice cave in Australia and tell Buffy to do the same! Sod Angel!' Spike had grabbed her arm and was half dragging her half carrying her out of the crypt intent in getting out of town before something happened.

Half way out of the cemetery Spike stopped. 'Why does Buffy want you safe in Angel town?'

'Buffy thinks the Head-hunter wants me, either that or just wants me as far away as possible.'

'Bloody hell! Wants you for what? A nice border! I've seen what these things decorate their walls with and it's not flowers. Come on I'll drop you off and head to Australia on my own if you don't' He didn't finish the sentence. Instead his chest burst out with two jagged knives.

A horrible deep voice growled out, mimicking Spikes. 'BLOODY HELL' Dawn didn't have time to scream before a huge, clawed, hand clamped over her face. For a second he let go and sprayed something into her face. Her body went limp and she could not feel anything at all.

A dust feeder had the nerve to try and eat his Prize. After dispatching it he used the pain suppressants to disable the small girl, he couldn't risk hurting her and damaging such a valuable being.