After explaining vampires, demons, and everything else in between to Wolfwood while retrieving the cross, they started back to the Magic box.
Buffy finally noticed Wolfwood's wounds and the way he was walking. She knew that walk. False bravado, coupled with pig-headedness. She did that too. "No sense hiding that you're injured. I do the same thing. Do you need any help, or maybe need to sit for a minute and rest? With the two of us around, it'll be somewhat safe considering the town. I'm sure we can spend a few minutes before going after this new creature."
"You remind me of someone I know. Tends to jump into the middle of things, and has a heart of gold." Wolfwood smiled. "He also has a unique sense of duty. I'll let you know if I can't walk further. After all, if this 'new' creature as you put it, has you jumping… making a plan as soon as possible is always good. By the way, you never told me your name."
"It's Buffy. This is Spike. Speaking of not answering things…"
"Right. Last thing I remember was kneeling in front of an alter. Then seeing a wall of flame coming toward my face. I got blown backward, and landed in the dirt in this town. It's not the one I was praying in."
"Oh great, another visitor from a portal." Buffy said, grinning.
"Portal?"
As they continued on their way, Buffy explained as briefly as possible every conceivable and inconceivable thing that had happened in Sunnydale. Including portals. They finally arrived at the Magic Box just as Tara was getting ready to enter. Meanwhile, someone else was making his own plans.
After decorating the street with a few more demons heads in time for the early morning crowd, Chakra walked around looking at the sights. He stumbled across some old caves that were at one point the base of the Initiative, and decided to make them his headquarters. They were spacious, and there were even a few rooms with prisoners that the initiative had forgotten about when they left. Perfect for honing his combat skills to pass the daylight hours away. Not that they stood a chance.
"Now, where can I store my food?" He also needed to find a few minions, and for a second regretted killing the strange creatures earlier. A few of them had given him a good fight after all. However, they were interfering with his food. No one ate his food without asking permission first. Ah well, tomorrow night was another time.
Wolfwood smirked as he leaned up against a wall and looked Vash up and down. "You're looking a little less harried since the last time I saw you." He then got more interested in his surroundings when Willow and Anya came out of the back, then Tara entered behind him, Spike, and Buffy. Things were definitely looking up. Giles and Xander followed.
Vash just stared at his friend, then tears started coming out of his eyes. He turned away and wiped his eyes, then came back around. "I saw the explosion. How did you survive?" He surveyed Wolfwood and saw the scorched clothing and blood. Looking at Buffy, he asked "Portal?"
Buffy just looked at him. "You two know each other? Well, it certainly explains why this preacher doesn't even know about the legend of vampires, much less that they actually exist." She looked at Wolfwood. "Is this the guy with the sense of duty?"
"Yep that would be him. Always getting in the middle of things. I keep telling him he'd live a safer life if he'd just let some things slide. He never listens." He walked over to a chair and sat down. Vash sat across from him, and everyone leaned where they could.
"How did you come by the cross though? I used it on Knives, and that was after you had died, or so I thought." Vash looked puzzled.
Wolfwood looked at him, then Buffy. "Similar portal or something. However, Buffy said something about some new creature. She seems to be the hero around here, so we might want to listen."
Buffy pondered for a minute, and said, "Not much to tell, I saw a flash of light, went to investigate. I heard something, turned, and got knocked through a building wall, about twenty feet away. I'd like to do a more detailed search. I'm so used to having backup, I decided to come back here and talk to all of you first. Besides, with this prophecy thing involving the stampede you mentioned… it might be a good idea for him to be with me."
"Not without me he's not. I've pulled his butt out of the fire plenty of times." Wolfwood grinned.
"HEY!" Vash pretended to look indignant.
Giles cleared his throat. "Let's tend to the preachers wounds first. Meanwhile, I have a few items I've found in addition to Vash's discoveries. I'd like you to read them before any search starts. We'll start with what Vash found. Willow, you've already read them. Can you tend to the preacher?"
"The name's Wolfwood."
"Right. Wolfwood it is," Willow said.