Rain of Toads

Buffy tightened the grip she had on a battle axe and stared across the Vatican Courtyard. It was dark and raining and she honestly didn't think anyone would plan an apocalypse on a night like this, but Giles insisted that it was time. And the wolves agreed with him. It was time to do battle. It was time to put Balthazar in his place. It was time to serve justice to evil…and Buffy couldn't wait.

"Where is Faith?"

Buffy frowned and tried to answer her sister. "I don't know. Willow tried her apartment and she wasn't there. Speaking of missing persons, when is the Pack going to show-oh, speak of the devil."

As the blonde slayer had been speaking, wolves poured through the Vatican Archway (is there a Vatican Archway? Ah whatever, there is in my story) and streamed across the vast cobblestone space toward the awaiting slayers.

Buffy winced as Luca Stormpaw let out a howl. "Why don't they just announce it to the whole neighborhood? Put out a big sign 'ALL EVIL THINGS RUNAWAY' why don't they?"

Dawn rolled her eyes. "Buffy I think Balthazar knew we were coming anyways."

"How do you know that?"

Luca loped over to them and transformed into Fae just in time to answer Buffy's question. "He knows we are coming because he invited us."

Willow blinked rain water out of her eyes. "What do you mean, invited?"

Melissa smirked at the witch. "He sent some demons to attack the other original. We were just in time to intercept the remaining beasts and stop them. Dusc and Faith took her to your Watchers apartment; she is there, probably still unconscious."

Willow glared at the werewolf. "That didn't answer my question."

Melissa's smile widened. "I forgot. You are not putnar(1). The attack has little meaning to you. To us, it was an open invitation to kill Balthazar…how shall we say? He was giving us 'permission' if you will, to crash his party."

Buffy scowled. "Why do we need permission?"

It was Fae's turn to grin. "We don't."

"Then why-"

Fae cut her off. "Balthazar is old. Therefore he thinks in the old ways. Plus he believes he has the most power in Rome. In the olden days, back when he did have power, you had to ask permission to 'invade another's space. Unless you had permission you would be blasted into little tiny bits on sight."

Buffy was still confused. "He's still gonna blast us into tiny pieces, figuratively speaking, so why bother with the permission thing?"

Melissa shook her head as if she couldn't believe Buffy's ignorance. "Because, he know we know the old ways, and Werewolves are also known for being superstitious. He hoped to frighten us into thinking he still had real power."

Willow glanced at Oz, "I didn't know werewolves were thought to be superstitious."

Fae smiled at the red haired witch. "The old wolves, like us, who know the old codes were thought to be superstitious because of that knowledge. Because we knew that those things were true at some point in time. And some do still believe in the old ways. But not us. Perhaps it is because of our younger bodies, but we gave up long ago on the truth of old rituals and codes."

Willow nodded in understanding, suddenly spotting Dusc and Faith speaking with some slayers she frowned, "Wait-who's with Faith right now?"

Melissa shrugged. "No one."

Dawn gapped at the girl. "You left her there alone?"

The female werewolf shrugged again. "She is safe, no one will come after her if the battle is here."

The youngest Summers daughter scowled. "You'd better be right."

Fae placed a reassuring hand on her arm, took Melissa's arm and lead her back to the pack. Dawn watched them go, still scowling. Muttering to herself the brunette stalked away.

Buffy sighed and turned to Willow. "When do you think this party will actually get started?"

Oz nodded at something over her shoulder. "I think about now."

Buffy whirled around to see torch flames leaping up in the distance.

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(1) Putnar means predator or hunter. I 'stole' the word from a book called 'The Sight' byDavid Clement-Davies

Oh you guys! I am so sorry this is so short! This has got to be the shortest chapter I have ever written. LOL. And with me that's saying something! I feel that perhaps I should explain why this chapter is so short. The reason is because I wanted some input before I continued. Okay, I need to know if you guys want

A.me to put a detailed fight scene on the next chapter

B.For me to have a light fight scene and more detail on Balthazar and the Anaharath itself in the next chapter and have one last chapter containing the result of said battle.

C.Skip the fight scene entirely and go onto everybody's feelings after wards and have short little flashbacks about stuff that happened during the battle with different points of view, and then one or two final chapters on what they're gonna do next if anything.

D.Or skip the fight scene have no flashbacks and just move on to one final chapter about everyone's relief(and boredom)that one more apocalypse has been diverted

E.I realize this isn't really an option, it is required of you to answer(meaning you answer this question AND include wether you want (A), (B), etc.), but I put it on here 'cuz I knew you'd read it if it was in the list. I want to know how many more chapters YOU want me to write. Depending on the answers to the above options I can estimate 1 to 3 more chapters.

1 more(this includes very next chapter) chapter if you chose option (D) and possibly an epilogue.

2More (see above)chapters if you chose (A) and possibly an epilogue.

2 more (see above) chapters if you chose (B) and an epilogue.

The amount of your suggestion given as answer to (E) could possibly be how many chapters there are left and an epilogue(included in the number you gave or not. That's up to me.

A Word of caution, if you suggest more than 3 more chapters in answer to (E) I shall have to ask your help on the content of said chapters.

I also hope that I have not thoroughly confused you. If I have, please just tell me wether or not you want a detailed battle scene (or not at all) to take up one or two Chapters.

Thank you.

Dannie

Ps-did anyone catch the title and happen to recall it's meaning (where it came from)?