See first chapter for disclaimers.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thanks to Storyseeker for beta-reading this. As usual, if you have any comments or preferences, please don't be shy. RandR.

PREVIOUSLY: Avengers (Marvel)

Quest

It was definitely an alien planet. None of the animals or plants they had seen so far were even remotely familiar. While Xander allowed that neither of them were botanists, he was fairly certain that there was nowhere on Earth could you rest in the shade of a mushroom taller than most of the normal looking trees they saw. Arriving through the latest portal in the middle of the wilderness, the two demon hunters had picked a direction and started walking. During their two hour hike, they were attacked three times; once by something that looked like a pterodactyl and twice by worm-like things with teeth. Neither proved much of a challenge, and they kept moving. They'd carefully avoided a group of bipedal reptiles with oversized heads and pink scales. They decided the miniature dinosaurs were best left alone.

Eventually, they found something like a road and began to follow it. The only indications of civilization they saw were carved posts with ropes stretched between them that defined the path in some places. Hoping the road would lead somewhere, preferably the next portal, they, once more, picked a direction at random and followed the road.

It wasn't too long before they found someone. He was definitely human, at least he looked it from the outside, and they could see more of his outside than Xander preferred. Unfortunately, he spotted them and approached.

"Hail, friends. I am Hronar Wine-sot and I'm hoping you can help me. I seek a foul witch that used her magic on me last night and took everything I had."

"Yes," Xander said, resigning himself to the conversation. "We can see that." He very carefully kept his eyes on the man's face. Faith had no compunctions about running her eyes up and down his muscular and very naked body; a slight grin on her face.

"She asked me to escort her to the town of Caldera and promised me gold for my services. Then, last night, she put some foul spell on me! I couldn't even blink. The witch took everything, including my axe."

"Well," Faith allowed, "she probably wouldn't want you armed when you came after her." She and Xander traded a look and her partner shrugged. They seemed to have nothing else to do. "We'll help you get it back."

"Ah good. The axe, cloud-cleaver, was my father's and it would sorely pain me to lose it. He slew the horror that stalked our village with it."

"Oh?" Faith asked, as they started down the road in the direction the witch had gone.

"Aye. Granted, the horror turned out to be a newborn nyxhound eating the neighbors' salt-rice, but he still struck it a mighty blow."

"Uh-huh," Faith nodded, wondering how long it would take to find the witch. Hopefully, not long if he continued to talk. It clearly wasn't his strong suit.

They'd only topped the next hill when they saw another person. He was standing just off the road and watching them suspiciously as they approached. Xander regarded the figure curiously. "Is that an orc?"

"Aye," the naked man nodded. "Brutish creatures, but not dangerous while I am with you, even unarmed as I am."

Faith rolled her eyes. "Wonder why he's standing around."

"Let's ask," Xander suggested as they approached.

The orc eyed the curiously, but with no special wariness. "You not look like town-bosses," he said in a gravelly voice.

"We're not," Xander assured him. "We're just passing through.

"Then." The orc thought a moment. "Maybe we help each other. Me Bugrol."

"I'm Xander. That's Faith and that's Wine-sot." He gestured to Faith and the naked man.

"Stupid town-bosses chasing me for something they think me did. I good hider, though. They not find me." He looked about as if checking for town-bosses. "Can you take a message for me to a friend in town? She help me."

"I guess so," Xander allowed.

"Sure," Faith agreed. "We can do that after we help Hronar here find his weapon."

The orc glanced at the naked man and quickly looked away. "Me not want to know."

"Me neither, frankly," Xander admitted, wondering at Faith's phrasing. "Just deliver a message, right?"

Bugrol's piggish face brightened. "Then you take message to my friend Bashuk? She live in Caldera. Be easy to find. You give her note, she can help. Do this, I reward you."

"Why don't you take care of that, Xan, while I find Hronar's weapon."

Xander felt himself reddening, so didn't turn around. "If you're sure."

"I am. Have fun. Come on big guy." She and Hronar headed off.

Bugrol and Xander watched them for a moment; then both shook their heads, deciding again that they didn't want to know. Xander got directions to Caldera and was soon walking down the main street of the small town. Finding Bashuk didn't take long. The guards knew where she lived and gave directions, but they also warned him against doing business with her.

With the message delivered and reply in hand, Xander headed out of town, back toward where he'd left Bugrol. Hopefully, Faith would be back. The orc was just where they'd left him and gratefully accepted the note. "You do good," the orc grunted. "Here your reward. It's a rock!" He started to laugh, but Xander just shrugged and started walking toward Faith, who was coming down the road from the other direction.

"All done?" Faith asked when they met.

"Yep." Xander nodded. "Did you find Hronar's axe?" They started to walk toward town.

"I did. Witch was a pushover."

"Did you find his weapon?"

"I did." Faith grinned. "How did you do?" Xander reached into his pocket and pulled out a diamond the size of his thumb. Faith whistled softly at the sight. "Nice rock."

Xander nodded and grinned. "Yep."